Kyle residents will vote for a new mayor in the November election.
What's happening? Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
Meet the candidates: Candidates for mayor include Yvonne R. Flores-Cale, Robert Rizo, Andrea Villescaz and Donny Wills.
Some Kyle utility customers could see 56% utility rate increase
The average Kyle water utility customer’s bill could rise by 77% for those living outside the city limits and 15% for those within the city limits, beginning Oct. 1.
Kyle City Council adopted a $603.6 million budget for fiscal year 2025-26 at the Sept. 16 meeting, which included increases to the water and wastewater rates.
The details: In 2024, Raftelis—an Austin-based government and utility consultant company—completed a Water and Wastewater Utility Cost of Service Rate Study, which found that “current revenue levels are insufficient to sustainably fund the ongoing provision of safe and reliable water and wastewater service from FY 2025 to FY 2030,” according to city of Kyle documents.
Residents inside the city limits will see an average rate increase of $18.07, or 15%.
Residents within the ETJ will see an average rate increase of $93.84, or 56%.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Austin area.
Eggman ATX has brought its New York-style breakfast sandwiches to another location in Austin, opening up a second food truck in the Mueller Hangar mobile food vender collective.
Founded by Queens native Richard Tavetian, Eggman brings a familiar favorite breakfast option from the East Coast down south.
The menu features a collection of “egg-slingin’ good” options such as the Bodega Classic with its two fried eggs, smoked center cut bacon, cheese and choice of sauce on a roll.
Thousands of Texas businesses barred from selling THC to customers under 21
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.
