Shop and avoid taxes–on some items–
It’s a holiday celebrated with a gift from the state of Texas. Friday, Saturday and Sunday makeup the weekend of state sales tax relief. The Texas Comptroller’s Office reports clothes, shoes and school supplies priced below $100 qualify. Originally designed to help parents with the cost of back-to-school expenses, anyone buying the eligible items gets them tax-free. Consumers save about $8 on every $100 spent. For all of the details: TexasTaxHoliday.org
Drive, hike and avoid shoppers–
In Far West Texas – a new trail has opened in Big Bend National Park. The “Lone Mountain Trail” is a 3-mile loop near the park’s Panther Junction headquarters. The National Park Service says the trail showcases views of the Chisos Mountains, Rosillos and Dead Horse Mountains as well as a wide variety of desert plants and animals and the interesting volcanic features of Lone Mountain itself.
Park officials say the new trail is good for families with kids, but they’re also warning that summer temperatures in Big Bend are currently reaching higher than 100 degrees by late morning and hikers should plan to be off desert trails in the afternoon.
The Park Service began planning for a trail in this area in 2010.
