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.

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at College Station City Hall in Texas on March 24, giving residents a chance to donate and help patients in need. The event will run from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and participants can register online in advance. Donating blood usually takes about an hour, but organizers say each donation can help save multiple lives. Additional blood drives will also take place in Bryan and College Station later in the month for those who cannot attend this one. In short, a small hour of someone’s day could make a life-saving difference for someone else.

A barbecue spot in Austin, Texas, is getting serious attention for what many call the best burger in the state. The standout item at LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue is the L&L Burger, made with a smoked and seared brisket patty, American cheese, fried onions, pickles and house sauce on a potato bun. The restaurant, which began as a food truck in 2017, now holds a Michelin star and continues to earn rave reviews from customers. At about $16 for a half-pound brisket burger, fans say the flavor is worth every bite. In short, in a state famous for barbecue, this burger has managed to steal a little of the spotlight.

Workers in Grimes County, Texas spent more than two days hauling nearly 300 illegally dumped tires out of Holland Creek - a messy job that will cost taxpayers over $10,000. Crews used cranes, ropes and dump trucks to retrieve the tires from hard-to-reach sections of the creek after floods scattered them downstream. Officials suspect the pile likely came from a tire dealer rather than a single household - because, as one worker noted, very few garages casually stockpile hundreds of tires. Authorities are now investigating the case, while Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information about whoever decided the creek looked like a convenient landfill.

The city of College Station, Texas, is looking to hire up to 60 lifeguards this summer as it prepares for another busy pool season. To help fill the positions, officials are offering on-site certification courses, hoping to attract teenagers and first-time applicants aged 16 and older. City staff say they need roughly 30 lifeguards on a busy Saturday just to keep two public pools running safely. In other words, if you can swim and keep an eye on the water, the city is more than happy to turn you into a lifeguard before summer heat arrives.

A high school swim team in Texas has raised nearly $20,000 to support their beloved school janitor, who has spent several months in the hospital. The students organized the fundraiser after learning about his medical situation and wanting to help someone who had long supported their school community. The effort quickly gained attention and donations, showing just how much the staff member meant to them. Sometimes the strongest team spirit isn’t in the pool-it’s in how people show up for each other.

In Texas, one motorcyclist dies on the road every day, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, and riders say the biggest danger isn’t speed-it’s being invisible to other drivers. Motorcyclist Christopher Cogdill says riders are trained to behave as if no one on the road can see them, because in many cases that’s exactly what happens. He also notes that viral videos of risky stunts often create a misleading image of motorcyclists, even though most simply want to ride safely. Riders are now calling for greater driver awareness and responsible behavior on both sides to help reduce the state’s growing number of fatal crashes.