Cedar Park Edition | April 2026

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Cedar Park Edition VOLUME 3, ISSUE 12 APRIL 16MAY 14, 2026

Cedar Park voters to weigh 15 charter amendment changes in May election

pay, emergency ordinance procedures, petition rules, post-service employment restrictions and the structure of the charter review committee. Unlike ordinances, which City Council can adopt or amend, charter changes require voter approval, making them one of the most direct ways residents shape local government.

BY JESSICA MCLAREN

Voters in Cedar Park will consider 15 proposed amendments to the city’s charter in the May election. The propositions vary from language clarications and state law alignment to changes in leadership structure and public participation. While most address inconsistencies with state law, several could aect local decision-making, including council

CONTINUED ON 15

Also in this issue

Impacts Page 6 Learn more about Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls, bringing fresh-baked cinnamon rolls to the Lakeline area

Education

Page 12

Events Page 33 Explore six spring festivals happening throughout the Austin metro

Read how Chris Clark was selected as Leander ISD’s next superintendent

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1300 S BAGDAD RD, LEANDER 512-260-0400 LEANDER VETERINARY CLINIC

CEDAR PARK EDITION

Impacts

183

• Opened March 31 • 12233 N. RM 620, Ste. 205, Austin • https://duffswings.com

S. BROOK DR.

CRYSTAL FALLS PKWY.

Cedar Park

3 Spicy House Sichuan restaurant Spicy House opened in Northwest Austin in January. The restaurant serves a variety of Sichuan cuisine such as dan dan noodles, konjac beer duck, pork with spicy garlic sauce and chili oil pork dumplings. • Opened in January • 11630 N. RM 620, Austin • www.spicyhouseaustin.com

183A TOLL

183

W. BROADE ST.

W. METRO DR.

MAIN ST.

VISTA RIDGE BLVD.

Coming soon

4 Atomic Wings The restaurant will serve New York-style wings— unbreaded and deep-friend—and fried chicken with halal meat. The wing concept serves 100% white meat, fresh, all-natural, antibiotic and hormone-free chicken,

ANDERSON MILL RD.

AVERY RANCH BLVD.

according to its website. • Coming late May 2026

• 144 South Brook Drive, Ste. 130, Leander • www.atomicwings.com/locations/leander-tx

LAKELINE MALL DR.

5 Dave’s Hot Chicken The new chicken restaurant is expected to open in June or July, a company representative conrmed. The fast- casual chain serves an array of Nashville-style hot chicken tenders, sliders and bites with sides like mac and cheese, fries and kale slaw. The chicken comes in a range of spice levels, ranging from no spice to mild to “Reaper.” • Coming summer 2026 • 1500 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 100, Cedar Park • www.daveshotchicken.com 6 Halftime Sports Bar & Grill A new sports bar, Halftime Sports Bar & Grill, is heading to Lakeline Mall with pizza, an LED wall and 50 draft beers. The concept will bring customers high-quality eats, including pizzas and burgers, at aordable prices, owners Jeremy Tracy and Ramon Kreher said. • Opening summer 2026 • 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, Ste. F-18, Cedar Park • www.halftimebg.com

45 TOLL

RIDGELINE BLVD.

620

MAP NOT TO SCALE

• Opened March 28 • 10900 Lakeline Mall Drive, Ste. 300, Austin • www.crankygrannys.com 2 Du’s Famous Wings Bualo-born Du’s Famous Wings will open a new location near Lakeline Mall. Du’s is known for its classic Bualo-style wings—hot red sauce, celery sticks and blue cheese. The menu also includes fried favorites such as fried pickles, mozzarella sticks, cheese fries and more.

Cedar Park & Leander

Now open

1 Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls The bakery serves up a lineup of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and sweet comfort treats. The business also serves coee and milkshakes and provides catering services for events.

