Kroger's plans to relocate to a new spot cleared a hurdle when the Keller Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve a specific use permit for a Kroger Marketplace with a gas station at its Sept. 8 meeting.

A mixed-use development called Samantha Springs Commerce, which would have 31 brownstone homes, passed unanimously.

Keller Marketplace: Kroger presented plans for a new location on 16.3 acres at 1025 Keller Parkway, according to previous reporting. The current location at 976 Keller Parkway would close, according to the presentation.

The proposal was passed 3-2, with Erin Pfarner and Michelle Sandoval Cabanas voting against the plan for the store.

Samantha Springs Commerce: Samantha Springs Commerce is a proposed development on 15.63 acres at 800 N. Main St that would include brownstones and commercial opportunities. There would be 8.19 acres of non-residential development space and 3.27 acres of open space, according to previous reporting.

What's next? With both items garnering approval from planning and zoning, Keller City Council will hear the items and take possible action on both at the Oct. 6 meeting.

Red Pepper Wok Chinese Kitchen is now open in Keller.

The restaurant provides authentic Chinese cuisine with bold flavors and generous portions, according to its website.

What’s on the menu: The online menu shows a mix of appetizers, soups, stir-fried rice, beef, seafood, and pork dishes, as well as gluten-free, vegan, and beef, chicken, and shrimp options.

The background: The eatery moved into the former Buffalo Wild Wings ‘Go’ location, which closed last year, according to previous reporting.

• 1411 Keller Parkway, Ste. 300, Keller

Incumbent Democratic state Sen. Taylor Rehmet will face Republican challenger Leigh Wambsganss to represent District 9 in the Texas Senate in the Nov. 3 election.

District 9 covers Tarrant County and includes cities such as Keller, Colleyville and Southlake and parts of Fort Worth.

What you need to know: Early voting for the Nov. 3 election runs from Oct. 19-30. Election Day is Nov. 3. The final day to register to vote is Oct. 5.

Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or shortened to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

The Texas comptroller's office is requesting that lawmakers provide more than $2 billion for the second and third years of the state's education savings account program, which gives participating families taxpayer dollars for private education and homeschooling.

How we got here: The legislature created Texas Education Freedom Accounts in 2025 and allocated $1 billion for the program's first year, the 2026-27 school year.

Nearly 110,000 students have received state dollars from the program so far, and officials said providing another $1 billion annually would ensure the state can "maintain our current participation" in the next two years.

Zooming in: According to the comptroller's legislative appropriations request for the 2028-29 biennium, it would cost approximately $4 billion to maintain funding for current participants, accept the siblings of participating children who will soon qualify for the program and admit more than 106,000 waitlisted students.

Something to note: The comptroller's $2 billion base budget request would not fully cover the waitlist and interest list, which would cost nearly $4 billion for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years.