Ryan Loyd

Dressed uniformly and walking in a large group, students from the Texas Legislative Internship Program learn the halls of the Texas State Capitol building and find out where the cafeteria is located.

They will soon become very familiar with the offices, and even more with proposed bills. But Tina Tran, who runs the program, said their job is also somewhat stereotypical of an intern.

When the 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives gavel into session Tuesday, Republican Speaker Joe Straus will be looking to keep his seat as the top man; to do so he only needs a simple majority: 76 votes.

However, he does have a challenger: Republican David Simpson from Longview. It is only Simpson's second term as a representative, but the former businessman was also mayor of the City of Avinger in 1993.

Lawmakers are back under the dome of the Texas Capitol for a new session for a new age in politics, with the reminder of what happened two years ago in the back of their minds.

Two years ago, education funding was slashed by $5.4 billion, the use of the state’s emergency "rainy day" fund was frowned upon, and a controversial Voter ID bill got through both chambers but was found unconstitutional against minority voters by the court system.

Craft brewing companies have provided plenty of fun to beer fans, and according to a report by University of Texas at San Antonio economics professor Scott Metzger (who also happens to run his very own brewery, Freetail Brewing Company) have generated $608 million in the Lone Star State.

Metzger estimates that by 2020, the industry will generate $5.6 billion, a figure he calls conservative.

Only a year and a half after joining the ranks of the San Antonio Police Department, comrades gathered on a cold January morning to say goodbye to Officer Edrees Mukhtar.

For Police Chief William McManus, the final farewell to a fallen officer never gets easier.

"Very sad morning, very sad event,” he said. “It's nothing you ever, ever get used to."

Born in Afghanistan, McManus said Mukhtar came to the United States at a young age and lived in New York.

For many people the new year means a new start, and with it another chance to change.

"All women [want] to lose weight is my first one [resolution]" said Sandra Orendain, a native of Mexico and San Antonio resident. "And the second one is to be healthy and to do more exercises."

Concerns and fears in the wake of shooting sprees in Connecticut and Aurora, Colo. have prompted a “what if” mentality for people with children in school and others in public places.

"I think for the most part people are confused, and out of that confusion comes fear,” said former military combative instructor and martial arts expert Michael Hanson.

Active Shooter Self-Defense Class

Retailers are counting on those last minute shoppers to finish the year on a high note with many of them rush to buy those last-minute gifts.

“You know, we have the big gifts,” said Lisa Montanez, but added the smaller extra gifts help make a more complete Christmas experience.

While she shops for the knick-knacks, Teresa Sanchez says aunts and extended family members remain on her Christmas lists.

"It's just because we found out they're buying gifts for our kids so we went out and got them something since they're taking care of our kids,” she said.