Two candidates are running for Place 6 on the Pflugerville ISD board of trustees: incumbent Jean Mayer and challenger Nicole Toran. Read Q&As with each candidate below.

What you need to know: PfISD trustees are elected at-large, meaning all registered voters living within the district's boundaries can vote for each place.

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 5. Early voting will be held Oct. 19-30 and Election Day is Nov. 3.

Candidates were asked to answer the questions provided, limit their responses to 50 words and not attack other opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to these guidelines or for style and clarity.

Pflugerville ISD elementary students could be impacted by new attendance zones in 2027-28 as the district's Rezoning Task Force works to solidify a boundary map recommendation ahead of four elementary closures.

Some context: The PfISD board unanimously voted to close Dessau, Parmer Lane, Pflugerville and Windermere elementary schools at the end of the 2026-27 school year as part of its ongoing district optimization efforts.

The details: Naugle said the task force has reviewed a variety of draft rezoning maps. At its Sept. 22 meeting, "Map 5" received 12 out of 13 task force votes, while "Map 9" received all 13 task force votes.

Both maps adjust zones for Carpenter, Dearing, Hidden Lake, Mott, Murchison and Rowe Lane elementaries, while using major roads as boundaries to keep neighborhoods together.

Get involved: A public hearing will be held Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. in the PfISD board room. Community members can also respond to the ThoughtExchange survey to provide feedback on the draft maps.

Merge Barbershop in downtown Hutto is moving across the street. 

The details: Owned by Teshe Melcher, the shop originally opened in October 2024 at 107 East St., Hutto. Merge features local products and hosts community events throughout the year. 

The new space has more room and allows for two additional barber chairs and back patio space. 

The business welcomes both walk-ins and appointments.

• 106 East St., Hutto

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Austin Transit Partnership approves lease for new downtown office: The ATP board approved a $13.5 million agreement to lease office space for 48 months at 203 Colorado St.—the agency's current office—as well as space next door at 201 Colorado St. Officials said this will help as the agency anticipates growing as Project Connect plans move forward.

Blakey Lane plan advances with Jessica Place connection: Bastrop is moving ahead with a Blakey Lane extension intended to connect the Sendero and Burleson Crossing shopping areas with businesses to the east. The plan has drawn opposition from Riverside Grove residents over opening a subdivision street called Jessica Place to through traffic.

State invests approximately $1.5B in Austin-area roadway improvements: Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation recently announced a 10-year transportation plan that will invest almost $140 billion in roadway improvements across the state. The funding includes $95 billion for projects across the state and $43 billion for development and routine maintenance.

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.