Round Rock Represents

Affordable Austin suburb named America's No. 1 place to live

Round Rock was named the best affordable city to live in the entire U.S.

James Howard/Wikimedia Commons

Finding the best place to live is often a compromise between affordability and fun — but in this Austin suburb, you can have both. According to a new list, Round Rock is the No. 1 best affordable places to live in the country.

On the annual list, Livability.com picks the best places to live based on the cost of living as well as the range of entertainment options.

Round Rock is in the sweet spot for affordability, balancing "higher than average salaries and lower than average home prices," says Livability. According to numbers pulled from the Council for Community and Economic Research, the cost of living is almost 7 percent below the national average.

In addition to low property taxes and utility rates — which leave more money in residents' pockets — the local economy is bolstered by large companies such as Dell, TECO-Westinghouse and Dresser. In fact, the Austin-Round Rock area was recently deemed the No. 2 place in the U.S. for professionals in science, technology, engineering and math.

But it's not just about the dollars and cents. Round Rock has really been raking in the accolades of late. In addition to Livability's shout-outs to the Round Rock Express and Flix Brewhouse, our northern neighbors boast some great eateries and romantic evening delights. This Austin 'burb was also named one of the best places to raise a young family due to its wide variety of city events and the ever-important cost of living.

Falling behind the Texas town on the Livability list are Dayton, Ohio (No.2), Lawton, Oklahoma (No. 3), Lansing, Michigan (No. 4) and Appleton, Wisconsin (No. 5).

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Weed News

Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas files bill protecting cannabis

Redheaded Blackbelt

Let's make it legal.

Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistant and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana