The Hutto City Council voted to appoint Charles Warner to fill the vacant Place 1 seat on an interim basis through May 2026, when voters are expected to elect a permanent replacement.

Two-minute impact: Warner was appointed with one dissenting vote from Place 4 City Council member Peter Gordon. He currently serves on the Hutto Ethics Review Commission and was one of 14 applicants who sought the temporary position after the city opened the application process to residents earlier this month.

Warner works full time at Dell and is also involved in business and volunteer work through his church. He said he has been interested in serving in local government for some time, but had not been able to commit because of time constraints. The interim appointment, he said, allows him the opportunity to serve while balancing his professional responsibilities.

The background: The Place 1 seat became vacant following the resignation of former council member Brian Thompson, who stepped down on Dec. 22.

Texas State Technical College is receiving a $3.5 million state grant to train future semiconductor technicians at its East Williamson County campus in Hutto.

The details: TSTC will use the grant to develop the Accelerated Semiconductor Technician Training Program, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Jan. 8. The college will use existing instructional and lab facilities for the new program.

The 10-week program will train students for careers in semiconductor fabrication, including roles as equipment technicians, process technicians and gas control system specialists, according to a Jan. 8 news release.

The background: The grant money comes from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, a state program launched in 2023 to promote economic and workforce development in semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing.

“This investment will equip students with the advanced skills needed for a modern, high-tech workforce, create quality jobs for Texans, and support the semiconductor operations and chip production that drive our economy and are vital to our national security,” Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, said in the release. 

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is moving forward with a $5 billion expansion aimed at easing congestion and improving the passenger experience. The project will add 32 new gates, including 26 tied to a new Concourse B, while Southwest Airlines plans to nearly double its presence at the airport with 18 additional gates and about 200 daily flights.

A closer look: As part of the expansion, Southwest will relocate its command center and open a pilot and flight attendant base, bringing roughly 2,000 new jobs by 2027. The airport is also building a six-gate Concourse M to provide flexibility during construction, schedule changes, delays and diverted flights.

Looking ahead: Additional projects include expanded parking, centralized TSA checkpoints and improvements to baggage handling, as well as ongoing efforts to extend Austin’s light rail to the airport. Officials say these projects will help ABIA handle growth while enhancing convenience for travelers.