🌱 Patch AM: How early Gattis School Road work could change your 2026 commute

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

In today's newsletter:

• How early Gattis School Road work could change your 2026 commute
• Where you can scan lost pets in Round Rock right now
• How a Round Rock campaign launch ties into a viral welfare debate

Also on today's calendar: Holiday Sizzle Social with GFP and 4 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Round Rock? Post it to Round Rock photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Low clouds, with a high of 59 and low of 53 degrees.
• Wednesday: Sun and areas of low clouds, temps: high: 66, low: 60.
• Thursday: Sunny; windy in the afternoon, with a high of 79 and low of 41 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Gattis School Road Segment 3 running ahead of schedule in Round Rock (roundrocktexas.gov) — Drivers on Gattis School Road in Round Rock can expect Segment 3 to finish about six months early, with final paving targeted for February 2026. The city has nearly $200 million in active road work, including additional Gattis segments and major extensions like Wyoming Springs Boulevard and Old Settlers Boulevard that aim to ease congestion citywide.
   

• Reunion stations will help lost Central Texas pets get home (kxan.com) — New “reunion stations” at three Round Rock businesses now let you quickly scan a found pet’s microchip and contact its owner without driving to the Georgetown shelter. The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter plans to expand these bright yellow scanner boxes countywide, aiming to get lost pets home faster while easing strain on the shelter.
   

• James Talarico Destroys "Welfare Queen" Stereotype (saobserver.com) — A Texas U.S. Senate hopeful who kicked off his campaign at Round Rock’s Centennial Plaza is drawing attention for sharply challenging the “welfare queen” stereotype in a recent voter forum. James Talarico argued that large corporations, not poor families, are the real abusers of public resources, tying his stance to his classroom experience with hungry students and his broader push for economic accountability in the Democratic primary race.
   

📸 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 ★

Wednesday December 17

• Tristan Roberson: Round Rock, TX
  Sharon Prete Main Street Plaza, 221 E Main St, Round Rock
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• Boys 7th Basketball vs Deerpark
  Walsh Middle School , 3850 Walsh Ranch Blvd , Round Rock
  5:30 pm
• Boys 8th Basketball @Deerpark
  Deerpark Middle School , 8849 Anderson Mill Rd , Austin
  5:30 pm
• 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

Tuesday December 16

• Walsh MS Student Art Show
  Walsh Middle School , 3850 Walsh Ranch Blvd , Round Rock
  5:30 pm
• Early College High School & PTECH Nursing Info Session
  Ridgeview Middle School , 2000 Via Sonoma Trail #5659 , Round Rock
  6:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Polar Express Day
  Fern Bluff El Round Rock, TX 78681
• RRHS Band Performs Holiday Music
  Cactus Ranch El Round Rock, TX 78681
  7:00 am
• Boys 7th Basketball vs Deerpark
  Walsh Middle School , 3850 Walsh Ranch Blvd , Round Rock
  5:30 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

• *update - he’s been claimed!
  Found this guy last night around 11:30 in South Creek. (Logan/Elder Way) he’s been hanging out w us all day. No traction on his FB group posts. No… (Nextdoor South Creek)
• Big Rock Park in Glen Rose, Texas.
  The trees changing colors were particularly beautiful. (Nextdoor Stone Oak)

• Chuy's Tex-Mex Restaurant posted a job opening for Janitorial in Round Rock. Apply here.
• Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. posted a job opening for Inventory Control Associate in Round Rock. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Round Rock here.

🗞 Nearby News

Hutto

• JV Women's Basketball Annihilates Manor 43-12 (westwoodhorizon.com)

Cedar Park

• Stargazing, A Dallas Stars Puckcast – Episode 308: Texas Stars Fall Update 2025 (defendingbigd.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, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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