Neither rain nor Texas-sized storms could stop the Whitesboro Peanut Festival - because nothing comes between Texans and their peanuts. The annual bash filled downtown with hundreds of vendors, a car show, carnival rides, and enough fried food to test anyone’s willpower. Even as rain poured, local favorite Good Gollie Tamales kept serving, proudly declaring their tamales “sell in sleet, rain, tornado, or tsunami.” In other words: Mother Nature tried, but Texas stubbornness - and snack cravings - won again

A new generation of industries is quietly drilling its way into Texas - and this time, it’s not oil they’re after. As the U.S. scrambles to catch up on producing the critical minerals it needs for clean energy, microchips, and defense tech, federal initiatives are turning the Lone Star State into a mining frontier once again. Energy giants like Chevron and Halliburton are poking around East Texas for lithium instead of crude, while startups like TerraVolta and EnergyX dream of powering the future one salt formation at a time. The Smackover basin - once just another name on a geological map - is suddenly being called North America’s lithium jackpot. Looks like Texas might be striking it rich again, only this time the gold is white and powers your phone.

Country music gets a bad rap - often dismissed as twangy tales of beer, trucks, and heartbreak sung by good ol’ boys in cowboy hats. But that stereotype misses the point. The genre was born from working-class struggle and shaped by a mix of cultures - вlack, white, and everything in between. Sure, modern country can lean conservative, but it also carries stories of rebellion, heartbreak, and resilience that anyone can relate to. From queer anthems to songs about class struggle, today’s country isn’t just for one kind of American - it’s for anyone willing to listen past the pickup trucks.

Austin’s city council just gave caffeine lovers a reason to celebrate - it approved a plan to make it easier to open coffee shops, cafés, and coffee trucks near neighborhoods. The idea is to cut through outdated zoning rules from 1984 and bring back the charm of walkable communities, where grabbing a latte doesn’t require a car ride. Council member Ryan Alter said the move is about creating “complete communities,” while advocates say it’s a small but vital step toward sustainability and safety. In short: fewer parking lots, more cold brews - and maybe a stronger sense of community with your morning espresso.

Texas has decided it won’t let Alaska have all the chubby-animal glory - say hello to the first-ever Fat Squirrel Week. Modeled after Katmai National Park’s beloved Fat Bear Week, the contest pits 16 “hefty” squirrels from Texas state parks against each other in a showdown of fluff, cuteness, and questionable life choices. Unlike the bears, these contestants are judged not by sheer bulk but by their “silliness” and “heftiness” - yes, that’s official park criteria. Fans can vote by liking photos on Facebook, proving that democracy is alive and well in the rodent world. As park rangers put it: no matter where you work, everyone loves a plump animal getting ready for winter.

At Bonham Junior High, the “Snack Shack” isn’t just about chips and sodas - it’s where students learn to juggle orders, manage money, and pick up some early career swagger. Run entirely by kids, the mini-business serves up treats to teachers while serving real-world skills in communication, organization, and even a bit of barista training. Family and Consumer Science teacher Tayler Hughes says the goal is simple: teach life skills that don’t come with a textbook. For some students, it’s even sparked dreams of becoming chefs - or at least better snack-makers. In a world where teenagers are glued to screens, these kids are learning how to answer phones, take orders, and deliver results - literally.

Three-Michelin-star chef Dominique Crenn is heading south - way south - to open a restaurant in the unassuming Texas town of Fredericksburg (population: under 12,000). The French-born chef, known for her artful pescatarian menus at San Francisco’s Atelier Crenn, will lead the flagship restaurant at the new Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country when it opens in 2027. And yes - she’s finally serving meat. “Inclusivity,” Crenn says, is the reason for the shift, though Texans might call it good business sense. After her Paris venture fizzled last year, Crenn’s betting on wine country charm, local farmers, and a booming luxury scene that’s turning Fredericksburg into Napa Valley with cowboy boots. The Hill Country might just be her next Michelin-worthy frontier.

