🌱 Parental Bill Of Rights + Cedar Park Trail Extensions + New Eatery

Good morning, neighbors! Elaine Thompson here, back in your inbox this morning with your fresh copy of the Cedar Park-Leander Patch newsletter. In today's newsletter, we'll cover these stories and more:

• Texas education legislation, aiming for big changes.
• Brushy Creek North Fork Trail construction and what to expect.
• Texas bills that could prosecute librarians.

But first, today's weather:

Humid; a morning shower. High: 82 Low: 66.

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Here are the top stories in Cedar Park-Leander today:

1. Texas lawmakers are aiming to reshape education with a Texas Parental Bill of Rights. Current bills are intended to provide public funding for private, religious and home schools. Anna Smith is a member of a public school board in Leander where parents complain at meetings about sexually explicit school books and other topics. Smith said that "she’s worried that those controversies are being used as a pretext to siphon public school funding away." To learn more, visit NBC News.
2. The Brushy Creek North Fork Trail began construction in February. The trail will stretch from Parmer Lane and Whitestone Boulevard to Brushy Creek Road. The community can expect three miles of 10-ft.-wide concrete paths with lighting and fencing, as part of this trail addition. "Fazzone Construction Company will be doing the construction on the trail, and it will cost $2.97 million." Visit Community Impact Newspaper for more information.
3. Law enforcement officers have been called to public libraries, to review content that may be considered explicit to minors. Leander was one of five cities where this happened. Some librarians are concerned that new laws could enable prosecuting them for having certain explicit material in their libraries. Ironically, many librarians inherit their books, and "are also worried that they might be held accountable for books that they had nothing to do with." Texas Standard has all the details.

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Today in Cedar Park-Leander:

• Coffee with the Council at Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce (9 AM)
• Taproom Trivia at Humble Pint Brewing Co. (6 PM)
• Happy Hour with Red's Smoke Shop at Whitestone Brewery (6 PM)
• LISD Board Meeting at Vista Ridge High School (6:15 PM)
• How to Adult: How to Not Go Bankrupt at Cedar Park Public Library (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Cedar Park Police Department: "Come help us fill this empty box in our lobby! We have partnered with Texas Advocacy Project for the annual Handbags for Hope. We need: 🟣New/gently used handbags 🟣Diaper bags 🟣Gender neutral totes." (Cedar Park Police Department via Facebook)
• Easter in Leander, April 2: "Come out to Benbrook Ranch Park as we disperse 30,000 eggs across FIVE separate egg hunts! In a flash, candy and toy eggs are scooped up by participants and disappear from the field in which our favorite Bunny laid them." (City of Leander)
• Popular Asian-fusion restaurant is coming to Cedar Park! "Southern-Asian restaurant the Peached Tortilla is opening a new location in Cedar Park this year. It’ll be found at 1915 East Whitestone Boulevard starting in late 2023." (Eater Austin)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. I'll see you around!

— Elaine Thompson

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Cedar Park-Leander Patch newsletter? Contact me at CedarParkLeander@Patch.com