Shweta for Cedar Park City Council Place 6 y

EARLY VOTING: ELECTION DAY:

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BY KATLYNN FOX

7 Reagan Sports Club A 44,000-square-foot indoor sports club will feature indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, taekwondo, yoga and a dedicated gym space. • Opening fall 2028 • 14601 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Leander • 732-599-9966 8 Shops at Ronald Reagan A new retail development is headed for the Leander and Cedar Park area. Around 60% of units have been sold, including a dental practice and an Indian cuisine concept, said general contractor Sravanth Poreddy. • Opening February 2027 • 14651 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Leander • 732-599-9966 9 Willowbrae Childcare Academy A Canada-based child care facility is opening along North Lakeline Boulevard. The Academy oers programs for families with infants through school-aged children. The child care center will open in April or May, according to Stephanie Lopez, the center’s director. • Opening this spring • 1301 N. Lakeline Blvd., Cedar Park • www.willowbraechildcarecedarparktx.com

Now open

12 Aldi As part of the company’s plans to expand westward, the grocer opened its Cedar Park location in April. The store oers a range of products, including organic meat, produce, seafood, cheese and wine. The concept also features unique cart and bagging systems intended to help shoppers save money. • Opened April 2 • 850 N. Bell Blvd., Ste. 210, Cedar Park • www.aldi.us Cedar Pointe. We’re amazed at what God has done as we preach the good news about Jesus Christ,” pastor Benjamin Wright said. • 1435 Main St., Cedar Park • www.cedarpointechurch.org 13 SereniTea Cup The tea shop celebrated its rst year of business in April. The concept boasts 57 types of teas, including black, chai, green, matcha, oolong and wellness blends. Visitors can purchase a cup of tea, a ©ight of several ©avors or purchase tea leaves in bulk. The lounge and boutique also sells tea-making accessories, including infusers, kettles, mugs, teapots and matcha sets. • 600 S. Bell Blvd., Ste. 17, Cedar Park • www.sereniteacup.com

14 The Back Nine Golf Hunter and Lindsey Hudsmith are bringing 24/7 access to indoor golf simulators and luxury lounges to Cedar Park. The Back Nine’s new location showcases private event spaces, indoor simulators, lounge areas, lockers and allows visitors to bring their own food and drinks. The new sports business also caters to golfers by oering club ttings and repairs. • Opened April 12 • 12617 Ridgeline Blvd., Ste. C101, Cedar Park • www.thebackninegolf.com/cedar-park-tx-lakeline

Relocations

10 Wells Branch Community Church Wells Branch Community Church is moving from Austin to Cedar Park this summer and will change its name to Breakaway Church. The church will relocate from 2113 Wells Branch Parkway to the new address at 2601 Brushy Creek Road in Cedar Park as Breakaway Church this July. • Relocating July 2026 • 2601 Brushy Creek Road, Cedar Park • www.breakaway.church

Closings

15 Blaze Pizza The pizzeria in north Austin is permanently closed, according to its website. The restaurant previously oered specialty pizzas, cheesy bread, salads and drinks. The pizza spot on Research Boulevard was the brand’s only Austin-area store. • Closed late 2025 • 14009 Research Blvd., Ste. 103, Austin • www.blazepizza.com

In the news

11 Cedar Pointe Baptist Church The church is commemorating 10 years of serving the Cedar Park community in April.“People from ve continents and twelve countries gather on Sundays with

CEDAR PARK EDITION

Transportation

BY DANIEL SCHWALM & BEN THOMPSON

Air taxi testing coming to the Austin area Test ights for electric aviation services like air taxis will soon be taking o across the state, including in Austin, following the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation’s selection for a Federal Aviation Administration pilot program this month. The big picture Under an executive order issued last year by President Donald Trump, the FAA is moving to advance aviation systems, including unmanned drones and electric vertical takeo and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft. The 2025 order called to establish a pilot pro- gram to test emerging eVTOL technology and push its “safe and lawful” deployment. After a public solicitation, the FAA on March 9 announced the selection of eight pilot projects across the country expected to kick o this summer.

Cedar Park pursues $28M in road grants Cedar Park ocials gave the green light early this year to pursue funding for two transportation projects along some of the city’s busiest roadways—Whitestone Boule- vard and Bell Boulevard. The breakdown Work on Whitestone Boulevard would include widening the roadway from four to six lanes between Bagdad Road and the Williamson-Travis County line. The cost of that project is estimated at $27 million. The remaining $1 million would be allocated for a corridor study along Bell Bou- levard, in order to evaluate roadway safety. Shared-use paths are also being considered, along with features like benches, trash cans, landscaping and other upgrades to make the area more attractive and user friendly.

Archer's Midnight electric air taxi will be part of the TxDOT pilot program.

COURTESY ARCHER

Local impact Under the FAA pilot, the Texas Department of Transportation is coordinating with four aviation companies: Archer, BETA Technologies, Joby Aviation and Wisk Aero. The partnership will see eVTOL air taxi ights and other services launch between Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston—known as the Texas Triangle—as well as rural communities around that area. The transportation department didn’t identify specic communities outside the major cities.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY DANIEL SCHWALM

SCOTTSDALE DR.

