ATX-NCA: Impact 10/9/2025

Campaign activity for and against Austin's tax rate increase ballot measure is ramping up ahead of the Nov. 5 election, drawing tens of thousands of dollars in donations for and against Proposition Q.

Several area nonprofits, labor groups and City Council members were among the top donors to political committees favoring the tax rate proposition as of late September. Those organizations reported having more than $120,000 on hand just over a month before the election.

On the other side, the political group Save Austin Now reported the second-highest donation total of any PAC this fall with hundreds of individual contributions. Another political group led by contributions from a handful of residents and businesses also drew tens of thousands of dollars to oppose Proposition Q.

Located in a diverse business shopping strip in North Austin sits sweet shop Cinful Sweets, accentuating bold flavors through the art of chocolate making.

For dessert: Customers can try all things chocolate, gluten-free and vegan from bonbons, dessert bars, panned chocolate and breakables, a chocolate piñata served with a mallet. The shop’s most popular bites are its bonbons, molded chocolate with a thin shell leading to a creamy and crunchy center.

The shells are presented in various flavors and designs, including realistic hearts boasting a black sesame flavoring. Other items are influenced by media such as "Let It Rip," a white chocolate bonbon with raspberry jam, vanilla bean and speculose, inspired by TV series "The Bear."

Community members with loved ones outside the city can still share the sweet treat love by taking advantage of Cinful Sweets’ nationwide shipping.

• 9415 Burnet Road, Ste. 106, Austin

Rainey Street restaurant Emmer & Rye will host events on Nov. 8 and 9 to commemorate its 10th anniversary with specialty chefs and one-night-only dishes.

The specifics: To kick off festivities on Nov. 8, the restaurant will host a special edition of its Breaking Bread Guest Chef Series which will feature Portland chef Gregory Gourdet of concepts Kann and Sousòl.

Chefs Kevin Fink and Tavel Bristol-Joseph will be joined by Gourdet, the team will prepare dishes highlighting the restaurant’s past decade.

On Nov. 9, a celebration will bring together all Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group concepts including Hestia, Canje, Ezov, Kalimotxo, Ladino, Henbit, Fife & Farro, Mezquite, Isidore and Nicosi. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste bites from each restaurant and enjoy cocktails and music from 3-7 p.m. Tickets are $65 and include food and entry with drink tickets available for $15.

• 51 Rainey St., Austin

Odyssey, a New York-based tech company, has been selected to manage Texas’ $1 billion education savings account program, the state comptroller’s office announced Oct. 6.

The overview: Odyssey will work with the comptroller to launch the program, deemed “Texas Education Freedom Accounts,” ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Families can begin applying for the program early next year, and those accepted will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to private school or homeschool them.

Zooming in: Odyssey will develop and manage an online platform to administer Texas’ education savings account program. State law also tasks the company with:

• Collecting applications and determining which families are accepted to the program
• Approving vendors for education-related materials and services, such as textbooks, transportation and tutoring
• Reviewing inquiries and complaints about the program
• Advertising the program and communicating with interested families