Dallas favorite il Bracco is heading west, opening its first out-of-Texas location in Scottsdale on March 30 - complete with a $100,000 art collection, because pasta apparently tastes better with curated walls. The concept from Western Addition Restaurant Group has built a loyal following in Dallas and Houston, and now sees Scottsdale’s buzzing dining scene as the perfect launchpad for national ambitions. Founder and chef Robert Quick says the move blends great food, thoughtful design and “genuine hospitality,” which in restaurant terms usually means you’ll want to linger - and order another round. If all goes to plan, Arizona may soon discover that expansion tastes a lot like handmade Italian.

Texas grocer The United Family is bringing back its 10% Friends & Family discount from March 1-10, just in time for spring break - because nothing says vacation prep like discounted bottled water and paper plates. The promotion applies to a long list of private-label brands, from dairy and meat to everyday staples, and requires a free Rewards! account through one of the company’s store apps. President Sidney Hopper says last fall’s version was such a hit that a sequel felt inevitable. Translation: if you’re already filling your cart, you might as well let the savings tag along.

America’s housing crisis is quietly turning into a climate sorting machine: pay nearly $1 million for relative safety in California, or opt for a far cheaper home in Texas - complete with complimentary hurricane risk. As high prices push residents out of states like California, many are relocating to places more exposed to floods, wildfires, and insurance meltdowns, because affordability now often comes bundled with disaster potential. More than 21 million renters already spend over 30% of their income on housing, leaving little room to factor in rising climate threats. In effect, income is becoming a shield against catastrophe - and for millions of Americans, it’s one they simply can’t afford.

A new indoor golf simulator has opened in Sherman, Texas, offering golfers a chance to tee off without worrying about Oklahoma winters or Texas heat. Back Nine features four private bays where players can virtually tackle world-famous courses, compete in mini-games, and get instant feedback on their swing - because even your slice now comes with analytics. Co-owner Garrett Walters says it’s built for everyone from tournament pros to total beginners, all in a perfectly climate-controlled 75-degree bubble. At $50 an hour per bay, it’s proof that in Texas, even sunshine can be scheduled by appointment.

Several major road projects are moving forward in Montgomery County’s Precinct 4, targeting congestion in the New Caney and Porter areas. Upcoming plans include widening Ford Road and Gene Campbell Road, adding turn lanes, traffic signals and drainage improvements, with construction on parts of Ford Road expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, work is already underway on Ford Road Segment 1 and Sorters Road Segment 2, both expanding from two to four lanes at a combined cost exceeding $21 million. Funded largely through 2025 road bonds and the Precinct 4 commissioner’s office - with some federal support - the projects aim to modernize key corridors in one of the county’s fastest-growing regions.

The Frist Art Museum in Nashville is hosting Impressionist Revolution: From Monet to Matisse, a major exhibition from the Dallas Museum of Art tracing the movement’s rebellious beginnings in 1874 through its profound influence on modern art. Featuring nearly 50 paintings and sculptures by artists including Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin and Matisse, the show marks the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition in Paris. Organized thematically, it explores how these once-scandalous painters broke from academic tradition, experimented with light and color, and paved the way for movements such as Cubism and Fauvism. On view through May 31, 2026, the exhibition invites visitors to reconsider Impressionism not as a single style, but as a radical rethinking of what modern art could be.

Residents served by the Red River Authority’s Arrowhead Lake Lots Water System in Wichita Falls are under a boil water notice after low pressure raised concerns about possible bacterial contamination. Under guidance from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, customers must boil all water for drinking, cooking, washing and ice-making for at least two minutes - or use bottled water - until further notice. Officials say vulnerable groups, including children, seniors and immunocompromised individuals, face higher risk. The utility will announce when the order is lifted, but for now, turning on the tap comes with extra steps.

A proposed border wall cutting through Big Bend National Park has sparked sharp backlash after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security signaled it may waive environmental laws to speed construction. DHS argues the Big Bend sector is a high-traffic area for illegal crossings and says the planned “smart wall” would combine steel barriers, patrol roads and surveillance technology. Critics, including the National Parks Conservation Association, warn the project would damage fragile desert ecosystems, block wildlife migration routes and threaten the park’s tourism economy. An online petition opposing the plan has already gathered tens of thousands of signatures, turning the remote stretch of Texas borderland into the latest flashpoint in America’s immigration debate.

