A new Ace Hardware location is planning to open this spring inside Cibolo's Buffalo Heights Shopping Center.

What we know: According to the city's chamber of commerce, the hardware store is planning to open May 5.

The location will offer hardware essentials as well as their Ace Handyman Services, which include technicians that help with home improvement projects, owners Shannon and Mike Ecklund told Community Impact.

• 813 Cibolo Valley Drive, Ste. 166, Cibolo

An Australian-themed steakhouse chain has shut down their sole location in Northeast San Antonio for good.

What you need to know: Outback Steakhouse closed its location at The Forum at Olympia Parkway in Selma on March 15 after its lease expired, Elizabeth Daly, director of corporate Communications for Bloomin’ Brands, Inc., said in an email to Community Impact. 

"We appreciate the community’s support the past 25 years and look forward to serving you at our De Zavala, San Antonio or one of our other restaurants in the area," Daly said in the email.

Bloomin’ Brands is the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, which also oversees chains like Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Carrabba's Italian Grill.

Current employees at the restaurant will get the opportunity to transfer locations and receive a bonus, Daly said.

• 8131 Agora Parkway, Selma

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• 155-acre housing development in the works near The Guadalupe River
• More homes and 2nd amenity center on tap for Veramendi development in New Braunfels
• Locally-owned bookstore and tea room opens in Northeast San Antonio

More than 229,000 students have applied to receive state funds for private education or homeschooling under Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

By the numbers: State data indicates that the most applications have been submitted on behalf of students living in urban areas and the surrounding suburban communities. As of March 8, students living in Houston ISD’s boundaries led the pack with over 8,900 applications, followed by 6,700 applicants in Dallas ISD.

The data reflects how many students living in each district's boundaries have applied, including those not currently enrolled in a public school.

The background: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025.

Students accepted for the 2026-27 school year will receive $10,474 for private education or up to $2,000 for homeschool. Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000 each.

More details: Of the first 152,000 program applicants, nearly three-quarters were not enrolled in a public school during the 2025-26 school year, data obtained by the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency shows.