ATX-SWA: Impact 9/30/2025

Austin is planning to install dozens of interactive advertising kiosks around the downtown area as part of a new public messaging and revenue-generating program.

The digital stands, which could be installed by late next year, are coming after City Council recently requested more public information and wayfinding features. Fifty kiosks will be placed in select areas with guidelines for the type of content that can be displayed, and with restrictions on locating the features near places like schools, parks, medical facilities and religious institutions.

Public review of city code changes needed to allow the advertising are planned for this fall ahead of final approval by council. The city will also seek public input about the placement of the kiosks before installation.

Southwest Austin business Training Wheels ABA is celebrating five years helping children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder with their various clinical services.

What to know: Owned by Adam Weinzimer, the business provides applied behavior analysis therapy for children across the Austin area.

"From the beginning, my passion has been to make high-quality, evidence-based care accessible to all children—regardless of their background or financial situation,” Weinzimer said. “Every child with autism deserves the chance to thrive and that’s what drives everything we do at Training Wheels ABA.”

The business is one of the first ABA companies in the area to accept Medicaid, breaking down financial barriers, the business stated in an email exchange with Community Impact.

Through its services, Training Wheels ABA empowers children with autism by helping them build confidence, communication and independence. The clinic has grown into three locations and expanded with in-home services to provide more flexibility for families.

322 W. William Cannon Drive, Austin

Austin firefighters may see pay increases and a reduced work schedule after their union reached a tentative contract agreement with the city late Sept. 26.

The details: Since earlier this summer, the Austin Firefighters Association—the union representing the Austin Fire Department—has been negotiating with city officials for a four-year labor contract.

The agreement made Sept. 26 is set to be ratified by AFA then approved by City Council members in October. It includes:

• Pay increases for all four years of the agreement
• A reduced work schedule to be known as the “Austin Schedule”
• A new, more-streamlined promotion process
• More flexible hiring, including the ability to hire already-certified firefighters

This Miss Austin Scholarship Competition will make its return to the city on Nov. 8 under new leadership by former state titleholders, Melody Pierce, Miss Arizona 2022, and Jennifer Schmidt Navratil, Miss Wisconsin 2021.

The specifics: Hosted by the nonprofit the Miss Austin Organization, and as the official preliminary to Miss Texas and Miss America, the competition features a scholarship program providing mentorship, leadership development and higher education, according to a news release.

The competition is looking for participants for its teen and young women categories. Participants must live, work or study in Texas. Specific age requirements are as follows:

• Miss Delegates: ages 18-28 as of Sept. 30, 2026
• Teen Delegates: ages 14-18 as of Sept. 1, 2026

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.