🌱 Bill To Raise Teacher Pay + Ascension Layoffs + Kalahari Upgrades

Rise and shine, Round Rock! Elaine here in your inbox today, to get you caught up on everything you need to know that's going on around town. Because community information is power! Today's briefing includes ...

• A mother is heartbroken after an item of sentimental value was stolen.
• What's going on in the Texas Legislature in regard to teacher pay
• Healthcare company's layoffs affect Round Rock employees

But first, today's weather:

Don't forget your rain boots and a warm jacket for today's forecast of:

Heavy rain and a thunderstorm. High: 54 Low: 36.

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Here are the top stories in Round Rock today:

1. A new resident of Round Rock is heartbroken after her daughter’s ashes were stolen from her storage unit in North Austin. The victim of the burglary, Lily Nicole, was told weeks ago by the storage company that her unit had been broken into, but nothing was taken and the lock would be replaced. When she arrived at the storage unit last week, however, many of her belongings were missing, including a box containing the ashes of her late daughter, Sa’Mya. Read more on this story at KXAN.
2. After a failed attempt in 2021 introducing "a bill that would have made the minimum salary for teachers to be $70,000," Round Rock Democrat James Talarico plans to file another bill to raise teacher salaries, as staff shortages are ongoing. Get more details from the Texas Standard.
3. Healthcare company Ascension confirmed laying off employees in Texas, affecting locations in Round Rock and other cities. No details are available on the number of layoffs, what exact positions were terminated, or whether those who were impacted received severance packages. Check with KXAN for further updates and for Ascension's official statement.
4. A two-vehicle crash on the 1600 block of East Palm Valley Blvd. resulted in the death of one woman and non-life-threatening injuries of three others. All lanes near US-79 by AW Grimes were shut down from approximately 3:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Check with CBS Austin for updates.
5. Kalahari Resorts says that the outdoor portion of the waterpark will expand with “thousands of square feet worth of brand-new rides and attractions,” ready for this summer. The new attractions will include slides designed just for kids, a new "lazy river" and a new swim- or walk-up bar for adults. Read more about the fun details on KXAN.

Today in Round Rock:

• City Council Packet Briefing at City Hall (7:30 AM)
• Real Estate Co-Op of Austin Official Launch Party at The Alcove Cantina (4 p.m.)
• Trivia Tuesday at Anchor Bar (6:30 p.m.)
• Boys Varsity Basketball at Round Rock Christian Academy (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• An update on a fatal shooting story from last week: "The deceased male involved in the shooting incident last Thursday night at the Red Hills Villas located at 1401 South AW Grimes Boulevard has been identified as Marcos Esparza, 21, of Round Rock. The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made." (Round Rock Police Department Facebook)
• Round Rock ISD recognizes Lunar New Year: "2023 Lunar New Year - the Year of the Water Rabbit. The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity." Lunar New Year is celebrated by several Asian cultures. (Round Rock ISD Facebook)
• Police Department reminds community of car burglary tips: "They can happen anywhere, but one popular location is hotel parking lots. Thieves are banking on some high-priced items being left in cars overnight. Be sure to lock your car, take your valuables with you, and properly secure any firearms." (Round Rock Police Department Facebook)
• The big day we've all been waiting for is around the corner! "The grand opening of the City of Round Rock Public Library will be taking place this Saturday! 📚 For more information, read this article. (Texas State University Round Rock Campus Facebook)

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That's it for today! See you tomorrow for another update.

— Elaine Thompson

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Round Rock Daily? Contact me at RoundRock@Patch.com