Completed projects

1431

Round Rock

SAM BASS RD.

183

N. LAKELINE BLVD.

183A

W. PARMER LN.

W. PARK ST.

Cedar Park

BUTTERCUP CREEK BLVD.

45 TOLL

3 183 North Mobility Project Project: The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority built new tolled express lanes and additional non-tolled lanes in both directions along US 183 from SH 45 to MoPac. Update: Express lanes are now open in both directions. • Timeline: 2022-2026 • Cost: $612 million • Funding source: Non-tolled lanes—federal grants allocated by TxDOT; Tolled lanes funding—Mobility Authority federal loans and toll revenue bonds

734

183

LAKE TRAVIS

620

MOPAC

2222

360

MAP NOT TO SCALE

Ongoing projects

2 183A Toll at Scottsdale dedicated U-turn

Upcoming projects

4 Toro Grande Boulevard expansion Project: The north section from A RM 1431 to New Hope Drive will receive intersection and signal improvements, turn lanes and utility upgrades. The south section will connect B RM 1431 south and west to Parmer Lane, and extend Toro Grande Boulevard from Whitestone Boulevard to New Hope Drive. Update: The city broke ground Nov. 7, and construction work is ongoing. • Timeline: expected completion spring 2027 • Cost: $36.5 million • Funding source: 2022 transportation bond

Project: This project will shift through-lanes west and construct a new right-turn lane at Scottsdale Drive. Update: Plans that include the rst 30% of the design process are being reviewed. • Timeline: expected completion winter 2027 • Cost: $1.3 million • Funding source: 2022 transportation bond

1 Park Street walking path Project: The city’s transportation master plan includes plans for a citywide network of shared-use paths. Update: After conducting a feasibility study, city sta recommended shifting a planned shared-use path from West Park Street to Buttercup Creek Boulevard. • Timeline: TBD • Cost: TBD • Funding source: design funding Type B sale tax; construction funding TBD

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CEDAR PARK EDITION

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX • 2025 PROPERTY TAX DATA REPORT • PAID FOR BY OWNWELL

72% of Williamson County residential properties didn’t protest their 2025 property taxes.

28%

72%

Protested 1

Didn’t Protest 1

70,024

177,582

residential properties

$22.1M total missed potential savings

$10.4M total realized savings in 2025

Protestors won 65% of the time in Williamson County1

WHY CHOOSE OWNWELL² 66%

IMPORTANT DATES

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Williamson County 2025 win rate

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Williamson County properties represented by Ownwell in 2025

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Development

BY LUCCIANA CHOUEIRY, DANIEL SCHWALM & GRACIE WARHURST

786K-square-foot industrial project advances in Cedar Park A planned Prologis industrial development along the Brushy Creek corridor in Cedar Park is moving forward as demand grows for logistics and manufacturing space in the northwest Austin region. What we know Prologis’ Northwest Depot project, located near US 183 with access to I-35 and MoPac, spans about 75 acres and is expected to bring roughly 786,000 square feet of industrial space across multiple buildings. The project will be developed in phases, with Phase I expected to include Buildings AC. Phase II and future phases will be delivered based on tenant demand. The site has completed predevelopment work

Changes considered for Indigo Ridge South The Cedar Park Planning and Zoning Com- mission approved a rezoning request March 11 for the roughly 100-acre Indigo Ridge South site that would allow a mix of commercial and residential development. The development, rst proposed in 2018, will span roughly 100 acres on the south side of East Whitestone Boulevard. The revised plan would add 5 acres on the site’s northwest corner and dedicate right of way for the future extensions of Commerce Parkway and Toro Grande Boulevard, accord- ing to city documents. The update also signi cantly reduces the maximum number of apartments included in the development, decreasing the total from 1,500 units to 650. City Council will vote on the changes April 23.

Prologis’ Northwest Depot project

174

183A

INNOVATION WAY

and is “ready to break ground,” meaning con- struction could begin once tenants are secured, according to a representative from the company. The development is designed to accommodate various uses, including e-commerce, third-party logistics, light manufacturing and regional distri- bution businesses. Because the site has cleared predevelopment, Prologis ocials expect Phase I buildings to be delivered within about 12 months, depending on nal tenant speci cations, while the full project will be built out over multiple years.

