New Braunfels
A pathway to independence: Comal ISD breaks ground on new campus for special education students
Comal ISD officials broke ground on a new campus for the district’s Life Bridges Transition Program on Sept. 2.
Life Bridges is a specialized educational initiative that provides young adults ages 18-22 with opportunities to learn daily living skills and gain more independence, said Chief Operations Officer Mark Stahl. Participants are referred to as “team members” to emphasize empowerment and community integration. Stahl said the project—which is slated to open or be completed in spring 2026—represents the district’s commitment to supporting all students in CISD.
“Life Bridges ... is more than a program; it’s a pathway to independence, confidence and a meaningful engagement in the community,” Stahl said. “The new campus will provide a purpose-built environment where team members can continue developing life skills in a safe, inclusive and empowering environment.”
The new campus was designed to provide hands-on experience in professional settings, Michele Martella, CISD executive director of special programs and services, said in an email to Community Impact.
It will be equipped with a commercial kitchen and offer team members hands-on experience in food preparation, service and hospitality, Stahl said in an email to Community Impact.
Read the full story by Editor Amira Van Leeuwen.
North San Antonio
Cybersecurity industry takes off in San Antonio
Jeff Webster, CEO and president of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, said that as the largest cybersecurity hub in the U.S. outside Washington D.C., San Antonio is uniquely positioned to be a leader in cybersecurity for decades to come.
This is why state legislators are eyeing San Antonio as the site for its Texas Cyber Command.
“The sleepy town of San Antonio is on the cutting edge of cyber [security],” Webster said. “And this Cyber Command is one more rock in the foundation of what we’re going to do for cyber here in this community.”
With the digitalization of major infrastructures, the need to protect computer systems, devices, networks and data is crucial. To meet this need, the local cybersecurity industry is projected to grow by 12% through 2028, according to the Greater SATX Regional Economic Partnership.
Gonzalo Parra, assistant professor of cybersecurity at the University of the Incarnate Word, said San Antonio’s prominence in the industry is built on decades of strategic development, primarily driven by its significant military and federal intelligence presence.
Read the full story by Reporter Parks Kugle.
Northeast San Antonio Metrocom
Transforming travel: $1.5B road project looks to ease traffic in northeast San Antonio
The I-35 NEX Central project is expected to alleviate travel times throughout the region, and it hit the halfway point this year.
Totaling $1.5 billion in design and build costs, construction began in June 2022 from contractor Alamo NEX Construction. The project creates three elevated lanes, comprising two main lanes and one high-occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lane, for both northbound and southbound directions. The elevated lanes will provide direct connections to Loop 410 North and Loop 1604 West, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
“[The project] will improve mobility and operational efficiency along the I-35 corridor in a manner that will manage vehicle congestion for the 25-year planning horizon,” said Marco Galindo, an alternative project delivery supervisor for TxDOT. “Opening of the elevated lanes will also promote efficient use of the existing transportation facilities as well as reduce travel times.”
The project is also building ramps to connect the I-35 main lanes to elevated lanes and reconfiguring entrance and exit ramps throughout northeast San Antonio.
Read the full story by Reporter Thomas Leffler.
Boerne-Fair Oaks Ranch
Fair Oaks Ranch moves forward with decade-long housing project
After 12 years of planning, development and lawsuits, the Post Oak development, formerly known as The Reserve in Fair Oaks Ranch, is moving forward.
During the July 3 City Council meeting, the annexation of the property was unanimously approved, following the approval of an updated development agreement May 20.
Previous iterations of the development resulted in several legal challenges between the previous developer and the city. With approval of a new development agreement, the updated project will feature larger lots, fewer buildings and additional incentives for the construction of Ammann Road near the property.
City Manager Scott Huizenga said the amended development agreement reduces the originally planned 645 homes to 278 custom lots. In the original development agreement from 2013, homes were on lots averaging around half an acre, while the new lots will have one-acre minimums.
Read the full story by Reporter Jarrett Whitener.
