Saint Francis Ministries brought foster care into focus in Amarillo with its “Open Hearts, Open Homes” event, connecting prospective foster parents, adoptive families and child welfare workers under one roof. The gathering offered practical guidance on the foster process, along with personal stories from former foster youth and experienced caregivers to shed light on the realities behind the system. Organizers stressed the urgent need for support in Region One, where 977 children are currently in care - including hundreds of toddlers and more than 220 sibling groups, many separated. The message was both hopeful and pressing: stable homes can change lives, and there’s room for more open doors.

Austin officials are warning residents to watch for toxic blue-green algae in local lakes and creeks as warmer spring weather approaches. The dark, surface-floating patches have been spotted throughout the winter, and authorities expect blooms to increase in the coming weeks. Residents are urged to avoid water that appears foamy, stagnant, or discolored - especially after recent rainfall - and to keep pets from drinking or licking contaminated water. While the city monitors overall water quality, it does not routinely test for recreational safety, meaning swimmers are advised to rely on caution as much as sunshine.

Organizers of Texoma Earth Day 2026 are seeking sponsors, vendors, workshop leaders and performers for the April 18 festival in Sherman, Texas, inviting partners who support environmental education and sustainable living. Early registration discounts run through March 1, with final sign-ups open until April 8. The event will also feature a new online gallery showcasing community art, writing, music and photography focused on environmental themes - proving that in Texoma, even Earth Day comes with a creative twist.

The playground at McNaughton Park is back in action after Missouri City wrapped up $88,337 in repairs to its entrance structure and safety surfacing. Officials say the upgrades bring the site back up to the city’s “high safety standards” - and keep the 38-acre park a go-to spot for families. Beyond the refreshed playground, the park features sports courts, walking trails, pavilions and even a nine-hole disc and footgolf course. Reopened on February 13, the local favorite is once again ready for swings, slides and weekend energy.

The Law School Admission Council has announced that starting in August, the Law School Admission Test will no longer be offered remotely for most applicants, citing concerns over security and exam integrity. Introduced during the pandemic, online testing now accounts for about 40% of test-takers - but officials say most score holds and suspected violations have come from remote exams. Limited online options will remain for students with medical needs or limited access to test centers. In short, future lawyers will once again have to prove themselves the old-fashioned way: under fluorescent lights, in a monitored room, with no Wi-Fi excuses.

Austin Animal Services has launched a free, high-volume spay and neuter clinic in North Austin, running through March 2, offering same-day procedures along with vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and microchipping. Organized with Greater Good Charities, the five-day effort aims to perform about 1,200 surgeries - building on more than 6,000 completed in similar clinics since 2024. With typical procedures often costing hundreds of dollars and requiring long waits, the city says removing those barriers helps curb overpopulation and ease pressure on shelters. In a town that loves its pets, prevention is proving cheaper - and kinder - than overflow.

Longview City Council has approved a Safe Haven Baby Box at Fire Station No. 2, giving parents in crisis a monitored, climate-controlled option to anonymously surrender a newborn within minutes - a move officials hope will prevent dangerous abandonments. The site will be only the second of its kind in East Texas, developed in partnership with Hannah House. At the same meeting, the council also honored local softball standout Sam Schott, proclaiming a day in her name after she was named the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year. In one session, the city focused on both life’s most fragile beginnings - and one of its brightest rising stars.

Dallas favorite il Bracco is heading west, opening its first out-of-Texas location in Scottsdale on March 30 - complete with a $100,000 art collection, because pasta apparently tastes better with curated walls. The concept from Western Addition Restaurant Group has built a loyal following in Dallas and Houston, and now sees Scottsdale’s buzzing dining scene as the perfect launchpad for national ambitions. Founder and chef Robert Quick says the move blends great food, thoughtful design and “genuine hospitality,” which in restaurant terms usually means you’ll want to linger - and order another round. If all goes to plan, Arizona may soon discover that expansion tastes a lot like handmade Italian.

Texas grocer The United Family is bringing back its 10% Friends & Family discount from March 1-10, just in time for spring break - because nothing says vacation prep like discounted bottled water and paper plates. The promotion applies to a long list of private-label brands, from dairy and meat to everyday staples, and requires a free Rewards! account through one of the company’s store apps. President Sidney Hopper says last fall’s version was such a hit that a sequel felt inevitable. Translation: if you’re already filling your cart, you might as well let the savings tag along.

America’s housing crisis is quietly turning into a climate sorting machine: pay nearly $1 million for relative safety in California, or opt for a far cheaper home in Texas - complete with complimentary hurricane risk. As high prices push residents out of states like California, many are relocating to places more exposed to floods, wildfires, and insurance meltdowns, because affordability now often comes bundled with disaster potential. More than 21 million renters already spend over 30% of their income on housing, leaving little room to factor in rising climate threats. In effect, income is becoming a shield against catastrophe - and for millions of Americans, it’s one they simply can’t afford.