253 acres purchased for future WilCo Justice Complex Williamson County commissioners approved a $75.8 million purchase of 253 acres of land in Georgetown March 24, which is intended for the future Justice Complex, according to a news release. Learn more Because Georgetown is the county seat, the Justice Complex must be located within the city’s limits or in its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The land purchase includes four pieces of property in southwest Georgetown, including a 134-acre portion at 1200 CR 110, and 119 acres south of Sam Houston Avenue and east of Maple Street, the release states. There are also several existing county buildings on SE Inner Loop, providing for more ecient government operations, County ocials said.

The purchased site is near several existing county buildings on SE Inner Loop, including the upcoming administration building.

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Education

BY DANIEL SCHWALM & BROOKE SJOBERG

LISD repurposed Faubion Elementary renamed Leander ISD’s early childhood center will be named the Ada Mae Faubion School for Early Childhood. The big picture The name was approved by the board of trust- ees March 12, noting that the building will carry on the legacy of Faubion Elementary School, which is slated to close at the end of the 2025- 2026 school year as part of consolidation due to low enrollment. Ada Mae Faubion was a member of one of the founding families of the Leander and Cedar Park

ACC integrates AI in higher education Austin Community College announced a new partnership with the Round Rock-based Trellis Foundation to create an articial intel- ligence-driven system connecting students to support services, personalizing interventions and preparing students for an economy featuring AI in day-to-day life. March 11, ACC Chancellor Russell Low- ery-Hart said this initiative, spearheaded by the community college and Trellis Founda- tion, will “lean in” to the AI-driven changes in the economy, seeking to meet the moment similar to that of previous large-scale changes such as the Industrial Revolution or the introduction of computers. The platform will pull together students’ real-time data, proactively connecting them to advising oces, tutoring, nancial aid, mental health and wraparound services.

183A TOLL

183

Soon-to-be-repurposed Faubion Elementary School will be named after city founding member Ada Mae Faubion

RENDERING COURTESY LEANDER ISD

areas and a lifelong educator What parents should know

prekindergarten and early childhood special education who are currently zoned to Bagdad, Larkspur, North, Plain and Tarvin elementary schools.

The Ada Mae Faubion School for Early Child- hood is scheduled to open in fall 2026. The school will serve 3- and 4-year-old students in

Chris Clark identi ed as LISD’s next superintendent The Leander ISD board of trustees named Chris Clark the lone nalist March 12 to serve as the district’s next superintendent. The overview

a teacher, assistant principal and principal. "Leander ISD, like districts across Texas, is navigating a lot of change right now, but I feel condent knowing the direction we're heading under your leadership," said board President Anna Smith.

make Clark the lone nalist at its March 12 meeting. Clark will lead more than 42,000 students across 49 schools, a news release from the district states. Clark previously served as deputy superinten- dent of learning and innovation. Before joining Leander ISD, he held leadership roles in Frisco ISD, McKinney ISD and Tulsa Public Schools, according to a news release. In addition to his district-level experience, Clark has experience as

Chris Clark

Clark has served as acting superintendent since the retirement of the previous superintendent, Bruce Gearing, in December 2025. The board of trustees voted unanimously to

"I believe you'll help us reimagine what the next chapter of public education can look like for our students."

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BY BROOKE SJOBERG

RRISD declines dedicated prayer time Round Rock ISD trustees voted not to create a daily period of prayer in its schools at a Feb. 19 board meeting. The vote is required by statute in Sen- ate Bill 11, passed in the 89th Texas Legisla- ture, with a deadline of March 1. The details The district has policies in place allowing students to silently pray, meditate, organize prayer groups or clubs, as well as express their religious viewpoints in their assignments, said Cindy Hill, RRISD’s general counsel. The context SB 11 requires policies be inclusive of all faiths and students participating in a period of prayer during the school day are only able to do so with parental consent.

Round Rock ISD ocials, administrators and representatives of Marathon Health celebrated the district’s employee health clinic with a ribbon-cutting the day before it opened to employees.

BROOKE SJOBERGCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Round Rock ISD opens employee health clinic Round Rock ISD marked the opening of its employee health clinic in February with a rib- bon-cutting ceremony. The district is one of only a few in Central Texas to oer a worksite-based health clinic. RRISD’s clinic will oer services at low or no cost to employees and dependents through the district’s self-funded health care plan.

