Two candidates are vying for Live Oak mayor in the May 2 election.

What you need to know: Incumbent Mary M. Dennis is running for reelection against Christina Lichtenberg.

Dennis—who was elected in 2010 and then reelected in 2022—is the first African American mayor of Live Oak, according to the city's website.

Lichtenberg is a small-business owner.

Learn more: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents.

A new mobile coffee cart service is now open and serving residents across the Greater San Antonio area.

Some details: 1996 Coffee Co. launched Jan. 4, co-founders Jared and Kelsie Tooker told Community Impact.

The Cibolo-based business services the following areas, according to its website:

• San Antonio
• Boerne
• New Braunfels
• San Marcos
• Kyle
• Buda
• Austin

From Bulverde Road in North San Antonio to pedestrian improvements in New Braunfels, check out four upcoming or ongoing transportation projects across the San Antonio metro area.

Upcoming projects

North San Antonio
Bulverde Road Phase 2 project: Part of San Antonio’s 2022-27 bond program, Phase 2 will construct improvements on Bulverde Road from Green Spring Drive to Redland Road. Currently in the design phase, the project will widen the road to 86 feet, expand it to four lanes, add a center turn lane, and add a sidewalk and a shared-use path, as well as drainage improvements and utility adjustments. 

New Braunfels
AAMPO Citywide Pedestrian Improvements, Phase 1: Improvements will be made to sidewalks and shared-use paths at five locations throughout New Braunfels: Oak Run Parkway, Hinman Island Drive, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital Area, Alves Lane and County Line Road, according to agenda documents. On Jan. 26, New Braunfels City Council approved a motion to begin the process to find contractors.

On March 31, Texas’ roughly 9,000 licensed consumable hemp retailers will face sweeping regulations, including a more than 3,000% increase in annual licensing fees and a ban on most smokable cannabis products.

The overview: The new rules, which also include age verification requirements, stricter packaging guidelines and more rounds of product testing, were originally proposed in December. The Texas Department of State Health Services, which regulates the state’s hemp industry, adopted the rules March 2.

The debate: Supporters of the increased regulations previously said they hoped the changes would result in more comprehensive oversight of Texas’ hemp industry and improve consumer safety. 

Some experts said they were concerned the new rules were taking effect too quickly and could lead some hemp businesses to close their doors.

"It is really tragic that these entrepreneurs are being faced with this, especially in a state like Texas that touts being pro-business ... and here we are shutting down businesses and relegating consumers to an illicit market," said Heather Fazio, director of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center.

Beginning April 1, Texans can no longer use food stamps to purchase sweetened beverages and candy.

How we got here: During the 2025 legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 379, which prohibits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from being used to purchase candy and sweetened drinks. In August, the federal government approved a waiver allowing Texas to implement the prohibition beginning April 1.

Texas will be the ninth state to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used on sugary items, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

How it works: Under SB 379, Texans will not be allowed to use their SNAP benefits to buy sweetened drinks containing any artificial sweeteners or at least 5 grams of added sugar, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. SB 379 also bans the purchase of candy with Lone Star Cards.

It is up to Texas businesses to determine which items are no longer SNAP-eligible, update their store purchase systems and train staff to recognize the newly restricted items, according to the HHSC.