The city of Roanoke will launch Open Rewards this fall, an app-based program that provides cash back to people who spend money in the community. Siale Langi, the city’s economic development manager, provided an overview of the program during the Sept. 22 city council meeting.

“We increase opportunities to support local businesses through facade grants and our special events,” Langi said. “We felt this may also be another opportunity to provide that support.”

The context: Open Rewards tracks purchases through uploading receipts or linking a debit card. A percentage of the spent total goes to the consumer, who can ultimately use a payout method to get cash back, according to city documents.

The program will launch in late October, offering 5% cash back on all purchases made at participating Roanoke food and retail businesses, city documents state. Langi said the city may start with Oak Street businesses, which have been impacted by construction.

Super Star Car Wash is opening a location at the intersection of Riverside Drive and North Tarrant Parkway in Fort Worth.

The specifics: The company is currently offering a founding member special for packages that include unlimited washes. According to its website, there are three different no-contract membership tiers and there are single-wash options.

Every wash comes with free high-powered vacuums, tire inflators, microfiber towels, mat cleaners and dash wipes.

Customers can sign up through a link on its Facebook page for a free car wash when the location opens.

• 3500 N. Tarrant Parkway, Fort Worth

Frisco’s Northwest Community Park hosted a grand opening Sept. 19 while Collin County officials voted to raise the property tax rate. Check out six trending stories from Community Impact’s Dallas-Fort Worth coverage areas.

1. Frisco celebrates grand opening of 122-acre Northwest Community Park

2. Collin County officials raise property tax rate for FY 2026-27

3. Keller ISD consolidating campuses due to declining enrollment

4. New mixed-use district planned around Toyota Stadium in Frisco

5. Rustic Cowboy Bar & Dance Hall offers dance lessons, live music in Fort Worth

6. 5 restaurants now open, coming soon in Plano

By the end of 2026, passengers will be able to fly to nine domestic destinations from McKinney National Airport.

Avelo Airlines announced the addition of four nonstop service routes that will launch at McKinney National Airport in mid-December, including Atlanta, Denver, Nashville and New Orleans. The newly announced destinations join the five nonstop routes to four Florida cities as well as Las Vegas that Avelo Airlines officials announced earlier this year.

The specifics: Air service will begin Nov. 11 upon completion of a new commercial passenger service terminal that's been under construction since 2025. Avelo Airlines signed on as the first commercial service provider in late 2025.

The airline will begin operations by offering flights to Las Vegas and four cities in Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa.

The update: Service to the newly announced destinations is set to begin Dec. 16 and will be operated at varying frequencies depending on the destination. New destinations include:

• Atlanta, Georgia

• Denver, Colorado

• Nashville, Tennessee

• New Orleans, Louisiana

Quote of note: “The response from North Texas has been extraordinary, and the bookings back that up,” Avelo Airlines founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in a news release. “Adding four new destinations and a third based aircraft further cements our commitment to Collin County.”

Last fall, Gov. Greg Abbott deemed Texas "the epicenter of AI development" during an event about Google's data center investments in the state.

Since making that remark, the Republican governor has issued several directives aimed at regulating AI-powered data centers. Meanwhile, state agencies are expanding their use of artificial intelligence in government services.

The overview: At the state level, one of the primary uses of artificial intelligence is to improve government efficiency, said Tony Sauerhoff, who leads the Texas Department of Information Resources.

Down the road, that will likely mean reducing the number of staff members at state agencies, Sauerhoff said, noting that agency leaders are being "intentional" about those changes.

Zooming in: When asked which state agencies will be most impacted by AI in the coming years, Sauerhoff pointed to the Texas Department of Transportation.

TxDOT uses artificial intelligence in a variety of forms, including to analyze transportation infrastructure, determine which construction projects should be prioritized, optimize road safety plans and manage the flow of traffic, according to its AI strategic plan.