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.

Lubbock mechanics are politely begging Texans to spend 30 seconds checking their cars before winter turns minor problems into wallet-draining disasters. A simple glance at your tire pressure, coolant, or battery could prevent the kind of engine meltdown that Maloney from Scott’s Complete Car Care cheerfully describes as “big money.” Drivers often roll in with issues that could’ve been caught long before their heater died-or their car did. Even sluggish starts are your vehicle whispering, “Please check my battery before I embarrass you on the roadside.” And while Texas doesn’t get much snow, the cold still loves to take out weak tires, tired wipers, and anyone who thinks maintenance is optional.

A Louisiana woman has finally been reunited with her dog Bentley after a two-year search that stretched across parishes, state lines, and more than a little confusion. Bentley vanished in 2023, and after months of silence, his owner feared the worst-until a Thanksgiving miracle popped up at an animal clinic. A microchip scan briefly cracked the case, but holiday closures and a very enthusiastic local woman claiming the dog as hers sent Bentley on yet another detour. It took a second clinic, a persistent owner, and a dog who clearly knew exactly who his human was to finally settle the mystery. In the end, Bentley ran straight into Gharielle King’s arms, proving that while paperwork may lie, a dog’s loyalty absolutely doesn’t.

Austin firefighters are getting a major gear upgrade: nearly 200 bulletproof vests, because apparently fighting fires wasn’t dangerous enough. The new lightweight steel plate carriers can stop pistol rounds and most rifle fire, letting crews worry less about staying alive and more about saving everyone else. Officials say rising violence means firefighters, EMS, and police often roll into chaos together-so they might as well be equally protected. With fresh funding and strong backing from public safety leaders, every Austin fire station will have the vests by week’s end. Nothing says “public service in 2025” quite like needing body armor to respond to a 911 call.

Midwestern State University kicked off the holidays a bit early with its annual Jingle Bell Ride, where cyclists cruised six festive miles to admire lights, snap photos, and belt out carols like overcaffeinated elves. This year featured the debut of new cycling director Mario Arroyave, who cheerfully braced for “pretty cool weather” and an even cooler crowd. Student athlete Gabrielle Wrightsman also joined the ride for the first time, calling it a rare chance to actually meet the people who cheer them on from the sidelines. The evening wrapped with hot chocolate in the Dillard College atrium - because nothing says “athletic achievement” like rewarding yourself with dessert after a leisurely pedal through town.

Texas A&M Forest Service held its annual gathering, celebrating a year packed with big wins - including $236 million for volunteer fire departments and new wildfire-fighting aircraft. Director Al Davis framed the theme “Leading Healthy Lives” as a roadmap for tougher, more resilient teams. Dozens of long-serving employees and standout staff earned awards for everything from field support to forest ecology to heroic crisis response. Even the website redesign team got its moment of glory - proof that saving forests isn’t the only heavy lifting they do. Overall, the agency treated the event like a well-earned victory lap before diving into another year of hard work.

The Stone Garden has officially opened in Hutto, offering everything from gemstone jewelry and crystals to incense and home decor - basically, a one-stop shop for anyone trying to fix their energy and their living room aesthetic. Owner Yvette Dayal also hosts classes on making candles, jewelry, and soaps, complete with chats about “positive energies,” because shopping is always more fun with a side of enlightenment. Located inside The Shoppes at Affordable Storage (yes, a storage facility turned boutique mall - very on-brand for Texas creativity), the store is already gearing up for a Christmas Market on Dec. 20 featuring 30+ local vendors and free photos with Santa. Kids even get free gift bags, assuming they can grab one before they magically “disappear.”

Central Texas is officially lit for the holidays - and not just metaphorically. Austin kicks things off with its mega-Trail of Lights, the towering Zilker Tree, and a Wildflower Center that’s basically auditioning to become the North Pole. Smaller towns join in with everything from drive-thru light tunnels to parades, laser shows, and enough hot chocolate to fuel an army of elves. San Antonio, of course, refuses to be outshined, draping the River Walk and zoo in lights like it’s competing for a national title. Wherever you go, one thing’s guaranteed: your phone battery won’t survive all the photos you’ll feel compelled to take.

