Manvel residents will see a monthly utility bill increase by an average of $5.50 starting in November after City Council unanimously approved the first reading of new water and wastewater rates at its Sept. 8 meeting.

What you need to know: The $5.50 increase, which is a 4.5% hike, is calculated for a single-family household that uses 7,500 gallons per month on average, according to city documents.

Under the ordinance, residential base connection fees remain frozen at $35.58 for water and $42.70 for sewer for the first 2,000 gallons. However, volumetric usage fees for both water and sewer above that 2,000-gallon threshold will rise from $3.34 to $4.48 per 1,000 gallons, according to city documents.

Why now: Beyond offsetting inflation, city officials said the rate adjustment is necessary to end annual general fund transfers that previously covered shortfalls in the utility department.

“The problem was that for many years [the] general fund was subsidizing the utilities—sometimes as much as $800,000 a year going from general fund over to utilities," City Manager Dan Johnson said. "So council realized wisely that, ‘Hey, this fund is supposed to pay for itself.’"

Killen's Steakhouse reopened in early September, following three months of renovations, restaurant representatives said.

The overview: Chef Ronnie Killen recalibrated his flagship restaurant with a renovated interior, expanded steak program and a fine-dining tasting menu experience slated to debut later this fall, according to a Sept. 10 news release from the restaurant.

Killen’s $1 million renovation includes:

• Austrian Zalto stemware and decanters matched to each wine

• German Villeroy & Boch plateware

• French Mauviel copper service pieces

• Sound dampening that keeps the dining room quiet enough for easy conversation

In the kitchen, a hand-crafted live-fire Mibrasa hearth from Spain’s Costa Brava region has been added, accompanied by an 1,800-degree infrared broiler, the news release notes.

📍6425 W. Broadway St., Pearland

Students with the University of Houston-Clear Lake will be able to receive teaching and learning opportunities at Pearland ISD after the board of trustees approved an agreement with UHCL at its Sept. 8 meeting.

The gist: According to district documents, the partnership features the following details:

• UHCL will select the students for placements, but those students are subject to approval by the district.

• A faculty member will serve as the supervisor for the internship or practicum.

• The agreement will last through July 2030.

Four candidates are running for Texas lieutenant governor—the second-in-command to the governor—in the Nov. 3 election.

What's happening: Libertarian Anthony Cristo, Democrat Vikki Goodwin and Green Party candidate Kevin McCormick are challenging Republican incumbent Dan Patrick, who is seeking a fourth term.

The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

How we got here: Patrick won his Republican primary race in March, while Goodwin advanced to the general election after beating another Democrat in a May primary runoff, Community Impact reported. Cristo and McCormick were selected as their parties' respective candidates during nominating conventions in April.

Looking ahead: Early voting in the midterm election runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.