The city of Friendswood approved changes to its mutual aid agreement for emergency medical services with League City, allowing the cities to charge each other for services dispatched to the other city, though several city leaders said they opposed the changes in principle.

What it means: League City recently notified Friendswood that it would be increasing its fees for providing mutual aid for emergency medical services, City Manager Morad Kabiri said at the Sept. 14 Friendswood City Council meeting.

Diving in deeper: Kabiri said the changes were a result of League City’s attempt to offload its own property tax burden.

The context: Kabiri said that while League City provides more mutual aid on the EMS side, Friendswood provides more mutual aid to League City on the fire side due to League City’s larger size and high volume of calls.

VirtuPlay Zone is slated to open its doors in late 2026 in League City, according to a business brief from the city.

What they offer: The business will offer an interactive entertainment experience with virtual reality, sports simulators and a variety of interactive games, according to the business brief. There will also be space for birthday parties, along with a menu for food and drinks.

📍2809 Calder Road, Ste. 200, League City

Republican Alex Mealer will face Democratic challenger Leticia Gutierrez to represent U.S. House District 9 in the Nov. 3 election.

District 9 covers parts of Harris County and includes Chambers and Liberty counties.

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.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out these trending stories across the southern portion of the Greater Houston area from Sept. 14-18.

1. Tesla considers Fort Bend County for solar manufacturing project

2. New Paris Baguette bakery coming to Missouri City

3. House of Pies coming soon to Webster

4. New steak, seafood restaurant opens in Friendswood

5. Houston ISD deputy superintendent leaves district

6. Shipley Donuts celebrates 90th birthday with limited-time ‘favorites box,’ value deals

Texas does not have a single system to connect first responders in emergencies, meaning local and state agencies often operate on a network of radio systems that are not always compatible with one another.

The big picture: State leaders said there are more than 50 different radio systems used by first responder agencies across Texas.

"We have situations where counties and cities are on separate ones, and they never know it until they have to [communicate with] each other," state Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, said during a Sept. 14 legislative hearing.

Looking ahead: King has vowed to pass a bill to integrate first responder communications under a statewide system during the 2027 legislative session, with some emergency management experts calling interagency communications "the No. 1 issue" in the aftermath of disasters.

"[This] is not simply a communication issue—it's a responder safety issue and an operational effectiveness issue," said Kyle Mills, head of planning and preparedness for the Texas A&M Forest Service.