St. David's Heart Hospital of Austin recently became the first facility in Central Texas to offer a cutting-edge photon-counting computed tomography, or CT, scanner.

The new scanner is designed to generate high-resolution images with greater diagnostic consistency for physicians treating pulmonary and cardiology patients, hospital officials said in a news release.

The details: Per the news release, this technology converts X-ray photons directly into electrical signals without information loss, producing ultra-high-resolution imaging beyond what a conventional CT can do and allowing physicians to obtain all relevant CT data in a single scan. Officials said this CT offers a new level of detail for patients who need to be scanned more frequently, as diagnostic consistency is “paramount” for patients with complex imaging needs.

What else? Hospital officials also said the new technology can also be used for HeartSaver CT scans, which determines if patients have plaque or calcium buildup in the heart’s arteries.

Austin’s Mexican American Cultural Center reopened earlier this month, revealing a newly renovated space on June 6 with a public celebration. 

The center, under the Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment department of the city of Austin, showcases renovated performance spaces, new classrooms and galleries.

The context: Austin's Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center initially opened in 2007 and has been growing ever since, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Over a decade after its launch, Austin City Council formally passed plans for phase two of the center's expansion. The plan included a vision to extend the center with classrooms, a new gallery and performance space, landscaping and a sculpture garden. 

The features: The newly-debuted phase two features new music rehearsal spaces, renovations to performance spaces, classrooms, galleries, teaching kitchen, landscaping and gathering spaces, according to the center. 

The celebration: The community celebrated the center’s grand reopening, with a family friendly event on June 6: Juntos de Nuevo.

• 600 River St., Austin

The University of Texas at Austin will be the south node of a national workforce development program to connect job seekers with educational opportunities and employers in the semiconductor industry. 

The university announced its selection to lead part of the national effort June 9.

What you need to know: UT's Texas Institute for Electronics will lead the south node of the National Network for Microelectronics Education, which is operated at the national level by the SEMI Foundation. The nonprofit supports workforce growth in the microelectronics industry, which includes semiconductors.

About the program: NNME South will bring together industry employers, K-12 and higher education partners to bridge the gap between available semiconductor industry jobs and the workforce by establishing new pipelines and programs. Not only will these target students, but also veterans and those looking to reskill for a career change. In the program's first year, it will focus on making pathways to careers in the industry more visible, aligning job training with industry needs, expanding training opportunities and connecting to diverse talent pools. 

An apartment complex in Cedar Park and a central kitchen for the Austin State Support Living Center, or ASSLC, are among the most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Cedar View ($82 million): Cedar View will include approximately 425 apartment units and approximately 12,000 square feet of indoor amenity space.

2. Austin SSLC Replacement Kitchen Building ($11.1 million): This project involves the new construction of approximately 9,600 square feet of space for a central kitchen facility at the Austin SSLC Campus.

3. Lakeline Boulevard Shared Use Path ($7.4 million): This project includes the construction of approximately 4 miles of 8- to 10-foot shared-use path from New Hope Drive to Little Elm Creek.

4. Connie's Last Stand ($3 million): This project involves the renovation of a 2,244-square-foot historic home with a 1,000-square-foot glass conservatory addition to be used as a restaurant.

5. Old Stagecoach Road from Center Street to Six Creeks Boulevard ($1.7 million): The roadway will be reconstructed to include pedestrian elements.

Texas education officials gave preliminary approval June 23 to the state’s first mandatory reading list, which includes nearly 200 literary works that public school students would begin reading as soon as 2030.

The overview: The proposed list incorporates about a dozen stories from the Bible, including the tale of David and Goliath in second grade and direct biblical excerpts beginning in fourth grade. In total, students would be required to read more than two dozen texts in early elementary grades and about 10 literary works per year from sixth grade through high school.

What's happening: Members of the Republican-led State Board of Education voted 9-5 to cut several titles from the reading list June 23, following nearly eight hours of public testimony a day earlier.

More than half of those who testified June 22 asked the board to shorten the list, include more diverse authors and remove religious references. Others praised the SBOE for creating a list that they said would teach students about “American exceptionalism” and prioritize classical literature.