Austin has officially ended the local emergency operations that ramped up in response to the past week’s severe winter weather, while overnight cold weather shelters will continue to operate through Feb. 1.

The details: The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center deactivated at noon Jan. 28. The center was first activated Jan. 24 in response to the recent weather event that included local disaster declarations by Austin and Travis County officials.

The city and county have now transitioned to “ongoing recovery and monitoring operations,” a news release states, with most Austin facilities returning to normal operations after public buildings were closed or had delayed openings to start the week.

While temperatures have risen and storm warnings expired, caution is still advised. The city urged residents to be take care overnight and in early morning hours when refreezing in shaded roadways and walkways is possible.

More emergency information is available at www.austintexas.gov/alerts, while disaster recovery tips and resources are also available online.

Noble Joe Coffee Co. is preparing to move into a larger space to serve its growing customer base off East Riverside near the Lady Bird Lake trail.

The update: This spring, Noble Joe is slated to move into a 1970s-style trolley that is about double the size of its current tiny home. The new 30-foot coffee trolley will feature electrical upgrades to support a second espresso machine, allowing the business to serve more customers and reduce wait times, Operations Lead Hannah Novak said.

The backstory: The Austin business first opened in 2021 in a restored 1947 milk truck and moved into a larger tiny home over a year ago. Noble Joe has continued to expand to meet an increased demand for its locally-sourced coffee, Novak said.

On the menu: The coffee shop serve drip coffee, cold brew and expresso from three Austin-based roasters, as well as specialty lattes, chai and matcha from other local businesses.  

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