Hays County is allocating $17 million to build a Hillside Campus and an elevated “Warbler’s Nest” at Sentinel Peak Preserve, with reservation-only access and most acreage kept as habitat. The work could open the preserve in some form in 2027.

Two custom headstones — one a veteran’s marker — were taken from North Belton Cemetery. The family has started a fundraiser and is asking for tips to find the markers.

Paperwork and permit records point to a Chicken Salad Chick at 19037 IH‑35 in Kyle, with construction set to wrap by March and a late‑April 2026 opening expected.

Public filings show Mendocino Farms plans a third Austin location at Lamar Union on South Lamar; the project is budgeted at about $675,000 and includes a spring‑to‑fall build timeline.

A Waco justice of the peace filed a federal lawsuit asking judges to overturn the 2015 same‑sex marriage ruling and to block state discipline after refusing to officiate same‑sex weddings.

An overnight collision between an SUV and a tow truck on westbound US 290 in the 8400 block left one person dead and forced lane closures while APD investigates.

A co‑branded Marble Slab Creamery and Great American Cookies is planned at Manor Crossing in a 1,501‑sq‑ft shop aiming for spring 2026. The filing shows a mid‑January start and mid‑March finish window.

The Texas Supreme Court declined to review Austin’s voter‑backed marijuana decriminalization law, leaving an appeals‑court injunction in place and the measure effectively blocked for now.

A Taylor man was arrested after a toddler was hospitalized with a severe injury; he faces aggravated assault and injury-to-a-child charges.

Early state data and research show infant deaths in Texas have risen since 2021. Lawmakers passed Everly’s Law to require bereavement supports and cooling devices for hospitals.

A 36-year-old was booked on a murder charge after a 911 caller admitted to shooting a visitor in the 2500 block of Forgetmenot Lane, authorities say.

Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is opening at 18725 FM 685 #120 in Pflugerville; filings show a $250,000 build‑out and an early‑February 2026 finish.

An Austin officer was suspended after investigators concluded he used excessive force during a downtown takedown. The department memo cites body‑worn camera and hotel video.