Factory Mattress closes in Selma amidst company bankruptcy
Factory Mattress closed its Selma location at 14615 I-35 in July, store staff told Community Impact.
What we know: Several Austin locations have already closed due to its parent company filing for bankruptcy earlier this year. Under the parent company, Southwest Mattress Sales, Factory Mattress filed for bankruptcy on June 7 in Austin, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Another Factory Mattress location off Hwy. 281 in north San Antonio is anticipated to close once inventory is sold out. A storefront on the far west side of the city and another off of San Pedro Ave. closer to downtown will follow suit, the company’s liquidation team said.
More details: Factory Mattress sold bed frames, mattresses, lounge chairs and pillow accessories.
VoidForm Products building material supplier opens in Universal City
A new spot for building materials is now open in Universal City.
What you need to know: VoidForm Products, a building material supplier, opened at 1500 Northlake Pass, Ste. 301 on Sept. 10. The company designs and develops products for foundation protection and underground utilities.
Texas to overhaul STAAR, launch 3 new exams in 2027
The Texas Education Agency will begin transitioning to a new standardized testing system after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law Sept. 17 to replace the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness with three shorter exams.
The overview: Through the 2026-27 school year, Texas public school students in third through 12th grade will continue taking the STAAR each spring. Beginning in fall 2027, students will take three tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year under House Bill 8, the new law.
Students’ results will be released within 48 hours after each new test is administered. STAAR scores are currently released about six weeks after a test ends, according to the TEA.
The debate: Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said the new system will reduce test-related anxiety; give students and teachers feedback throughout the school year; and increase legislative oversight of Texas’ assessment and accountability systems. Critics of the plan said it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the TEA.
San Antonio Airport adds new nonstop international destination
A new destination is now available at San Antonio’s international airport, offering area travelers more direct destinations around the globe.
In case you missed it: City officials from the airport announced the launch of a new direct flight from San Antonio to Toronto, Canada, beginning on May 2, 2026, in a news release.
Flights to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport will be serviced by Air Canada, marking the first such direct flight to the country from the airport in its history.
The new flight is also San Antonio's 10th international destination, according to the news release.
“With this new nonstop connection, we look forward to continuing to foster relationships between our two communities and throughout Canada,” Erik Walsh, the city manager of San Antonio, said in the release.
What are the options? Aside from travel to the Maple Leaf Country, connections to Toronto with Air Canada will offer locals easier access to direct flights headed to London, Barcelona, Madrid and other locations across Europe.
