San Antonio's Ready to Work program could soon feature artificial intelligence training as officials gauge what skills local employers need.

Why it matters: "People on the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum are the ones that typically get left behind when there's new emerging technologies that are starting to penetrate the labor force," Mike Ramsey, executive director of workforce development for the city, tells Axios.

How it works: Ramsey is waiting to hear more from employers to help shape the training. The city sent them a survey that will remain open through the end of May. Meetings will follow.

Flashback: At the height of the pandemic in 2020, city voters approved using a one-eighth cent sales tax to create Ready to Work.

• The funding was intended to be temporary — it expired at the end of 2025.

Between the lines: Ready to Work is preparing to sunset by 2030 and will stop taking new applicants in 2029 as it uses up the last of the sales tax funding.

• But Ramsey says the city can add AI training without extra cost.

By the numbers: Ready to Work isn't hitting its job placement goal after four years in operation.

• Officials have long held the goal of 80% of participants getting an approved job (defined as one that pays at least $15 per hour, with benefits, in a target field) within six months.
• That figure stood at 62% as of Friday, per the city's Ready to Work dashboard. 75% of participants find approved employment within a year.
• More than 6,800 people have completed training, and just over 5,000 people have found an approved job.

Zoom in: Ramsey thinks AI training could help the program meet the 80% goal.

• "If employers realize that participants coming out of the Ready to Work pipeline are more equipped with those [AI] skills than a typical applicant would be, then they'll move higher up on that hiring list," Ramsey says.

What's next: AI training could be available in Ready to Work within the year.

The big picture

The art market is thriving in Texas, with an increasing number of transactions over $1 million, per a report by Bank of America and ArtTactic.

Why it matters: The state's art boom is a byproduct of its growing population and more ultra-wealthy families moving to the state, Bank of America Dallas president Jennifer Chandler tells Axios.

Follow the money: About 46% of the country's overall art spending last year came from buyers in California, Florida, New York and Texas, per the Bank of America report.

• The four states also accounted for about 80% of the country's art purchases over $1 million.

The intrigue: Texas wasn't a top 10 state in 2015 for art transactions over $1 million. Now, the state is fourth, with a 6% market share for the transaction type, Bank of America says.

State of play: Art is a "heartstring purchase" that's attracting a new generation of buyers, including tech founders diversifying their portfolio and young people whose families have collected art for generations, Chandler tells Axios.

• Sales of impressionist and modern art increased last year, along with art made by women.

By the numbers: Texas' arts and culture industry generated almost $460 million in sales tax revenue in 2023, per the Texas Cultural Trust.

• In San Antonio, it contributed $3.74 million in sales taxes.

Zoom in: The late Linda Pace, whose parents founded the company known for Pace salsas, remains one of the most well-known art collectors from San Antonio.

• An artist herself, Pace dreamt up Ruby City, the contemporary art museum in Southtown. The Linda Pace Foundation exhibits, preserves and grows her collection there.

A 25-year-old man was found guilty of damaging government property following a January incident in which he rammed his car into ICE vehicles outside a San Antonio Walmart.

• The man, who is an immigrant and previously had temporary permission to be in the U.S., said he didn't know the masked agents were law enforcement. (KSAT)

🚘 Waymo expects to restart service in San Antonio this week, after about a three-week pause due to one of its vehicles being swept away by flood waters. (Express-News 🔑)

⚖️ A family injured in explosions caused by a gas leak has sued CPS Energy, the second such lawsuit related to the incident. The utility company said it does not comment on active litigation. (KENS)

While there was nothing to honk about last night, a debate is brewing across the fan base: When is the right time to honk?

Catch up quick: San Antonio's longstanding tradition of blaring car horns after big Spurs wins is ingrained in the city's DNA, but fans have been honk-deprived during the team's seven-year playoff drought.

• Back in the day, the chorus of cars was mostly reserved for major playoff wins.

Yes, but: Years of pent-up excitement have turned every victory into a celebration, especially downtown and along Southwest Military Drive.

📬 Tell us: Should honking be saved for deep playoff runs, or is any Spurs win worth the noise?

• Hit reply and let us know. Your response could be featured in a future newsletter.

Our Axios Houston colleague Jay was dying to try the frozen chicken tikka masala wrap from H-E-B since he saw someone post about it on TikTok.

• Here's his dispatch.

Dig in: H-E-B sells four kinds of Deep Indian Kitchen frozen wraps: Chicken tikka masala, butter chicken kati, coconut chicken curry and potato and pea samosa kati. Each are around $4 depending on your store's location.

• The wraps are microwaveable and come with a sleeve that helps crisp the paratha while it's heating up.

My experience: From the first bite, I was all-in. The sauce has a restaurant-tasting quality, and the tender chicken easily complements the crunchy wrap.

• It was a perfect, quick lunch. It didn't even get lava hot like a Hot Pocket. It was ready to eat less than five minutes after I pulled it out of my freezer.

The bottom line: Find them in the frozen aisle. But don't be surprised if these viral eats are sold out.

Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that H-E-B sells a potato and pea (not potato and carrot) samosa kati.