ATX-CPF: Impact 10/6/2025

What they offer: The new business is an independent book store and game hub with an array of offerings. The Secret Lantern Books and Games has launched an online store ahead of its brick and mortar opening which includes ebooks, audiobooks, traditional books, manga, graphic novels and more. 

More details: Throughout the soft opening, the owners will be building up inventory and getting feedback from customers. The store will be open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and closed Tuesday. Hours are subject to change, according to the owners. 

Stay tuned: Lora and Condaxis plan to have a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony before the holidays with more details to come. 

Kinectory Learning Centers, a Christian preschool providing care to children ages six weeks to five years, is moving to a new location in Cedar Park on Oct. 20, Chief Executive Officer Lexa Jack said.

More details: The preschool opened August 2024, according to previous Community Impact reporting, and utilizes a STEM-based curriculum. The school offers summer camps and pop-up events through its Kinectory Club in addition to school programming. The new facility will feature a sensory and STEM lab, which will include museum-grade resources for active learning, Jack said. 

One more thing: Registration for the 2025-26 school year is currently open at Kinectory Learning Centers.

From Oct. 13-19, Texas residents will not have to pay to apply to in-state public colleges and universities.

The details: During Free College Application Week, application fees will be waived for all Texas residents applying to undergraduate programs at public colleges and universities located in Texas. First-time college students, transfer students and students returning to school are eligible, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

To qualify for the fee waiver, all applications must be submitted through ApplyTexas, the state’s college application portal.

What they're saying: “Texas prioritizes opportunities for students to pursue the best education they need to succeed in high demand, good-paying jobs after graduation,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in an Aug. 29 news release. “By supporting our students today, we are investing in a stronger Texas tomorrow.” 

Put in perspective: Most high school seniors apply to 5-10 colleges or universities and each application costs about $60-$75, state lawmakers estimated in June.

Williamson County commissioners approved the maximum rate of 6% for the Williamson County Health Care Provider Participation Program at a Sept. 23 meeting.

About the program: This health care program allows nonpublic hospitals to contribute to a fund that helps recapture uncompensated expenses. This fund can help cover costs from caring for Medicaid, low-income or uninsured patients.

How it works: To do this, hospitals in the county make payments to the local provider participation fund, or LPPF. This payment is calculated as a percentage of each hospital's net patient revenue. 

Williamson County sends the money from the LPPF to the state, which uses the funds to pay the nonfederal share to receive matching funds from the federal Medicaid program. The money is then returned back to the hospitals as Medicaid supplemental payments.

What happened: Commissioners voted to keep the payment rate at 6%, the same rate as the previous year. The program has helped bring over $540 million of funding to hospitals in the county.

Austin City Council backed Applied Materials’ request for federal trade relief under foreign trade zone, or FTZ, designation at its local facilities. That program can reduce the impact of federal import and export fees, which the company says will help it remain competitive.

The details: Applied Materials, which has a broad Austin manufacturing presence, joins other area companies like Samsung and Flex already using the trade zone program. Interest in FTZs has surged following federal tariff adjustments this year, with Austin officials supporting applications from Applied Materials' and Venkel Ltd. in the past few months. 

While FTZs may save companies money and free up resources, the application process has slowed due to high demand and greater federal scrutiny.

Here are the top trending Community Impact stories in the Austin metro from Sept. 29-Oct. 3.

1. New restaurant Grey Orchard to open in Round Rock

2. Nana B's Country Kitchen now serving comfort food in Round Rock

3. Jet's Pizza opens Round Rock shop near Old Settlers Boulevard

4. Texas Roadhouse to open in Leander this November

5. Austin ISD adopts lower tax rate for 2025-26, homeowners could see savings

6. Q&A: Meet 4 candidates for Pflugerville mayor