The Carrillo brothers, comprising Robert, Oscar, Jeovani and Mike, opened Rancho Grande Tomball in 1991 to pursue their dream of owning a restaurant.

Staying local: Originally from Guadalajara, the brothers have since opened multiple locations across the greater Houston area, including Magnolia, Port Arthur, The Woodlands and Tomball. District manager Javier Hernandez has worked with the brothers since they began in 1991, when the restaurant was one of only three or four open in their area.

What's on the menu: The menu has been slightly updated but remains true to cultural cuisine roots. Popular menu items include:

• Tex-Mex Combo

• Fajitas Poblana

• Birria Tacos

One more thing: Rancho Grande also offers catering services. Hernandez emphasized the restaurant's family-oriented service.

"I want them to come here because we treat you like family," Hernandez said.

Montgomery County commissioners voted 5-0 on Oct. 22 to approve additional law enforcement for The Woodlands Township’s mounted patrol services. This follows the township's September vote to approve the sheriff's office proposal, transitioning from Alpha & Omega Mounted Patrol services. Under the new agreement, the county will house seven horses in stables at a park off Fish Creek Thoroughfare.

The specifics: The township agreed to pay one-time costs of up to $954,000 and close to $1.4 million in recurring costs. Two full-time county personnel will move to the facility to assist with the horses. The agreement adds a sergeant and six deputies to the unit.

Also of note: Commissioners also unanimously approved:

• Plans to complete the David Memorial Drive extension to Hwy. 242, awarding a $1.8 million contract to JFO Services.

• A contract awarded to Thompson Consulting for San Jacinto River Watershed flood mitigation efforts.

In July, Texas' top elected officials directed most state agencies, appellate courts and public universities to cut spending by 3% in their base budget requests for the next two years.

The overview: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said those reductions will help Texas hold a "strong fiscal position" by expanding property tax relief and maintaining public education funding when the legislature returns to Austin next year.

The issue: Dozens of agency leaders have warned that the cuts, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, are not sustainable. They would cause Texas residents to lose "essential" services and lead to losses in state revenue, leaders said at the capitol and in budget documents.

Government institutions protesting the budget reductions include the comptroller's office, the attorney general, Texas' Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, state criminal justice agencies and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.