The city of New Braunfels could be calling a May 2027 bond election.

City staff presented five potential bond propositions for City Council consideration during a July 17 summer workshop, including:

• Citywide streets/pedestrians/intersections

• Citywide drainage improvements

• Northwest Park Phase 1

• Joint public safety training facility

• Public safety equipment and vehicle replacement

If each project is capped at $25 million, the dais would be considering $125 million worth of investments. However, the city’s current tax rate allows for only a $75 million bond election with no tax rate impact, according to the workshop presentation.

Why now? The city is recommending a 2027 bond in an attempt to get ahead of anticipated legislative changes.

The state legislature continues to file bills seeking to limit municipalities' ability to issue debt for capital needs. Bills filed by legislators in 2025 indicate support for restricting certificate of obligation issuance for only certain categories of capital investment and imposing a cap on property tax-supported debt service to 20% of annual property tax collections, according to the presentation.

Local restaurateurs David Caddell and Kelly Caddell decided to open a seafood restaurant in New Braunfels in 2015 because they saw a need.

Meet the owners: The couple unknowingly began their career in the restaurant industry, when Kelly Caddell worked at Clear Springs Restaurant and Pat’s Place Restaurant. David Caddell also worked at Pat’s Place.

After graduating from New Braunfels High School and Canyon High School, the duo moved away to attend Sam Houston State University, which is when David Caddell started his 21-year stint with Pappas Restaurants.

The Caddells opened their first restaurant, The Reel Seafood House, in Spring Branch in 2013 before opening The Reel Seafood & Grill in 2015. When opening The Reel Seafood & Grill, David Caddell said it was “nerve-wracking" because he was not sure whether the community would accept it. Luckily, they did.

With large parts of the state under an extreme heat warning or heat advisory through July 23, the operator of Texas’ independent power grid is projecting record-breaking electric demand this week.

What's happening: As of 3 p.m. July 22, there were 90,027 megawatts of demand on the grid with 113,543 megawatts of power available, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas' real-time supply and demand dashboard. One megawatt of electricity can power about 250 homes during peak times.

This would break ERCOT’s current demand record of 85.5 gigawatts, which was set during an August 2023 heat wave. ERCOT spokesperson Trudi Webster cautioned that this week’s demand records are preliminary.

What it means: Texans should not expect a grid emergency during this week’s extreme heat.

ERCOT previously projected that demand would surpass 92,000 megawatts this summer, due to high temperatures, moderate rainfall and the growth of data centers.

This week's triple-digit temperatures come during the sunniest parts of the day, allowing the state to rely in part on solar energy to power the grid.

A new full-service bar featuring wine, beer and liquor called Happy Foxhole has opened at Memorial Miniature Golf and Museum in Buda.

The details: The bar is family-friendly until 9 p.m., with indoor and outdoor seating, seven TVs to watch sports and arcade and sweepstakes games. The venue also hosts events such as bingo, live music and karaoke. Other unique events include speed puzzling and Magic: The Gathering card clubs. Happy Foxhole is co-owned by local husband-and-wife duo David Pearc and Naomi Kramer-Pearc. 

A closer look: Happy Foxhole is currently in its soft opening phase, with plans to host a grand opening once the weather cools off. In the future, Kramer-Pearc said the location hopes to update the playground area, bring in more food trucks and arcade games, and begin offering frozen drink options.

"We'd like to work with the community closely and do a lot of community events," Kramer-Pearc said.

• 1710 N. FM 1626, Buda