A medical clinic with short wait times, no waitlist and low-cost health care can be hard to come by. However, a small clinic in Katy offers it all to low-income and uninsured individuals. 

The backstory: Christ Clinic began in 2000 as a weekly wellness clinic in the gym at Memorial Lutheran Church. Seven years later, the clinic moved to a facility on Kingsland Boulevard with four exam rooms and operated three days a week.

How it works: Christ Clinic provides tailored primary, preventative and specialty care, as well as low or no-cost prescription medications, lab tests and behavioral health services, Mautz said. 

All physicians at the clinic are volunteers, and to avoid having a waitlist, the clinic reserves about 50% of its daily slots for walk-ins. Routine visits and follow-ups are scheduled in advance, but for the rest of the time, the clinic operates similarly to an urgent care. 

• 1040 Schlipf Road, Katy

Chipotle Mexican Grill will open its seventh Katy-Fulshear area location in Cane Island, featuring a drive-thru pick-up lane and a new menu item.

On the menu: The international restaurant chain serves build-your-own Mexican-inspired cuisine, such as bowls, burritos and quesadillas, according to its website.

One more thing: The Katy location will hire approximately 30 employees, per the release. Additionally, Katy residents can set up fundraisers through the restaurant to benefit local causes. 

• 128 Cane Island Parkway, Katy

Founded in 1968 by parents seeking to improve the lives of their children, The Arc of Fort Bend is a local chapter of a nationwide intellectual and developmental disability advocacy organization.

At the organization's 47th anniversary event, dubbed "Best in the West," about 1,000 attendees welcomed over $397,000 in preliminary income, Chief Executive Officer Laura LaVigne said.

The gist: The organization’s mission is to provide opportunities that enhance the quality of life for people with IDD, including autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, per the website. The Arc advocates for inclusion in schools, workplaces and the wider community.

Get involved: Volunteers ages 14 and older can apply to participate in monthly Teen/Tween Social Nights, which offer games, crafts and other activities in an inclusive environment. Volunteer activities may also include assisting with social and recreational programs, sports, crafts and board games, per a representative.

In a Dec. 2 news conference, officials with Airbnb announced that Houston will receive a $1 million investment that will go toward supporting major community initiatives, expanding green infrastructure and increasing youth access to soccer.

Airbnb's sponsorship will specifically help support two major initiatives—The Green Corridor and Grow the Game.

The Green Corridor: The Green Corridor will be a 14-mile sustainable transit loop that connects key FIFA World Cup 26 venues, including the FIFA Fan Festival site in East Downtown and NRG Stadium.

Grow the Game: Part of Airbnb's $1 million sponsorship will go toward the Grow the Game program to renovate soccer fields in underserved communities, launch free or low-cost youth clinics and tournaments, and create certification pathways for coaches and referees.

One more thing: The 2026 World Cup draw is set for Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C., at noon Eastern Standard Time. The draw will determine the groups and matchups for next summer's tournament.

A new $617 million natural gas power plant is slated to be built in east Houston after the project was selected for a loan by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

About the project: North American power company NRG Energy’s 455 megawatt power plant will provide power from the company’s Greens Bayou Generating Station to Electric Reliability Council of Texas' grid beginning in 2028. The new plant will connect with ERCOT’s Houston Load Zone, which provides power to Houston, Pasadena and The Woodlands, and is one of Texas’ largest electricity centers.

Quote of note: “Our investment at Greens Bayou reflects NRG’s commitment to delivering dependable, dispatchable generation when Texans need it most,” said Robert J. Gaudette, NRG executive vice president and president of NRG business and wholesale operations. “These units will strengthen grid resilience, create local jobs and support economic vitality.”