SATX-BNE: Impact 9/26/2025

Kyle Mickelsen was officially sworn in as a Boerne City Council member Sept. 23, following his appointment during the Sept. 9 meeting.

The details: Mickelsen takes the District 3 seat after former council member Quinten Scott resigned due to moving outside of the district. Per the Boerne City Charter, elected officials must live within the districts they represent.

Prior to serving on City Council, Mickelsen was part of the City Charter Review Committee, which led to city charter amendments on the previous May ballot.

Mickelsen will serve the remainder of Scott’s term, set to expire in May, which is when voters will select the council member to serve the next three-year term.

A locally owned archery superstore is celebrating a big milestone this fall with locations in Boerne and San Antonio.

Two-minute impact: Mesquite Archery celebrated their 25th anniversary on Sept. 20, Owner Scott Hausmann told Community Impact.

After opening their first location in San Antonio in 2000, Hausmann said they eventually expanded into the Hill Country and opened a location at 41205, I-10, Ste. D in July 2023.

What’s special about it: The pro shop offers products for all things archery, from complete compound bow sets to accessories like cases, arrows, targets and more, the website states.

Additionally, service technicians at both locations can assist both first-time and experienced bow users with maintenance tips and services.

• 41205 I-10, Ste. D, Boerne

Many Texas retailers can no longer sell consumable THC products to customers under 21 years old after the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved two emergency rules Sept. 23.

The overview: The new rules, which were drafted after Gov. Greg Abbott issued a Sept. 10 executive order requesting tighter THC regulations, apply only to retailers that sell alcohol. The rules state that businesses may not sell, serve or deliver consumable hemp products to minors and must check all customers' IDs before selling them THC products.

Zooming in: About 60,000 Texas businesses hold TABC licenses and will be prohibited from selling THC products to minors. Those businesses include bars, restaurants, liquor stores, grocery stores and some convenience stores.

However, the rule does not apply to THC retailers that do not sell alcohol or have a TABC license, such as smoke shops, gas stations or online sellers. The TABC and the Texas Department of State Health Services are working to determine how to best enforce age restrictions for THC retailers that do not sell alcohol, agency spokespeople said.

The Texas Education Agency will begin transitioning to a new standardized testing system after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law Sept. 17 to replace the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness with three shorter exams.

The overview: Through the 2026-27 school year, Texas public school students in third through 12th grade will continue taking the STAAR each spring. Beginning in fall 2027, students will take three tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year under House Bill 8, the new law.

Students’ results will be released within 48 hours after each new test is administered. STAAR scores are currently released about six weeks after a test ends, according to the TEA. 

The debate: Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said the new system will reduce test-related anxiety; give students and teachers feedback throughout the school year; and increase legislative oversight of Texas’ assessment and accountability systems. Critics of the plan said it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the TEA.