Wichita Falls kicked off December with a glow-up of its own, showcasing more than 100 Nativity scenes from around the world - because why settle for one when you can have a global tour of mangers? Hosted by the local Latter-day Saints congregation, the event mixed international traditions, community musicians, and enough goodwill to make even the Grinch reconsider his life choices. Visitors said the display was a welcome reminder of the season’s meaning, while organizers emphasized unity, peace, and the fact that people aren’t actually as different as they think. Music filled the room, courtesy of local performers who seemed genuinely delighted to share their talents. And since the debut was such a hit, organizers are already dreaming of a bigger, even more community-packed version next year.

San Antonio’s beloved La Gran Tamalada is leveling up this year by inviting high school culinary students to join the tamal-making spotlight - because why should adults have all the masa-related glory? The long-running festival, which celebrates Mexican-American holiday traditions, is adding a student competition featuring everything from classic pork tamales to whatever creative masterpieces teens dream up (yes, even the jalapeño-cream cheese experiments). Organizers say the goal is to keep traditions alive and get young tamaleros off the eating sidelines and into the kitchen. With thousands expected at Market Square, attendees can sample student-made tamales, shop local vendors, and take part in hands-on workshops - all while kids craft corn-husk dolls and Play-Doh tamales. In the end, it’s less about who wins bragging rights and more about the community stories shared over steaming pots of masa.

Lights on the Lake returned to El Paso with enough twinkling bulbs to make the North Pole jealous, drawing crowds who apparently don’t mind freezing for holiday cheer. Opening night kicked off with a “Canine Paw-rade,” where dogs in costumes strutted around like they fully understood they were the stars of the show. Families gushed about bringing their pets, Christmas spirit, and general enthusiasm for anything that lights up. The big moment came when the crowd counted down to the grand switch-flip, illuminating the park in thousands of sparkling lights, because nothing says “holiday season” like collective awe at electricity. And yes, Santa himself pushed the button-because of course he did.

Sherman’s Snowflake Festival swept into town with enough holiday cheer to make even the Grinch consider shopping local. The square filled early with food vendors, craft booths, and a long line of kids waiting to tell Santa everything their parents definitely can’t afford. Local businesses praised the annual event for reminding residents that Christmas is the perfect time to spend money-preferably at their shops. One vendor said the festival’s charm comes from supporting hardworking neighbors, which, admittedly, pairs nicely with festive lights and baked goods. The night wrapped up with a parade featuring about 90 groups, proving Sherman knows how to turn “small-town holiday spirit” into a full production.

The Concord Rosenwald School in Rusk County just celebrated 100 years, marking a century since it opened in 1925 as the only modern school available to Black students in the area during segregation. Former students like Emmitt Leadon, one of just seven graduates in 1969, returned to honor a place he calls “home” - and to remind younger generations that history wasn’t always as comfortable as Wi-Fi and school-choice forms. Alumni say preserving the building matters deeply, especially for families whose roots in the community stretch back to ancestors who arrived there as slaves and later helped build its churches, schools, and infrastructure. Thanks to a $75,000 preservation grant, repairs are underway, but the vision is much bigger: a full museum dedicated to Black education and the community’s legacy. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the school is awaiting its historic marker - a long overdue nod to a story worth telling.

Bryan residents kicked off the holidays with a self-guided stroll through the East Side Historic District, where fourteen century-old homes put on their festive best for visitors. The walking tour mixed nostalgia with snacks, music, and the obligatory Santa sightings-because no holiday event is complete without a man in a red suit. Each house offered its own take on seasonal cheer, turning the neighborhood into a kind of open-air time capsule. Simple, cozy, and very on-brand for small-town holiday charm.

