The Austin City Council unanimously backed a resolution to expand requirements for onsite automated external defibrillators, or AEDs.

The overview: Currently, Austin code only requires AEDs in buildings taller than 75 feet. The new resolution, initiated by council member Vanessa Fuentes, moves to mandate AED access in places like restaurants, stores, gyms, venues and recreation centers.

Explained: Under the resolution, new rules could also be added to:

• Equip all city public safety vehicles with AEDs

• Require emergency response plans where AEDs are placed

• Expand AED and CPR training for city employees and residents

• Improve AED registration and tracking citywide

Updates on these directives are expected before next summer.

A collection of entrepreneurship programs to support area small businesses advanced in September.

The breakdown: More than $2 million from the city will go toward:

• A small business interest loan buydown pilot program

• Matching revolving funds for crowdfunded small business loans

• A contract with The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business to develop a new small business pitch competition

In total, the programs are expected to assist scores of Austin small businesses over several years.

Heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding will threaten large parts of Texas this week, Gov. Greg Abbott told reporters Sept. 28.

The overview: The governor pointed to severe flooding that occurred in South-Central Texas in mid-July, damaging property, sweeping cars off roadways and killing two people. This week's storms will impact "a far more vast portion of the state" than the July flooding, he warned.

The details: Abbott said heavy rains will "really dramatically affect" the majority of the state on Sept. 30, and the National Weather Service noted that "North-Central Texas is a particular concern."

"We don't have the information needed right now to advise Texans on exactly what's going to happen in our rivers," Abbott told reporters. "I can tell you this, however: Everyone should expect the rivers to rise."

The Esperanza Community, a transitional shelter complex in East Austin operated by The Other Ones Foundation, celebrated its ongoing expansion this fall. The site, which began as a sanctioned encampment on state-owned land, has developed into a community with hundreds of permanent shelter units, shared spaces, job training and supportive services.

The impact: About 750 people have been rehoused after staying at the community, including about 200 in the past year.

What else: The latest shelter spaces were supported by a $1 million city allocation from 2024, and a future expansion with more than 300 additional units will be backed by nearly $50 million in state housing funds and more than $15 million from Austin.