🌱 Chisholm Trail Lane Closure + Teacher Shortage + Riot Witness

Hello again, Round Rock! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Round Rock Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Round Rock Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Round Rock long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

First, today's weather:

Clearing and warmer. High: 76 Low: 48.

Here are the top three stories today in Round Rock:

1. The City of Round Rock announced that part of the Chisholm Trail, between RM 620 north and the Freddy’s Custard driveway, will be reduced to one lane from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Mar. 18 until Mar. 20. During the lane closure, crews will be setting beams on the RM 620 bridge. Drivers should expect minor delays. (City of Round Rock)
2. Due to teacher shortages in Central Texas, the Texas Education Agency has created the Teacher Vacancy Task Force to address the staffing problems at public schools. A teacher and president of Education Round Rock (the teacher’s union in the Round Rock Independent School District), Ben Sterling, is worried that the state will accelerate certification processes or waive some requirements, which would bring in unqualified workers. Sterling said "the most important thing here is that the answer to the problem of teachers leaving this industry is not going to be to rush to bring in more unskilled labor. The answer to this question is to retain those skilled teachers and to give them an impetus to not only to remain but to be the mentors we need for the teachers who are coming in." (KXAN)
3. Rocky Hardie, of Round Rock, participated in the Jan. 6 riot and touched a wall of the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection. The FBI served Hardie a subpoena, which provided him partial immunity in exchange for testimony of the actions of himself and Guy Reffitt on the day of the riot. On Tuesday, Mar. 8, Hardie was a witness for the first trial of an insurrectionist, which ended with Reffitt being found guilty on all five charges. He faces up to 60 years in jail and will be sentenced on Jun. 8. (CBS Austin)

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Today in Round Rock:

• Spring Break Lego Fun Day, At Round Rock Public Library (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The weather is looking warm and sunny this week! View the link for the full forecast. (Round Rock Patch)
• Check out the massive five-bedroom house for sale on San Milan Pass in Round Rock! See that house and more for sale in your area by clicking the link. (Round Rock Patch)
• Want to see two whole floors of artwork? Go to the Texas State University Round Rock Campus! See more information by viewing the link. (Twitter)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar (March 15)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar (March 17)
• FREE WEBINAR | Saints, Symbols, and Spaghetti (March 18)
• Virtual Medicare 101 with Sid Martinez (March 22)
• Add your event

For sale:

• b8ta Global Online Auction (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday! See you tomorrow for your next 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!