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Wendy Serrano’s pole fitness journey began in 2018, which allowed her to get out of her comfort zone while building strength.

“I fell in love with how empowering it felt,” Serrano said.

That was when she grew inspired to create her own space for people to feel free to express themselves through movement. Serrano opened Serrano Fitness Studio at 111 S. Union Ave., Ste. 119, New Braunfels, in August 2025.

What’s special about it? Serrano Fitness Studio specializes in pole fitness classes, which focus on building full-body strength through dynamic movements using a pole. Serrano said their pole fitness classes require skin contact for proper grip, so they recommend wearing shorts as opposed to leggings.

“It’s a fun, unique way to build strength compared to a traditional gym,” she said.

A new senior living community, the first of its kind within the Veramendi master-planned community, is now complete.

In case you missed it: The Oscar at Veramendi, which broke ground in 2022, opened June 1. The three-story residential community offers a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units for independent living, assisted living and memory care. The Oscar at Veramendi has 231 units total, with 175 independent living units, 40 assisted living units and 16 memory care units.

The Oscar at Veramendi has a private dining room area named Braunfels Bistro, which serves breakfast and lunch. There is also a formal dining room area called Carl’s Haus, which serves dinner.

The senior living community has a sports bar, heated pool, hair salon, gym and theater called the Oscar Theatre.

The University of Texas at Austin will be the south node of a national workforce development program to connect job seekers with educational opportunities and employers in the semiconductor industry. 

The university announced its selection to lead part of the national effort June 9.

What you need to know: UT's Texas Institute for Electronics will lead the south node of the National Network for Microelectronics Education, which is operated at the national level by the SEMI Foundation. The nonprofit supports workforce growth in the microelectronics industry, which includes semiconductors.

About the program: NNME South will bring together industry employers, K-12 and higher education partners to bridge the gap between available semiconductor industry jobs and the workforce by establishing new pipelines and programs. Not only will these target students, but also veterans and those looking to reskill for a career change. In the program's first year, it will focus on making pathways to careers in the industry more visible, aligning job training with industry needs, expanding training opportunities and connecting to diverse talent pools. 

In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2127, a sweeping regulatory measure designed to prevent cities and counties from adopting local ordinances that conflict with various sections of state law. Three years later, there is confusion about what local governments can and cannot do under the law.

The background: At the time, some legislators and other proponents of the bill said it would ensure consistency among Texas cities, citing ordinances passed by “liberal blue cities” that they said made it hard to run a business. Opponents of HB 2127, including some local leaders, said the law would prevent cities from addressing residents’ needs while undermining local worker safety provisions and nondiscrimination ordinances.

What's happening: During a June 4 hearing, the law’s critics said it has had a “chilling effect” on some local actions, while those who support the law expressed concerns that cities have not removed ordinances that are preempted by the state.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are considering whether changes are needed to clarify or better enforce the law.