SATX-NBF: Impact 10/6/2025

Alamo Colleges’ Northeast Lakeview College, or NLC, is expanding its New Braunfels campus to offer more career path programs for high school students and individuals in the region.

 At a glance: New Braunfels City Council approved $3.8 million in economic development corporation funding to expand the community college’s New Braunfels campus Aug. 11.

The community college opened at the Central Texas Technology Center at 2193 FM 758, in the fall of 2023, with 125 students and 10 courses. Now, the college has 25 courses and has grown to 400 students. NLC President Veronica Garcia said they thought they would be comfortable at the technology center for the next five years.

"What we didn’t expect was that we were [going to] grow so quickly,” Garcia said.

A custom mac'n cheese joint called S’MAC’n Noodles is opening in New Braunfels at 1515 N. Walnut Ave.

The details: S’MAC’n Noodles—owned by husband and wife duo James Acosta and Danni Lopez—will offer custom macaroni and cheese, salads and more. 

Acosta said S'MAC'n Noodles makes everything from scratch and also offers gluten-free and vegan cheeses and noodles.

"We really try to hit all the needs," Acosta told Community Impact.

• 1515 N. Walnut Ave., New Braunfels

The Northeast San Antonio area has a brand new, state-of-the-art pickleball facility.

Texas Pickle Hall celebrated its opening at 201 Shin Oak Drive in Live Oak with a ribbon cutting Sept. 29—although the hall officially opened Oct. 3.

The details: Texas Pickle Hall offers 28,700 square feet of playing space and features 12 courts. The hall also has a climate control system with air purification. Chief Operating Office of Texas Pickle Hall said courts are open to the public and there are also membership options that include competitions, lessons and more. In the future, the hall will boast an outdoor bar and food trucks.

Digging deeper: As the parent of a child with autism, Komet said he wanted to open a pickleball facility that was accessible and built for all people to enjoy.

“We hyper-engineered the building for accessibility,” he said. “I wanted a place that was physically and mentally comfortable for everyone.”

• 201 Shin Oak Drive, Live Oak

A major shakeup at H-E-B, a New Braunfels brewery shutting its doors and a historic hotel renovation in San Antonio are just a few of the highlights from Community Impact's coverage of the San Antonio area from Sept. 29-Oct. 3.

• H-E-B's president to step down in January
• Faust Brewing Company announces closure in New Braunfels
• Public hearing to be held on New Braunfels wastewater permit
• Wurstfest celebrates German culture while supporting local nonprofits
• Historic San Antonio hotel undergoes renovation
• Lefko Plastics picks New Braunfels for expansion

From Oct. 13-19, Texas residents will not have to pay to apply to in-state public colleges and universities.

The details: During Free College Application Week, application fees will be waived for all Texas residents applying to undergraduate programs at public colleges and universities located in Texas. First-time college students, transfer students and students returning to school are eligible, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

To qualify for the fee waiver, all applications must be submitted through ApplyTexas, the state’s college application portal.

What they're saying: “Texas prioritizes opportunities for students to pursue the best education they need to succeed in high demand, good-paying jobs after graduation,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in an Aug. 29 news release. “By supporting our students today, we are investing in a stronger Texas tomorrow.” 

Put in perspective: Most high school seniors apply to 5-10 colleges or universities and each application costs about $60-$75, state lawmakers estimated in June.