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šŸŒ± What limits did Hays County put on new sheriffā€™s AI tools?

San Marcos, Texas Patch AM: a 5 min read

Hi San Marcos! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ā˜•ļøļø

In today's newsletter:

  • What limits did Hays County put on new sheriffā€™s AI tools?
  • Where you can (and canā€™t) ride San Marcosā€™ new Lime scooters.
  • San Marcos Ikea is closing soonā€”hereā€™s what that means for shoppers.

Also on today's calendar: Heritage Association of San Marcos Treasure Sale and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: I'm a rock group with 4 members; one member was assassinated. What am I? šŸ¤” (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's San Marcos Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla SpeedtestĀ®. Based on analysis by OoklaĀ® of Speedtest IntelligenceĀ® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's San Marcos Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

  • Friday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 99 and low of 78 degrees. šŸŒ¶ Hot!
  • Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, temps: high: 101, low: 77.
  • Sunday: Hot; an afternoon t-storm, with a high of 99 and low of 76 degrees.

šŸ“° News we're reading

1. Hays County Commissioners Court approves first payment for 10-year Axon contract (haysfreepress.com) ā€” Hays County commissioners meeting in San Marcos have approved the first payment on a 10-year, $4.5 million Axon AI technology contract for the sheriffā€™s office, while requiring court approval before any new AI features are activated. Residents and the county judge raised concerns about bias, data use, and long-term commitments, leading to written safeguards and exclusion of Axonā€™s AI report-writing tool for now.
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2. Scooters are back, but some spots are off-limits (lmtonline.com) ā€” San Marcos has relaunched dockless Lime e-scooters, giving residents and Texas State students 150 scooters to use around downtown, campus, and parts of the east side. Riders must be 18, follow slow-ride and no-ride zones, and park away from ADA ramps and the river. Discounted fares are available for qualifying low-income users through Lime Access.
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3. Ikea to close small-format store in San Marcos 14 months after opening (expressnews.com) ā€” San Marcos shoppers will lose their local Ikea option when the small-format store along I-35 closes on November 1, just over a year after opening. The company says itā€™s shifting strategy toward online shopping, delivery, and pickup, and has also closed a similar Austin location. Larger Ikea stores in Live Oak and Round Rock will remain open for Central Texas customers.
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4. Money magazine names Texas State among 'Best Colleges in America' for 2026 (txst.edu) ā€” Texas State University in San Marcos has been named one of Money magazineā€™s ā€œBest Colleges in Americaā€ for 2026, earning three and a half out of five stars for value. The ranking highlights strong graduation outcomes, affordability, and educational quality compared with similar institutions, giving local families another data point as they weigh college options close to home.
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šŸ“ø Around San Marcos

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

šŸ—“ Upcoming Events in San Marcos

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

ā˜… Featured events ā˜…

    Saturday September 12
  • Snakefessst! ā†’
    San Marcos Discovery Center, 430 Riverside Dr, San Marcos
    9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

šŸ“£ San Marcos Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

šŸ’¬ Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I love their ice cream.
    They use the best ingredients. And they have my favorite, bubble gum! You canā€™t get that anywhere else. (Nextdoor Blanco Vista)
  • We love the owner.
    He remembers everyone by name. His pita bread is so soft and his Greek salads are delicious! (Nextdoor Blanco Vista)
  • Aramark Corporation posted a job opening for Student Worker - Barista - Texas State University in San Marcos. Apply here.
  • Walmart posted a job opening for Front End Service Team Supervisor in San Marcos. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near San Marcos here.

Ok San Marcos! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Mount Rushmore (Thank you J.J. W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

šŸ‘‰ Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you whatā€™s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in San Marcos

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in San Marcos

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.