For 135 years, Holick’s Manufacturing has handcrafted Texas A&M’s iconic senior boots. Master bootmaker Leo Belovoskey continues this deep-rooted Aggie tradition, manually crafting each pair to ensure every cadet feels part of something special.

The history: Founded in 1891, Holick’s Manufacturing has handcrafted Texas A&M’s iconic senior boots since the 1940s. Over 135 years, the business has survived fires and industry shifts by maintaining traditional, manual craftsmanship.

Today, Belovoskey continues this legacy, pouring decades of history and specialized skill into every pair for cadets.

We make it the same way that it’s been done forever,” he said. "We pour ourselves into these boots, we really do. So, [cadets] are getting a little piece of us.”

What’s special about Holick’s: For Texas A&M cadets, senior boots represent a rare, meaningful tradition. Belovoskey provides this sense of belonging through high-quality, tangible craftsmanship.

More details: After 135 years, Holick’s Manufacturing remains not just a business, but a living piece of Aggie tradition, stitched together one pair at a time.

• Open weekdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

• 4315 Wellborn Road, Bryan

Helados La Azteca, a Hispanic family-owned paleteria known for its traditional Mexican ice cream and snacks, will soon open a new location in Bryan.

About the project: The shop will be located across from the Tejas Center. It joins the company's existing four locations across Central Texas.

A family affair: Founded in 1998 by the Garcia family, the company traces its roots to Jalisco and says its mission is centered on sharing authentic Mexican flavors through ice cream, snacks and community-focused service. The business was passed down to founder Alfredo's son Eduardo Garcia, who has since expanded it to three locations in Waco, one in Temple and one soon in Bryan.

On the menu: Helados La Azteca offers a wide variety of treats.

• Paletas

• Ice cream

• Fresh fruit

Customers will also be able to find savory items and snacks, including elote and nachos.

Before you go: The company has not announced an opening date but is hiring.

• 724 E. Villa Maria Road, Ste. 600, Bryan

On May 26, Republican voters will choose their nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission in a runoff election between former Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French and incumbent Jim Wright.

The overview: The Republican railroad commission race is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

Wright and French were the two highest-performing candidates in the five-way primary race, with Wright receiving 32.1% of the vote and French collecting 31.7%.

The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face state Rep. John Rosenthal, D-Houston, in the November midterm election. Third-party candidates may also appear on the November ballot.

Did you know? The railroad commission regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry, while the state's railroads are under the control of the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government. The agency has three commissioners elected to staggered six-year terms.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22, with runoff election day May 26.

A 2023 Texas law allowing state and local police to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally is scheduled to take effect May 15.

The overview: Texas legislators passed Senate Bill 4, a state immigration enforcement law, in late 2023. The law was originally set to take effect in March 2024, but has been tied up in court for more than two years.

For the first time, the law would allow Texas police to arrest migrants they suspect crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization and allow judges to order migrants’ removal if they are found guilty of illegal entry.

The background: SB 4 had been largely blocked by a series of court rulings since early 2024. A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit against SB 4 April 24, and a separate lawsuit was filed May 4.

On May 13, U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra—who previously deemed SB 4 unconstitutional—heard arguments in the secondary lawsuit, although he did not issue a ruling before press time May 13.