A Travis County-funded pilot program connecting violence victims and their families to social services at Austin's two Level 1 trauma centers is expiring this year with no confirmed funding source to continue it, according to a presentation by Ascension Seton staff to Travis County Commissioners on June 9.

What you need to know: The $500,000 contract with Ascension Seton for the Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program, or HVIP, will be fully expended by Aug. 31 with no other funding sources identified, according to county documents. Travis County Health and Human Services submitted a budget request for $250,000 annually in fiscal year 2026-27 to continue the program, a Travis County spokesperson confirmed.

The HVIP launched in October 2024 at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas at Austin—the only Level 1 adult trauma center in Central Texas—and Dell Children's Medical Center, according to county documents.

Orion Custom Framing opened its third location in Austin on June 1. The California-based business offers custom framing services.

“Can’t wait for you to see the beautiful space we’ve built, our inspired selection of framing options and experience the difference our approach to custom framing makes,” owner Micha Ruiz shared in an Instagram post. 

The backstory: Ruiz launched Orion Custom Framing in San Francisco four years ago, having spent over 20 years in the picture framing industry. The brand now has two San Francisco locations and one Austin studio.

The Austin location is co-owned by Ruiz’s brother-in-law, Ryan Buck, who has more than a decade of design and woodworking experience. 

The grand opening: The new business held a grand opening celebration on June 6 featuring an art exhibition by Scottie O’Mahony, a local artist, Ruiz said. 

• 908 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin

City Council is now in its annual meetings recess ahead of Austin’s budgeting process that begins in July. Read more about several notable votes cast by officials to cap off their spring session in late May.

Some details: In addition to several of those policy decisions, council also advanced a landmark settlement agreement with those who were falsely accused in the so-called Yogurt Shop Murders of 1991. The update came after Austin police determined last year that evidence pointed to serial killer Robert Brashers, rather than four men who'd been wrongfully arrested and convicted. The settlement totaled $35 million and advanced with a public apology from Mayor Kirk Watson.

City Council's next regular voting meeting is scheduled for July 23. City Manager T.C. Broadnax is also expected to present his draft of Austin's fiscal year 2026-27 budget July 16, followed by weeks of review before the spending plan is approved in August.

A Crunch Fitness in Austin, an AutoZone in Lago Vista and the Plaza Saltillo Station Double Track and Trail Project are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Plaza Saltillo Station Double Track and Trail Project ($40.6 million): This project involves a change from single track to double track, building platforms and canopies for passenger waiting areas, and associated utility relocations and right-of-way flatwork.

2. Emergency Animal Hospital of Buda ($1.7 million): A new emergency animal hospital is coming to Buda, with construction set to begin in August.

3. Snack Time C-Store & Gas Station Building ($1.6 million): This project involves the construction of a single-story gas station building with a proposed deli.

4. Crunch Fitness ($1.5 million): A new Crunch Fitness location is coming to Austin. 

5. AutoZone ($1.2 million): A 6,800-square-foot AutoZone is coming to Lago Vista, with construction set to begin in December.