Northwest Austin has experienced several local business updates for October, including new restaurant openings, upcoming retail expansions and a permanent closure.

The updates include:

• KL Dragon House opened Sept. 13, serving Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines.

• Pebble Onebird opened Sept. 20, offering breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner options.

• Birds Barbershop opened Sept. 25, offering full-service salon and barbershop services.

• Baolicious opened Oct. 3, serving steamed dumplings, bao buns and appetizers.

• Urban Egg opened Oct. 12, marking its first Austin location.

• Crunch Fitness is opening Oct. 28, featuring workout equipment, group classes and recovery services.

Austin leaders voted to strengthen the city's Construction Training Program, which was created in 2018 to require contractors on city infrastructure projects to include early-career construction trainees in their workforce. The program applies to projects budgeted at $500,000 and up, with stricter requirements for those above the $10 million threshold.

The details: Sponsored by Mayor Kirk Watson, the update approved this fall will adjust existing policies for those $10 million-plus projects by:

• Allowing only current participants in construction apprenticeships, and not past graduates, to count toward program requirements

• Increasing the required trainee workforce benchmark from 15% to at least 20%

These updates will be phased in from 2027 into 2028 to allow for apprentice recruitment and program adjustments. The initiative complements City Hall's focus on the construction workforce through the Austin Infrastructure Academy, which recently received millions of dollars in civic funding.

Central Texas could experience increased moisture and slightly cooler temperatures as El Niño lingers through the fall and winter, Pflugerville weather forecaster James Greenhaw said in an interview with Community Impact.

According to a report from NOAA, there is an 83% chance that this will be the strongest El Niño on record. Greenhaw, who's known as the "Pflugerville Weather Guy" for sharing updates on social media, explained the effects this natural climate pattern could have on the area.

What is El Niño?

The description is hard to exactly say, but it's basically the warming of the Pacific waters west of Central America.

How will El Niño affect Central Texas weather?

In a typical El Niño year, what that does is it brings in more moisture towards the United States, especially toward Texas.

What’s the timeline of El Niño?

December through I would say March [or] April months are going to be our highest chances to see an increased rainfall. Not necessarily flooding, but it can happen.

Check out some of the most-read stories from the Austin area Oct. 12-16.

1. Williamson County breaks ground on new phase of Ronald Reagan Boulevard

2. Miniature golf, live music returning to former Back 9 Bar space

3. From major store openings to closings: Check out 11 San Marcos business updates

4. Check out the latest Loop 360 updates

5. Patel Brothers grocery store now open in Cedar Park

6. Austin, UT announce deal to preserve Muny