The Comal ISD board of trustees approved a key construction cost milestone for Elementary School No. 22, advancing the district’s plans to address enrollment growth through its 2023 bond program, at a meeting Jan. 22.

What happened: Trustees unanimously approved the Guaranteed Maximum Price No. 2, or GMP-2, of approximately $58.43 million for the construction of the new elementary campus. The approval marks the final step in a three-phase process to select and authorize the project.

In case you missed it: Trustees also approved an agreement with LPA Inc. on June 26 for architectural services related to the design and delivery of Elementary School No. 22, which will be located in the Meyer Ranch development. The 110,000-square-foot campus is designed to serve approximately 800 students. While an exact address has not yet been confirmed, the Meyer Ranch development is located along S. Crane Mills Road near Hwy. 46 West, as previously reported by Community Impact.

A local coffee shop is closing its doors in hopes of something new, 13 Trees Coffee Haus Owner Jamie Rosales said.

The details: What originated as a CBD coffee shop and roastery in Manitou Springs, Colorado, eventually relocated and opened in New Braunfels as 13 Trees Coffee Haus, Rosales said.

Rosales said she decided not to renew the lease on the property at 1450 W. Klein Road after opening in December 2024.

"We’re doing what small businesses must sometimes do to survive: scaling back to our foundation—coffee. This isn’t the end. This is a pause, a breath, a reset," Rosales said in a Facebook post announcing the closure.

Learn more: 13 Trees Coffee Haus will close Jan. 31. The coffee shop sells butter-infused coffee, baked goods and other breakfast items.

Although the coffee shop will close, 13 Trees Coffee Haus will rebrand as 13 Trees Coffee Roastery. The roastery is expected to open in the spring.

• 1450 W Klein Road, New Braunfels

On Jan. 16, New Braunfels-based developer Southstar acquired the Lone Star Brewery site in South San Antonio.

The details: According to a news release, Southstar will transform the site into a mixed-use development that will preserve the former brewery’s unique history.

Thad Rutherford, president and CEO of Southstar, said the development will provide San Antonians with new spaces to congregate and that the project will add to the city's large list of major development projects, including the forthcoming Sports and Entertainment District and VIA Metropolitan Transit’s transit-oriented development.

Southstar was founded 26 years ago and is headquartered in New Braunfels. According to the release, Southstar has established multiple award-winning master planned communities, including VIDA, a 600-acre mixed-use development consisting of single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes and apartments.

• 600 Lone Star Blvd., San Antonio

Two candidates are running in the Republican primary for Guadalupe County Precinct 3 commissioner.

What you need to know: Allison Heyward and appointed incumbent Jim Wolverton will be on the ballot in March for the commissioner seat.

Wolverton was appointed by Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher in December after Michael Carpenter stepped down to pursue the county judge position, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.

Heyward currently serves on the Schertz City Council, with her Place 6 term ending in November 2027.

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

Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Three Democratic candidates are running for Texas lieutenant governor—the second-in-command to the governor—in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The overview: Vikki Goodwin, Courtney Head and Marcos Vélez are seeking the Democratic nomination for Texas lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

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

The winning Democratic candidate will face the winner of the Republican nomination in November, and the winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.

Four Republican candidates are running for Texas lieutenant governor—the second-in-command to the governor—in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The big picture: Republican incumbent Dan Patrick is seeking a fourth term in the lieutenant governor's office. The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

Patrick is challenged by three Republican candidates: Timothy Mabry, Perla Muñoz Hopkins and Esala Wueschner. 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 May 26.

Stay tuned: The winning Republican candidate will face the winner of the Democratic nomination in November. The winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.