The city council of Tyler, Texas has moved a step closer to approving an $18 million affordable housing project that could turn a historic downtown church into dozens of apartments for seniors. The plan, backed by a newly passed resolution and waived building permit fees, aims to expand housing options for older residents on fixed incomes. City planners say the project fits a broader goal of providing homes for people at every stage of life - a policy that sounds simple until you try to build it. If approved, the redevelopment would give a quiet second life to the former church, this time dedicated less to sermons and more to square footage.

The WBCA Carnival has opened to the public in Laredo, drawing eager crowds to the fairgrounds near Sames Auto Arena for rides, games and classic carnival food. Opening day visitors enjoyed lighter crowds, giving families a rare chance to move easily between attractions without the usual long waits. One attendee said the quieter start made it easier for children to enjoy the rides and for parents to relax. The carnival runs through February 23 - plenty of time for the crowds to grow and the lines to catch up.

Florists in Lufkin are bracing for their busiest day of the year as Valentine’s Day sends orders - and phone lines - into overdrive. Shops like Alene’s Florist have multiplied their inventory and staff, juggling romantic bouquets alongside funeral arrangements that don’t pause for holidays. Employees describe the rush as exhausting but oddly festive, powered by nonstop calls and last-minute shoppers. And while many flowers are headed for candlelit dinners, others are meant for quieter gestures - proof that blooms carry messages far beyond romance.

A Texas museum is marking America’s 250th anniversary with a World War I exhibit that brings local history out of storage and into the spotlight. The Tyler display features century-old artifacts from hometown soldiers, including a typewriter used to document troop records and hundreds of postcards collected overseas. Curators say the goal isn’t just nostalgia but reflection on the sacrifices of past generations. Admission is free through March 7 - which might be the rare case where a trip back in time doesn’t cost a ticket.

Three rookie robotics teams from Texas’s China Spring ISD have already advanced to regional competitions in their very first season - an opening act most programs would happily wait years for. Two squads head to a semifinal event in Austin, while another earned a San Antonio regional spot after winning a recent contest against seasoned rivals. School officials call the achievement a major milestone for the fledgling program. Not bad for newcomers whose robots apparently didn’t get the memo about taking it slow.

General, a retired mounted police horse who once patrolled in uniform, has narrowly avoided a final trip to a Texas slaughterhouse thanks to a former Colorado officer with quick reflexes and a GoFundMe account. After spotting him at auction, Rachel Weiner rallied donors in days, proving the internet can occasionally unite for something nobler than arguing in comment sections. The fundraising worked, the horse was shipped to Colorado, and he’s now in quarantine before what supporters hope will be a comeback tour carrying flags at public events. In other words, while most retirees settle for quiet pastures, this one may be heading back to the spotlight - with better PR than most politicians.

An overwhelmed cat rescue in Tyler, Texas is juggling about 30 cats on site and more than 100 in foster homes, suggesting the local feline population didn’t get the memo about moderation. Volunteers say colonies can reach 40 strays, and managing just one group - trapping, sterilizing, releasing - can take nearly two years, which is longer than some celebrity marriages. Despite stretched resources, the team keeps scouting for new strays and hosting adoption events, carefully screening humans as if they’re the ones applying for a forever home. In a town where shelters are packed, these rescuers are still trying to save every whiskered “war veteran” they find, armed mainly with patience, donations, and stubborn optimism.

Houston residents are rallying to save the 1940s Garden Oaks Theater after its sale to an investment firm sparked fears it could be demolished. The building has no historic protection, meaning its future depends largely on whether developers feel nostalgic - or profitable. Preservationists say the site is big enough to redevelop without tearing down the theater and are urging officials to act fast. For locals, it’s not just an old cinema at stake, but a test of whether Houston values history more than another blank-slate project.

Newborns in the NICU at Laredo Medical Center celebrated Valentine’s Day in handmade outfits stitched by their own caregivers. A neonatal nurse who’s also a photographer captured portraits of each baby, giving parents a keepsake from a time usually defined more by monitors than memories. The idea was simple: create a joyful moment for families while their infants receive intensive care. It turns out tiny costumes and a camera can be powerful medicine too.

Minimint Pediatric Dentistry has opened in South Austin, offering gentle dental care for kids and teens - because convincing a child to like the dentist is basically a superpower. Founded by local mom and dentist Patricia Robus, the clinic focuses on low-stress visits, modern technology, and minimally invasive treatments to keep young smiles healthy. Services range from cleanings and cavity care to orthodontics and emergency treatment, all designed to make patients feel confident rather than terrified. In short, Minimint’s pitch is simple: fewer tears, more teeth

Coyotes returned to central Texas ranchlands like an old problem nobody invited back, and decades of traps, poisons, and helicopter hunts still couldn’t keep lambs and kids from becoming midnight snacks. The surprisingly effective fix wasn’t more killing - it was putting ancient livestock guardian dogs back on the job, doing what certain breeds have been bred to do for about 5,000 years: show up, patrol, bark, and make predators decide dinner isn’t worth the drama. Ranchers who once treated coyotes like targets are now learning an awkward truth: the best predator control is often a living, breathing deterrent that keeps the ecosystem’s “regular” coyotes in place and discourages newcomers.

