ATX-RRK: Impact 10/1/2025

Grey Orchard, a new restaurant specializing in modern American cuisine, plans to open in Round Rock later this year.

Overview: The restaurant, owned by James Sun, will take over the former space of Denny’s on I-35 in Round Rock. Cole Fitzgerald, who earned a Michelin Guide mention in 2023, will lead the kitchen.

Together, the pair opened Fig Italian Kitchen & Bar in Austin.

The Round Rock Express, the Round Rock-based Minor League Baseball team, marked the completion of its 25th season on Sept. 21. 

What you need to know: The team was founded in 2000 by Ryan-Sanders Baseball, a partnership between Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and Don Sanders, a former minority owner of the Houston Astros, according to the league.

The Nov. 4 election is coming up, and so is the deadline to register to vote. Eligible Texans must register by Oct. 6 to cast votes in various local races and weigh in on 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.

What to know: Texans who need to register to vote must submit a paper application. The application is available here and must be printed, signed and mailed to the election office in the voter’s county of residence.

Texas does not allow online voter registration, unless residents are updating, renewing or replacing a Texas driver’s license or ID card.

Zooming in: To be eligible to register to vote, an individual must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Reside in the county they apply to vote in
• Be at least 18 years old by Election Day
• Not have been declared mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a court

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.