Symphony North of Houston is ringing in its 50th anniversary, proving that half a century of classical music can still shake up northwest Harris County. The volunteer orchestra-65 musicians who moonlight as teachers, engineers, lawyers, and bankers-keeps performances accessible by letting audiences pay what they want. Its signature Young Artist Concerto Competition continues to launch local prodigies, handing out scholarships and the coveted chance to perform with the orchestra. And for anyone who thinks classical music can’t throw a party, the group is hosting a gala right in the middle of its March 22, 2026 concert-because why wait until after intermission to celebrate 50 years?

A no-kill shelter in Dickinson is on a mission to give every dog and cat the ultimate holiday gift: a real home instead of a kennel. With adoption fees slashed to just $20 for the entire month of December, the shelter is practically begging people to take home a fully vetted, fixed, and even heartworm-treated furry roommate. Shelter director Nina Baker puts it simply: the only thing “wrong” with these animals is that no one has claimed them yet. And if clearing the shelter means pets and staff get to enjoy the holidays at home, that’s a win-win wrapped in tinsel.

The Fannin County Museum of History is showing off a charming cast-iron toy exhibit - a reminder of the era when toys doubled as hand weights. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, wooden playthings gave way to sturdier cast-iron versions, crafted by pouring molten metal into sand molds. By the 1940s, lighter materials arrived, and these miniature steel sculptures quietly retired. The exhibit runs through January, offering kids and adults a chance to admire toys from a time when “child-safe” wasn’t exactly part of the design brief.

Santa is gearing up for a very official-looking landing at the College Station airport - because why use a sleigh when you can file a flight plan? Brazos Valley Flight Services will clear the runway so families can snap photos with the big guy while sipping cocoa and loading up on cookies. They’re also collecting toys for the Toys for Tots drive, and every donation earns you a shot at winning a Discovery Flight - presumably not piloted by Santa. Catch Mr. Claus at Easterwood Airport on December 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., before he heads back to “prepare” for Christmas Eve.

ERCOT has signed off on a $9 billion plan to keep Texas powered - a modest sum, assuming you consider “small nation” a reasonable budget category. The Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan calls for building massive 765-kilovolt lines, essentially an electrical superhighway meant to push power more reliably across the state. The project will take five to six years, which in infrastructure time is practically overnight. The Public Utility Commission is already stressing transparency, promising to keep Texans informed about any “cost overruns” or “schedule slips” - two phrases that have never once appeared in a major project’s obituary notice.

The Farm Progress Show has been named TSNN’s 2025 B2B Show of the Year, highlighting its growing influence as a major hub for agricultural innovation. This year’s event drew 161,000 attendees and more than 500 exhibitors, featuring everything from precision ag technology to mental health resources and Women in the Field programs. Organizers say the award reflects their push to blend innovation, education, and community support in one massive outdoor showcase. The recognition was presented at IAEE’s Expo! Expo! in Houston, celebrating shows that set industry standards and deliver real impact. Farm Progress is already gearing up for its 2026 return in Boone, Iowa - with ambitions as big as the machinery on display.

Dallas City Hall’s annual Christmas Sweater Day returned with far less enthusiasm this year - a dip many blame on low morale, building-demolition debates, and a chaotic homelessness committee meeting that left council members in no festive mood. Still, the tradition marched on, complete with snarky fashion assessments: missed sweater deadlines, political statements, questionable sweatshirts, and a few bold attempts involving ornaments or sports mascots. Despite the underwhelming turnout, there were standouts, and after much dramatic deliberation, District 7’s Adam Bazaldua claimed the coveted (and entirely invented) Wick Allison Memorial Most Christmasy Christmas Sweater Award. His sweater was ugly, festive, hyper-local - and crucially, an actual sweater, unlike several competitors. Whether or not it lifts City Hall’s spirits, the contest at least delivered one thing: proof that holiday chaos remains alive and well in Dallas politics.