After a five-year hiatus and one global pandemic, Bryan’s beloved Third Floor Cantina is boot-scootin’ back to life - this time as Concrete Rodeo, a full-on country dance hall. Owners Dustin and Madyson Batson, who first opened the bar in early 2020 (unluckiest timing ever), have bought the building back and are turning it into a place where locals can two-step without the Northgate chaos. “We’re not trying to be another Harry’s - just filling a void,” says Madyson. The Batsons start renovations this week, with plans to open by year’s end. In a town built on small-business grit, this one’s a real Texas-sized comeback story.

Bonham’s final farmers market of the year takes place this Saturday, October 25, from 8 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of the Creative Arts Center - rain or shine (and indoors if it pours). Visitors can grab fresh produce, honey, eggs, bread, and more while browsing local art, turning a grocery run into a small-town celebration. Director Sandy Barber calls the partnership a “win-win,” bringing both fresh food and fresh faces to the center. So come early, shop local, and say goodbye to market season - until it returns next April, just in time for spring harvests and sunny Saturdays.

Good news for North Texas drivers: gas prices in Sherman and Denison have dipped below $2.50 a gallon -about five cents cheaper than last week and 12 cents lower than a month ago. AAA credits the drop to lower demand, steady supply, and the seasonal switch to cheaper winter-blend fuel. “Nothing major to worry about,” says spokesperson Daniel Armbruster - though locals like TAPS driver Corey Wood still keep one eye on the pump. After all, as he puts it, “It’s $2.49 today… could be $3.80 tomorrow.”

More than three months after catastrophic floods devastated Sandy Creek near Leander, a group of volunteers is helping children reclaim a sense of normalcy - one piece of candy at a time. The nonprofit Core of Volunteers is organizing a Trunk or Treat Halloween event at Round Mountain Baptist Church, offering sweets, games, fire trucks, and even pumpkin painting for kids who’ve endured tragedy after tragedy. “These children have been through so much - they need this joy,” said Trisha Lee Hernandez, the group’s vice president, who’s also helping plan Thanksgiving and Christmas events for the community. Since the July floods that killed more than 130 people, Core of Volunteers has led recovery efforts - from feeding firefighters to rebuilding homes - often without much help from county officials. This Halloween, the group’s mission is simple: remind the children of Sandy Creek that laughter, candy, and community can still conquer heartbreak.

It may still feel like pumpkin spice season, but in Waco, the holidays have officially arrived. The 19th annual Deck the Halls Gift Market, hosted by the Junior League of Waco, is back at the Extraco Events Center, featuring a record lineup of 90 vendors and 140 booths from across the country. Shoppers can snag gifts for family (or themselves - no judgment) while helping raise funds for the League’s local community projects. Last year’s event brought in $88,000, proving that festive shopping can do more than fill stockings. “It’s really the start of the holiday season,” said co-chair Katherine Speckmeier - and yes, even if Halloween’s still a week away, Waco’s already jingling.

Forget oil - Texas is quietly turning into the sunniest power plant in America. TotalEnergies’ Danish Fields solar farm sprawls across nearly 5,000 acres southwest of Houston, churning out up to 720 megawatts - enough to light up 300,000 homes and maybe a few cowboy hats. It even packs a 225 MWh battery system to save power for those rare cloudy days. Not to be outshined, Hornet Solar and Roadrunner add another punch, together delivering more than a gigawatt of clean energy from a combined few million panels. So yes, everything’s bigger in Texas - including its solar farms and its ambition to outshine the oil rigs

“Swan Lake” Takes Flight: 500 Drones to Paint the Sky Over Forney
Move over, ballerinas - the real performers now come with propellers. This November 1, more than 500 drones will pirouette through the Texas night sky in DroneArt Show, the world’s longest drone performance, synced live to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. For 65 dazzling minutes, the sky will bloom with stars, flowers, and whatever else the algorithms dream up. The global hit has already sold half a million tickets - because who needs fireworks when you can have flying LEDs set to classical music? VIP seats are gone, but picnic spots (from $48.90) remain - just arrive early if you want the best view of ballet’s high-tech makeover.

