🌱 Residents Displaced By Structure Fire + Emergency Foster Care

Happy belated New Year, Round Rock! Elaine Thompson here, with your fresh copy of the Round Rock Daily. Let's ring it in the right way with all of the most important local topics, including news on:

• Structure fire at apartment complex displaces more than 20 residents.
• Round Rock defendant pleads guilty to 2021 human smuggling charges.
• Nonprofit helps children in need of emergency foster care.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 71 Low: 40.

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Here are the top stories in Round Rock today:

1. Residents from 21 units were displaced when a fire broke out at the Terrastone Travesia apartments on the 3700 block of Quick Hill Road. Round Rock Fire Department responded at 8 a.m. to the fire, which is thought to have started in the attic of the building. Thanks to "12 RRFD units, both the Pflugerville and Austin Fire Departments, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Williamson County Constable Precinct 4 and Williamson County EMS responding," the fire was extinguished by 8:57 a.m. American Red Cross is assisting those affected with resources. Enough vacant units are in the apartment complex to house all displaced residents. (KVUE)
2. Lauren Michelle Malmquist from Round Rock is one of the last two defendants who pleaded guilty last week to participating in a 2021 human smuggling operation that involved eight undocumented noncitizen passengers' deaths. All 10 defendants pleaded guilty. The maximum penalty possible for Malmquist and her co-defendants is life in prison. To learn more about this case, read here.
3. Several organizations made it to Community Impact's 2022 spotlight list, including Central Texas Table of Grace of Round Rock. This nonprofit "is an emergency general residency operation, or GRO, that provides emergency foster care for children ages 6-17 for 90 days at a time." The founder, Stacy Johnson, was in and out of foster care homes since the age of 2, legally emancipated herself by 16, and launched her nonprofit by 2014. More on this heartfelt story is in Community Impact Newspaper.

Today in Round Rock:

• Gracie Barra Georgetown Founders Special! at Gracie Barra Round Rock (8 a.m.)
• Million Cups Round Rock for Startups at CENTRO Event Space (9 a.m.)
• It's a Scavenger Hunt! *Virtual* (10 a.m.)
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection at Deepwood Recycling Center (3 p.m. - 6 p.m.)
• Virtual Open Mic (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Want to improve your physical health goals this year? "⛹️‍♀️🤾‍♂️🧘‍♀️STICK TO THAT NEW YEAR’S FITNESS RESOLUTION AND WE’LL GET YOU GOING WITH A 10% DISCOUNT OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS at the Clay Madsen Recreation Center Recreation Center and the Allen R Baca Senior Center during the month of J..." (Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department via Facebook)
• Attention art enthusiasts, a new exhibit is coming! "'Fantastical Fiber Art' This exhibit will be located in the expansive gallery at Texas State University Round Rock Campus, Avery Building (1555 University Blvd., Round Rock, TX). Show dates: 1/17/23 – 3/24/23 Reception: 2/3/23, 6-8pm" (Round Rock Arts via Facebook)
• Check out all these amazing job opportunities we found: Diverse roles available such as: Sales at El Arroyo, Electronic Vehicle Concierge at Conexess Group, Remote Customer Service at Warby Parker, Administrative Specialist at Upside Tattoo, and much more on our roundup on Round Rock Patch.

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (January 7)
• Add your event

That's it for today. I'll see you around!

— Elaine Thompson

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Round Rock Daily? Contact me at RoundRock@Patch.com