The details The clinic will provide a variety of in-house services to district sta , including:

Condition management

Men’s and women’s health

Primary and preventative care

Pharmacy Lab work Urgent care Mental health

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Cedar Park voters to weigh 15 charter amendment changes in May election From the cover

BY JESSICA MCLAREN

What they’re saying

How it works

The city’s charter review committee met three times in 2025 before recommending 16 initial amendments to the City Council on Dec. 18. Chair Tony Moline said the recommendations primarily focus on state law compliance and removing outdated or conicting provisions. At the Jan. 8 council meeting, City Attorney J.P. LeCompe presented a rened package for consideration. The council ultimately removed one amendment related to mayoral veto power, noting that the provision was confusing and would not result in any func- tional change. Council member Anne Du y characterized many of the amendments as routine house- keeping, while Kevin Harris noted that several proposals had been discussed in prior charter reviews, including the 2018 election, which included 26 amendments.

In most cases, the changes are intended to clean up language and defer to state law rather than create new local policy, LeCompe said. Still, some proposals prompted discus- sion. Several council members expressed a preference for allocating potential compen- sation funds elsewhere, though the measure remained in the nal package presented to voters. The committee also noted that state employees may not be eligible to run for City Council if the compensation measure is approved. Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin told Commu- nity Impact that the citizens committee spent months developing the recommendations and deserved deference. “We appreciate the time put into it,” he said. “We should give it to the voters.”

A home rule charter establishes city government structure, powers and procedures. Unlike ordinances, which City Council can adopt or amend, charter changes require voter approval. Cedar Park’s charter was adopted in 1987 and has been amended ve times, most recently in 2021. Larry Schooler, a University of Texas professor specializing in civic engagement, said charter votes carry weight in a representative democracy. “Sometimes when we think about the public’s role in our democracy, we sort of limit it to electing candidates,” he said. “But we recognize that a change to a signicant document like a charter should give the public the nal say.” Many proposed updates aim to make the charter easier to understand, while a few carry broader implications for how the city operates. For example, voters will decide whether to pay council members for the rst time, how quickly emergency measures can be enacted and how residents can petition their government.

“I don’t know that [compensation] would make a big dierence for me. Certainly, it wouldn’t aect my desire to serve.” JIM PENNIMAN MORIN, MAYOR

“It’s getting us that cleaned-up, compliant version of our charter in line with state law. We aren’t in the

Proposed amendments The 15 proposed amendments vary in scope, from clarifying existing language and aligning the charter with state law to changes aecting city operations and resident engagement.

business of creating language to confuse people. It’s pretty straightforward.” ANNE DUFFY, COUNCIL MEMBER

Proposition D Compensation

Should City Council members receive $1,000 per month and the mayor $1,200 per month, and allow reimbursement for ocial expenses?

Proposition I Emergency ordinances

Should the city charter be amended to remove duplicate language requiring four council votes for an emergency ordinance? Proposition L Form of petitions Should the city charter be amended to remove requirements for verifying signatures, in accordance with state law?

How to vote

Williamson County residents can visit www. wilcotx.gov/elections and Travis County residents can visit www.votetravis.gov. Residents can review full proposition texts at www.cedarparktexas.gov.

Cedar Park residents will vote on the charter amendments May 2. Early voting runs April 20-28. Penniman-Morin encouraged residents to approach the ballot thoughtfully. “I always advise residents to do as much research as they can and approach these questions thoughtfully. Most of these are really clean-up measures to align the charter with state law,” he said. Each of the 15 propositions will appear separately on the ballot. For polling locations,

Proposition O Charter review

For a full voter guide, including a breakdown of all 15 amendments, go to communityimpact.com.

Should the city charter be amended to create a seven-to-15-member citizen Charter Review Committee with reasonable access to city records?

SOURCE: CITY OF CEDAR PARKCOMMUNITY IMPACT

CEDAR PARK EDITION

Government

WilCo adopts updated floodplain map Williamson County commissioners adopted the Atlas 14 Floodplain Mapping Study on March 24, which identies ood-prone areas to guide growth and development in the county to help reduce ood risk, according to county documents. How it works The Atlas 14 study identies ood-prone areas using updated scientic rainfall data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion, along with topographic information. Williamson County will use the study for drainage and oodplain management in the county’s unincorporated areas, according to a news release. The Texas Water Development Board accepted the study in 2025, and with recent court approval, the study can be used to regulate the oodplains and enforce permits for encroachment.

