Footwear store Allways Barefoot opened Nov. 1 in Austin.

The details: The store sells a variety of minimalist shoes designed to mimic walking barefoot to better support mobility, posture and balance. Footwear brands sold include Vivobarefoot, Xero Shoes, Vibram Five Fingers, Luna Sandals, Adama, Groundies and Magical Shoes, and are available in mens, womens and childrens sizes. 

Other accessories sold include massage balls, socks and shoelaces. 

• 2525 W. Anderson Lane, Ste. 290, Austin

Health food cafe Lone Star Nutrition opened in North Austin in mid-September.

What they offer: The cafe serves smoothie bowls made with greens, fruit, protein and other toppings, as well as protein snacks such as waffles, doughnuts, chips and granola bars.

The cafe also features a healthy drink menu, such as coffee and thermogenic teas, which can include add-ons such as collagen, protein juice, fiber, probiotics and an immunity boost. There is also an "athletic" menu with pre-workout and post-workout drinks. 

• 1006 E. Yager Lane, Ste. 101, Austin

Texas State University will purchase a 128 acre tract of property in San Marcos as part of a conservation effort around Sink Creek.

What you need to know: The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the land purchase for $4.5 million Nov. 20, allowing the university to take ownership of an ecologically sensitive area and continue efforts to preserve it. Acquiring the property is part of a commitment to environmental stewardship on behalf of Texas State University, per a release shared by the system.

The details: The property is located northeast of Spring Lake and Spring Meadows, adjacent to the Spring Lake Natural Area, a city of San Marcos-owned park protected for several environmental features. 

What they're saying: Being located within the Sink Creek Watershed provides an opportunity for students to further study local ecology, said Robert Mace, director of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.

On the heels of what proponents have called “historic” property tax relief, some Texas lawmakers are questioning whether the state can afford to continue increasing the tax exemptions passed in 2023 and 2025.

The big picture: Texas homeowners pay property taxes to various local entities, although lawmakers can limit how much entities increase taxes each year and provide state funding to expand tax exemptions.

Texas is spending $51 billion on property tax relief in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 alone and may be required to spend more to maintain existing tax exemptions in future bienniums, lawmakers said.

What they're saying: "We're kind of maxed out at what we can do for property tax reform, from a budget perspective," said Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, during a Nov. 20 event.

"$51 billion ongoing, it's a huge amount to continue to support. To think about doing anything more seems very fiscally irresponsible," Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, said.

The other side: Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, said creating limits on local government spending would be critical to keeping Texas affordable.