Cedar Park officially named a ‘Music Friendly Texas Certified Community'
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Music Office (TMO) officially designated Cedar Park as a 'Music Friendly Texas Certified Community.'
Gov. Greg Abbott announced that a ceremony celebrating the designation will be held in early May, according to a release from the Texas Governor's Office.
RELATED: City of Lockhart named 'Music Friendly Texas Certified Community'
The ceremony will be co-hosted by TMO and the city of Cedar Park on Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at Lakeline Park during the Live at Lakeline Concert Series.
The Music Friendly Texas Certified Community designation is awarded to Texas cities that complete a multi-step certification process. The designation aims to promote economic growth and job creation in Texas cities and communities through the development of the music industry, the release said.
'Music Friendly Texas Communities work tirelessly to attract and develop the local music industry to boost local job creation and economic growth. With support from the Texas Music Office, the Texas music industry accounts for 196,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs and generates over $31 billion in annual economic activity statewide,' Abbott said, in part, in a statement.
City officials and community leaders will attend Friday's ceremony. The designation will be presented to the city of Cedar Park by Community Relations Specialist Janie Havel of the Governor's Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office on behalf of the TMO.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Austin-based business says it will offer Tesla robotaxi rentals in 2026
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just days from now, Tesla reportedly plans to deploy its first commercial robotaxi service on Austin's public streets. Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled plans to launch them in June as part of its new autonomous vehicle ride hailing service. On Tuesday, social media posts circulated online of one of those vehicles driving on South Congress Avenue. Tesla robotaxi service reportedly launching next week in Austin Austin-based RV rental agency, The Outdoorsy Group, said it plans to incorporate this new technology in the future. 'We see outdoorsy as a platform for all forms of mobility,' said Co-Founder and CEO Jeff Cavins. 'Motorcycles, trucks, cars, camper vans, airstreams. Of course, the autonomous vehicle is important to us because it enables a whole level of autonomy.' Cavins said he jumped at the idea when it was first announced. 'We called the fleet team, whom we knew really well at Tesla, and we placed an order for 100 Teslas.' Jeff Cavins, Outdoorsy Group Co-Founder & CEO Cavins said along with Outdoorsy, they built their own insurance company called Roamly Insurance Group. 'I think the insurance component is very important,' Cavins said. 'You want to make sure, if you're a city or a municipality or city council or a mayor's office, that the insurance company that's backing these fleets of robotaxis is an insurance company you can rely on.' Still, some questions remain unanswered. In a letter sent to Tesla in May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked the company to explain how it plans to operate safely. Questions focused on things like: Crash reporting Complying with traffic safey laws Automated responses to emergencies NHTSA asked how the robotaxis will safely operate in low-visibility, like sun glare, fog, rain or snow. Those conditions are tied to previous accidents involving the company's driver-assistance software. KXAN reached out to see if NHTSA heard back. The agency told us on Friday that its investigation remains open and that Tesla's response must be submitted by June 19. NHTSA said any updates will be posted in the investigation file online. Attorney Donald Slavik represents people across the country who were injured or killed by Tesla autopilot and full self-driving. He shared multiple stories with KXAN about some of the cases he's taken. 'A family in Texas where a gentleman, father and husband was putting trash cans out on the street in the neighborhood,' Slavik said. 'Vehicle coming by with the driver using autopilot so that he could talk on his phone or work on his phone. Hit the man and very, very seriously injured [him]. He survived for a year and a half and died.' Slavik said unlike states with established autonomous vehicle oversight, cities in Texas cannot regulate AV's. The Texas Legislature passed a bill back in 2017 that prohibited that. 'There's nothing that prevents someone from putting these vehicles out in Texas. There's no regulation that says you have to have a human person behind the wheel with responsibility for operating the vehicle.' Attorney Donald Slavik, Slavik Law Firm Slavik worries about how a robotaxi would respond in severe weather conditions as well. 'Is it going to pull over safely and stop, or is it going to try to drive through it?' Slavik wondered. KXAN has repeatedly reached out to Tesla about its robotaxi plans. We'll update this story if we get a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Judge sides with city of Austin in Statesman PUD case
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Travis County Civil Court judge sided with the city of Austin, potentially moving forward the Planned Unit Development (PUD) on the former Austin-American Statesman property. According to an attorney for the Save Our Springs Alliance (SOS), the judge 'did not provide a reason' for the ruling against the organization. The PUD was approved in 2022 for a development that would include a 275-room high-rise hotel, six towers of residential units and office space. From 2022: Some concerned about required park space in Statesman PUD conversation According to the city, PUD zoning is meant 'to preserve the natural environment, encourage high quality development and innovative design, and ensure adequate public facilities and services' and 'must be superior to the development that would occur under conventional zoning and subdivision regulations.' However, PUD zoning also 'provides greater design flexibility by permitting modifications of site development regulations.' The lawsuit that was rejected in court Tuesday claimed that Austin City Council violated the Texas Open meetings Act and the Austin City Charter when it approved the PUD for 18.86 acres along the south shore of lady Bird lake. SOS claimed that the city did not provide adequate public notice regarding 'major changes to City standards.' The attorney for SOS told KXAN they are 'considering options for appeal.' KXAN has reached out to the city of Austin for its response to the ruling. We will update this article if a statement is received. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
No more paper license plates: Smith County holds training for new law going into effect on July 1
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Starting on July 1, Texas will no longer be issuing paper license plates. Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 718 into law back in 2023 which will now require dealers to issue metal plates to buyers at the time of sale. READ THE BILL: Final version of HB 718 eliminating paper license plates Another major change included in the bill is that all title transactions must now be processed electronically through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicle's online webDEALER system. On Tuesday, the Smith County Tax Office hosted a free training for vehicle dealers regarding the new law. Paper tags issued prior to July 1 will remain valid until expiration. The different types of tags that will be provided are as follows: Buyer's Temporary Tags Dealer's Temporary Tags 30-Day & One-Trip Permits Dealer Agent Tags Dealer Vehicle Specific Tags Internet Down Tags Texans buying a vehicle from a dealer will receive metal license plates at the time of delivery, allowing them to immediately display the plates while awaiting their registration window sticker. When a customer sells or trades a vehicle with general issue plates, dealers will be able to remove the plates and transfer them to another vehicle of the same class sold within 10 days. The process remains unchanged for person-to-person vehicle sales. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
