As of Dec. 8 filing deadline, the March 3 Democratic and Republican primary elections have taken the next step, with multiple county races up for contention, including the Bexar County judge.

What’s on the ballot: Candidates on the ballot include the Bexar County judge, precinct commissioner and county court at law. According to the Texas Secretary of State website, no Independent, Libertarian or Green Party candidates filed for primaries.

For Bexar County judge in Democratic primary elections, former Mayor Ron Nirenberg, now professor in practice at Trinity University’s communications department, and incumbent Peter Sakai are both filed as candidates.

In the Republican primary, Patrick Von Dohlen is the lone candidate for Bexar County judge.

What else? For county court at law, the Democratic primary elections have five races in contention, including Bexar County judge No. 8, No. 9, No. 10, No. 12 and No. 14. The Republican primary races have no contested races.

In honor of the inaugural National Wildlife Crossings Day on Dec. 12—a new annual day to recognizing the importance of connected pathways for wildlife along American roadways—Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy is celebrating the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge’s 5th anniversary.

The details: According to a news release, The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge, which opened in 2020, is one of the largest mixed-use wildlife crossings in the United States. Designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, the land bridge creates a safe crossing between natural habitats divided by Wurzbach Parkway.

Since its opening, the land bridge wildlife cameras have captured multiple species of wildlife utilizing the crossing, including bobcats, coyotes, foxes, white-tailed deer, raccoons, skunks and opossums.

"Our land bridge shows what's possible when a city invests in nature, safety and stewardship," said Melissa Kazen, executive director of Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy in the release. "We hope it inspires others to imagine how Wildlife Crossings can strengthen communities everywhere—and bring people just a little closer to nature."

• 13131 Blanco Road, San Antonio

A lawn care service serving the Greater San Antonio area celebrated an anniversary this month.

In a nutshell: TLC Total Lawn Care is celebrating its 25th anniversary in December, according to a Facebook post from the business.

The company, run by President Gerry Bower, serves the San Antonio area as well as San Marcos, the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Corpus Christi.

TLC Total Lawn Care offers commercial landscape maintenance, irrigation installation, forestry mulching and commercial fencing.

• 18820 FM 2252, San Antonio

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveiled a plan Dec. 9 to further raise property tax exemptions for Texas homeowners and lower the age at which Texans qualify for additional tax relief during the 2027 state legislative session.

The details: Deemed “Operation Double Nickel,” Patrick’s three-part plan asks state lawmakers to:

• Raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, by $40,000
• Allow homeowners who are at least 55 years old to qualify for a larger exemption reserved for seniors and people with disabilities
• Pass legislation to drive down property taxes charged by local governments