Park Street walking path reconsidered A proposed shared-use path along West Park Street is expected to now be built along Buttercup Creek Boulevard. A feasibility study, conducted by the city, determined that a shared-use path on the north side of Buttercup Creek Boulevard would be the best option based on a variety of factors, including the cost of design and construction as well as potential conicts with utility lines.

Williamson County 100-year event precipitation

The county’s 24-hour rainfall range has increased from 8-10 to 10-12 inches. In a worst-case type storm, this is about how much rain could fall in a single day

10-11 inches

11-12 inches

12-13 inches

Williamson County

183

SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The impact In the past decade, Williamson County has expe- rienced severe ooding, including in 2010, 2015 and 2017. Most recently, deadly oods over the July 4, 2025, weekend devastated parts of the county. The initiative to update countywide oodplain information dates back to 2021. Neighboring Travis County adopted the updated oodplain map in 2019.

N. LAKELINE BLVD.

183

Former walking path plan

Future walking path plan

5/15/26.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY DANIEL SCHWALM, BEN THOMPSON & GRACIE WARHURST

Brushy Creek Sports Park reopens

Austin may not be able to justify spending A city audit found widespread issues with Austin’s use of third-party contractors, citing unclear justications and limited reporting on nearly $300 million in spending over less than three years. Audit Manager Keith Salas said the city may not be able to show why consultants were needed or how their work was used. The March audit found nearly all depart- ments rely on contractors, with costs rising more than $20 million, or 25%.

Brushy Creek Sports Park reopened March 7 after the city of Cedar Park launched an improve- ment project earlier this year. The breakdown The improvements include: • Sports eld fencing and nets • Softball eld drainage and ineld improvements • Parking lot expansion • Additional trails • Existing trail upgrades, including replacing decomposed granite paths with concrete • New maintenance building The renovations were funded by Cedar Park’s 2022 bond package. City Council approved a contract in July to complete the improvements for about $1.7 million, according to previous reporting

Brushy Creek Sports Park received a facelift in early 2026.

S. VISTA RIDGE BLVD.

Brushy Creek Sports Park

Austin consultant spending

2022-23 $81.97M

by Community Impact . When the park reopened, some construction remained unnished. As of the time of publi- cation, the city had not responded to questions regarding when crews would conclude work.

*2024-25 $102.64M 2023-24 $94.69M

*CITY FISCAL YEARS RUN FROM OCTOBERSEPTEMBER. FY 202425 DATA IS THROUGH JULY ONLY. SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Early Voting: Apr : Apr 20-28 Election Day: : Apr Election Day: May 20 28 May 2

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Election

BY HANNAH NORTON

Races to watch Some races at the top of the Republican runo ballot include: U.S. Senate: Incumbent John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton Texas attorney general: State Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin Texas railroad commissioner: Incumbent Jim Wright and former Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French Texas’ new 9th Congressional District: Army veteran Alex Mealer and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park Texas’ new 35th Congressional District: State Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, and Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz Some runo contests on the Democratic side are: Texas attorney general: State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski Texas lieutenant governor: State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, and union leader Marcos Velez Texas’ new 18th Congressional District: Incumbent Christian Menefee, D-Houston, and U.S. Rep. Al Green, who currently represents District 9 Texas’ new 33rd Congressional District: Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, and U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, who currently represents District 32

Texas held its primary elections March 3, with Republican and Democratic voters selecting their parties’ nominees for scores of federal, state and local seats. Yet some candidates aren’t done campaigning— dozens of primary races are headed to runo elections May 26. In Texas primaries, state law requires that a candidate receive more than 50% of the vote to win their race outright. When no one meets that threshold, the two highest- performing candidates advance to a runo. The winner of each runo election will appear on the November ballot. What to know about May 26 runo elections

More details

Texans who voted in a political party’s primary this March can only cast ballots in the same party’s runo, per state law. Those who did not participate in the primaries can vote in either party’s runo. Individuals who participate in third-party nominating conventions may not vote in another party’s primary or runo.

Dates to know

Deadline to register to vote in the runos

April 27

May 15

Last day to apply to vote by mail

May 18

Early voting begins

May 22

Early voting ends

May 26

Runo election day

SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATECOMMUNITY IMPACT

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State

BY HANNAH NORTON

300-plus HQs move to Texas in 9 years

Put in perspective

Texas oers various grants, tax breaks and other nancial incentives to businesses based in the state. Since 2024, Texas has invested nearly $400 million in semiconductor projects across the state under the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Manufacturing, research and development companies can apply for an up to 75% reduction in the taxes they pay to local school districts under the state’s Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation program. Houston-based NRG Energy moved forward with a natural gas power plant project in mid-February after being granted a tax break under the JETI program, Community Impact reported.

