Ideas & Insights

Taylor City Cemetery is being mowed by two autonomous machines, and residents voted to name them Pancho and Lefty.

A coffee truck in Dale, a wine bar in Bastrop and a winery in Smithville all opened in 2026, and each was started by a U.S. Army veteran.

Two Texas State University geneticists have a $3 million NIH grant to develop platyfish and swordtails as a model for studying human disease.

The Governor’s Office has certified Elgin as a Tourism Friendly Texas community, after a year of work led by Elgin Main Street.

Roughly $1 billion in federal money is bringing high-speed internet to Deep East Texas. A new coalition has formed to teach people to use it and to build local jobs…

A food truck near the downtown Lockhart square, started in a shared Austin kitchen, has won Best Wings and Best New Food Truck in the 2026 Best of Caldwell County…

Heather Leider moved her business from Colorado to the Lockhart and Luling area in 2022, and it has now been named the county’s photographer of the year. Enterprise29 October 2026Source:…

A national school board group has recognized the district’s career programs, and trustees heard it at the same meeting that brought almost $4 million from Samsung. Workforce28 October 2026Source: Taylor…

A family three generations into the hardware trade has bought the Ace Hardware on West San Antonio Street, extended its hours and started hiring.

A public hearing on Oct. 29 will consider requiring that at least 60% of street-facing ground-floor space hold customer-facing businesses.

The proclamation recognizes Taylor’s manufacturers, their workers and educators, and calls for closer ties between employers and schools.

Spark! is part of $22.84 million Samsung announced for 2026, which also starts a skilled trades pathway at Taylor ISD.