A report released Oct. 8 from over a dozen stakeholders claims the state's takeover of Houston ISD has weakened the district in several ways.

The report, which was created by a 14-member commission of local politicians, educators and HISD parents, comes as officials involved in the takeover cite improvements in a number of areas, including test scores and three straight years of improvement in the state's accountability scores.

At a glance: The Commission on the HISD Takeover—which has three co-chairs, including State Sen. Molly Cook, D-Houston and State Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons, D-Houston—was formed in 2025, according to the commission’s final report. The commission was created in response to the TEA's takeover of HISD in June 2023.

How we got here: Throughout the 2025–26 school year, the Commission on the HISD Takeover collected feedback on the state’s takeover from teachers, students, parents and community members, according to the report.

Andrea Nunn opened Fête 832 in a 900-square-foot space at Spring Street Studios in February 2023. After going viral on TikTok, the business relocated to a larger Rice Village storefront in November 2025 to accommodate more guests.

What’s special about it: The studio offers an immersive environment where guests select a blank figurine, such as a bear, balloon dog, or sneaker, and choose acrylic paint colors. Using pipettes, plastic spoons and miniature cups, guests pour, drip and splash paint directly onto the figurine to create a marble-like effect.

What’s different: Fête 832 uses common household items and the drip-and-pour method instead of paintbrushes to serve artists of all ages and skill levels, particularly those with disabilities and dexterity-related challenges. Painted figurines dry under a heated lamp for two days before customer pick-up.

A sneak peek: Nunn plans to add new sculptures to the current nine-option lineup around Black Friday in November.

• 2414 Rice Blvd., Houston

Houston officials approved the city's move to sell two of its major properties downtown.

The big picture: At its Oct. 7 meeting, Houston City Council passed an ordinance allowing the city to work with commercial real estate company Cushman & Wakefield to sell 611 Walker St. and 1200 Travis St., which house the Houston Public Works Department and the Houston Police Department, respectively.

The decision came after years of concerns about the deteriorating facilities. Houston Public Works director Randy Macchi has spoken in previous meetings about the conditions of 611 Walker and 1200 Travis, noting that both buildings, built in 1966, have weak generators and outdated electrical systems. In July 2025, Macchi said that the HPW building has an 18% remaining service life and the HPD building is at 15% if the city does not make improvements.

Looking ahead: Macchi added that developers have already expressed interest in 611 Walker because of its desirable location, access to the freeway and skyline view.

The city has not yet listed a sale price for either location.

Mayday Fairs, a Porter-based nonprofit, launched in August to support local firefighters and their families who are experiencing life-altering hardship.

About the organization: Founded by Maxine Cruz and Heather Probst, the organization serves firefighters throughout Harris and Montgomery counties.

The event: The nonprofit will host its first fundraiser, the Mayday Book Fair, on Oct. 17 from 4-8 p.m. at J&Co Vintage Market in Porter. Admission is free, and the event will feature:

• Vendors, a book swap and a silent auction

• Books and book-related items for sale

• A raffle for a new Kindle

Proceeds from the silent auction and the Mayday Fair booth will directly benefit the family of local firefighter Jesse Castillo, who recently died from stage 4 lung cancer.

The Texas comptroller's office is reviewing the finances and spending decisions of four public school districts: Austin, El Paso, Prosper and Barbers Hill ISDs.

The overview: The review was requested by Gov. Greg Abbott in August and will identify whether schools are directing taxpayer dollars toward students, teachers and classrooms over administrative costs, according to information from the two state agencies.

Zooming in: For the 2024-25 school year, the Texas Education Agency gave the selected districts the following financial ratings:

• Austin ISD: B rating; score of 88 (about 69,000 students)

• El Paso ISD: A rating; score of 92 (about 46,000 students)

• Prosper ISD: A rating; score of 94 (about 33,000 students)

• Barbers Hill ISD: A rating; score of 100 (about 8,000 students)

More details: Austin and Prosper ISDs are in Community Impact's coverage areas. According to previous reporting, Austin ISD passed an $887 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2026-27 after making $205 million in gross cuts this summer. Prosper ISD adopted a budget with an expected $42.2 million shortfall.