ATX-RRK: Impact 9/16/2025

Rally House, a purveyor of licensed sports gear featuring teams from several major professional sports leagues, opened a retail storefront in the Round Rock Premium Outlets in September.

About the business: Rally House carries items featuring teams from several national professional sports leagues, including:

• National Football League
• Major League Baseball
• National Hockey League
• National Basketball League
• National Collegiate Athletic Association
• Major League Soccer

A third Austin-area location of DB Liquor opened in Round Rock in August.

About the business: The liquor store is located adjacent to the Desi Bros. Farmers Market in the Round Rock Crossing retail center near the intersection of SH 45 and I-35.
Per the store's site, it carries a variety of beer, wine, spirits and offers tasting events.

When Texas students returned to school in August, some substantial changes awaited them.

The overview:

• House Bill 2 increases state funding for public schools by $8.4 billion.
• House Bill 1481 prohibits students from using cellphones and other personal communication devices throughout the school day.
• Senate Bill 12 requires parental consent for students to receive "medical, psychiatric and psychological treatment" on campus.
• Senate Bill 13 gives parents and school boards more oversight of library materials.
• House Bill 6 gives teachers more discretion to remove repeatedly disruptive or violent students from class.
• Senate Bill 10 requires most schools to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
• Senate Bill 11 allows districts to set aside time for students and staff to pray or read religious texts at school.
• Senate Bill 965 codifies school employees' rights to "engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty."

CollegePros co-owners Kate Trent and Kim Heffernan assist dozens of Central Texas high school students in determining their next steps after graduation each school year.

The overview: Trent and Heffernan, who were formerly educators in the Austin area, started CollegePros in 2023 to provide a range of supportive services for students in selecting a career path, successfully finding and applying to colleges as well as receiving financial aid.

Why it matters: The Central Texas-based business helps alleviate pressure for families who may not have the time or resources to navigate the increasingly complicated college application process, Trent said.

Learn more: Community Impact spoke with Trent about what students need to know as they prepare for graduation and beyond.