🌱 Patch AM: What Round Rock’s new Lake Travis tunnels mean for your water future

Hello Round Rock! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What Round Rock’s new Lake Travis tunnels mean for your water future
• Why was a suspect with a bloody gun initially released?
• Why is Round Rock ISD at the center of a major lawsuit?

Also on today's calendar: The International Gem & Jewelry Show - Austin, TX (January 2026) and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the shovel say to the dirt? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Not as warm with a t-storm, with a high of 69 and low of 42 degrees.
• Saturday: Clouds and sun; windy, cooler, temps: high: 57, low: 36.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 61 and low of 34 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. New water tunnels under Lake Travis provide a lifeline for 3 Williamson County cities (kut.org) — Round Rock is set to gain up to 40.8 million extra gallons of water per day from a new deep-water intake system under Lake Travis, expected to support the city for 30–40 years. The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority, a partnership of Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander, has finished all underground tunnel work and aims to boost drought resilience and reliability.
   

2. Round Rock New Year's Eve party shooting: Suspect had bloody gun, was released from scene, docs say (fox7austin.com) — Five teenagers were wounded in a New Year’s Eve shooting at the Platinum Event Center in Round Rock, and new court documents detail how police initially found and released a suspect later charged in the case. Records describe reports of underage drinking, surveillance video of the shooting, and a bloody gun allegedly tied to the suspect, who is now jailed on a $1 million bond.
   

3. From school vouchers to flood warning systems, these are the Texas developments to watch in 2026 (hppr.org) — Round Rock ISD is directly involved in a high-profile legal fight, as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues the district over a new law requiring Ten Commandments posters in classrooms. That’s just one of many 2026 policy shifts Texans will feel, from school vouchers and vaccine exemptions to prison air conditioning and flood warning systems. The story outlines key dates, court cases, and programs that could reshape schools, trade, and public safety statewide.
   

4. Amanda Crawford Appointed as Commissioner of Insurance (texasborderbusiness.com) — Round Rock resident Amanda Crawford has been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as Texas’ new Commissioner of Insurance, serving through February 1, 2027. Already the state’s Chief Information Officer and head of the Department of Information Resources, she brings deep legal and technology experience that could influence how insurance is overseen for Texans, including local policyholders and businesses.
   

5. All-star performances from Central Texas boys basketball (statesman.com) — Round Rock High’s boys basketball team fell 60-42 to Westwood in district play, with the Dragons now 15-6 overall and 4-2 in district. The game was part of a busy Tuesday slate featuring standout performances from teams across Central Texas, including big wins by Vandegrift, Vista Ridge, and several other area programs.
   

📸 Around Round Rock

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Round Rock

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday January 10

• The International Gem & Jewelry Show - Austin, TX (January 2026)
  Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday January 13

• Early College High School & PTECH Nursing Info Session
  Hopewell Middle School , 1535 Gulf Way , Round Rock
  6:00 pm

Wednesday January 14

• High School Orientation Night
  Chisholm Trail Middle School , 500 Oakridge Dr , Round Rock
  5:30 pm
• 8th Boys Basketball vs Grisham
  Walsh Middle School , 3850 Walsh Ranch Blvd , Round Rock
  5:30 pm
• 7th Boys Basketball @Grisham
  Noel Grisham Middle School , 10805 School House Ln , Austin
  5:30 pm
• High School Academy Night
  Cedar Ridge High School , 2801 Gattis School Rd , Round Rock
  6:00 pm

Thursday January 15

• 8th Girls Basketball Game vs Grisham
  Walsh Middle School , 3850 Walsh Ranch Blvd , Round Rock
  5:00 pm
• 7th Girls Basketball Game @ Grisham
  Noel Grisham Middle School , 10805 School House Ln , Austin
  5:00 pm
• High School Orientation Night
  Cedar Valley Middle School , 8139 Racine Trail , Round Rock
  5:30 pm

Tuesday January 20

• GAF Energy #2 Online Auction
  , Georgetown
  9:00 am

📣 Round Rock Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Friday January 9

• Brushy Creek Elementary (RR) Performance
  Brushy Creek Elementary School , 3800 Stonebridge Dr , Round Rock
  9:30 am

Wednesday January 14

• 8th Boys Basketball vs Grisham
  Walsh Middle School , 3850 Walsh Ranch Blvd , Round Rock
  5:30 pm
• 7th Boys Basketball @Grisham
  Noel Grisham Middle School , 10805 School House Ln , Austin
  5:30 pm
• High School Orientation Night
  Chisholm Trail Middle School , 500 Oakridge Dr , 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
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• UPDATE: FOUND BUT
  she is stuck in a 30 ft tree. fire dept did not have a tall enough ladder so anyone with experience please we could use your help!!! 512-507-4953 (Nextdoor Apache Oaks)
• Hi neighbors I just want to ask for prayer today for my mom she had a bad fall coming out of her bed and I mean Hit her side table With her head And her uh the back rib And then she's tore some skin off of her arm.
  My Sister and I Are taking care of her right now It doesn't look like she has any Broken bones or anything like that but she's had a so many Falls in… (Nextdoor Round Rock West)

• Cintas Corporation posted a job opening for Warehouse Associate - Wastewater Technician - 2nd Shift in Round Rock. Apply here.
• Extended Stay America, Inc. posted a job opening for Housekeeper Part Time-101020 in Round Rock. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Round Rock here.

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 really dig you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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