Autonomous drone delivery company Zipline launched in Round Rock Oct. 8.

In a nutshell: Customers within a three-mile zone from 3000 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, will be able to begin placing orders Oct. 9, said Zach Hill, who leads community engagement for the company.

How it works: Similar to other delivery services, customers can place orders from restaurants and businesses using the Zipline app.

The drone will then fly to the business, where an employee can load purchased items into the delivery pod. Representatives from Zipline said drones have a delivery weight limit of about five pounds.

What's next: Round Rock is the company's first delivery zone in Central Texas, Hill said. The business is also the first commercial drone delivery service in the Austin area.

Hill said Zipline's service area is expected to expand to other parts of the city and the greater Austin metro.

Austin Community College held a ribbon-cutting Oct. 8 for its new Automotive Technology facility on the Round Rock campus.

The new building is one of several expansions planned for the community college system.

In a nutshell: The automotive technology program teaches students how to operate, maintain and troubleshoot automotive equipment, according to the degree plan.

State Rep. John Bucy III said the facility will also house the state's only electric vehicle maintenance program.

Quote of note: "The timing on this couldn't be better," Bucy said. "The automotive industry is changing rapidly. Technology is becoming more sophisticated. Electric vehicles are becoming a larger part of the market and employers need technicians who are prepared to work with vehicles and systems of the future. ACC is responding to that demand."

Ahead of Texas' 2027 legislative session, the state comptroller's office has asked lawmakers to double funding for its $1 billion education savings account program.

The overview: The program gives participating families taxpayer dollars for private education and homeschooling, and officials said at least $2 billion are needed to maintain current participation in the program.

Meanwhile, some Texas families are raising concerns about their local school districts losing money as students leave public schools to participate in the program, known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

What they're saying: "149 students have accepted vouchers that were otherwise enrolled in Pflugerville ISD, [resulting in] an estimated loss of $1.2 million in attendance funding," said Stacy Harrell, a PfISD parent. "That lost funding will add to budget cuts that are already affecting Pflugerville ISD families. Four elementary schools [are closing], with the possibility of more."