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New trade school at Austin homeless shelter hopes to give purpose, jobs to residents

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New trade school at Austin homeless shelter hopes to give purpose, jobs to residents


An Austin emergency shelter is taking a different approach to the city’s homeless problem.

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Instead of focusing solely on putting a roof over people’s heads, The Other Ones Foundation will start teaching some of its residents how to change tires, install an HVAC system, or fix a car.

“This is about finding purpose,” said Chris Baker, the founder of The Other Ones Foundation

For Baker, it’s purpose that’s driving this project.

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“I dropped out of high school when I was in 9th grade,” said Baker. “I spent a couple years doing all kinds of stuff that high school dropouts do.”

Now on the other side of homelessness, he stands before a crowd Friday.

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“All I wanted to do was to build sets,” said Baker. “That was what my dream was.”

So he returned for his high school diploma, then a bachelor’s degree in theater, and eventually his first job at a homeless shelter.

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“Which leads to that, which leads to this,” said Baker.

It’s an invisible string of circumstances that finally leads him to Friday’s opening of the John Paul DeJoria Skill Center.

“The room we’re in right now is everything from taking apart every part of an automobile to understanding an engine,” said John Paul DeJoria, who donated a $350,000 grant for the project.

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The center is an expansion of the Esperanza Community, an emergency homeless shelter in East Austin. Here, residents can learn the skills required for jobs like HVAC, auto-mechanics, plumbing, and other trades.

“It changes your life,” DeJoria. “You’re back in society, you have money, you have safety, you have a place to stay, and you are like everybody else.”

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The first instructors will come from Austin Community College.

ACC, The Rework Project, and the Texas Workforce Solutions Capital Area will cover the tuition of eligible students.

“Central to our work at Austin Community College is loving our students to success, this is what it looks like,” said Donald Tracy, interim director of continuing education at ACC.

A ribbon cutting opened the center with a round of applause and a word from Austin’s mayor.

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“It’s not just about recruiting jobs, it’s about putting Austinities, including the most vulnerable Austinites, in the jobs that are being created,” Mayor Kirk Watson.

This skill center is what Chris Baker thinks he was meant to do all along.

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“If life is about finding purpose, found it,” said Baker.

And he hopes this place will help someone else find their purpose too.

“Everyone needs a purpose and no matter what your challenges are in life, there’s always something for you to have a purpose,” said DeJoria.

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Austin, TX

Camera Sensor for iPhone 18 Camera to be Made by Samsung in Austin, TX Facility

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Camera Sensor for iPhone 18 Camera to be Made by Samsung in Austin, TX Facility


Samsung is taking steps to provide Apple with image sensors built with advanced technology for iPhones. Reportedly, the sensors for the iPhone will be manufactured in Samsung’s current Austin, Texas facility, and the company is anticipated to soon have production equipment installed for the upcoming project.

The image sensor of the iPhone is expected to have a three-stack design for better low-light performance and a higher density of pixels with multiple layers stacked vertically. This results in less power consumption, a dynamic range that’s higher, and faster speeds for readouts.

Camera Sensor for iPhone 18 Camera to be Made by Samsung in Austin, TX Facility

It’s believed that the new sensor will be made for the upcoming iPhone 18 in 2027. Apple and Samsung have reportedly arrived at a deal where Samsung will be supplying the component for the sensor. This marks the first occasion Apple will be going with another company apart from Sony as their main supplier for image sensors for its iPhones.




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Austin, TX

Arch Manning Shares Why He Is Staying With Texas

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Arch Manning Shares Why He Is Staying With Texas


Texas football has lost its fair share of players to the NFL draft and transfer portal over the past few weeks, dwindling the roster. Despite the loss of a few big names such as linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., safety Michael Taaffe and others, the Longhorns have held onto star quarterback Arch Manning.

While it was unlikely that Manning would enter the portal, there was some hype surrounding the possibility of the first-year starter entering the NFL Draft. Why did the young star decide to forego the pros? According to Manning, his journey at Texas isn’t quite finished.

Manning Wants to Continue His Development With Texas

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Nov 28, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning keeps the ball and runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

“I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially towards the back half, and I want to keep it going,” Manning said, according to Inside Texas’s Evan Vieth. “There’s no reason to leave. I feel like I got a lot more football left to play, and excited to still be a part of this team.”

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Manning didn’t quite have the season that most fans and analysts envisioned for him, struggling at the start of the year. Despite these struggles, Manning went on to improve throughout the regular season, demonstrating why he is one of the nation’s top quarterback talents.

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At the start of the season, Manning’s accuracy and timing were a bit off. The offense as a whole seemed out of sync, and Texas was not looking like the powerhouse that was promised heading into the season.

