🏆 Leander lands national spotlight (and Cedar Park’s not far behind)

Just a quick note to say thank you for all the support and thoughtful feedback you’ve shared with us. We love hearing your suggestions, and we’re always looking for ways to improve and better serve our community.

If you ever have an idea, a local tip, or something you think people should know about, don’t hesitate to reach out. Just reply to this email and tell us what’s on your mind. I personally read every single email we receive.

And one more thing: referrals are the biggest compliment. If you enjoy reading our newsletter, please feel free to forward it to your friends and encourage them to sign up. You can click right HERE for the signup link!

The Gist: Leander ranked No. 8 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025–2026 list of the 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S., while Cedar Park also made a strong showing at No. 23. The rankings considered quality of life, job market, affordability, and desirability using public data and nationwide surveys.

Why It Matters: Having two nearby cities ranked so highly highlights what many of us already appreciate about living here. It’s pretty cool to see our corner of Texas getting this kind of spotlight!

Read more here.

The Gist: Leander City Council approved an agreement Jan. 15 that clears the way for GFiber to build a fiber network in the city. The service will offer 1 Gig, 3 Gig, and 8 Gig internet plans with no data caps, equipment fees, or annual contracts. GFiber is now in the design phase, with construction expected to start in 2027.

Why It Matters: More internet choices mean better options for remote work, school, and growing local businesses. Feels like a smart upgrade for a city that’s growing fast.

Read more here.

The Gist: Santa Rita Ranch in Liberty Hill is still on a roll. It was once again the Austin area’s top-selling master-planned community, with 483 homes sold in 2025. A new report also ranked it No. 24 nationally and sixth in Texas. The neighborhood is about halfway built out, with homes starting in the low $300Ks and going up to nearly $1.5M, and more homesites are expected to open in 2026.

Why It Matters: Strong home sales often lead to more shops, restaurants, and services nearby, and we’ve definitely seen that pattern around here as communities grow. If you’ve been watching Liberty Hill expand over the last few years, Santa Rita taking one of the top spots in the nation probably doesn’t surprise you.

Read more here.

The Gist: Permits have been filed to redevelop the former Margaritas building at 10280 W. Hwy. 29 into an Ally Medical freestanding emergency room. The project includes renovating the existing structure into an 8,746-square-foot ER with an additional 850-square-foot expansion.

It was previously reported that a Denny’s may open at this site, but later filings clarified that the Denny’s and a Q-Mart will be built on a nearby, separate property. Construction on the ER is expected to begin May 1 and finish by the end of 2026.

Why It Matters: An ER on this stretch of Hwy. 29 could make a real difference when minutes matter, especially in a fast-growing area where traffic and wait times can add up quickly. It also gives families another nearby option for urgent, after-hours emergencies without needing to head farther into town.

Read more here.

Some pizza nights just hit better, and Beyond Pompeii Pizza is quickly becoming that kind of go-to. The classic crust is fluffy all the way through, sturdy yet light, and the gyro pizza pairs surprisingly well with the cheese.

Wings come plump and lightly sauced, not messy. Add thoughtful service and fair pricing, and it’s the kind of local spot you’re happy to support again and again.

More details here.

⛽ WE’RE HIRING: Circle K Leander

Circle K seeks customer service representatives to assist customers, run registers, support store operations, and deliver fast, friendly service. Learn more here.

🎶 WE’RE HIRING: FYE Cedar Park

FYE seeks a full-time assistant manager to support daily store operations, lead staff, manage inventory, and deliver a strong customer experience. Learn more here.

🍽️ WE’RE HIRING: Sunnyside Scholars Liberty Hill

Sunnyside Scholars seeks a childcare cook to plan and prepare nutritious meals, follow food safety standards, and support daily kitchen operations. Learn more here.

Need to spread the word about your business or job opening (or really anything else)? Reach thousands of local readers - submit your FREE classified ad here.

Ever thought about advertising with us? Hit reply and tell us about your business!

Thanks for reading Leander Scoop! See you next week!