Texas voters headed to the polls for the March 3 primaries to decide which candidates will represent the Democratic and Republican parties in November’s race for Congress. The ballot includes a crowded field for the U.S. Senate seat, with multiple contenders from both parties competing to advance to the general election. At the same time, all 38 seats in the U.S. House from Texas are up for grabs, with dozens of candidates battling it out across districts. If no candidate wins a majority, the race will move to a runoff scheduled for May 26 - because in Texas politics, one round is often just the warm-up.

Wichita Falls has officially opened the Conoco Dog Park, giving local dogs a new space where they can finally run off leash. The launch event drew dozens of pets and owners, featuring a playful Lucky Leprechaun Dog Parade and a best-dressed contest for pups of all sizes. City officials say the park expands recreational space on the east side of town and includes separate areas for small and large dogs. More upgrades, such as parking and shaded picnic areas, are planned once additional funding becomes available. For local dogs, it seems the city has finally built a place where “good boy energy” can run completely free.

The Baylor Scott & White Clinic in Bee Cave, Texas has started offering urgent care services, giving residents a new option for same-day treatment of minor illnesses and injuries. The clinic can handle issues such as respiratory infections, sprains, minor fractures and urinary tract infections, with on-site X-rays and lab testing available. Officials say the move is part of a broader effort to make healthcare more accessible for families in the Greater Austin area. Patients can walk in or book appointments through the MyBSWHealth app. In short, it’s another attempt to bring quick medical care a little closer to home-before a small problem turns into a long wait somewhere else.

Austin officials have approved a new ordinance aimed at cutting down excessive vehicle noise, particularly around the busy West Campus area. The rule will target engines louder than 85 decibels, allowing police to issue warnings and fines of up to $500 for repeat violations. City leaders say the measure responds to growing complaints from residents and students who struggle with sleepless nights caused by revving engines. Supporters argue it will improve quality of life as the city grows and neighborhoods become more crowded. Still, some residents wonder how officers will actually measure 85 decibels-because noise is easy to hear, but not always easy to police.

More than 150,000 Texas families have applied for the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, setting a record for a first-year school choice initiative. The program offers about $10,000 per student in public funds for private schooling or homeschooling, with applications open until March 17. Because demand already exceeds the available budget, officials will hold a lottery to decide which families receive funding. Priority will go to students with disabilities and to low- and middle-income households. In short, the program is proving extremely popular-though not everyone who applied should start planning their new school just yet.

The draft beer at Texas Roadhouse is known for being served colder than usual-around 36°F (about 2°C), which is just above freezing and slightly colder than in most bars. This extra chill makes popular light lagers like Budweiser, Miller, and Coors taste especially crisp and refreshing, though very cold temperatures can slightly mute the flavor and create more foam. The main difference isn’t the beer itself, but the consistently colder serving temperature across the chain’s restaurants.

Students in Sherman Independent School District celebrated reading during the district’s fourth annual Literacy Day, held as part of National Read Across America Week. More than 120 volunteers-from nurses to law-enforcement officers-visited classrooms to read with children from preschool to second grade, turning what can feel like homework into a community event. The day also honors the late principal David Hicks, remembered for visiting kindergartens and reading to students. In short, the message was simple: when adults show excitement about books, kids are far more likely to catch the reading bug too.

A new study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows that the “Great Texas Freeze” of 2021 killed thousands of purple martins, wiping out up to 27% of the breeding population in Texas and Louisiana. The extreme cold struck just as the migratory birds arrived from South America, leaving them without food and shelter during the sudden storm. Researchers say the population may need years-possibly decades-to fully recover, especially if similar weather events become more frequent. In short, even healthy wildlife populations can suffer lasting damage when climate change turns rare weather disasters into something less rare.

Residents of Tom Bean, Texas can expect door-to-door visits in the coming weeks as part of a project to upgrade the town’s sewer system. Representatives from GrantWorks, working on behalf of the city through a federal grant program, will visit homes to ask residents a few basic questions. Officials say the representatives will carry identification, wear company clothing and present a letter from the city administration. Anyone unsure about the visits is encouraged to contact Tom Bean City Hall to verify the information.