Eventually, though, Manning found his stride, and more than just improving his stats, the Longhorn quarterback looked more comfortable. Eventually, the stat sheet reflected his improvements, posting 1,625 passing yards over the last six games of the season, alongside 16 total touchdowns.

Now, returning to Texas for what will likely be his last year in college before departing for the NFL, next season should be an exciting one for the Longhorns. Not only is Manning more experienced as the team’s top quarterback, but the wide receiving core will have developed as well.

Texas wide receivers had their struggles with drops this season, but showed improvements at some points throughout the year.

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Though it may be difficult to abstain from declaring for the draft, ultimately Manning made perhaps the best decision for his career and development. With another year to grow, by the time he enters the NFL, Manning will be much more experienced and likely better prepared.

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Manning will have one more chance to take the field this season in the upcoming Citrus Bowl, where Texas will take on the Michigan Wolverines on December 31.



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Austin, TX

Celebrate Dental & Braces South Austin Expands Access to Affordable Family Dental Care and Invisalign for Austin Residents

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Celebrate Dental & Braces South Austin Expands Access to Affordable Family Dental Care and Invisalign for Austin Residents


Austin, TX , Dec. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Celebrate Dental & Braces South Austin is expanding access to affordable Invisalign and comprehensive family dental care for Austin residents through its South Congress location. As more families seek convenient and cost effective orthodontic and dental solutions the practice is responding by offering flexible treatment options designed to fit real life needs.

Celebrate Dental & Braces

With rising demand for clear aligner therapy and orthodontic transformations, Celebrate Dental & Braces South Austin is making it easier for patients to begin treatment without delay. The practice focuses on comfort, quality and long term oral health while emphasizing friendly, compassionate care for both children and adults.

Patients throughout South Austin and surrounding areas including South Congress, William Cannon, Buda, Circle C, and Del Valle benefit from a convenient location that offers general dentistry and orthodontics under one roof. This integrated approach reduces referrals, shortens treatment timelines and ensures continuity of care for the entire family.

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The South Austin location is led by Dr David Ensley and Dr Nazgol Gharbi who bring extensive experience and patient focused care to the community.

Dr David Ensley a board certified orthodontist in Austin explains that orthodontic treatment goes beyond straightening teeth. Proper orthodontic care can improve facial balance, jaw development and the natural resting position of the lips. According to Dr Ensley the most significant transformations often occur when treatment begins during childhood typically between the ages of 7 and 14. He encourages families to remember that a healthy smile is a beautiful smile and invites patients of all ages to schedule a free consultation to determine the most effective treatment plan.

To support access to orthodontic care Celebrate Dental & Braces South Austin is offering a free Invisalign consultation with Dr Ensley. Invisalign payment plans start at only $169 per month and braces are available starting at $160 per month. Most major insurance plans are accepted allowing patients to move forward with confidence.

Celebrate Dental & Braces is a multi location dental and orthodontic provider serving communities across Texas.
Celebrate Dental & Braces

Alongside orthodontic care Dr Nazgol Gharbi provides comprehensive dental services for adults and children. Dr Gharbi is a board certified dentist with more than 14 years of experience delivering gentle preventive, restorative, and cosmetic care. She emphasizes that preventive dentistry plays a key role in long term oral health and that consistent care helps patients avoid more complex issues in the future. By combining general dentistry and orthodontics in one location the practice helps families stay proactive about their oral health.

The South Austin office uses cutting edge, modern digital imaging and treatment planning technology to create precise personalized care plans for each patient. This approach supports accurate diagnosis, efficient treatment and improved patient comfort throughout the care process.

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Celebrate Dental & Braces South Austin has earned the trust of the community with over 700+ five star patient ratings and continues to be recognized as a trusted dental and orthodontic provider in Austin. The practice accepts most PPO insurance plans and Medicaid and remains committed to transparent pricing, flexible financing and compassionate care.

Austin residents interested in Invisalign braces or family dental services are encouraged to schedule a free orthodontic consultation or visit the South Congress location to learn more about available treatment options.

About Celebrate Dental & Braces

Celebrate Dental & Braces is a multi location dental and orthodontic provider serving communities across Texas. Known for patient centered care modern technology and accessible pricing the practice offers comprehensive dental and orthodontic services for patients of all ages with a focus on long term oral health and confident smiles.

Celebrate Dental & Braces also connects with the Austin community through its active presence on TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook where the team shares educational and entertaining content focused on oral health awareness, smile care, and everyday dental tips for families.

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Media Contact

Muhammad Ibrahim Khan Turk

Celebrate Dental & Braces

ibrahim@celebratedental.com

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