🌱 Round Rock Students Walk Out + New County Judge Hired

Happy Friday, people of Round Rock! Here's everything you need to know to get this day started. Here's everything you need to know today in town.

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First, today's weather:

Cold with abundant sunshine. High: 49 Low: 25.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Round Rock:

1. Students in the Round Rock School District walked out of classes yesterday in protest of the district's COVID-19 policy enforcement. The district reportedly shares the students' concerns despite giving the students who participated in the walkout an unexcused absence. The students are asking for the district to once again provide contact tracing, an enforced mask mandate, masks provided for each student, rapid tests to be provided every two weeks for everyone on campus, and for outdoor spaces to eat. (KXAN.com)
2. The Williamson County Animal Shelter is being strained due to an elderly woman surrendering nearly a dozen cats. Later next week, the woman is reported to be in the process of giving up an additional nineteen cats. The Animal Shelter is calling for our community to help adopt these new cats. Click to find details on how to adopt. (KXAN.com)
3. Due to a recent increase in mental health cases, Williamson County Commissioners Court has unanimously approved spending up to $250,000 to hire a visiting judge. Since 2014, there has been a 342 percent increase in applications for temporary mental health services and an 875 percent increase in applications for forced medications. The approved funding would come from the American Rescue Plan Act. (Community Impact Newspaper)

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Today in Round Rock:

• 2nd Impression Print Show At Round Rock Arts (12:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Round Rock, Texas – City Government announces that new area playgrounds are coming soon. (Facebook)
• Williamson County and Cities Health District notified our community that they can now order free at-home COVID testing kits through the USPS. Click to order yours. (Facebook)
• Round Rock Fire Department reminds us to take care of our four P's during the dropping temperature: People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants. (Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

— 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.