LATEST NEWS

After beginning construction in Feb. 2024, the detour at US 290 and Trautwein Road has been removed and Trautwein Road is open to traffic as of August 5, 2024. Motorists can expect traffic patterns to return to normal, with the right turn lane from westbound US 290 to Trautwein Road open as well.

Hays County Commissioners court is set to discuss and possibly take action on the proposed transportation bond for the upcoming election, have a budget workshop and possibly authorize a Memorandum of Understanding with Patriots Hall for Veterans Services at the regularly scheduled meeting today at 9 a.m. The court is...

A new addition to the federal Endangered Species List could cause delays for Central Texas developments along the Pedernales River.

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — So far this year, Texas has seen more instances of West Nile Virus (WNV) than all other states across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The numbers are rising here in the central part of the state, with the first instance...

AUSTIN, Texas — A man who was arrested and charged with capital murder last year has now been charged with three felonies in Hays County. Jail records indicate that 19-year-old Ervin Coronado-Palacio was arrested on July 17 and now faces two charges of sexual assault of a child and one charge of trafficking a person to engage in sexual conduct. All three charges are second-degree felonies.

A Hays County district judge recently dismissed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit seeking to force San Marcos to enforce marijuana possession arrests. The background: In 2022, nearly 82% of San Marcos voters chose to decriminalize marijuana under Proposition A. The effort was led by a group of advocacy organizations, including Mano Amiga, Ground Game Texas, San Marcos Democratic Socialists of America, the Hays County Libertarian Party, the Hays County Democratic Party and the Texas Cannabis Collective, which gathered 10,000 signatures for the petition.

“I don’t need birth moms that lie to me just to get financial support,” Jody Hall wrote to one woman, according to an arrest warrant. “And I can’t give you anymore if (the baby’s father is) not willing to sign the paperwork.”

HAYS COUNTY, Texas - A 19-year-old man was shot to death in Austin last year. The teen charged with his murder was out on bond, but he is back behind bars charged with multiple felonies in Hays County. The mother of the victim said the system has failed. "He was...

A teen charged with murdering a man in May 2023 was later released on bond. A year later, the teen is back behind bars charged with multiple felonies in Hays County.

An attorney and executive director of a North Texas adoption agency was arrested last week on child trafficking charges, accused of trying to buy the babies of pregnant people in Tarrant County detention, according to the sheriff and jail records. Jody Hall, 68, was booked into Hays County Jail on...

Two positive tests for West Nile were detected in Georgetown, and the city will spray this Friday and Saturday evening, according to a news release from the city of Georgetown.

, , , , , After 10 years of dreaming, planning, petitioning and fundraising, the community gathered Saturday, July 27, at Founders Memorial Park for the official opening of the Dorian Zev Kweller Skatepark. Officials from Hays County, the city of Dripping Springs, and board members of the Dripping Springs Community Foundation joined the Kweller family, skatepark initiative leader Dennis Baldwin, skaters and their supporters for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dennis Baldwin, who spearheaded the effort to bring the park to fruition, welcomed the crowd. “On behalf of the entire skate community during this 10-year journey, I would like to thank the Dripping...

, , Although La Niña weather brought rain and cooler temperatures to Hays County in June and July, pets, with their fur covered bodies and inability to cool down quickly, will suffer heat stroke if owners aren’t careful. Last week, the Hays County Pet Resource Center launched an area-wide heat safety campaign, “Paws Off the Pavement,” so humans know how to protect their four-legged friends. Pet owners might be surprised to know that when the mercury reads 95 degrees and higher, they should limit what their dogs do outdoors, according to the Hays PRC. That means no runs, walks or outings...

, , Members of local law enforcement and emergency services in North Hays County collaborated with the campus security team of the Dripping Springs Independent School District to conduct an active shooter drill at Cypress Springs Elementary School in Driftwood on Friday, July 26. The two-part exercise allowed deputies from the Hays County Sheriff ’s Office and Hays County Constable’s Office Pct. 4 to familiarize themselves with the layout of the school campus, which is just three years old. It is the first DSISD school in Driftwood. The key objective of this drill was measuring how the first responders work with...

HAYS COUNTY — The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center is getting ready for the upcoming school year with its own Back- to-School Campaign that helps raise funds to provide brand new backpacks, supplies and clothes for students. Last year, HCWC served 2,054 individuals who have experienced either domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or child abuse with direct services across all programs, according to Chief Executive Officer Melissa Rodriguez. Nearly half of those served were children who either witnessed their parents be a victim of abuse or were directly abused themselves. Several of the families that HCWC serves were forced to make difficult adjustments to their family structure, Rodriguez explained, including loss of home, their job or childcare, along with other factors that sometimes prevent them from being able to provide the basic necessities for their children. For this reason, HCWC created the Back- to-School Campaign 10 years ago to help students start the school year off right. “We spearhead this campaign because we believe every child deserves the best start to school, regardless of the experiences their family may have endured,” Rodriguez said. “We also know that many of our families have difficulty asking for help, especially if they’re experiencing abuse and our programs are uniquely qualified to offer confidentiality and empower parents to choose the type of supplies and clothing their child(ren) need.” Rodriguez said that over the years, she has heard from HCWC staff that clients have shared how truly grateful they are to have the donations to help their children go back to school with new clothes and supplies. “It’s been an enormous help to these families to not have to worry about their children being taken care of during a difficult time of transition. HCWC staff has seen growing needs in clients for everything from housing, employment, food insecurity, clothing, medical needs — all of which are exacerbated by the trauma they are experiencing as a family unit,” she said. Home Aid Austin, Lennar Homes and Sunflower Bank have also partnered together to donate backpacks for the cause. HCWC’s goal is to help at least 75 children that the center currently serves across its programs and “we’re about halfway to our goal,” Rodriguez said. Those who are interested in contributing to the campaign can donate $75 per child, which will go toward purchasing  gift cards that provide a brand new backpack filled with school supplies and funds for one or two outfits. HCWC is accepting donations for the Back to School Campaign through mid-August; however, the organization will still accept funds and items year-round. To make a donation to the campaign, visit www.hcwc.org/back-to-school. Year-round monetary donations to HCWC can be made at www.hcwc.org/donate and a list of ongoing donation needs can be found at www.hcwc.org/get-involved/wishlist.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GARY JOB CORPS CENTERHays County Commissioner Michelle Cohen and volunteers of the organization pose for a photo at the July 27 event in Buda. Thousands of residents participated in the donations of shoes, backpacks, socks and food to serve the community.

The countdown to the 2024 High School Football season takes a look at the upcoming football season for the varsity football teams in Hays county. DRIPPING SPRINGS TIGERS The Tigers are coming off a 11-3 season where Dripping Springs finished second in the district play behind Austin Westlake. Dripping Springs advanced to the 6A D2 Region IV Final before falling to Cibolo Steele. The Tigers remained put in District 26 along with Austin High, Austin Akins, Austin Bowie, Austin Del Valle, Austin Westlake and Lake Travis. The Tigers return just five offensive starters and one defensive starter from last year’s team. Dripping Springs will look...

Median home prices decreased year over year in San Marcos, Buda and Kyle by an average of 6%. (Courtesy Pexels) The most recent data compiled by the Four Rivers Association of Realtors shows real estate trends in the San Marcos, Buda and Kyle communities in Hays County. The number of...