After 12 years in the area, Schmidt Family Barbecue closed in the Bee Cave area in October. 

The details: Owned by Susie Schmidt-Franks and Chad Franks, the restaurant was part of a family barbecue dynasty including Lockhart’s Kreuz Market and Smitty’s Market.

Its closure was announced in a September Facebook post from the business. 

Schmidt Family Barbecue served brisket, sausage, spare ribs, pulled pork plates, sandwiches, sides and desserts. 

• 12532 Bee Caves Road, Bee Cave

Bee Cave OK’s indoor pickleball court permit
A new indoor pickleball court could be on its way to the Bella Colinas neighborhood area in Bee Cave following approval of a specific use permit at an Oct. 28 City Council meeting.

Loyal to Lakeway campaign continues
A new billboard promoting purchasing from local businesses in Lakeway will be posted along RM 620 at 509 S. RM 620, near the Bella Montagna neighborhood, starting in December following a Lakeway City Council decision Oct. 6.

Officials take early action as wildfire risk mounts
In conjunction with a renewed wildfire disaster proclamation by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Travis County and city of Austin officials announced Oct. 20 a local disaster declaration intended to prepare county and city resources for potential wildfires in the area.

Bee Cave mayor to run for congress
Bee Cave Mayor Kara King announced this fall that she will run in the Republican primary election to represent Texas’ 10th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in March.

Texas is the nation’s largest energy producer, leading other U.S. states in both natural gas production and renewable energy generation, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows. Yet as people, businesses and data centers continue to move to the state, experts say Texas leaders need to harness new strategies to make energy more affordable and ensure the state power grid remains reliable.

The details: Amid high inflation nationwide, energy prices are on the rise in Texas, and residents are feeling the strain, experts said at the Texas Energy Summit, which ran from Nov. 4-6 in Austin.

In a June 2025 report, the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, a nonprofit research organization, found that 65% of low-income Texans recently engaged in “energy-limiting behaviors,” such as turning off their air conditioning to reduce electric bills or underheating their homes in the winter. 

What they're saying: Experts said state lawmakers and officials could invest in energy efficiency and residential demand response programs to tackle affordability and grid reliability issues.