Two candidates filed to face off in the May 2 election for the New Braunfels City Council District 5 seat. 

More details: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words.

The list includes incumbent Mary Ann Labowski, who was first elected into office in 2023, and current member of the city's planning committee, Chase Taylor.

Dates to know: Voting will take place in both Comal and Guadalupe counties. Early voting hours are as follows:
Comal County

• April 20-24: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• April 25: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• April 27-28: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• April 20: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• April 22-24: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• April 25: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• April 27-28: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

A locally owned pawn shop in New Braunfels has rebranded following a change in ownership.

In case you missed it: Comal Pawn, located at 1105 W. San Antonio St., changed its name to Cash America Pawn as of early March, store staff told Community Impact. The shop was previously owned by the Scheel family, who have since retired, according to Comal Pawn's website.

“We will sincerely miss our employees and our faithful and loyal customers," Comal Pawn's website states. "Thank you to the community and beyond that have helped us to always be the friendly pawnshop on the corner.”

Cash America Pawn is now part of the FirstCash Inc. network of pawn shops. FirstCash has over 3,000 locations, according to its website.

Read all about it: Cash America Pawn has standard pawn shop offerings, including toys, electronics, movies, instruments and sporting goods. The pawn shop also has firearm transfer services, pawn loaning services and more, according to its website.

• 1105 W. San Antonio St., New Braunfels

From local songwriters to country bands, check out this listing of live music coming soon to venues across New Braunfels.
This list is not comprehensive, and events are subject to change.

The Redbird Listening Room
1260 Elliot Knox Blvd., New Braunfels

• April 15: Travis Roberts, 7:30 p.m.
• April 17: Owen Temple, 7:30 p.m.
• April 18: Colin Linden, 7:30 p.m.
• April 19: David Starr, 4 p.m.

• April 13: Dan Whitaker Band, 6 p.m.
• April 14: Austin Gilliam & Friends, 6 p.m.
• April 15: The Georges, 6 p.m.
• April 16: Tiffiny Dawn Band, 6 p.m.

• April 15: Steven Lee, noon
• April 17: Neal Stranahan, 5 p.m.
• April 25: Gabe Choate Band, 9 p.m.
• April 26: All Mixed Up, 2 p.m.

• April 12: Elysha LeMaster, 11 a.m.; Trunk Monkeys, 3 p.m.
• April 15: San Antonio Dutchmen, 6 p.m.
• April 17: The Court Jesters, 6 p.m.
• April 18: Classic Rewind, 6 p.m.

From Bulverde Road in North San Antonio to pedestrian improvements in New Braunfels, check out four upcoming or ongoing transportation projects across the San Antonio metro area.

Upcoming projects

North San Antonio
Bulverde Road Phase 2 project: Part of San Antonio’s 2022-27 bond program, Phase 2 will construct improvements on Bulverde Road from Green Spring Drive to Redland Road. Currently in the design phase, the project will widen the road to 86 feet, expand it to four lanes, add a center turn lane, and add a sidewalk and a shared-use path, as well as drainage improvements and utility adjustments. 

New Braunfels
AAMPO Citywide Pedestrian Improvements, Phase 1: Improvements will be made to sidewalks and shared-use paths at five locations throughout New Braunfels: Oak Run Parkway, Hinman Island Drive, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital Area, Alves Lane and County Line Road, according to agenda documents. On Jan. 26, New Braunfels City Council approved a motion to begin the process to find contractors.