New Braunfels City Council approved an ordinance change on first reading that would prohibit public entry to the Comal River Old Channel from all city-owned property March 23.

What it means: The Old Channel of the Comal River is required to be protected from public access under the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan. But the city's current ordinance only restricts entry to the Old Channel from the Landa Park Golf Course, leaving access points at Landa Park, Hinman Island Park and Prince Solms Park, according to agenda documents.

Recent invasive tree removal in the area has also made the Old Channel more visible, leading to an increase in activity at Hinman Island Park and Prince Solms Park, agenda documents state.

The ordinance change would help protect the endangered fountain darter habitat in the Old Channel, as required under the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan, according to agenda documents.

A new law firm has opened in New Braunfels.

The details: The Duke Law Firm—locally owned by New Braunfels native Bryce Duke—opened at 391 Landa St., Ste. 1110 on Jan. 1. After a decade of working at a San Antonio-based firm, Duke said he decided to branch off to open his own. 

The firm serves business and homeowners seeking insurance claim compensation and personal injury litigation.

"I understand people aren't having their best day when they're calling me, but I'm trying to be a resource for the community if I can," Duke said.

• 391 Landa St., Ste. 1110, New Braunfels

From funding for proposed data centers in New Braunfels to housing development rezoning issues, check out the five top-read stories across the San Antonio area from March 30-April 2.

1. Guadalupe County commissioners vote down $500M tax cut for proposed data center in New Braunfels

2. Judson ISD trustees approve contract change for Cibolo Creek Middle School

3. Locally-owned senior living facility doubles in size with expansion project

4. Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD approves policy allowing out-of-district transfers

5. New Braunfels housing development faces setback as rezoning motion fails

Three medical cannabis businesses have been conditionally approved to participate in the Texas Compassionate Use Program, state officials announced April 1.

The big picture: The companies received conditional licenses from the Texas Department of Public Safety in an effort to expand access to medical cannabis products. Under the compassionate use program, physicians can prescribe medical-grade, low-THC products to eligible patients in partnership with licensed dispensaries.

Zooming in: Two of the three businesses given conditional licenses April 1 are affiliated with existing medical cannabis dispensaries that work in several other states. The new licensees are:

• GTI Texas, LLC (doing business as RISE Dispensaries) in West Texas

• Cresco Labs Texas, LLC in East Texas

• Texas Medica Collective, LLC in Northeast Texas

Conditional licensees must pass additional state evaluations before they can begin operating, according to the DPS.

More context: As Texas expands its medical cannabis program, the state is also tightening restrictions on the multibillion-dollar consumable hemp industry, Community Impact reported.