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Baylor Scott & White Health’s “Help Me Decide” virtual artificial intelligence tool aims to help patients navigate care options and avoid unnecessary emergency room visits.

Guided by clinician oversight, patients describe their symptoms, and AI points them to the most appropriate option, including e-visits, urgent care, a primary care appointment, nurse triage or emergency care.

The overview: Help Me Decide is an AI tool designed to reduce guesswork and confusion during stressful moments when patients may be feeling unwell by asking questions about their symptoms, said Dr. Camille Bradley, a family medicine doctor at Baylor Scott & White.

“[Help Me Decide] can make a really big difference in getting to the right place at the right time, which in medicine, is half the battle,” Bradley said.

The details: The tool asks patients a variety of questions in order to better understand their symptoms and the urgency of their situation. It will then make a recommendation for patients based on the answers.

Leander ISD will head into the 2026-27 school year with a $9.9 million shortfall, following the board of trustees' adoption of the budget June 18. 

The details: District documents show that the budget includes $465.9 million worth of revenues against $476.2 million worth of expenditures and $350,000 for other uses.

The debt service budget will have a balanced budget of $168 million. The child nutrition budget is projecting $21.1 million worth of expenditures against $15.2 million worth of revenues, resulting in a planned operating shortfall of $5.9 million intended to align with federal requirements to spend down excess fund balance.

Remember this? The board approved a 0% general pay increase as part of the 2026-27 compensation plan May 7. However, the plan includes a one-time lump sum retention payment of up to $1,000 for full-time employees and $500 for part-time employees.

Looking ahead: The board will next adopt the tax rate in August, once the district receives the certified property values from the appraisal district. Current projections show an unchanged tax rate of $1.0869.

For 15 years, Leander-based Texas Sweet Heat Jam has been making unique and delicious jams for a cause that customers and employees alike can be proud of.

The backstory: The label of each jar of the company’s jam describes founder Nolan Stilwell as “a culinary artist, avid gardener and a native Texan, who happens to have Down syndrome.” with the help of his parents, Christine and Randy, Nolan started Texas Sweet Heat Jam in 2011.

The company got its start when Nolan wanted to join his high school’s culinary program, but was unable to. Nolan and his parents decided to create their own opportunity instead, and over the last 15 years, their company has grown to provide similar opportunities for many more young people with disabilities.

What they offer: Texas Sweet Heat Jam sells more than a dozen different flavors of jam that combine sweet fruit flavors with a spicy jalapeño kick, as well as mustard and barbecue sauce. Each jar is handcrafted by a small team of dedicated employees.

Check out some of the most-read stories from the Austin area June 15-18. 

1. The Lodge Card Club reopens in Round Rock

2. Hays County denies agreement with 340-acre development over Edwards Aquifer recharge zone

3. Sweet Lemon Kitchen owner brings cafe to Georgetown's new entertainment district

4. 5 things to know: Bastrop data centers, SpaceX incentives and more

5. Austin Public Library postpones reopening, closure of 2 branches

6. Corral Prime Meat Market now open in New Braunfels

Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously June 16 to continue the local disaster declaration County Judge Andy Brown issued June 12 over the threat of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that can affect livestock, wildlife, pets and, in rare cases, people, according to the county's continuing order. 

The first U.S. case in a decade surfaced June 3 on a calf in La Pryor, in Zavala County near the Texas-Mexico border.

What it means: Brown emphasized the action was not a response to a confirmed local case, while Austin Public Health authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said the risk to humans remains low, although open wounds remain vulnerable. 

Residents who suspect a screwworm case involving wildlife should contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; cases involving livestock and pets should go to the Texas Animal Health Commission, which is leading the state's response.

What to watch for: Residents concerned about a possible human infection should reach an on-call epidemiologist through Austin Public Health at 512-972-5555.