Roanoke City Council reviewed three police department-related items at its Sept. 22 meeting, including a possible contract with the town of Westlake to provide police resources.

The gist: A discussion about a partnership with Westlake was held in a closed-session meeting with council and the city’s attorney. No action was taken when council returned to the chamber.

The city of Roanoke issued a news release Sept. 23 that said the two entities are working together on a potential partnership with Roanoke Police Department officers and staff providing police services to Westlake.

According to previous reporting, Westlake Town Council voted Sept. 15 not to renew its contract with Keller Police Department when it expires Sept. 30, 2028. Keller has provided law enforcement for Westlake since 2002.

Also of note: A 10-year contract, worth $3.14 million, was approved between the city and Axon Enterprise, Inc. for upgraded software, services, equipment and warranties for the police department.

The Novel Narwhal found a new location in Roanoke, moving into a space within the Aromas on Oak coffee shop in August.

A closer look: The business, which started as an online bookstore, previously had a space at The Market at Roanoke. The Market relocated to Keller in May, but that location was not a fit for Kelli and Melissa Whall's book business.

Kelli Whall said the coffee-and-bookstore mix is a perfect match.

“We really enjoy the customers at Aromas and, as time progresses, we look forward to learning more about the books they like so we can tailor our onsite inventory,” she said. “In the meantime, anyone can request custom orders at any time by reaching out through social media or our website.”

The details: Ryan Buck and Kirsten Trudo-Buck, the owners of Aromas on Oak, provided a space for the bookstore to reopen.

Ryan Buck said that The Novel Narwhal hosts a silent book club in the coffee shop once a month.

• 400 S. Oak St., Apt. 140, Roanoke

Texas Woman’s University saw an overall increase in enrollment for the fall 2026 semester compared to the fall 2025 semester, and the University of North Texas experienced an increase in new freshmen and transfer students in that same time period.

The impact: TWU experienced an overall 5.9% increase in student enrollment to 16,412 students, which is its second-highest enrollment ever, according to a release from the university. The highest enrollment in university history was 16,441 in 2020.

UNT reported that 42,016 students were enrolled this semester, including 6,388 freshmen and 3,434 new transfer students, according to a news release from the university. This is an overall 9.57% increase from fall 2025.

Zooming in: UNT also saw an increase in campus enrollment at its Frisco location with 3,377 students enrolled in courses, a record number for that campus, according to a news release.

The total number of UNT students is a decrease from 43,567 in fall 2025, mostly due to a loss of more than 1,300 international students, according to previous reporting.

The total enrollment at TWU for the fall 2025 semester was 15,424, according to the university’s website.

Shivers Farm, a 40-acre development that will include commercial and residential areas, officially broke ground in Southlake on Sept. 23

The development is expected to have 110,000 square feet of retail space as well as 37 single family homes, office space, a park and a Whole Foods, according to Trademark Property Company, the developer of the property.

What’s new: The mass grading to get the ground ready for construction will likely start in a week and retail tenants are expected to open around early 2028, said Terry Montesi, Trademark Property Company CEO and founder.

Montesi said over 40,000 square feet of retail leases have already been signed and they are in negotiation for another 60,000.

The specifics: The Whole Foods will be the first major grocery store north of SH 114, Montesi said, and having the store helped bring the development together.

“This development would never happen without Whole Foods,” Montesi said. “They are the anchor, the financial anchor to the development and that's what attracts retailers and the restaurants.”

What’s next

A performance standard requirement in the master agreement approved June 16 stipulated that construction for the development has to begin before Jan. 1, 2027.

The agreement also outlines that the commercial section must be completed by Dec. 31, 2028 and the residential section must be completed by June 30 of 2029.