🌱 Patch AM: Are your kid’s new motorized bikes actually legal in Round Rock?

Hi there, Round Rock! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Are your kid’s new motorized bikes actually legal in Round Rock?
• How you can brighten Christmas for a Round Rock grandmother’s grandkids
• How a new ACC lab could reshape Round Rock tech careers

Also on today's calendar: The Truth about ‘The Christmas Story’: There are Two Stories, Neither One is True, and Scholars Know and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Sunshine; windy in the p.m., with a high of 74 and low of 40 degrees.
• Friday: Plenty of sun, temps: high: 66, low: 51.
• Saturday: Breezy in the morning, with a high of 76 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• E-bikes vs. pocket bikes: Round Rock police share what's legal and where (kvue.com) — Round Rock police are warning parents that many popular pocket bikes and electric dirt bikes can’t be ridden on local streets, trails, or sidewalks and are legal only on private property. Officers explain what qualifies as an e-bike, where kids can ride them, and emphasize education over tickets as complaints about juveniles on motorized bikes increase around town.
   

• Christmas is coming, but these Austin families still need help (statesman.com) — A Round Rock grandmother with breast cancer is among several Central Texas families still hoping for help through the Statesman’s Season for Caring program, with wish lists focused on basics like clothing, bedding, and kids’ activities. The article explains how to donate money or specific items through local nonprofits so these families, including the Round Rock household raising five grandchildren, can have a brighter holiday season.
   

• Three Texas colleges so far advancing semiconductor research and development (thecentersquare.com) — Austin Community College is using a $3.6 million state grant to build an advanced semiconductor manufacturing lab and a new welding fabrication training lab at its Round Rock campus, expanding high-tech training options for local students and workers. The article also highlights similar semiconductor-focused investments at Temple College and the University of Texas at Austin that are turning Central Texas into a major chip-manufacturing corridor.
   

📸 Around Round Rock

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Round Rock

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• The Truth about ‘The Christmas Story’: There are Two Stories, Neither One is True, and Scholars Know
  Howson Branch, Austin Public Library, 2500 Exposition Blvd, Austin
  11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• Holiday Sizzle Social with GFP
  The Alcove Cantina , 119 E Main St , Round Rock
  7:00 pm

Friday December 19

• The Light Park
  Dell Diamond , 3400 E Palm Valley Blvd , Round Rock
  7:30 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Hometown Holiday Shows
  Downtown Round Rock , 221 E Main St , Round Rock
  4:00 pm

Friday December 26

• The Light Park
  Dell Diamond , 3400 E Palm Valley Blvd , Round Rock
  7:30 pm

📣 Round Rock Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Homeschool Kids - Aluminum Foil Penny Boats
  Pflugerville Library , 1008 Pfluger St W , Pflugerville
  2:00 pm
• Winter Parties
  Joe Lee Johnson El Austin, TX 78728
  2:15 pm
• 50% Off Wines Wanderlust Wine Co!
  Wanderlust Wine Co. Eastside , 702 Shady Lane , Austin
  3:00 pm
• Band Winter Concert (7th/8th)
  Cedar Park High School Performing Arts Center , 2150 Cypress Creek Road , Cedar Park
  7:00 pm

Friday December 19

• 2025 Morning Edition, hosted by Sage Valley Senior Living
  Sage Valley Senior Living , 1100 Rausher Road , Pflugerville
  8:00 am
• 2025 Morning Edition, hosted by NEXT LEVEL URGENT CARE
  Next Level Urgent Care , 14900 N I-35 , Austin
  8:00 am
• Move & Groove
  Pflugerville Library , 1008 Pfluger St W , Pflugerville
  10:30 am
• Ribbon Cutting: CI Innovative Collective
  The Hutto Wine Bar , 105 East St , Hutto
  12:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Round Rock PatchAM possible:

• My Favorite Handyman — (512) 701-2684
  Tile, Paint, Repairs & More — Locally Owned & Trusted

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Help Make the Holidays Brighter for WCRAS Dogs!
  Hi all! The holiday season is here, and we need your help to give some of our dogs a little extra love and care. Even a short stay in a foster home… (Nextdoor Sonoma)
• Austin Fire Department responds to an abandoned house fire on W Parmer Ln, with crews operating in defensive mode due to roof collapse, and reports no injuries.
  2:28AM on Dec 16: Austin Fire Department is on the scene of an abandoned house fire at 1623 W Parmer Ln, operating in defensive mode due to roof… (Nextdoor )

• BJ's Restaurants, Inc. posted a job opening for Janitorial in Round Rock. Apply here.
• The Cleaning Authority posted a job opening for House cleaning in Round Rock. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Round Rock here.

🗞 Nearby News

Hutto

• LWBE 4th grader wins gold in Special Olympics Bowling (fourpointsnews.com)

Cedar Park

• Grand jury declines to indict Cedar Park Police officers who fatally shot stabbing suspect (kxan.com)
• St. James plant to turn 'red mud' waste, source of dust, leaks, into rare minerals source (nola.com)
• New 183 North Project toll lanes will open soon (kxan.com)

Georgetown

Ok Round Rock! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook