🌱 Grand Avenue Parkway Construction Begins + Bluebonnets Are Blooming

Morning, neighbors! It's me again, Gabriela Couvillion, your host of the North Austin-Pflugerville Daily.

First, today's weather:

Periods of sun. High: 81 Low: 57.

Here are the top stories today in North Austin-Pflugerville:

1. "The next phase of construction on Grand Avenue Parkway" will be starting on Monday, April 4, and at that time, "traffic from just east of Viki Lynn Place to Ramble Creek Drive will be shifted to the northbound side of the road, with one lane in each direction." This phase should last "until early July, weather permitting, and when it's done, there will be "two shorter phases of construction, which will reconstruct the roadway north of Ramble Creek Drive to Picadilly Drive." The whole project is expected to be completed in the summer. For more details on this and other projects, visit pflugervilletx.gov/projects and see: (Press Release Desk)
2. Now that spring is here, bluebonnets are beginning to bloom around North Texas but unfortunately, "the number of flowers blooming across the state" and the time they last may be impacted by the recent drought in Texas. Andrea DeLong-Amaya, director of horticulture at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, said, "Bluebonnets have started blooming in Austin, and the DFW/North Texas area is usually a couple of weeks behind Austin when it comes to blooms. Due to drought, we may see small or stunted flowers and they may not last as long.” For more information please visit: (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)
3. On Thursday, March 31, 24-year-old Chelsea Ann-Marie Shipp was arrested at a Liberty Hill home in north Austin. According to police, the arrest was due to "a murder warrant in connection with the shooting death of Katelynn Nicole Stone, 16." If you have information on this or other crimes, "you could earn a cash reward of up to $1,000 by providing an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas" by calling 833-TIPS (8477) or by downloading the P3Tips App on your mobile device to submit an anonymous tip. For more details visit: (12newsnow.com KBMT-KJAC)

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Today in North Austin-Pflugerville:

• HONK!TX 2022 Free Community Street Band Music Festival at Jo's Coffee. (9 a.m.)
• April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. For more information visit https://salgi.org/april/. (9 a.m.)
• "Amadeus" at Penfold Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
• American Gypsy and Mac FM at The Haus. (8 p.m.)
• Stand Up Comedy in Tai Nguyen's Living Room at 2008 Golden Sunrise Lane. (8 p.m.)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (April 9)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

— Gabriela Couvillion

About me: I'm an active mom of two grown sons and lifelong San Antonio resident. I received a BA in Spanish from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and in my free time I immerse myself in creative writing. Thanks for reading Patch, and feel free to reach out if you have any news and happenings you think may appeal to our readers!