With holiday shopping in full swing, Amazon is once again reminding everyone that porch pirates are basically the Grinches of modern life-and they’re not picky about whose gifts they swipe. Spokesperson Jesse Garcia says security starts with knowing what real Amazon drivers don’t do: they won’t knock or ask for a signature unless you requested it, so anyone doing that might be auditioning for a crime show. To keep packages out of sight (and out of thieves’ hands), Amazon suggests using lockers, pickup locations, or scheduling deliveries for times you’re actually home. For die-hard home-delivery fans, Garcia recommends using Ring cameras to chat with drivers and tell them where to hide your gifts like you're running a covert operation-behind the stairs, under a planter, anywhere but in plain view. He also urges shoppers to track packages, use neighbors for backup, leave lights on for drivers, and report thefts quickly to both police and Amazon.

Texas is lighting up the holidays-literally-with The Light Park, the state’s top drive-thru light show featuring millions of synchronized, over-the-top, holiday-themed LEDs blasting along to tracks from the North Pole’s alleged #1 radio station, K-GLO. This mile-long spectacle promises a glowing tunnel so long it borders on bragging rights, all synced to DJ Polar Ice’s “electric mix,” because why wouldn’t Santa have a resident DJ? Tickets are priced per car, so the more people you can cram in safely, the merrier-and the better your group looks in those Instagram Reels. For anyone wanting bright lights, loud music, and holiday chaos minus the cold, The Light Park might be the most Texas holiday celebration imaginable.

Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy just landed the biggest individual donation in its 32-year history-roof that sometimes public policy can inspire someone to open their wallet wide. The university hasn’t spilled all the details yet, but the record-setting gift signals major confidence in the institute’s research, influence, and future ambitions. For an organization built on studying big problems, this kind of funding boost is about as welcome as it gets

Marshall, Texas has flipped the switch on its 38th annual Wonderland of Lights, turning the historic courthouse into a glowing Christmas beacon visible from, presumably, several counties away. Organizers expect up to 25,000 visitors, many lured in by hot chocolate, a century-old carousel, and the kind of small-town charm you can’t bottle-though Budweiser is sending in its famous Clydesdales next month to try. Locals say the festival puts Marshall on the map, which is handy, because otherwise most people only pass through on the way to somewhere else. The event runs Thursday through Sunday evenings, free to enter-but yes, you still have to pay if you want to spin on the antique carousel or wobble around the skating rink.

Classic Chevrolet Cadillac in Denison just wrapped up its 10th annual Toys for Tots shopping spree, where the team descended on Walmart and bought roughly $10,000 worth of toys-basically turning their carts into Santa’s backup fleet. The Bryants say they do it every year because nothing screams “holiday spirit” like filling truck beds to the point of overflow. Volunteers hauled the toys back to the dealership, where even more cars were stuffed like Christmas stockings. The family insists they’re “blessed” to keep growing the event, and honestly, if joy was measured in toy-filled pickups, Denison would be the merriest place in Texas.

College Station’s City Council met this week and made one big decision every driver will definitely notice: Highway 6 is slowing down, with speed limits dropping from 70 mph to 60 mph so TXDOT crews-and the rest of us-have a better chance of surviving rush hour. Frontage roads are getting trimmed down to 40–45 mph too. The council also redefined what legally counts as a “family,” approved nearly $2 million for drainage fixes, and debated whether people should be allowed to build things that literally block flood channels (a shocking question, truly). And in classic city-meeting fashion, they wrapped it all up with a discussion on parking rules-because nothing says local government like ending the night arguing about where cars should go.

For more than two decades, sisters Tena Lundquist Faust and Tama Lundquist have been quietly doing what entire city systems often can’t manage: saving hundreds of thousands of homeless dogs and cats through their nonprofit, PetSet. They’ve poured $5 million into Houston-area rescues, recently handing out another $400,000 to more than 100 groups that handle the gritty frontline work-everything from street pickups to spay-and-neuter marathons. PetSet has also become a force in pushing Texas lawmakers to treat animals like living beings rather than legal footnotes. And despite their massive impact, the sisters insist they’re nowhere near finished-apparently solving pet homelessness is just another item on their to-do list.

