🌱 Brushy Creek Wastewater Leak + Gov. Abbott On Fentanyl Crisis

Rise and shine, Cedar Park-Leander! Let's get you started this Friday with everything you need to know going on today in Cedar Park-Leander.

First, today's weather:

A.M. rain, then windy; cooler. High: 52 Low: 28.

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

1. Cedar Park's wastewater is currently leaking into Brushy Creek due to an apparent pipeline break. The Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant processes sewage from Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, and Austin, and the issue is causing inflow and infiltration into the creek. Officials warn people to stay out of the water due to high levels of E. coli, silt, decaying plant matter, and sewage. (KXAN)
2. On Mar. 10, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that he will take steps to seek harsher prosecution "for giving non-prescription fentanyl to another person." Officials say there is a "fentanyl crisis" in Texas and there has been a rise in overdoses. Some people are unknowingly taking pills laced with fentanyl, which was the case when 19-year-old Cameron Stewart from Cedar Park took a laced Valium pill and overdosed in March 2021. "This is poisoning by fentanyl, which we want to make a murder crime in the state of Texas," said Governor Abbott. (KXAN)
3. 31-year-old Timothy Perez went missing on Saturday, Mar. 5, while driving from Houston to Austin to visit his brother. He was last seen near the intersection of I-35 and West Parmer Lane. Perez's father said he received a tip that his son was seen in Cedar Park, and asks the public to "please keep an eye out for him." (KEYE TV CBS Austin)

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Today in Cedar Park-Leander:

• Virtual All Ages Storytime, At Cedar Park Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Knit and Crochet Group, At Cedar Park Public Library (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• It's rainy today, but the rest of the weekend looks sunny! See the local weekend weather forecast on Patch. (Cedar Park-Leander Patch)
• Meet Amber, the pet of the week from Texas Humane Heroes! You can visit Amber at the Leander Adoption Center, click the link for more information. (KXAN)
• Are you ready for '90s themed yoga, country music, and the Price Is Right live in Cedar Park? See all the best things to do in Cedar Park and Leander this month by clicking the link. (Community Impact Newspaper)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar (March 15)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar (March 17)
• Virtual Medicare 101 with Sid Martinez (March 22)
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You're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!