Bad harvests and global cocoa shortages are making chocolate a luxury item this Halloween, with candy prices up nearly 11% from last year. Single mom Nei Burton says what used to cost $5 now hits $10 - “and that’s just for a bag of candy.” Even big brands like Hershey’s are cutting corners, swapping cocoa butter for cheaper oils, while smaller chocolatiers like Sweet Shop USA vow to keep their treats authentic (and their margins slimmer). Cocoa once cost $2.50 a pound; now it’s $10 -proof that inflation has a sweet tooth too. Still, with Ghana planning new plantations, chocoholics everywhere are praying relief comes before the next holiday binge.

A new upscale consignment boutique, Whatchama Closet, has opened its doors in Champions Village Center, promising to turn secondhand into first-rate style. Owner April Lockwood describes it as an “unconventional” space where women can sell designer clothes, shoes, and accessories - and earn some cash while doing it. Sellers rent hangers and shelves for $50–$100 a month, giving their fashion finds a glamorous second act. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the boutique’s mission is simple: sustainability, style, and a little extra sparkle (and spending money) for everyone.

Nearly 100 residents packed into the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center this month to debate the future of South Dallas. The city’s new Fair Park Area Plan promises revitalization - small businesses, mixed-use corridors, prettier streets - but locals worry it could also mean bulldozed history and “grossly incompatible” modern homes popping up next to 1940s bungalows. City planners insist the public meetings are a chance to shape zoning rules before they’re set in stone. “Your presence is important, your voice is important,” said task force chair Scottie Smith II - a gentle reminder that in Dallas, silence is the fastest way to get rezoned.

Austin might call itself “weird,” but these days it’s more work hard. Tech giants like Apple and Google have turned this once-sleepy college town into Silicon Valley with cowboy boots - though there’s still enough live music and breakfast tacos to make you forget your 9 a.m. pitch deck. Stay downtown if you want skyline views, or east if you prefer craft beer and ironic mullets. By day, you’ll find sleek coworking hubs buzzing with founders “disrupting” lunch breaks; by night, you’ll chase smoked meat and two-stepping until the spreadsheets blur. Just remember: if there’s no line at the barbecue joint, you’re in the wrong place.

The Dallas Museum of Art is inviting visitors to ditch reality this fall with International Surrealism - a mind-bending exhibition on loan from London’s Tate. Over 100 works by dreamworld heavyweights like Dalí, Magritte, and Carrington promise a deep dive into the weird and wonderful logic of the subconscious. From Freud-inspired “automatic” doodles to sculptures that make you question your sanity (and your furniture choices), it’s a crash course in beautiful absurdity. The show also shines a light on often-overlooked women and global artists who proved surrealism was never just a European boys’ club. In short: expect a lot of art that’ll make you say, “Wait… what?” - and that’s exactly the point.

At Hudson High School in Lufkin, Texas, students aren’t just studying - they’re running a full-on dog grooming business called Maroon Grooms. What started three years ago in a tiny barn has now grown into a bustling, student-led operation with a brand-new facility and a steady stream of four-legged clients from the community. Under the guidance of Ag teacher Laura Wise, students learn everything from pet care and business management to handling everything from nervous chihuahuas to overexcited labs. It’s hands-on education at its furriest - and yes, homework occasionally includes brushing, nail trimming, and the occasional slobbery kiss.

About 300 runners lit up Laredo’s North Central Park for the Día de los Muertos 5K Glo Run - because nothing says “honoring the dead” like glow sticks and sneakers. Families enjoyed horse rides, mariachi tunes, and vibrant folklórico dancing as part of the evening’s festivities. The highlight? A best-dressed Catrín and Catrina contest that turned the park into a runway of skeleton chic. Proof that in Laredo, even the afterlife comes with good music and great outfits.

With just six weeks left, Grayson County’s Toys for Tots campaign is facing a holiday-sized shortage - fewer than 2,000 toys in stock and over 3,000 kids already on the list. Last year, they handed out 43,000 toys; this year, they’ll need a small Christmas miracle (and about 40,000 more donations) to do it again. Even the youngest volunteers are making their plea: “We need more baby dolls and books,” said Youth Ambassador Ava Turner. In other words - Santa’s warehouse could use a serious restock.

The Better Business Bureau has handed out its 2025 Torch Awards for Ethics, honoring north Texas businesses that prove integrity still pays off. The awards celebrate the “four C’s” - character, culture, customers, and community - and this year, out of 52 applicants, only six winners and one Spark Award recipient made the cut. Among them is Pamper Pets, a Wichita Falls favorite that started from scratch in 2022 and now calls itself “not just groomers, but innovators.” Owner Shae Clemons says the recognition reflects their mix of hard work and hometown pride - proof that doing good business and doing good for the community can, in fact, go hand in hand.

The Sheppard AFB Cookie Committee is rallying Wichita Falls to bake (or buy) some holiday spirit - they need enough supplies to assemble 4,000 goodie bags for airmen, each including a homemade cookie, candy cane, and a hot cocoa or apple cider packet. Local groups can drop off donations at the Chamber of Commerce or use the committee’s Amazon wishlist - and the top donor walks away with the coveted 2025 Community Partner Trophy.

Texas voters approved Proposition 5, exempting retail animal feed from personal property taxes and giving farmers, ranchers, and feed suppliers a break on operating costs. The amendment, tied to HJR 99, allows the legislature to officially remove ad valorem taxes on animal feed held for sale - essentially ensuring that feeding cows is no longer treated like owning a taxable luxury item. Supporters say the change will help agricultural businesses stay competitive, which in Texas is about as close to a bipartisan consensus as you get.