Thousands of North Texans kicked off Thanksgiving by doing the unthinkable: voluntarily running before eating. The annual YMCA turkey trots in Dallas and Fort Worth drew massive crowds again, with Dallas showing off perfect race weather and Fort Worth debuting a fancy new route past Bass Hall and Sundance Square-because nothing says “holiday spirit” like jogging near landmarks while wearing turkey hats. Participants ranged from seasoned runners to first-timers who simply decided that 6 a.m. workouts are “fun” now. And in true Thanksgiving spirit, every dollar raised goes straight into YMCA community programs and scholarships, making all that early-morning sweating slightly more meaningful.

The Russell family didn’t just build a truck stop off I-40 - they created a full-blown classic-car wonderland, and then made it free, because apparently they enjoy making every other roadside attraction look lazy. Emory Russell, a former truck driver turned collector of hundreds of cars and trucks, decided his growing fleet needed a proper stage, and the result is Russell’s Classic Car Museum near Endee, New Mexico. Travelers walk in expecting gas and snacks but instead discover a gleaming showroom that visitors routinely call one of the best surprises on the highway. The Russells say the whole project was a dream come true, and judging by the crowds taking photos like they’ve stumbled into a vintage-car time capsule, it seems the dream is very mutual.

Layne’s Chicken Fingers is about to blanket Texas in fried optimism, thanks to a new deal that greenlights 44 more locations across the state. The fast-growing chain - born in College Station and now apparently unstoppable - says Texas is already 90% “sold out” for franchising, leaving only El Paso and a few lonely pockets untouched. Developer Eli Cohen will spearhead the expansion into West Texas, San Antonio and the Coastal Bend, with Lubbock getting at least two new stores (because one is clearly not enough). CEO Garrett Reed called the deal a “major milestone,” celebrating Layne’s near-total domination of its home state. According to the company, their secret is a tight playbook that lets franchisees focus on execution, leadership and making sure no Texan is ever more than a short drive from chicken fingers.

Fort Worth kicked off the holiday season in peak Texas style, welcoming “Cowboy Santa” as he rolled into the Stockyards not in a sleigh, but in a vintage Cadillac Eldorado - because why fight gravity when you can cruise in chrome? Families packed the area for ice skating, photos and plenty of post-Thanksgiving merriment, turning every corner into a holiday backdrop. Visitors from Oregon to South Carolina joined Texans for the festivities, many sporting freshly purchased cowboy hats to blend in. Kids, adults and everyone in between soaked up the perfect weather and Western cheer, proving once again that in Fort Worth, even Santa knows you’ve gotta show up in style.

Frisco is rolling out a full winter wonderland this December, packing the calendar with everything from a Frosty 5K and tree lightings to wassail tastings and underwater Santa photos - because why shouldn’t Santa scuba dive in Texas? The month kicks off on December 6 with a family-friendly run and the always-popular Merry Main Street celebration, complete with choirs, cocoa, and plenty of photo ops with St. Nick. On December 13, the Frisco Athletic Center takes things up a notch with “Scuba with Santa,” where brave swimmers can pose with the big guy in an underwater booth. The festive spirit continues with the Walnut’s Wassail Walk on December 18 and ongoing exhibits at the Frisco Discovery Center, including the Festival of Trees and the Winter Art Show. And every night through January 3, Holiday Lights at Frisco Square dazzles visitors with a massive, music-synced light show - no admission fee, just holiday cheer turned up to 11.

Bryan’s annual Small Business Saturday market returned this weekend, offering a calmer, more human alternative to Black Friday chaos - though only four vendors braved the weather after several bailed at the last minute. Hosted at Kinderhill Brew Lab, the event gives local makers without storefronts a rare chance to actually meet customers who aren’t scrolling past them online. Despite the slim turnout, business owners say markets like this are essential for visibility, community support, and, ideally, holiday sales. Organizers hope future years bring better weather, more vendors, and fewer frantic texts asking, “Are we still doing this?”

Austin just scored $13.7 million in state-allocated federal funding to boost bike lanes, sidewalks, trails, and accessibility upgrades - part of a much larger $284 million package for active transportation across Texas. The money will help update Travis County’s long-overdue Active Transportation Plan, build out a 36-mile Red Line Parkway trail and park system, and upgrade 87 CapMetro transit stops to modern ADA standards. Officials say the improvements will make walking, biking, and rolling safer and more convenient for residents of all ages and abilities. With more than half a million people living near the Red Line corridor alone, planners hope the new trail network becomes both a green escape and a practical link to daily destinations. In short, Austin’s mobility future just got a little more human-powered.

