The city of New Braunfels is extending the operating hours for its microtransit service, "Ride the Rio!"

What's happening: Beginning Nov. 1, the "Ride the Rio" service will begin at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m., making the daily operating hours 6 a.m.-8 p.m., seven days a week, according to a city news release.

The service, which launched in November 2025, aims to improve public transit in the city and increase mobility for residents, according to previous reporting by Community Impact. City officials decided to extend the hours after seeing increased demand for earlier rides in the community.

Since the start of the program, "Ride the Rio!" has grown from eight vans to 10, with drivers providing more than 74,500 rides, according to the release.

In their own words: “Expanding Rio’s operating hours is the next step in providing reliable microtransit transportation,” said Transportation and Construction Services Director Garry Ford in the release. “We’re hopeful that the program will continue to grow, supporting more residents getting to work, school, doctor appointments or to visit friends.”

A new food truck has debuted in New Braunfels.

Mikey’s Cheesesteaks, owned by Mikey Correnti, opened at 636 S. Seguin Ave. on Oct. 23.

Check it out: The family-owned food truck serves authentic, house-seasoned Philly cheesesteaks made with 100% ribeye. Correnti said they also serve onion rings, Southern-style chicken tenders, Cajun fries, mozzarella sticks and more.  

Mikey’s Cheesesteaks’ most popular cheesesteak is the Brotherly Love, which features grilled onions, mushrooms and sweet bell peppers with American cheese, Correnti said.

Notable quote: Correnti said he is passionate about cooking and wants to be part of the community.

“We just want to bring a little taste of Philly to Texas,” Correnti said.

• 636 S. Seguin Ave., New Braunfels

Holly Wilson, an organic gardening instructor and Native Plant Society of Texas teacher with 40 years of experience, shares advice for maintaining a healthy garden in Central Texas. Wilson recommends planting in the fall, from mid-October through the end of November, to allow plants to establish deeper root systems that tolerate drought.

To maintain a healthy and sustainable garden, Wilson advises:

• Considering a plant's mature size, soil, water, sun and shade requirements before purchasing.
• Using integrated pest management and avoiding chemical pesticides.
• Making compost and vermicompost to provide nutrients and fertilizer.
• Mixing compost into the soil before planting, or gently mixing it around the plant afterward to avoid disturbing the root system.
• Using native plants, which support the environment better than non-native or exotic plants.
• Utilizing the Native Plant Society of Texas website database for gardening resources.

More than 4.5 million Texans cast ballots in the first seven days of early voting in the Nov. 3 election, state data shows.

The overview: From Oct. 19-25, 23.8% of Texas' 19 million registered voters had voted in-person or by mail, according to voter turnout data submitted by counties and reported by the secretary of state. This is slightly below early voting turnout at the same point in 2018 and several percentage points above turnout in 2022.

Some context: Turnout this fall follows voter enthusiasm during the March primary election, when more Texans voted early than in recent primaries. In total, about 4.5 million people—or one-fourth of voters registered at the time—cast ballots in Texas' March election, setting a primary turnout record.

At the polls: Registered voters can visit any polling place in their county through Oct. 30, the last day of early voting. Election Day is Nov. 3. Texans can read Q&As with dozens of candidates, find local polling sites and print a custom sample ballot at communityimpact.com/voter-guide.