Camaraderie, a calming vibe and a “broad spectrum” of cigars are the key elements that make Dublin Hound Cigars special, according to owner Les O’Farrell.

The big picture: Dublin Hound has been open since 2018 and has about 400 different cigar boxes in its inventory, as well as other products, such as canned pipe tobacco, O’Farrell said. A majority of the store’s cigars come from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic or Honduras.

The business also features a lounge with comfortable chairs, TVs and Wi-Fi for customers to utilize while smoking, O’Farrell said. The lounge is open during the week and weekend, so customers can socialize, relax or work, he added.

Quote of note: “Part of this shop [that] was just really important to me ... is the vibe,” O’Farrell said. “I hear guys talk all the time about, ‘You know why I come here? Because it reminds me of being at home.’ It's just cozy, it's comfortable, and it just feels right. So, I've accomplished exactly what I wanted to do.”

Officials with Gomez Western Wear celebrated the opening of their new location in Humble on Sept. 27, according to a post on the business's Facebook page.

Some context: The business relocated earlier this year from its previous location at 20020 Hwy. 59 in Humble. The new store is located at 20210 Hwy. 59 N. in Humble.

What they offer: According to the company's website, Gomez Western Wear offers western apparel, including:

• Exotic boots

• Belts

• Hats

• Clothing for men, women and children

Two candidates are competing for the Place 7 at-large position on the board of trustees for the Harris County Department of Education in the upcoming Nov. 3 election. Democratic incumbent Silky Joshi-Malik will face Republican challenger Denise Dick in the race.

The details: Key details regarding the board and the election include:

• The board establishes policies governing the operation of the department and elects the county superintendent as its chief executive officer.

• The board consists of seven members, including three at-large positions that represent the entire county.

• Regular board meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. in Houston.

• Another at-large position, Place 5, is also up for election on Nov. 3, featuring Democratic incumbent Erica Davis and Republican challenger Sartaj Bal.

The Harris County Clerk’s Office is rolling out a new app, Harris Votes, to help voters access election information and track results. Although the app is already available for iPhone and Android users to download, it will officially launch Oct. 1 ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

The app is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. Using the app, voters will be able to:

• Find voting centers

• View a personalized sample ballot

• See election dates and receive reminders

• Check their voter registration status

• Follow live election results

• View frequently asked questions

Voters can also find the same information on the Harris Votes website.

The Texas Education Agency is asking state lawmakers to spend $97.3 billion on K-12 education initiatives and staffing in the next two years, up from about $91 billion in the current state budget.

The details: During a Sept. 29 hearing on the agency's legislative appropriations request, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath noted that the TEA is "largely a pass-through vehicle to fund schools around the state of Texas." This means that while funding would be allocated to the agency under Article III of the state budget, the majority of that money would be sent to school districts, outside of funds used to pay TEA staff and cover operations for associated entities, such as the State Board of Education.

The TEA is asking for about $49.6 billion for fiscal year 2027-28 and $47.7 billion for fiscal year 2028-29, totaling $97.3 billion for the 2028-29 biennium. Morath said those amounts would "preserve 100% of all funding for public schools" through the Foundation School Program, which is the state's main funding source for K-12 schools, and other initiatives.