🌱 New Ransom Scam Alert + Safe Outdoors Dog Act

Happy Wednesday, people of Cedar Park-Leander! Here are the most important things happening today in town.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and mild. High: 74 Low: 31.

Here are the top 3 stories in Cedar Park-Leander today:

1. A Cedar Park family raised concerns and awareness about a new ransom scam. Scammers are calling Cedar Park residents claiming they are holding family members hostage and are demanding funds for release. Cedar Park Police said they have received recent calls from people reporting ransom scams, specifically targeting elderly individuals. (KXAN.com)
2. The Texas Department of Public Safety has identified the victim of a deadly Jan. 14 crash as Cedar Park native Andrew Sciba, age 31. Sciba was traveling south on RM 620 when a person traveling north drove on the wrong side of the road and struck Sciba's vehicle. (FOX 7 Austin)
3. A new statewide animal law that went into effect yesterday (Jan. 18) clarifies basic safeguards for outdoor dogs in Texas. The Safe Outdoors Dog Act clarifies adequate shelter, water access, safe restraints, and removes the previous 24-hour waiting period for animal control. In an effort to help dog owners adhere to the new Act, Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter actively donates dog houses and other items to under-resourced dog owners. (CultureMap Houston)

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Today in Cedar Park-Leander:

• Tween Graphic Novel Book Club At The Cedar Park Public Library (4:00 PM)
• Historical Preservation Commission Meeting At The Leander Public Library (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Cedar Park Police Department reminds the community they are here to help during the cooler weather. (Facebook)
• Leander ISD Educational Excellence Foundation shares information about the upcoming LEEF 2022 Gala. Click to reserve your tickets now! (Facebook)
• Leander-Cedar Park Life shared some local home sale statistics from 2021. Click to take a look! (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• FREE WEBINAR | “Romanesque Architecture in Tuscany” Presented by Dr. Rocky Ruggiero (January 21)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (January 24)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (January 24)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.