Four candidates filed to face off in the May 2 election for New Braunfels mayor.

The list includes incumbent Neil Linnartz, who was elected to office in 2023, communications professional Michael French, local business CEO Jonathon Frazier and planning commissioner Angela Allen.

More details: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 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. For more election coverage, visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

Two locally-owned businesses are set to combine into a single one-stop shop soon in New Braunfels.

What you need to know: Local waxing studio Pullin Roots and nail salon Salsa Rosa Nail Studio are planning to merge and become Pullin Roots + Salsa Rosa Nail Studio soon, according to an Instagram post from Pullin Roots owner Hannah Pullin.

The combined business will be located at 265 N. Walnut Ave. in New Braunfels, the current location of Pullin Roots. Salsa Rosa Nail Studio—led by owner Elena Rabaza—is currently located at 1423 N. Walnut Ave., Ste. 102.

The opening timeframe has yet to be determined.

More details: Pullin Roots offers Brazilian waxing options such as sugar services and hard and soft waxes, according to Pullin’s website.

Salsa Rosa Nail Studio techs offer customers Gel-X extensions, builder gel overlay, rubber base manicures, nail art and more, their website states.

• 265 N. Walnut Ave., New Braunfels

Comal ISD officials broke ground at the site of the yet-unnamed Elementary School No. 22—located at 3265 S. Cranes Mill Road—on March 17.

The background: In May 2023, voters approved Proposition A, which allocated $560.56 million for the construction of three new elementary schools, one middle school and the Life Bridges main campus, according to the district’s website.

The new campus is designed to provide enrollment relief to Bill Brown Elementary and will serve approximately 800 students in a 110,000-square-foot facility, as previously reported by Community Impact.

The timeline: The CISD board of trustees unanimously approved approximately $58.43 million for the construction of the school during a meeting Jan. 22. The approval marks the final step in a three-phase process to authorize the project, according to board documents.

The school is anticipated to open in the 2027-28 school year, Stahl said.

New Braunfels-based restaurant Muck & Fuss is planning to open a second location.

Muck & Fuss restaurateurs will be opening a second restaurant at 2422 N. Loop 1604 W. in San Antonio—just north of Shavano Park, according to a news release.

The details: The restaurant is owned by Terry and Celina Muckenfuss. The new location will be 8,812-square-feet and cost approximately $4.5 million. Construction is expected to be completed Sept. 15. and the restaurant is slated to open in the fall, according to the release.

On the menu: Muck & Fuss serves a selection of gourmet burgers along with craft beers. The restaurant also has truffle fries, milkshakes and more. 

• 2422 N. Loop 1604 W., San Antonio

• EōS Fitness coming soon to Live Oak Town Center
• Check out 8 major San Antonio-area permits filed this week
• 155-acre housing development in the works near The Guadalupe River
• More homes and 2nd amenity center on tap for Veramendi development in New Braunfels
• Locally-owned bookstore and tea room opens in Northeast San Antonio

More than 229,000 students have applied to receive state funds for private education or homeschooling under Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

By the numbers: State data indicates that the most applications have been submitted on behalf of students living in urban areas and the surrounding suburban communities. As of March 8, students living in Houston ISD’s boundaries led the pack with over 8,900 applications, followed by 6,700 applicants in Dallas ISD.

The data reflects how many students living in each district's boundaries have applied, including those not currently enrolled in a public school.

The background: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025.

Students accepted for the 2026-27 school year will receive $10,474 for private education or up to $2,000 for homeschool. Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000 each.

More details: Of the first 152,000 program applicants, nearly three-quarters were not enrolled in a public school during the 2025-26 school year, data obtained by the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency shows.