Houston City College students can soon participate in virtual, employer-sponsored programs to advance career goals, officials announced in a Sept. 1 news release.

In a nutshell: HCC was one of 15 community colleges selected to participate in the Workforce Futures Accelerator Project, a three-year initiative led by the Association of Community College Trustees with support from Google, per the news release.

The initiative will focus on high-demand workforce fields such as technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and business operations, per the association’s news release.

Notable quote: “Participation by HCC will strengthen how we provide students with career-connected learning experiences that complement their classroom education and align with the needs of employers,” Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said in the news release.

Al Quick Stop, a Mediterranean restaurant "with a Houston twist", has closed its second location.

What happened: The restaurant, which started as a convenience store when it opened in Montrose in 1991, opened its second location in The Heights in 2021.

Mohammad Elsaadi, the owner, announced on Facebook that he decided not to renew the lease for the second location.

"Serving the Heights community has been an amazing experience, and I’ve learned so much along the way," he said in a statement on Facebook. "Thank you to everyone who has supported AL Quick Stop and me over the last five years."

He added that the original location in Montrose will continue to be open.

What's on the menu: Al Quick Stop serves traditional Mediterranean food, including hummus, kibbeh, shwarma, gyros and falafels.

The original location is at 2002 Waugh Dr. in Montrose.

• 518 W. 11th St., Ste. 300, Houston

According to the latest report from the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), renters across the Greater Houston area are experiencing slight decreases in rent rates as the supply of units remains steady.

The breakdown: HAR officials stated in a Sept. 16 update that the continual availability of rental units has helped stabilize rent costs, with the rental market remaining well-balanced in August.

The report highlights the following key trends for August:

• The number of available rental units jumped nearly 5% year over year.

• The average cost of rent saw a small decrease.

• Townhome and condominium renters experienced the opposite trend, with average costs increasing by 2.4% year over year.

• The number of available townhome and condominium units on the market decreased as more renters filled those spaces.

Harris County commissioners are expected to talk about grant funding for Tom Bass Park, ongoing flood mitigation projects and feeding senior and disabled county residents at their Sept. 22 business court meeting.

At a glance: The court will consider approving an application for grant funding from the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis requested approval for the $15 million grant, which will require a $15 million match from the county, according to agenda documents.

In other news: Commissioners are also set to discuss a slew of escrow agreements for flood mitigation and drainage improvement projects, per agenda documents. If approved, the agreements would allow the Harris County Flood Control District to pay for portions of ongoing projects.

Also on the agenda: The court will consider approving agreements with six community organizations to provide food to senior and disabled residents in the county. The agreements will cost $181,105, with funding coming from the state’s Home Delivered Meal Grant Program, according to agenda documents.

To cast votes for a U.S. senator, governor, state attorney general and dozens of other races during the Nov. 3 midterm election, Texans must ensure they are registered to vote or have submitted an application by Oct. 5.

How it works: To be eligible to register to vote, an individual must:

• Be a U.S. citizen

• Reside in the county they apply to vote in

• Be at least 18 years old by Election Day

• Not have been declared mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a court

Getting registered: Eligible Texans must submit a paper voter registration application by Oct. 5. The online form must be printed, signed and mailed to the applicant's local elections office.

One more thing: Voters who are already registered have through Oct. 5 to update their name or address, if needed.

Some voters may appear on the state "suspense" list if local officials cannot confirm their address, although they will still be able to vote in the election.

More information: Learn more about federal, state and local races at communityimpact.com/election.