Harris County commissioners on May 28 renewed a contract for the Harris County Sheriff's Office's use of license plate readers to assist with criminal investigations. However, more than a dozen residents spoke against the renewal before the court's vote, sharing concerns about surveillance, data privacy and improper use.

What you need to know: Commissioners renewed a $868,975 contract with public safety technology company Flock Safety to continue the use of license plate readers, or LPRs, as well as a sound detection system that identifies sounds such as gunshots, screeching tires and breaking glass, according to agenda documents.

More details: With a June 6 contract expiration approaching, Harris County's four precinct commissioners voted in favor of the renewal with the possibility to revisit the agreement during a future Commissioners Court meeting. County Judge Lina Hidalgo abstained after pushing to move the item to a different meeting to allow for more public discussion. 

Some context: According to the sheriff's office, Harris County has approximately 480 LPR cameras, which only capture vehicle information, not biometric data.

X&O Books, a new romance-focused independent bookstore, is gearing up for a July opening in Cypress, founder and owner Kara French confirmed with Community Impact.

Read all about it: Located near Hwy. 290 and Spring Cypress Road, X&O Books will feature a combination of mainstream romance titles as well as local and Texas-based indie authors, French said. The bookstore’s main genres of focus will include contemporary, Western and "romantasy"—a popular blend of romance and fantasy storytelling.

Additionally, French said customers will be able to shop from a “713 shelf” with local spotlights and a shelf of recommendations from her husband. 

Quote of note: “Supporting independent authors and artists remains an important X&O Books priority,” French told Community Impact.

More details: The new book shop will also include a lounge and bar area serving wine and dirty sodas, French said. In addition to shopping the shelves, customers can sign up for a monthly subscription box, join a weekly evening book club and attend other events for readers. 

• 25712 Hwy. 290, Ste. I, Cypress

Three years after Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed its brick-and-mortar locations, the home goods retailer is reopening in spaces operated by The Container Store at 98 locations across the U.S., including four in Houston.

How we got here: On May 16, The Container Store and Bed Bath & Beyond announced the opening of their first co-branded retail location in Fort Worth, with the plan to open dozens of merged locations across the U.S., according to a news release from the retailer. 

The details: The merged store layouts will allow customers to shop by room, integrating assortments from both retailers, according to the release.

Looking ahead: Over time, the company expects to operate more than 300 stores across multiple formats, including co-branded stores, neighborhood formats, Bed Bath & Beyond Seasonal Living, and buybuy BABY locations, according to the release.