Kyle families will soon have a new place to connect, enjoy coffee and let their children play.

The details: Bright Imaginations Play Cafe is planning to open near Lowe’s off Kyle Parkway.

The business will offer an indoor, interactive play space where children can explore and create. The space will be geared toward children from six months to eight years old.

Parents can enjoy coffee, tea and baked goods while their children play.

Going forward: The business is aiming to open in early 2026, depending on the timeline of the build-out.

Once open, Bright Imaginations will also offer party packages. Exact hours of operation will be announced closer to opening.

• 5695 Kyle Parkway, Ste. 140, Kyle

Renovations will soon begin at the Journey’s location in San Marcos.

What to know: All 3,000 square feet of the Tanger Outlets store will be renovated; however, specific renovations have not been shared. Renovations are expected to begin in early January and be completed by late February.

What they offer: The business sells shoes for women, men and children, including brands such as Nike, New Balance, Ugg, Converse and Birkenstock.

• Tanger Outlet Center, ​​4015 S. I-35, Ste. 1005, San Marcos

New Braunfels Utilities, or NBU, is about to begin work on a $7 million wastewater project in Gruene's Historic District.

About the project: The project will be carried out in two phases. It aims to provide the capacity needed to serve the area today and the ability to handle the area’s future growth, according to a news release.

Zooming in: Phase 1 construction focuses on replacing the aging, 12-inch sewer line along Gruene Road—from Hunter Road to the 1200 block of Gruene Road—with an 18-inch sewer line.

Phase 1 construction is expected to commence in January and wrap up in March, according to the release.

Texas voters will see 18 statewide races on the ballot in 2026.

The overview: Texas will hold Republican and Democratic primary elections on March 3 to determine who will appear on the statewide ballot in November. Texas is one of 17 states with open primaries, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, meaning registered voters can cast their ballots in either primary and do not need to register with a specific party.

What to know: The 18 statewide races on the 2026 primary ballots are:

• U.S. Senate
• Governor
• Lieutenant governor
• Attorney general
• Comptroller of public accounts
• General land commissioner
• Agriculture commissioner
• Railroad commissioner
• Texas Supreme Court, chief justice
• Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 2
• Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 7
• Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 8
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 3
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 4
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 9
• 15th Court of Appeals, chief justice
• 15th Court of Appeals justice, Place 2
• 15th Court of Appeals justice, Place 3