Drivers in the Texoma region are getting a rare break at the pump, with gas prices about 40 cents cheaper than this time last year. In Sherman-Denison, regular unleaded is averaging around $2.30 a gallon, thanks to lower demand, cold weather, and cheaper crude oil-proof that winter does have its perks. AAA says oil still makes up more than half the price of gas, so when it drops, drivers feel it fast. Of course, geopolitical tensions could send prices climbing again, but for now, motorists can enjoy the unfamiliar thrill of filling up without wincing.

Houston’s Center for Contemporary Craft is turning 25 in 2026 and plans to celebrate its “silver” anniversary with enough exhibitions, partnerships, and events to prove that craft is anything but quiet or old-fashioned. From clay and glass to metal, textiles, and even NASA-inspired materials, HCCC will mark the milestone with major shows, community festivals, and collaborations stretching from local art guilds to national and international partners. Highlights include Clutch City Craft, a deep dive into Houston’s craft DNA, and a bold look at stained glass and silver as thoroughly contemporary materials. In short, after a quarter-century, HCCC isn’t slowing down-it’s reminding everyone that handmade still has serious cultural muscle.

Fannin County’s Master Gardeners are inviting vendors to dig in at their 21st annual Lawn, Garden, and Home Show on March 28, 2026, promising plants, pollinators, and plenty of local foot traffic. With around 400 visitors last year, the event offers vendors a chance to sell on-site, gain future customers, and enjoy advertising across flyers, social media, and even radio. Booths cost $75, come with tables and chairs, and politely require a silent-auction donation-because nothing says community spirit like sharing the love. In short, if your business involves soil, seeds, honey, or home goods, this is your chance to grow sales-quite literally.

Starting February 1, travelers flying out of Laredo without a Real ID could be hit with a $45 TSA fine-a not-so-friendly reminder that deadlines are real after all. Adults on domestic flights will need a Real ID or another federally approved document, as extra screening alone won’t save them anymore. Officials say the rule, born out of post-9/11 security reforms, is meant to curb identity fraud, not test passengers’ patience at the airport. The message is clear: get the star on your ID, use a passport card, or be prepared to pay-and possibly still miss your flight.

Lubbock Fire Rescue recruits swapped hoses for helping hands this week, volunteering at High Point Village, a nonprofit supporting people with intellectual disabilities. As part of their community outreach programme, the trainees danced, bowled and pitched in with daily tasks - learning that service isn’t always about sirens and smoke. Fire Chief Richard Stewart praised the day as a reminder of what it really means to serve the city. It turns out community bonding can be just as important as fire drills.

The Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock is opening a travelling exhibition dedicated to Lonesome Dove, the western epic that refuses to ride off into the sunset. Launching on January 23, the show features striking photographs taken during the filming of the 1989 CBS mini-series, captured by producer and photographer Bill Wittliff. More than behind-the-scenes snaps, the images blend art, literature and Texas history into one nostalgic package. Proof, if needed, that a good cowboy story can still pull a crowd decades later.

Icy roads and near-zero visibility may slow traffic in Lubbock, Texas, but they’re not stopping UMC EMS from answering emergency calls. Crews are relying on four-wheel-drive vehicles, staff rotations, and close coordination with city authorities to keep doctors, nurses, and patients moving safely when winter weather hits. Teamwork with police, fire services, and even road crews helps clear paths to hospitals when conditions get truly rough. The message to residents is simple: if you can’t get help yourself, call-because bad weather doesn’t cancel emergencies, it just makes the job harder.

As winter temperatures plunge in Oklahoma, veterinarians are reminding pet owners and farmers that cold weather is not a test of toughness for animals. Dogs may still enjoy short walks, but only with proper gear-boots, jackets, and a quick return indoors once paws start protesting. Outdoor animals and livestock need solid shelter, plenty of straw, extra feed, and unfrozen water, because frostbite is not a badge of honor. The message is clear: if humans are bundling up, their pets and cattle probably deserve the same courtesy.