Texas attracts dozens of company headquarters to the state annually, with at least 314 businesses moving their main oces to Texas from other states between 2015- 2024, data from the governor’s oce shows. Chevron, an oil and gas company, moved its home base from northern California to Houston last year, citing a need to “enable better collaboration and engagement” with its employees and business partners. Caterpillar Inc., which manufactures construction and mining equipment, moved to Irving from Illinois in 2022, which then-CEO Jim Umpleby said would “support Caterpillar’s strategy for protable growth.” The Lone Star State saw the largest inux of companies in 2021, with 79 businesses relocating to Texas that year, per state data.

Among those companies was Tesla, with CEO Elon Musk citing housing prices and a lack of space as driving factors in the company’s 2021 move from California to Austin. State ocials and experts said Texas’ economic incentives and light regulatory environment are key reasons why companies brought their operations to the state. “Texas wants companies to move here, and [company leaders] know that,” Megan Mauro, interim president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, told Community Impact . “Our legislative policy is really impacted by the voices of employers here.” The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Oce was still compiling 2025 relocation data as of press time, a spokesperson said.

Mapping the growth At least 24 companies moved their headquarters to Texas in 2024, with more than half landing in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

One more thing

X Number of relocations from each state Where companies moved from

In November, voters amended the Texas Constitution to raise a tax exemption on businesses’ personal property, such as equipment and vehicles, from $2,500 to $125,000. This could save the average small- business owner up to $3,500 per year, Community Impact reported. “[Businesses] need to know that the [state] they’re going into is not … going to be imposing more taxes and regulations that make it more dicult to operate,” Gov. Greg Abbott said during a March 2 news conference.

CT 1 MA 2

NC 1 VA 1 NJ 1

A Dallas-Fort Worth: 15 relocations

B Austin: 6 relocations C Houston: 2 relocations D San Antonio: 1 relocation

FL 1

NOTE: TWO COMPANY RELOCATIONS FROM CANADA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE NOT SHOWN ON THE U.S. MAP.

SOURCE: TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Business

BY KATLYNN FOX

SereniTea Cup steeped in community, not just tea After traveling outside of the U.S., SereniTea Cup owner Lisa Perry realized how signicant tea is culturally around the world, as a bonding moment and a way to be immerse oneself in new countries. The backstory Perry rst became acquainted with tea while trav- eling for her job, where she took business meetings over tea and toured tea farms. After retiring, Perry struggled to manage her idle time, prompting her to pursue a new passion. “Literally, the only and rst thing that popped out of my head was tea,” Perry said. The drink menu Perry opened SereniTea Cup in spring 2025, which is home to 65 loose-leaf teas. Patrons can order anywhere from an 8-ounce cup to a 48-ounce pot of hot or iced tea. Options include herbal, wellness,

black, white, green, oolong and chai teas. “I love that anybody can come in here and pretty much nd everything that they would like to have,” Perry said. In addition to brews and blends, she also sells tea accessories, including cups, infusers and kettles. The tea lounge also oers pastries and light bites. Activities to do SereniTea Cup is home to several events each month, such as a watercolor painting class, mobile bookstore pop-ups and tea classes. “I just want to continue to have as much com- munity involvement that we can bring into this tea shop,” Perry said. Perry is planning a one-year anniversary celebra- tion from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 18. SereniTea Cup is also launching a new app, which will allow customers to track and keep notes on all the tea avors they try. “People meet here, [they’ve] had rst dates here ... I don’t think I could have ever foreseen how impactful a little tea shop could be to so many people,” Perry said.

Afternoon tea comes with sandwiches and pastries.

183

R E E

600 S. Bell Blvd., Ste. 17, Cedar Park www.sereniteacup.com

To help make the experience more personal, Perry allows customers to choose their own cup, mug or glass.

Lisa Perry, a Cedar Park resident, opened the tea shop on Bell Boulevard to bring something new to the area.

PHOTOS COURTESY SERENITEA CUP

HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401

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Building Memories

Full Day • Half Day • Overnight (Camp Twin Lakes) • Indoor • Outdoor

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