Two candidates are running for the Texas House District 106 seat in the Nov. 3 election.

What you need to know: Republican incumbent Jared Patterson will run against Democratic candidate Joe Mayes.

In this Q&A, Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents.

Nandi's has opened in Denton, offering an array of Indian cuisine.

What you need to know: Nandi's opened in September at the intersection of West Prairie Street and South Elm Street. The restaurant offers mixed rice dishes such as biryani and mandi, as well as food cooked in a tandoor oven. The flatbread dish rumali roti is also available, as well as curries and chaat, a type of street food snack.

• 508 S. Elm St., Ste. 105, Denton

Denton County lifted a burn ban that prohibited all outdoor burning at the beginning of October after it was implemented at the end of August.

How we got here: The ban was lifted Oct. 5 after the county received several days' worth of rain at the beginning of the month.

On Aug. 25, Denton County approved the burn ban in response to drought conditions and the nearby Ross fire, according to previous reporting. 

The ban prohibited all outdoor burning, including for vegetation disposal, and mitigated outdoor cooking.

What you need to know: Approved burn days in Denton County will be decided daily between 8-9 a.m., the county website states. Factors like local wind and weather conditions are considered when determining the risk of extreme fires.

A Sandman Signature Hotel is planned to be constructed in Grapevine and Allen ISD is working on renovations with funds from a 2024 Bond. Check out some of the latest construction filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

1. Sandman Signature Hotel in Grapevine

A six-story, 221-room hotel is planned to be constructed near Grapevine Mills, per a TDLR filing. Sandman Signature Hotels offer Canadian hospitality, comfort and style according to its website. A company spokesperson said Northland Properties closed on the 5.9-acre site in August.

• Location: Lot 4 3400 Grapevine Mills Blvd. N., Grapevine

• Estimated timeline: Nov. 15, 2026-Nov. 15, 2028

• Estimated cost: $30 million

2. Providence Church in Frisco

Providence Church in Frisco has purchased a 27-acre site for a new church in Frisco, according to its website. The 61,645-square-foot facility will be constructed along Panther Creek Parkway, according to the TDLR filing.

• Location: Panther Creek Parkway, Frisco

• Estimated timeline: Jan. 4, 2027-June 5, 2028

• Estimated cost: $25 million

The average annual insurance premium for a Texas homeowner rose 79% in six years, from less than $2,000 in 2020 to more than $3,500 this year, Texas Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford told state lawmakers Oct. 5.

The overview: The rise in home insurance costs has been caused by severe weather, high inflationary costs impacting home repairs and "the concentration of risk" in the insurance market, Crawford said.

Experts said hardening homes against severe weather could help reduce expensive losses from disasters, resulting in lower insurance premiums.

Zooming in: Proponents of home-hardening incentives have pointed to their success in other Gulf Coast states, such as Alabama. Texas consumer advocacy groups and the insurance industry backed proposals to create a similar grant program last year, according to previous Community Impact reporting, but those measures did not pass.

"Resilience helps homeowners long before it shows up in an insurance bill because a stronger home holds up better when the storm comes," said Chelsea Stallings, a regional vice president for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.