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Students attending San Marcos CISD schools will see changes to school buses over the coming years, in compliance with Senate Bill 546, which went into effect Sept. 1, 2025.

At a glance: During the 89th legislative session, the Texas Senate passed SB 546, which requires public school-operated buses to be equipped with three-point seat belts.

School districts have until Sept. 1, 2029, to comply with the law.

A closer look: To help facilitate this, the Texas Education Agency set guidelines, including required reporting on the status of buses and the estimated cost to bring them into compliance. Older buses without the proper safety equipment must either be replaced or retrofitted, a process that removes and replaces the seats.

Why it matters: Director of Transportation Anthony Shields said they examined the cost of retrofitting older buses with new seats with three-point seatbelts. Due to various factors, including necessary floor replacements and recertification by manufacturers, he recommended that buses be replaced rather than refurbished.

Of the 90 buses in the district's fleet, 53 are out of compliance.

Ashley Olson is the founder and executive chef of Southern with a French Twist, a Hays County-based personal-chef business offering in-home dinners, small-event menus and retreat catering.

Olson sat down with Community Impact to offer tips for those who want to eat healthier but aren’t sure where to start.

What does a well-rounded menu look like in your kitchen, and how do you balance indulgence with wellness?
A well-rounded menu has contrast and care. There’s richness balanced with brightness. There are grounding elements alongside fresh, enlivening ones. Indulgence shows up in thoughtful moments rather than excess, while wellness shows up in how the meal supports conversation, energy and presence.

Through my own work with a nutritional therapist, I’ve learned that stress, speed and perfectionism can undermine even the most healthy meal. That insight has deeply shaped how I cook for others.

When people feel relaxed and connected at the table, digestion improves, satisfaction increases, and food does what it’s meant to do: it nourishes.

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.

What happened: In early January, Francesca's received a notice of default from its lender that required officials 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.

Some context: The company operates more than 450 stores in over 45 states, with 52 of those stores being in Texas, including San Marcos.

• Began liquidating Jan. 14

Three Democrats are running to be Texas' next chief financial officer in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The overview: Sarah Eckhardt, Michael Lange and Savant Moore are seeking the Democratic nomination for Texas comptroller. The winning Democratic candidate will face the Republican nominee in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.

The context: The comptroller's office is open after former state comptroller Glenn Hegar stepped down in July to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Former state Sen. Kelly Hancock currently serves as acting state comptroller and is running in the Republican primary, although he is not considered the incumbent in the race.

The comptroller is tasked with overseeing government spending, projecting Texas' biennial budget for state legislators, reporting on statewide economic issues, and managing the state treasury and unclaimed property programs. Hancock's office also recently launched the state’s new education savings account program, as mandated by the Texas Legislature.

Four Republican candidates are running for Texas comptroller in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The big picture: Michael Berlanga, Christi Craddick, Kelly Hancock and Don Huffines are seeking the Republican nomination to be Texas' next chief financial officer. The Republican nominee will face the winner of the Democratic primary in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.

The background: The comptroller's office is open after former state comptroller Glenn Hegar stepped down in July to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Former state Sen. Kelly Hancock currently serves as acting state comptroller and is running in the Republican primary, although he is not considered the incumbent in the race.

The comptroller is tasked with overseeing government spending, projecting Texas' biennial budget for state legislators, reporting on statewide economic issues, and managing the state treasury and unclaimed property programs. Hancock's office also recently launched the state’s new education savings account program, as mandated by the Texas Legislature.