Houston ISD’s deputy superintendent has resigned, according to a Sept. 17 news release from the district.

The gist: HISD Deputy Superintendent Kristen Hole will move out of state, according to the news release. Hole’s family had already relocated, but she split time between her new home and Houston to oversee the implementation of new programs that launched at HISD with the start of the 2026-27 school year in August.

What they're saying: “Kristen has given a great deal to this District, both professionally and personally,” HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said via the release. “We understand and respect her decision that the time has come to be with her family. On behalf of HISD, I thank her for her service and wish Kristen and her family all the best in this next chapter.”

Hiatus Day Spa, a med spa with a location in Tanglewood, will expand to the Heights, opening its second location at Clock Tower.

About the company: Hiatus Day Spa is a Dallas-based med spa that offers memberships for services that include massage therapy, customized facials, and body treatments, as well as a nail lounge, a sauna and a relaxation lounge.

The newest location is the first of a four-location expansion of the med spa throughout the Houston area.

As part of its opening, the spa will offer promos for customers. The first 100 guests who purchase a membership will receive a $50 spa credit, an exclusive tote bag and beauty essentials. First-time guests will also receive 25% off their first visit through Dec. 31.

Staying local: The Heights location in Clock Tower is a historic property dating back to 1894. Representatives with Hiatus said the space will keep the building’s architectural character while blending in signature Hiatus design elements, including warm stone, tambour wood and brass accents.

Other planned expansion areas include Memorial, River Oaks and Bridgeland.

• 629 W. 22nd Street, Suite 1, Houston

Two candidates are running for Harris County Clerk in the upcoming election. The candidates are Mike Wolfe and incumbent Teneshia Hudspeth.

Key details for voters include:

• Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30.
• Election day is Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Registered voters are permitted to cast their ballot at any polling location during both early voting and on election day.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out these trending stories across the southern portion of the Greater Houston area from Sept. 14-18.

1. Tesla considers Fort Bend County for solar manufacturing project

2. New Paris Baguette bakery coming to Missouri City

3. House of Pies coming soon to Webster

4. New steak, seafood restaurant opens in Friendswood

5. Houston ISD deputy superintendent leaves district

6. Shipley Donuts celebrates 90th birthday with limited-time ‘favorites box,’ value deals

The Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $3.095 billion budget, and one of the highest property tax rates in the county’s history with a 3-2 vote during its Sept. 17 meeting.

What you need to know: Taxpayers will see a 7.6% property tax rate increase in comparison with last year after the court approved a rate of $0.67 per $100 of home value. The court also adopted the 2026-27 budget amid a projected shortfall of about $181 million.

The property tax rate will cost the average homeowner $193 per year, Harris County Office of Management and Budget Director Daniel Ramos previously said.

The details: Some of the major drivers of cost were healthcare, pay equity and the justice system. Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said the county’s cost to provide healthcare increased $89 million this year compared with last. The court also approved pay raises for law enforcement and some elected officials in August, with the constables, district attorney, county attorney, district clerk and tax assessor-collector set to make $305,000 annually. The budget includes $15 million in additional funding for indigent defense, with the goal of the county’s Public Defender’s Office to represent 50% of eligible cases, according to a press release.

The court oversees tax rates for the county’s general fund, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Port of Houston Authority and Harris Health. It also sets the budget for those entities, with the exception of the port authority.

About 80% of the county’s budget is funded through property taxes.

Some Texas Republican leaders have vowed to get rid of the property taxes that homeowners pay to their local public school districts, and lawmakers are analyzing how much it would cost to do so.

The big picture: Texas school districts collect about $29 billion per year in maintenance and operations taxes, which cover schools' daily expenses.

Of that $29 billion in school tax revenue, the state comptroller's office estimates that about $8.6 billion is paid by homeowners, and the rest comes from commercial and industrial property taxes.

This means the state would need to spend at least $8.6 billion annually to zero out homeowners' school property tax bills, officials said.

Quote of note: "Broadly speaking, you have a question about how much you want to fund schools, and then separately, where does that money come from?" Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said during a Sept. 15 legislative hearing. "If you have a target of how much you want to spend, you need to make sure you have enough variable revenue sources to reach that."