Comal County employees, elected officials and law enforcement could see a 4% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in fiscal year 2026-27.

Some details: Comal County Commissioners are considering a total budget of $213.16 million for FY 2026-27, which includes a COLA for county employees, elected officials and law enforcement along with funding for new positions. The proposed FY 2026-27 tax rate would be $0.305015 per $100 valuation, the same as in FY 2025-26.

Comal County Judge Kristen Hoyt said she believes her budget and tax rate recommendation is “conservative” and would maintain the county’s good fiscal position for the future.

Approximately $3.5 million of the budget would be allocated to the 4% COLA for all current and new county positions, which includes law enforcement and elected officials. The COLA is intended to maintain employee retention and remain competitive, according to an Aug. 6 Comal County Commissioners Court meeting presentation.

A new hair salon has opened its doors in New Braunfels.

The details: Salon NB opened on July 7 at 382 S. I-35 S. frontage road, Ste. B. The hair salon is owned by Amanda Morgan, Rylie La Porte and Dana Derryberry.

What they offer: Salon NB offers hair extensions, highlights, haircuts, hairstyling, makeup services and more. The salon also offers haircuts for men.

• 382 S. I-35 S. frontage road, Ste. B, New Braunfels

The long-awaited Buc-ee’s location along I-35 in San Marcos officially opened its doors to customers and travelers on Wednesday. Along with local leaders, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the company’s founder and president Arch "Beaver" Aplin III celebrated the event with much fanfare.

The two-minute impact: The 74,707-square-foot travel center is expected to serve over 10,000 visitors a day and provide access to 128 fueling stations, said San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson.

An economic development agreement made between Buc-ee’s and the city ensures the location will bring over $50 million in capital investments to San Marcos and create over 300 jobs with an emphasis on hiring local applicants, Hughson said.

Another thing: Abbott and Aplin shared remarks on the location’s opening before personally chopping some of the rest stop’s famous brisket.

What’s available: The travel center features a wide array of Buc-ee's branded merchandise, clean restrooms and popular food options, including barbecue, fudge and Beaver Nuggets, Abbott said.

• 3245 N. I-35 frontage road, San Marcos

The Texas State University System Board of Regents authorized the subdivision of the current College of Science and Engineering into two new colleges. The decision will create the Ingram College of Engineering and the College of Science.

What happened: The board approved the split during an Aug. 6 meeting. The reorganization and creation of the new colleges are contingent upon final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, according to a Texas State University news release.

The split of the College of Science and Engineering was motivated by its growth over the past decade, according to the news release. The college was the largest at the university during the fall 2025 semester with 9,760 students enrolled, a 9.3% increase from 2024.

Enrollment for the fall 2026 semester is expected to surpass the previous year’s as well. The college has additionally launched seven new doctoral programs since 2023.

The details: The reorganization will focus on areas of research that are gaining prominence on the national stage.