A Texas deer has gone full emo-chic, strutting around Lago Vista with a hammock tangled in its antlers - and honestly, he’s pulling it off. Locals flooded police lines in concern, but officers assured everyone the deer is fine, just “embracing his emo era.” Wildlife experts say there’s no harm done - and since male deer naturally shed their antlers before winter, the forest’s newest fashion icon will ditch his ropey headpiece soon enough. Until then, he’s the undisputed king of early-2000s woodland couture.

On Nov. 2, all 89 Texas State Parks are throwing open their gates for free in honor of Texas State Parks Day - because nothing says “we love nature” like not charging you to see it. Visitors can hike, bike, or just post sunset pics to prove they went outside, though reservations are still recommended and camping isn’t included in the freebie. Ahead of Veterans Day, the state also reminds military families they can get in free year-round - proof that sometimes, the great outdoors really is the greatest deal in Texas.

Three members of the Creative Arts Center took a sunny field trip to Fannin County to marvel at David Keene’s bois d’arc craftsmanship - and left convinced that artisanal pens can be geopolitical . Keene, a former engineer, runs a finely tuned barn workshop where he quarter-saws Osage orange, rigs clever dust-management systems, and even dries pen blanks in a kitchen food dehydrator - because precision sometimes demands domestic appliances. He demonstrated the full pen-making process, shared hard-won shortcuts, and donated a vintage kerosene lamp to the Center’s upcoming Taste of Chocolate auction, proving local craft still fuels community pride (and auction nights).

Hillsboro’s long-abandoned outlet mall is finally getting a second act - this time as a restaurant hub. The city and Glaser Retail Partners have landed four major chains - Chili’s, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, and Waffle House- to anchor the redevelopment, with more on the way. Once a bustling shopping stop along I-35, the site had sat empty for years, collecting dust and nostalgia. Now, demolition is underway, jobs are coming, and Hillsboro officials say the project will feed both locals and travelers hungry for new options. In short: goodbye outlet racks, hello snack stacks.

After eight long years of wishing and waiting, Raguet Elementary in Nacogdoches, Texas, finally has a brand-new playground -and the kids are loving it. Principal Julia Wells said the old one was so rundown it looked “like a crime scene,” with broken slides and taped-off areas. Thanks to a $400,000 upgrade, the school now boasts modern equipment for both younger and older students, giving everyone a reason to run, climb, and laugh again. Wells says seeing 400 students enjoying the new space “makes my heart so happy.” After all, every childhood deserves more jungle gym and less caution tape.

The City of Amarillo is rethinking the future of its zoo - and this time, it might hand over the reins. City officials are considering leasing the Amarillo Zoo to the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, allowing the nonprofit to manage operations while keeping the gates open to the public. Executive Director Stephanie Brady says the plan isn’t a takeover but a transformation - turning the space into the “Amarillo Zoo and Sanctuary,” complete with upgraded habitats, an on-site vet clinic, and themed regions like “Asia” and “South America.” The move could cut the zoo’s $600,000 budget in half within a year and make it self-sustaining through donations, events, and a revamped café. In short, Amarillo wants its zoo to roar again - just with a little nonprofit muscle behind it.

Trivia met charity in style at the North Texas Area United Way’s first-ever Trivia Night - a sold-out success at Wichita Falls’ Backdoor Theatre. Seventeen teams battled through rounds on movies, music, and pop culture (with a few United Way facts sneaked in for good measure). Executive Director Carol Marlar said the goal was to kick off the campaign season with something “fun and engaging,” and judging by the laughter, mission accomplished. The night ended with prizes, bragging rights, and - more importantly - every dollar raised going to local nonprofits. Turns out, doing good can be just as entertaining as winning trivia night.