A new indoor golf simulator has opened in Sherman, Texas, offering golfers a chance to tee off without worrying about Oklahoma winters or Texas heat. Back Nine features four private bays where players can virtually tackle world-famous courses, compete in mini-games, and get instant feedback on their swing - because even your slice now comes with analytics. Co-owner Garrett Walters says it’s built for everyone from tournament pros to total beginners, all in a perfectly climate-controlled 75-degree bubble. At $50 an hour per bay, it’s proof that in Texas, even sunshine can be scheduled by appointment.

Several major road projects are moving forward in Montgomery County’s Precinct 4, targeting congestion in the New Caney and Porter areas. Upcoming plans include widening Ford Road and Gene Campbell Road, adding turn lanes, traffic signals and drainage improvements, with construction on parts of Ford Road expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, work is already underway on Ford Road Segment 1 and Sorters Road Segment 2, both expanding from two to four lanes at a combined cost exceeding $21 million. Funded largely through 2025 road bonds and the Precinct 4 commissioner’s office - with some federal support - the projects aim to modernize key corridors in one of the county’s fastest-growing regions.

The Frist Art Museum in Nashville is hosting Impressionist Revolution: From Monet to Matisse, a major exhibition from the Dallas Museum of Art tracing the movement’s rebellious beginnings in 1874 through its profound influence on modern art. Featuring nearly 50 paintings and sculptures by artists including Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin and Matisse, the show marks the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition in Paris. Organized thematically, it explores how these once-scandalous painters broke from academic tradition, experimented with light and color, and paved the way for movements such as Cubism and Fauvism. On view through May 31, 2026, the exhibition invites visitors to reconsider Impressionism not as a single style, but as a radical rethinking of what modern art could be.

Residents served by the Red River Authority’s Arrowhead Lake Lots Water System in Wichita Falls are under a boil water notice after low pressure raised concerns about possible bacterial contamination. Under guidance from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, customers must boil all water for drinking, cooking, washing and ice-making for at least two minutes - or use bottled water - until further notice. Officials say vulnerable groups, including children, seniors and immunocompromised individuals, face higher risk. The utility will announce when the order is lifted, but for now, turning on the tap comes with extra steps.

A proposed border wall cutting through Big Bend National Park has sparked sharp backlash after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security signaled it may waive environmental laws to speed construction. DHS argues the Big Bend sector is a high-traffic area for illegal crossings and says the planned “smart wall” would combine steel barriers, patrol roads and surveillance technology. Critics, including the National Parks Conservation Association, warn the project would damage fragile desert ecosystems, block wildlife migration routes and threaten the park’s tourism economy. An online petition opposing the plan has already gathered tens of thousands of signatures, turning the remote stretch of Texas borderland into the latest flashpoint in America’s immigration debate.

Texas voters headed to the polls for the March 3 primaries to decide which candidates will represent the Democratic and Republican parties in November’s race for Congress. The ballot includes a crowded field for the U.S. Senate seat, with multiple contenders from both parties competing to advance to the general election. At the same time, all 38 seats in the U.S. House from Texas are up for grabs, with dozens of candidates battling it out across districts. If no candidate wins a majority, the race will move to a runoff scheduled for May 26 - because in Texas politics, one round is often just the warm-up.

Wichita Falls has officially opened the Conoco Dog Park, giving local dogs a new space where they can finally run off leash. The launch event drew dozens of pets and owners, featuring a playful Lucky Leprechaun Dog Parade and a best-dressed contest for pups of all sizes. City officials say the park expands recreational space on the east side of town and includes separate areas for small and large dogs. More upgrades, such as parking and shaded picnic areas, are planned once additional funding becomes available. For local dogs, it seems the city has finally built a place where “good boy energy” can run completely free.

The Baylor Scott & White Clinic in Bee Cave, Texas has started offering urgent care services, giving residents a new option for same-day treatment of minor illnesses and injuries. The clinic can handle issues such as respiratory infections, sprains, minor fractures and urinary tract infections, with on-site X-rays and lab testing available. Officials say the move is part of a broader effort to make healthcare more accessible for families in the Greater Austin area. Patients can walk in or book appointments through the MyBSWHealth app. In short, it’s another attempt to bring quick medical care a little closer to home-before a small problem turns into a long wait somewhere else.

Austin officials have approved a new ordinance aimed at cutting down excessive vehicle noise, particularly around the busy West Campus area. The rule will target engines louder than 85 decibels, allowing police to issue warnings and fines of up to $500 for repeat violations. City leaders say the measure responds to growing complaints from residents and students who struggle with sleepless nights caused by revving engines. Supporters argue it will improve quality of life as the city grows and neighborhoods become more crowded. Still, some residents wonder how officers will actually measure 85 decibels-because noise is easy to hear, but not always easy to police.

More than 150,000 Texas families have applied for the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, setting a record for a first-year school choice initiative. The program offers about $10,000 per student in public funds for private schooling or homeschooling, with applications open until March 17. Because demand already exceeds the available budget, officials will hold a lottery to decide which families receive funding. Priority will go to students with disabilities and to low- and middle-income households. In short, the program is proving extremely popular-though not everyone who applied should start planning their new school just yet.