Houston’s weekend food calendar is working overtime, from sushi-and-matcha pop-ups to boozy brunches with a DJ. Dine Out Rice Village and Galveston Restaurant Week keep things charitable and delicious with prix-fixe menus that prove eating well can still feel virtuous. Saturday brings beer, hot sauce, and questionable spice tolerance at the Hops n’ Hot Sauce Festival, while Sunday balances things out with matcha at Doko and funk-fueled brunch at Brasserie 19. In short, Houston is offering plenty of ways to eat, drink, and pretend Monday isn’t coming.

Katy Mills Mall is giving its playground a creative makeover, complete with fresh murals designed by students from the University of Houston’s Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts. Thirteen student designs were submitted, with selected works set to brighten the revamped play space and other areas of the mall. The project aims to offer families something new and engaging - beyond shopping and snack breaks. The updated playground is set to open by the end of January, proving that even malls know a little art goes a long way.

As a winter storm heads for Austin, local animal rescuers are proving that preparedness includes more than people and pets - it also includes porcupines. Austin Wildlife Rescue moved vulnerable animals indoors, padded enclosures with straw, and even created a tongue-in-cheek “Porcupine Hall of Honor” for those needing extra care. Across town, Austin Pets Alive! placed 120 dogs into foster homes or permanent adoptions, turning a weather emergency into a small adoption miracle. When Texas gets cold, it seems even the wildlife has a better indoor plan than some humans.

Bastrop is bracing for a rare Texas cold snap by opening warming centers as icy temperatures move into Central Texas this weekend. The city, with help from local churches and charities, is offering overnight shelters at the public library, community sites, and nearby missions -because freezing weather and “figure it out yourself” don’t mix well. Even pets get a plan, with volunteers stepping in to keep animals warm too. In short, when Texas goes sub-zero, Bastrop is reminding everyone that hospitality doesn’t hibernate.

The New Home Lady Leopards cheer team has gone from nearly last place to state champions, capturing their first-ever gold at the 2AD1 UIL Spirit State Championship - a five-year glow-up powered by grit and zero hired choreographers. Doing everything in-house, the small Texas team outworked bigger schools with a demanding, multi-part routine and a very clear goal: first place or nothing. The win sparked rare role reversal, with football players and the community cheering the cheerleaders. Now, with state glory secured, the Leopards are heading to Nationals - because apparently one historic victory just isn’t enough.

Bonham’s Creative Arts Center is kicking off the new year with a packed calendar, led by the return of its “Taste of Chocolate” gala on February 21 - because art, jazz, auctions and chocolate fountains clearly belong together. Guests can expect live music, local artists at work, a buffet dinner, drinks, and enough chocolate to test anyone’s self-control. Beyond the gala, the center is rolling out an impressive lineup of art classes, kids’ workshops, yoga, dance, poetry nights and craft socials that leave little excuse for boredom. In short, if you can’t find something creative to do in Bonham this winter, you probably aren’t looking very hard.

Warming up your car on a cold Texas morning could now cost you up to $500, turning a comfort habit into a legal headache. Under state law, leaving a vehicle running unattended-even for a few minutes-can be treated as a Class C offense, mainly to prevent car theft. Cars with remote-start systems get a pass, but keyless ignition without remote start still lives in a legal gray zone. The takeaway is simple and slightly ironic: in Texas, it’s safer (and cheaper) to sit shivering in your car than to let it warm up on its own.

A powerful winter storm slammed the US East Coast, knocking out power to more than a million homes, grounding over 17,000 flights, and reminding Americans how fragile modern life becomes under a layer of ice. Snow buried the Northeast while the South and Texas dealt with thick ice that snapped power lines and even knocked weather stations offline. Energy grids from New England to Texas were pushed to the brink, with authorities firing up coal, oil, and even diesel generators to keep the lights on. In short, nearly 200 million people were frozen, delayed, or left in the dark-proof that winter still runs the show, no matter how advanced the infrastructure claims to be.