The Texas State University System board of regents approved the construction of new Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, or ALERRT, Center facilities during a Feb. 12 meeting. The project has an estimated cost of $25 million.

The big picture: The facilities will address a need for more ALERRT Center space to provide an Integrated Response Training Program, according to Texas State University. The program prepares officers and first responders to effectively respond to active shooters and violent threats through scenario-based training.

The project will add a 14,800-square-foot administration building, featuring an office and conference space. The building will have an attached 16,400-square-foot, climate-controlled logistics warehouse designed to store training equipment.

A closer look: Texas State University officials acquired 75 acres of land from the U.S. General Services Administration in March 2025, including a cluster of 16 buildings near William Pettis Road. The university will use the land for the ALERRT Center expansion.

Officials hope to break ground on the project in April. The construction phase will last an estimated 12 months.

Shoppers at the San Marcos Premium Outlets will soon have a shop geared toward luxury leather products.

Overview: Cuadra is the newest retailer to finish out its brick-and-mortar location in the San Marcos outlets.

The retail business completed its building renovations and alterations on Feb. 16, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations filing.

What’s offered: The store sells boots, shoes, apparel and accessories made from exotic leather for both men and women. Specific products include:

• Dress shoes
• Sneakers
• Belts
• Wallets
• Handbags
• Jackets
• Vests

• Opening in late February
• 3939 N. I-35, Ste. 927, San Marcos

Local transportation officials are making progress on the Austin Light Rail project, following the Austin Transit Partnership board's approval of a $60 million design-build contract for the first phase of the project Feb. 18. With this contract now in place, the project is on track to begin construction in 2027. 

The update: Austin Rail Constructors will help shape and build the design and construction of the transitway, tracks, systems, stations, bridges, traffic signals, utilities, drainage structures and streetscape improvements. Funding for the contract is included in ATP's 2025-26 budget. 

About the project: The 10-mile long project is part of Project Connect, which was approved by voters in 2020. The system will feature 15 stations along the alignment and all-electric trains running every 5-10 minutes throughout most of the day.

Looking ahead: While the approved contract is only for the first phase of the project, or 1A, the agency expects to come back to the ATP board later this summer to authorize services for phase 1B to finish the final design. 

During an arctic blast last month, the Texas power grid remained stable throughout the storm and the state came away largely unscathed. The Lone Star State has not seen widespread blackouts since February 2021, when millions of Texans lost power and nearly 250 people died.

The response: In Uri’s wake, state lawmakers and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas made changes to restructure ERCOT’s governing board, mandate earlier public alerts during tight grid conditions and require that energy providers “weatherize” their facilities to withstand extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Roughly 40,000 megawatts of power—enough to serve about 10 million residential customers—have been added to the grid since 2021 and the state’s energy supply has become more diverse.

Looking ahead: State leaders have expressed confidence that the grid would hold up during “a storm similar to Uri.” Yet some energy analysts caution that rapidly rising electric demand, driven by the construction of new data centers throughout Texas, means challenges may still lie ahead.