ATX-NCA: Impact 9/30/2025

Law enforcement and medical personnel will soon jointly respond to serious mental health emergency calls in Central Austin.

The details: The local management of such incidents has evolved over recent years, with notable updates like the addition of a mental health option for 911 callers. After City Council recently asked for a review of how Austin handles mental health response, the Austin Police Department, Austin/Travis County EMS and Integral Care are pooling resources for the new joint unit starting up this fall.

The "Austin FIRST" team will both patrol the downtown area and take 911 calls for the highest-acuity, or most severe and potentially dangerous, mental health crisis events. The new team is starting a pilot initiative that will likely be adjusted and potentially expanded after a six-month trial run.

Austin’s third Luby’s location is now serving comfort classics on 11th Street and Guadalupe Street.

The details: The Texas-founded restaurant has crafted a cafeteria-style dining experience since 1947 with nearly 40 locations throughout the state.

The eatery offers fried fish, roasted chicken, chicken fried steak, meatloaf and more homestyle meals which can be paired with macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes.

314 W. 11th St., Ste. 163, Austin

Austin firefighters may see pay increases and a reduced work schedule after their union reached a tentative contract agreement with the city late Sept. 26.

The details: Since earlier this summer, the Austin Firefighters Association—the union representing the Austin Fire Department—has been negotiating with city officials for a four-year labor contract.

The agreement made Sept. 26 is set to be ratified by AFA then approved by City Council members in October. It includes:

• Pay increases for all four years of the agreement
• A reduced work schedule to be known as the “Austin Schedule”
• A new, more-streamlined promotion process
• More flexible hiring, including the ability to hire already-certified firefighters

This Miss Austin Scholarship Competition will make its return to the city on Nov. 8 under new leadership by former state titleholders, Melody Pierce, Miss Arizona 2022, and Jennifer Schmidt Navratil, Miss Wisconsin 2021.

The specifics: Hosted by the nonprofit the Miss Austin Organization, and as the official preliminary to Miss Texas and Miss America, the competition features a scholarship program providing mentorship, leadership development and higher education, according to a news release.

The competition is looking for participants for its teen and young women categories. Participants must live, work or study in Texas. Specific age requirements are as follows:

• Miss Delegates: ages 18-28 as of Sept. 30, 2026
• Teen Delegates: ages 14-18 as of Sept. 1, 2026

Many Texas retailers can no longer sell consumable THC products to customers under 21 years old after the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved two emergency rules Sept. 23.

The overview: The new rules, which were drafted after Gov. Greg Abbott issued a Sept. 10 executive order requesting tighter THC regulations, apply only to retailers that sell alcohol. The rules state that businesses may not sell, serve or deliver consumable hemp products to minors and must check all customers' IDs before selling them THC products.

Zooming in: About 60,000 Texas businesses hold TABC licenses and will be prohibited from selling THC products to minors. Those businesses include bars, restaurants, liquor stores, grocery stores and some convenience stores.

However, the rule does not apply to THC retailers that do not sell alcohol or have a TABC license, such as smoke shops, gas stations or online sellers. The TABC and the Texas Department of State Health Services are working to determine how to best enforce age restrictions for THC retailers that do not sell alcohol, agency spokespeople said.