Cedar Park now has its first tattoo shop, Don’t Tell Mama Tattoo, opened by James and Brooke Dupper.

The details: James Dupper discovered his passion for tattooing at 18 while serving in the U.S. Army, training as an apprentice while stationed at Fort Hood. After leaving the military, he and his wife, Brooke Dupper, opened their first shop in Killeen in 2015, followed by a second location, Iron Rite Tattoo South, in Georgetown.

What they offer: Don’t Tell Mama Tattoo, which opened in January 2025, features seven artists specializing in American and Japanese traditional styles, along with custom and flash designs to suit every taste. The shop welcomes walk-ins and emphasizes quality customer service, making sure each client leaves happy with their work.

One more thing: The Duppers also prioritize giving back, hosting bi-monthly flash events with local nonprofits. In 2026, the shop plans three Friday the 13th events with unique designs, raffles and local vendors, continuing its commitment to art, community and connection.

The city of Cedar Park expects to complete improvements at Brushy Creek Sports Park by spring, according to an update from Randy Lueders, the city's director of engineering and capital projects, during a Jan. 22 City Council meeting.

The project: Lueders said the improvements to the park, which are currently in progress, include

• Sports field fencing and nets
• Softball field drainage and infield improvements
• Parking lot expansion
• Additional trails
• Existing trail upgrades, including replacing decomposed granite paths with concrete
• New maintenance building

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
• 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, Ste. K01, Cedar Park

Three Democratic candidates are running to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate during the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The overview: Jasmine Crockett, Ahmad R. Hassan and James Talarico are competing for the Democratic nomination for a six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

The details: Each state has two U.S. senators, with Ted Cruz and John Cornyn currently representing Texas. Cornyn, whose seat is up for election, is running for reelection in an eight-way Republican primary.

The winning Democratic candidate will face the winner of the Republican nomination in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January 2027.

Eight Republican candidates are running to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate during the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The big picture: Republican incumbent John Cornyn is seeking a fifth term as Texas' senior senator. Each state has two U.S. senators—Cornyn currently serves alongside Republican Ted Cruz.

Seven Republican candidates are challenging Cornyn for the Republican nomination: John O. Adefope, Anna Bender, Virgil John Bierschwale, Sara Canady, Wesley Hunt, Gulrez “Gus” Khan and Ken Paxton.

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the Republican primary, a runoff election will be held between the two top vote-getters on May 26.

Looking ahead: The winning Republican candidate will face the winner of the Democratic nomination in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January 2027.