Laredo’s health department is offering free public classes on Alzheimer’s as officials warn the city has one of the highest rates of the disease in Texas, tied for first place with El Paso. The sessions teach early warning signs and have already prompted some residents to seek medical checkups - proof that education can be more powerful than denial. Backed by a CDC grant, the program will expand with new staff to study how dementia affects families and communities. The message from health officials is simple: spotting symptoms early may not cure Alzheimer’s, but ignoring them definitely won’t.

Online bargain hunting is turning into an expensive habit for many Texans, with consumer watchdogs reporting residents lose over $22 million a year to scams. A new analysis shows 2025 set a record for fraud, including more than $3 million lost to fake online shopping deals - double the previous year. Officials say scammers are evolving their tactics faster than shoppers can spot the red flags. The lesson: if a discount looks unbelievable, it may be working exactly as designed.

A Texas veterinary clinic braced for a routine cat appointment - and instead found a newborn bull calf sitting in the passenger seat, which is not standard feline behavior. The mix-up happened when staff misheard “calf” as “cat,” but to their credit they improvised, treating little Ferdinand with dog-crate accommodations, IV fluids, and antibiotics. The dehydrated patient recovered and went home, proving that good medicine sometimes starts with confusion and a sense of humor. The clinic now says it plans a larger facility for big animals, apparently just in case someone calls about a “hamster” and shows up with a horse.

Charm Taphouse & BBQ, opened by restaurateurs Wanalee and Adam Gorelick, is betting that the quickest way to diners’ hearts is by fusing Thai spice with Texas smoke - a culinary mash-up that sounds risky but apparently works. The menu pairs slow-smoked meats cooked for over 16 hours with classic Thai dishes, from brisket red curry to drunken noodles loaded with barbecue protein. With more than 30 craft beers and a lineup of hybrid creations like a basil beef burger with Thai dipping sauce, the spot leans hard into flavor diplomacy. The owners insist every guest leaves impressed, which suggests that when cultures collide on a plate, everyone wins - especially the brisket.

A Texas high school course on Native American studies has survived political scrutiny despite a growing backlash against DEI-related education, after the state board voted 9-5 to renew it for another five years. Supporters argue the class gives students a fuller, more accurate view of history - something traditional textbooks have apparently been rationing. Critics worried it might challenge patriotic narratives or offend religious students, prompting edits before approval. Enrollment has steadily grown since its 2021 pilot, and surveys show most students leave with a more positive view of Indigenous cultures. Advocates now hope the program’s survival sends a message nationwide: controversial lessons, it turns out, can still pass the test.

A new 45,000-square-foot Children’s Safe Harbor center has opened in Conroe, bringing investigators, therapists, and advocates under one roof to better support abused children and their families - because coordination turns out to be more effective than phone tag. The purpose-built facility features calming design elements, a healing garden, and dedicated spaces for forensic interviews, counseling, and medical exams, all tailored to trauma-informed care. Leaders say the expansion will allow the nonprofit to help more than 2,500 children and relatives each year while also boosting prevention programs like digital-safety training. The center even includes staff wellness areas, a reminder that helping others works best when the helpers aren’t running on fumes.

Bexar County, Texas, is testing a pilot program that sends civilian crisis teams - not deputies - to certain 911 calls involving mental health issues, provided there’s no crime or immediate danger. Officials say the goal is simple: fewer handcuffs, more help, and smarter use of police time. The initiative builds on existing response models and early data showing many crises can be resolved on site without arrests, a statistic that quietly challenges decades of reflexive law-enforcement responses. If results hold, the sheriff predicts the approach could become standard practice - which, for a system not known for rapid reinvention, is almost revolutionary.

For the first time, spectators can watch Laredo’s long-running “Abrazo” ceremony without braving the bridge themselves, thanks to a livestream of the cross-border tradition. The annual event, dating back to 1898, features children in colonial-era attire and officials from the U.S. and Mexico meeting mid-bridge to exchange symbolic hugs - diplomacy, but with better costumes. The international crossing is closed to the public just for this ritual, proving that even border infrastructure occasionally pauses for a photo-friendly moment of unity. Organizers say it celebrates friendship between nations, and frankly, it may be the only border event where everyone hopes for more crossings.

Texas A&M’s Veterinary Emergency Team debuted a drive-through pet vaccine clinic in Bryan-College Station, proving fast service isn’t just for coffee and fries. Residents pulled up, pets got exams, shots, heartworm prevention, and even microchips without anyone leaving the car for long. The idea was sparked by leftover vaccines from a canceled event, which the team wisely decided should save animals instead of expiring on a shelf. It doubled as community service and emergency-response training-because nothing says preparedness like practicing triage between tail wags.