In Ada, Oklahoma, hundreds of volunteers from Mercy Ada and First Methodist Church gathered for a “Feed the Funnel” event, packing 40,000 long-shelf-life meal kits to support families struggling during the government shutdown and reduced SNAP benefits. With music, teamwork, and plenty of energy, volunteers emphasized community solidarity and the belief that no one should have to worry about their next meal. The meals will be distributed to food banks across Texoma to meet rising demand, and organizers encouraged anyone needing help-or wishing to help-to contact their local food pantry.

In Lago Vista, the legacy of beloved pitmaster John Baker is being carried forward by his former employee and friend, 22-year-old Lewis McCauley, now the youngest pitmaster in Texas. After Baker’s passing in January 2025, McCauley opened Legacy BBQ just down the road, using the same pits, many of the same recipes, and the same spirit that made Baker’s Brisket a community staple. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday until the food sells out, and the city has officially declared December 21 “John Baker Kindness Day” to honor the man whose barbecue - and generosity - fed more than just stomachs.

Fannin County finally has a K-9 officer again after 15 years, and his name is Onyx - an 18-month-old Belgian Malinois–German shepherd mix who apparently graduated top of his class, like the overachiever we all wish we were. The county didn’t spend a dime of taxpayer money on him; instead, grants and donations covered the $14,000 price tag, which is about how much your average dog spends on toys in its lifetime anyway. Onyx already has narcotics training down and is finishing apprehension training soon, meaning he’ll soon be sniffing out drugs *and* chasing bad guys like it’s just another Tuesday. He lives full-time with Deputy Taeylor Doty on ten acres of open space, works out more than most humans, and gets paid in chew toys - a benefits package that seems to suit him perfectly. The sheriff says this is just the beginning of rebuilding the K-9 program, and honestly, if every dog on the force has this level of enthusiasm, criminals might want to consider a new hobby.

Mission Tejas State Park is finally reopening after three years of renovations - which is about how long it takes most of us to decide where to go camping in the first place. The $3 million upgrade brought new displays, improved utilities, and even an 1885 cypress log canoe from SFA, because every park needs at least one very old boat to feel official. Campsites and roads were modernized too, so visitors can bring trailers that didn’t exist in the 1970s without performing a 37-point turn. The park will hold its grand reopening on Nov. 8, and with internships on the way for forestry students, it seems everyone - including history buffs, campers and future tree experts - gets something out of this comeback.

The Sherman Symphony Orchestra held its 24th Annual Children’s Education Concert, and the turnout was so big they had to add a third performance - because apparently, fifth-graders are very into classical music this year. Hundreds of students got to hear live symphonic music, be inspired to practice their instruments more, or at least enjoy a field trip that didn’t involve a worksheet. A few lucky kids even got to conduct the orchestra, which will definitely be their “fun fact about me” for the next decade. Organizers say the event has sparked countless new musicians over the years - proving once again that sometimes all it takes is one really dramatic cymbal crash to change a kid’s life.

Charleston’s long-stalled Magnolia Landing project is finally moving forward, promising to turn a former polluted industrial site into a billion-dollar riverfront community - complete with a 1.5-mile promenade, restaurants, apartments, parks, and plenty of “water views,” as the developers keep reminding everyone. The plan allows for up to 4,000 housing units, though the developer insists they won’t pack people in like sardines because “maximizing density does not create quality.” A massive “trip wall” and layers of clean soil are being used to literally bury the site’s toxic past - and yes, it’s also next to a chemical plant, but the developer says not to worry about that either. In 12-15 years, thousands will live here, and the company hopes it will be remembered as a shining example of thoughtful waterfront design rather than “the fancy neighborhood built on top of a cleanup site.”

City employees in College Station held their annual Veterans Day luncheon this week, a tradition that began in 2019 and has grown as more veterans have joined the community - now making up about 13% of the population. Retired Navy submariner and current city employee Connor Burleson said the support he’s received here feels genuinely meaningful, not just symbolic. A public Veterans Day ceremony will also take place on November 11 at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, continuing the city’s effort to recognize those who served not just once a year, but year-round.

After four years of construction and enough orange cones to last a lifetime, Downtown Temple is finally open again. The city is celebrating by shutting down the streets one more time-but this time for a ribbon-cutting and block party, not roadwork. The project brought new life to historic buildings like the old Hawn Hotel, Sears building, and Arcadia Theatre, which are now buzzing again with apartments and events. Local businesses, who spent years hidden behind detours and fencing, are very ready for customers to return. In short: downtown is back, it’s pretty, and everyone is hoping the only things closing now are store deals-not streets.

Texas just unveiled a $50 million glow-up at Washington-on-the-Brazos, the historic site known as the birthplace of Texas independence. The renovation includes a revamped visitor center, a bigger and more modern Star of the Republic Museum, and a rebuilt version of the original 1830s townsite. Funding came mostly from the state, with donors pitching in the rest, after years of lobbying by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst. The Texas Historical Commission says the goal is to give students and visitors an immersive experience that actually makes them care about history (not just nap through it). In short: more pride, more storytelling, and a reminder that Texas will always, absolutely, loudly insist on being Texas.

A new coffee shop with Texas vibes has opened in Ann Arbor, as Hazel Coffee Co. officially set up shop at 2111 Packard St. Owners Brian and Hailey Karagay started the brand back in Austin as a delivery-and-events coffee operation, and after moving to Michigan, they finally built a physical café that aims to be all about “coffee and community” (read: people are encouraged to stay, chat, collaborate, and not just grab-and-go in silence). The couple says they’re bringing “Southern hospitality” to the Midwest, with a menu of house-made lattes and a no-judgment policy no matter what you order. After years of cart operations, pop-ups, and searching for the right location, Hazel Coffee Co. is now open daily from 7am to 5pm and hopes to become a cozy creative hub rather than just another caffeine pit stop.