🌱 Former Local A Putin Ally? + Round Rock Express Raffle

Happy Wednesday, Round Rock! Here are the most important things happening around town today.

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 72 Low: 44.

Here are the top three stories today in Round Rock:

1. Russell Bonner Bentley, formerly an arborist (tree surgeon) in Round Rock, is in Ukraine with the Russian soldiers, "an unusual ally" of Vladimir Putin. Bentley is getting millions of views on his social media videos, in one he is surrounded by Russian troops and shouting "these guys are gonna save and liberate all the good people in Ukraine." (Newsweek)
2. At a Stony Point High School football game in 2015, Jasiel Favors, then 16, became a quadriplegic after a head-to-head collision. Shortly after the accident, the Stony Point and Round Rock communities raised money to get Favors' mother a wheelchair-accessible van, but in 2020 the van was totaled in a car accident. Round Rock Express helped raise funds for a new van by selling 50/50 raffle tickets at each Express game, "with half of the proceeds going to one lucky fan and the other half going to the Nolan Ryan Foundation." The new van was purchased in 2021, but Express officials confirmed that the continued "crowdsourcing campaign will go toward assisting the Favors family with their continuing medical needs." (KVUE.com)
3. Juiceland, an Austin-based smoothie and juice chain, plans to expand and open multiple new locations. The planned Round Rock location is expected to open in one or two months. (KVUE)

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Today in Round Rock:

• Babytime for ages 12 - 18 months, At Round Rock Public Library (9:30 AM)
• Outdoor Storytime for Toddlers and Pre-K, At Centennial Plaza (11:00 AM)
• 2nd Impression Print Show, At Downtowner Gallery (12:00 PM)
• Monthly Household Hazardous Waste Collection, At Deepwood Recycling Center (3:00 PM)
• Community Tax Center, At Round Rock Public Library (4:00 PM)
• Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, At City Council Chambers (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for real estate in the Round Rock area? Click here to see recent listings! (Round Rock Patch)
• Plans for a $38M Settlers Grove development in Round Rock! Click here for more information about the construction project. (Community Impact Newspaper)
• A $190 million data center project coming to Round Rock! Visit the link for more information. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with 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!