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A new private indoor golf club is coming soon to the Westlake area in late 2026, according to a Jan. 29 news release.

The details: Known as The Mackenzie Club, the new 33,000-square-foot facility will bring year-round golf opportunities, with offerings such as: 

• Eight Trackman simulator suites 
• A PuttView putting lab 
• Professional golf lessons 
• Outdoor putting and short-game greens 
• Club fittings 
• Programming for serious and practice rounds

After 26 years in business, Houston-based clothing retail chain Francesca’s started the process of liquidating all merchandise and closing all stores in mid-January, according to a letter from company officials to the Texas Workforce Commission.

The company operates more than 450 stores in over 45 states, with 52 of those stores being in Texas, according to the company website.

What happened: In early January, the company received a notice of default from its lender that required the company to permanently shut down, according to the letter.

“After assessing options, the Company concluded, in its business judgment, that it had no alternative but to immediately cut costs, sell existing inventory, and ultimately cease operations,” the letter states.

• Began liquidating Jan. 14
• 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. K10, Austin; 12821 Hill Country Blvd., Ste. C2-115, Bee Cave

The Austin Board of Realtors hosted its Central Texas growth forum Jan. 28, bringing in a panel of officials from key Austin transportation entities to discuss how ongoing projects could impact local Realtors.

The panel featured Lindsay Wood with Austin Transit Partnership, Sam Haynes with Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Tucker Ferguson with Texas Department of Transportation's Austin District.

If you could correct one common misconception related to your project, what is that?
Wood: Light rail is happening. Yes, it's a long process. ... We'll keep hitting every one of those milestones, and you'll start to see construction next year.

Haynes: The airport experienced five years worth of passenger activity over the course of less than 12 months right after the pandemic. ... In a way, yes we are behind, but trust that it is not because we were waiting for the passenger levels to get here or were dragging our feet.

Ferguson: TxDOT listens. We listen to public feedback and incorporate changes into our project, and I-35 is a perfect example of that.