AUSTIN With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is encouraging drivers to make safety a top priority this holiday, as increased travel can present additional challenges for drivers.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a time to educate the public about the potential causes and risk factors of the disease. According to the CDC, each year, more people die of lung cancer than any other type of cancer.

Rural Texans have a lot to say about the lack of broadband service in their communities. Since we covered the topic earlier this month, many readers have emailed to share their stories and pleas for help.

Congressman Roger Williams (R-Austin) last week delivered remarks calling on Speaker Pelosi to bring the Save Our Stages Act to the House floor for a vote as standalone legislation. His bipartisan bill introduced in July would create a grant program within the Small Business Administration to aid independent live music venues impacted by restrictions and government mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Texas’ homeownership rate is at an all-time high of 70 percent, according to the latest Texas Housing Insight report from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. The state rate exceeds the nation’s 67.4 percent for the first time since 2012.

It’s been a rough year for small businesses, and it isn’t over yet. The beginning of 2020 was OK, but things took a nosedive after the coronavirus arrived in March.

This year, the holidays feel especially important to those searching for a sense of normalcy in an abnormal time. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), shoppers anticipate spending nearly $1,000 on gifts, decorations, food and additional “non-gift” items for themselves.

It seems we are no sooner done with Halloween than the ending of the year begins to rocket past us. Next up is Thanksgiving, which will look very different this year thanks to the pandmemic.

Democrats in the Highland Lakes area are a strong and growing population. The party of LBJ, Ann Richards, and Barbara Jordan pulled in 24 percent of votes cast in Burnet County and 21 percent of votes in Llano County in the 2018 senatorial election.

Republican Party of Texas Vice Chairman Cat Parks will speak at Star Republican Women’s Nov. 17 meeting to be held at Quail Point Community Center in Horseshoe Bay.