Hays County staff will review and potentially update the Commissioners Court rules of decorum for the first time in almost three decades. Staff will additionally review the court’s legal authority to allow the reading of written comments from community members during meetings.

What happened: Commissioners directed staff to review the court’s rules of decorum July 7 and consider an update to better clarify what language and comments are allowed during public meetings. The decorum rules were last updated in 1998.

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra directed staff to update the decorum rules with more modern and clearer phrasing. Staff will return to the court with a draft of the updated text to present for review and feedback before being approved.

The context: The request for an update to the court’s rules of decorum came after a June 23 incident where former Hays County Democratic Party Chair Jon Leonard was physically removed from a meeting after interrupting Liz "Sumter" Gajdos, independent candidate for Hays County Judge, during public comments directed at Democratic judge candidate Michelle Cohen.

The San Marcos business landscape has seen major changes the last month. From new retail destinations and restaurants to a major travel center preparing to open, check out 14 business updates in the city.

Now open
Kylo Artistry

• Opened May 21

• 4015 S. I-35 frontage road, Ste. 730, San Marcos

Prairie Fire Hair

• Opened July 10

• 2108 Hunter Road, Ste. 106, San Marcos

Siren’s San Marcos

• Opened June 9

• 801 Chestnut St., San Marcos

Southbound Social

• Opened July 3

• 119 E. Hutchinson St., San Marcos

Sucre Cafe and Go

• Opened May 2

• 16100 SH 123, San Marcos

Tejas Birria

• Opened 10

• 119 E. Hutchinson St., San Marcos

Coming soon
Brunello Cucinelli

• Opening in July

• 3939 I-35 frontage road, Ste. 950A, San Marcos

Buc-ee’s

• Opening Aug. 12

• 3245 N. I-35 frontage road, San Marcos

CarMax

• Opening September

• 302 Chuck Nash Loop, San Marcos

Serena & Lily

• Opening mid-July

• 4015 S. I-35 frontage road, Ste. 740, San Marcos

Swig

• Opening TBD

• 180 N. I-35, San Marcos

A surgeon at Orthopaedic Specialists of Austin is now performing an ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release procedure, making Dr. Harrison Kay the first physician in the Austin area to offer the technology, according to a July 7 release from the practice.

The details: The procedure uses real-time ultrasound imaging to guide a device through a small incision below the wrist, releasing the ligament compressing the median nerve. It is performed under local anesthesia in an office setting for eligible patients.

The practice said patients typically return to normal activities within three to five days, compared with two to four weeks after traditional open surgery.

What's next: Individuals experiencing carpal tunnel symptoms, such as numbness, tingling or hand weakness, can schedule a consultation to determine whether the procedure is right for them.