West University Place City Council unanimously approved up to $10.76 million in bond sales Nov. 10 that will go toward funding five different water system infrastructure projects throughout the city.

What residents should know: When it comes to bond issuance, city officials addressed how the funding for these projects will be paid.

“The debt issued for these projects will be paid for by water/sewer fees, not property taxes,” a statement on the project site reads.

The cost: For the average West U household that does not receive a senior or disability exemption on its utility statements, the estimated impact will be an additional $2.36 per month.

Digging deeper: The bond proceeds, according to city officials, will be used for the following phases in these projects identified in the city’s 2025-34 Capital Improvement Plan:

• West Side drainage project: design phase
• Cast iron water line replacement: construction phase
• Wakeforest water plant distribution line replacement: construction phase
• Milton water plant improvements: design phase
• Wakeforest elevated and ground storage tanks interior rehabilitation: design and construction phase

Texas Country Western Boots, a retailer known for its exotic boot collection and western wear, celebrated a grand opening event in Rice Village on Nov. 8.

What we know: The store creates authentic boots that are handcrafted and available in a variety of materials, including premium leathers and suede, as well as exotic skins such as alligator, cowhide, ostrich and python.

Boots are available in different sizes for both men and women and come in different colors, including shades of brown, black, white, pink and red. Other items for sale include totes and belts.

Suburban areas including New Caney East, Porter and West University  are leading the way in home sales growth, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ latest Hottest Communities report for the third quarter of 2025. 

The top-ranked communities are seeing the largest increase in sales due to affordability and new construction continuing to attract buyers, according to an Oct. 27 news release. Eight of the top 10 communities reported average home prices below Houston’s overall average of $421,655.

The impact: Waller claimed the top spot for the third consecutive quarter with a 94.6% increase in home sales compared to last year. The area recorded 179 sales—more than 80% of which were new construction—with an average price of $335,255, down 13% year over year, according to the release.

The Crosby area followed with a 91.3% increase in sales, while West of the Brazos ranked third with an 86.8% jump. Hockley also made the list, seeing a 76.2% rise in transactions, per the release.

Every day for the past 25 years, at least one person has died in crashes on Texas roads. Texas officials and the families of some fatal crash victims commemorated the grim anniversary with a candlelight ceremony at the Texas Capitol on Nov. 7.

The impact: Jamie White said her 2-year-old daughter, Allie, was hit and killed by a distracted driver at Round Rock’s Old Settlers Park in September 2019.

“It only takes [a few] seconds… to kill somebody,” White said Nov. 7. “Can you imagine doing this, taking somebody's child from them, and living the rest of your life knowing that you caused that?”

Following Allie’s death, her parents launched Allie’s Way, a nonprofit aimed at ending distracted driving.

More details: TxDOT data shows that speed and impaired driving are involved in the majority of deadly crashes on Texas roads.

“These are not random events,” Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee said Nov. 7. “These are the results of making the wrong choices on our Texas highways."