Three candidates are facing off in the Democratic primary election for Hays County judge.

What's happening: Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided, and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

On the ballot: Ruben Becerra, Michelle Gutierrez Cohen and Joel W. Martin are competing for a spot on the ballot in November. A candidate must receive over 50% of the votes to win; if this doesn’t happen, a runoff election will be held in May.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary in the general election, and the winner will serve as Hays County judge.

The first Toasted Yolk Cafe location in Kyle will soon open in the Shops at Brick and Mortar District, expanding brunch options for Hays County residents.

On the menu: The Toasted Yolk Cafe offers an expansive menu featuring breakfast, brunch and lunch options, including its popular Arnold sandwiches featuring poached eggs.

The eatery also offers a diverse drink menu composed of brunch cocktails, mimosas, energizers and coffees.

How we got here: John and Miriam Diaz, Houston natives, frequently found themselves driving through Kyle to visit family. The two fell in love with the area as they watched its steady growth.

After their numerous trips through the city, the business owners saw an opportunity to enter the local market with a Toasted Yolk Cafe location, John Diaz said.

• 150 Heroes Memorial Drive, Ste. D-100, Kyle 

From expanded electric bus fleets to new toll lane projects and the city’s first transit police force, 2025 brought major shifts in Austin-area transportation that are reshaping how residents get around.

1. CapMetro announces new MetroRapid services
Beginning Feb. 23, Capital Metro will introduce two new MetroRapid service lines—Route 800 Pleasant Valley and Route 837 Expo Center—connecting parts of East Austin to destinations in and around downtown Austin. 
Claimed to be “the most significant service changes CapMetro has completed in several years,” the two routes are a part of CapMetro’s Project Connect contributions intended to expand and improve the city’s transit network.

2. Toll rates increased Jan. 1 across six express lanes in the Austin metro, following approval by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority in October.
Most toll collection points rose between 2% and 3%, a change officials say reflects the impact of inflation in recent years.

An electric vehicle sales center and a new residential building are among the newest projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Here are five of the most expensive projects filed with the TDLR in the Austin metro this week.

1. Gunter Street residential building: A five-story, multifamily building with a five-story parking garage is planned near the East Seventh Street H-E-B.

• Location: 1135 Gunter St., Austin
• Estimated timeline: May 1, 2026-Aug. 1, 2028
• Estimated cost: $80 million

• Location: Kelly Lane, from Moorlynch Avenue to Weiss Lane, Pflugerville
• Estimated timeline: Oct. 1, 2026-March 31, 2030
• Estimated cost: $40 million