Customers who visit Phoke Noodles when it’s not too busy might see the owner, Tai Nguyen, hunched over a laptop behind the counter.

The grand opening: He and his wife, Hang Nguyen, opened Phoke Noodles in 2023 to give Prosper a taste of the food they grew up eating, he said.

Meet the chef: In between wrapping spring rolls and pouring bowls of pho, Tai Nguyen works remotely as an information technology engineer.

Must-try menu items: The star of Phoke Noodles’ menu is pho, a traditional Vietnamese beef noodle soup served with bean sprouts, basil, cilantro and jalapeños on the side.

Respecting the craft: Nguyen makes the broth from scratch by simmering beef bones for at least 24 hours, then adds spices like cinnamon, star anise, ginger and onion.

1902 Restaurant is open in downtown Prosper, a restaurant representative confirmed.

What they offer: Its menu features steaks, pasta and Tex-Mex fusion, according to the business's social media.

Check it out: 1902 Restaurant's first-floor dining room and bar are open six days a week.

Stay tuned: Other components of the restaurant, such as rooftop seating, brunch, lunch and Mary Ann’s Speakeasy on the second floor, will open later, according to previous reporting.

• 209 W. Broadway St., Prosper

Denton County voters will choose between two candidates for the Denton County Clerk seat, which will be on the ballot for the Nov. 3 election.

What you need to know: The candidates running for the position are Democrat Dale Frey and Republican incumbent Juli Luke.

Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

What else? Oct. 5 is the last day for residents to register to vote, according to the Texas Secretary of State website. Early voting will take place from Oct. 19-30.

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a law changing the amount of time students are required to spend in public schools from 180 days to 75,600 minutes per school year.

More than a decade later, some state senators are considering again mandating the number of days schools are open, citing concerns about student performance in districts that use condensed weekly schedules.

The details: At least 181 districts and 572 campuses used four-day school weeks in the 2024-25 school year, per Texas Education Agency data.

A TEA study found that during the 2022-23 school year, students attending school four days per week had lower performance in certain subjects on the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness than students at five-day schools.

"There is not a benefit that I see for a four-day school week for the child," Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said. "We know there's learning loss. What is the advantage of a four-day [week]? Because I see none except to please somebody who wants to be off more days."