At UT, students often act as if creativity and analysis live on opposite ends of the universe, boxed neatly into their respective departments. But the most original ideas usually happen when those boxes get smashed and disciplines start borrowing from each other - think neuroscience meets music production or data science wandering into a design studio. Research shows that art-science collaborations create work neither field could produce alone, proving that imagination and practicality make a surprisingly powerful duo. As professors like Stephanie Cawthon remind us, the boundaries between disciplines are mostly made-up anyway. When students let their interests spill over, they stop limiting what their work - and their creativity - can become.

After 42 years of helping East Texas families find the “perfect Christmas tree,” Danville Farms is preparing to close its gates for the final time - and the Robinson family is feeling all the emotions. James and Mary Robinson, who started planting trees on the Kilgore farm back in 1982, say the decision wasn’t easy, but age has made it clear that it’s time to turn the page. Generations of families have celebrated traditions on the farm, making its closure bittersweet for customers who’ve taken photos, cut trees, and built memories there for decades. As their last day approaches on December 7, the Robinsons are expressing heartfelt gratitude, thanking visitors for 40 years of hayrides, pine-scented chaos, and Christmas joy. For many, it’s the end of a tradition - but also a reminder of the community the farm helped grow.

Wichita Falls is gearing up for its 8th annual Tattoo Expo, where nearly 100 award-winning artists will spend the weekend inking everything from bold color pieces to classic black-and-gray designs - plus plenty of temporary and airbrush options for the commitment-averse. The event runs December 5-7 at the Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall, with daily free tattoo giveaways to keep things extra exciting. Tickets are sold at the door, with a small discount for early birds on Friday, and weekend passes priced at $35 for anyone planning a full marathon of needles, art, and inspiration. In short, it’s three days where Wichita Falls becomes the tattoo capital of Texas - at least temporarily.

Temple, Texas, may soon see long-empty lots in East Temple transformed into new neighborhoods thanks to a city initiative aimed at boosting affordable housing. The “Love Where You Build” program would loosen setback rules and site requirements, making previously unbuildable parcels viable again - a big shift for an area dotted with vacant land that once held homes. Longtime residents like 76-year-old Sonjanette Crossley see the effort as a chance to revive community spirit, reduce crime, and honor the neighborhood’s history while welcoming new growth. The plan also helps current homeowners by cutting red tape for additions like porches or backyard expansions. With about 10,000 property owners set to be notified next year, the proposal now heads toward planning and city council approval - and could reshape East Temple as early as 2026.

Soledad Salamé’s first U.S. solo museum show has landed at the Blaffer Art Museum, and she’s making fast fashion look even scarier than your online shopping history. Her exhibition “Camouflage” turns the mountains of discarded American clothing dumped in Chile’s Atacama Desert into dizzying artworks that feel uncomfortably beautiful. Salamé stitches together environmental ruin and human resilience, spotlighting how local communities repurpose what the fashion industry tosses. She even proposes eco-friendly garments made from algae, pineapple husks, and handmade paper-because someone has to rethink our closets. The show also revisits her earlier work on the BP oil spill, just in case you forgot how creative humanity can be when it comes to wrecking ecosystems.

Manor just cut the ribbon on a brand-new emergency care center, a much-needed upgrade for a town growing faster than its traffic jams on US 290. St. David’s poured over $15 million into the 24/7 facility, which leaders say will ease pressure on Austin hospitals while giving Manor residents real, local emergency care-finally. City officials called it a life-saving partnership and hinted that even more big projects are coming in 2026, from roads and water upgrades to a new rec center and library. Longtime residents are still adjusting to the transformation-after all, the old hospital literally burned down decades ago, and now the town has an H-E-B, a crime analyst, and an ER. Manor may still feel like a small farm town in places, but it’s growing up fast-ready or not.

Austin just retired its 110-year-old water reservoir-because even infrastructure eventually deserves to stop working overtime-and unveiled a sleek new replacement in North Austin. The new facility holds a hefty eight million gallons, paired with a pump station that can push 50 million gallons a day to thirsty homes and businesses. Located on Old Koenig Lane, it marks a major upgrade for a city that’s been growing faster than its pipes. State officials hint that more projects may follow, thanks to the newly created Texas Water Fund-so Austin’s water future might finally get the glow-up it’s been begging for.