🪩 Do you remember? The 21st night of September?

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high nearing 100.

Situational awareness: An ICE agent shot and injured a man in Austin yesterday, according to local officials, leading to protests into the evening.

• The man was shot in his car while making a DoorDash delivery, his attorney said.

Today's newsletter is 972 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Texas public libraries generate nearly $5 in economic and community value for every $1 invested, according to a new statewide study.

Why it matters: The findings come as libraries face tighter local budgets, including in San Antonio, which can mean fewer staff, reduced hours and cuts to services, according to Texas Library Association executive director Shirley Robinson.

By the numbers: The more than 500 public libraries in Texas generated an estimated $3.8 billion in economic benefits in fiscal 2024, including nearly $2.5 billion in the estimated value of services.

• Library spending also directly and indirectly supported 11,200 jobs, per the report.

What they're saying: "This study puts a dollar value on the opportunities libraries create every day," Robinson said at a press conference. "Public libraries deliver value far beyond the books on their shelves," pointing to services ranging from job assistance and internet access to learning new skills and checking out books.

The big picture: Of the nearly 300 library directors surveyed, 82% said their libraries help with job applications, while 68% help residents apply for government benefits and 30% provide telehealth rooms or resources.

Zoom in: San Antonio recently eliminated 39 library positions in its newly adopted fiscal 2027 budget.

• The cuts affect 27 library aide and 12 circulation attendant positions across 17 locations, reducing annual spending by about $946,000, San Antonio Public Library spokesperson Yvonne Ramirez tells Axios.
• The city says the cuts won't affect services or programming. All 30 library branch locations will remain open with the same hours, and the system's 150 professional librarian positions will remain intact, Ramirez says.
• City officials pointed to a 40% decline in physical circulation since 2019 as one reason for the cuts, per the Express-News.

Zoom out: Hondo Public Library, which serves about 8,600 people with a five-person staff, is highlighted in the report for its digital and financial literacy programs.

The bottom line: Go check out a book — and everything else your local library has to offer.

Texas has the largest gap of any state between the share of justices of color on the state's top two courts and the share of people of color in the population, per an Axios analysis of new Brennan Center for Justice data.

Why it matters: State high courts shape major decisions on voting, abortion, civil rights and criminal justice, yet their benches often don't reflect the communities they serve.

By the numbers: 11% of Texas' high-court justices are people of color, compared with 61% of its population — a 50-percentage-point difference.

How it works: Texas Supreme Court justices and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges are elected in statewide, partisan elections for a six-year term. In case of a vacancy, the governor can also appoint judges to serve out the remainder of a term.

• Currently all 18 members of the two courts are Republican.
• Of note: As in about half the states' high courts, none of the high court judges in Texas previously served as a public defender.

Zoom out: More than three-quarters of U.S. states have a smaller share of justices of color on their high courts than the share of people of color in their population.

The fine print: Race and ethnicity reflect how justices publicly identify, based on Brennan Center research.

🍸 Dallas-based Hudson House, an oyster and martini bar, is planning its first San Antonio location in Alamo Heights, with construction expected to wrap up in April, state filings show. (CultureMap SA)

🔋 A new fast-charging EV station opened Friday on the Southeast Side, marking the area's first fast-charging option for electric vehicle drivers. (KENS)

⏸️ Gov. Greg Abbott directed TxDOT to stop issuing permits for new Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers along state roads, though existing cameras can remain in place. (Texas Tribune)

Our newsroom helps you follow the people, decisions and stories shaping San Antonio — wherever they're happening.

Why it matters: Your membership supports the local reporting that keeps you informed, engaged and connected to the place you call home.

💪 Become an Axios San Antonio member today and help keep trusted local journalism strong.

Thanks for supporting the news that keeps you connected.

Republicans are outspending Democrats in almost every battleground Senate race this month as Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) looks to the GOP's cash advantage to help hold his majority.

Driving the news: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is finally getting the Texas-sized spending boost he needs.

• The Thune-linked Texas PAC is now the biggest spender in the race this month, with more than $41 million worth of ads, per AdImpact data.
• As we told you about previously, PACs associated with President Trump, Elon Musk and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz are pouring in millions on behalf of Paxton.

Three San Antonio-area businesses are among the 10 finalists competing in H-E-B's annual Quest for Texas Best competition.

Why it matters: The statewide contest gives Texas small businesses a shot at cash prizes and a placement on H-E-B shelves.

Driving the news: H-E-B selected this year's finalists from a record 978 entries representing more than 500 companies.

Zoom in: The local contenders are San Antonio's WFN Foods, which makes heat-and-serve taco fillings; Boerne's Coley's Foods, a frozen cookie dough company; and Floresville's Dean & Peeler, which makes sausage and beef tallow from its South Texas cattle.

What's next: The finalists will pitch their products to H-E-B judges Oct. 8 in San Antonio.

• The grand prize winner gets $50,000, the "Texas Best" title and placement on H-E-B shelves.
• Three other winners will receive $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000.

Thanks to our editors Astrid Galván and Bob Gee.

🥒 Madalyn is interested in this Helotes pickle festival.

☕️ Megan is loving her morning cup of joe made with beans from the local Good for Nothing Coffee Co.