HTX-CYP: Impact 10/28/2025

Clutch & Win officials said the claw machine arcade is in its soft opening stages Cypress.

The details: Per officials, the arcade is in its soft opening stages. Soft openings will be held on Fridays and Saturdays through the grand opening date on Nov. 8.

What they offer: Co-owned by Jennifer Bui & Mai Vo, Clutch & Win offers 40 claw machines and several gashapon capsule machines as well as prizes offered on a point-based system.

Memorial Hermann Health System announced in a Oct. 23 news release that Guy B. Giesecke will take over as senior vice president and chief executive officer of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.

What we know: Formerly the chief executive officer over the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Giesecke will transition to his new role with Memorial Hermann immediately.

Quote of note: “I’m honored to join Children’s Memorial Hermann and contribute to an organization so deeply committed to advancing high-value, patient-centered care,” Giesecke said. “This is an exciting opportunity to help build on a legacy of excellence while supporting the health and well-being of children, families and communities across the region.”

A total of 79,647 in-person and mail ballot votes have been cast in Harris County halfway through the 12-day early voting period ahead of the Nov. 4 general and special elections, according to the county clerk’s office.

By the numbers: That’s nearly 607,000 less votes compared to the 2024 general election early voting numbers, where Harris County voters cast more than 686,500 ballot votes. The county’s voter registration department found that more than 2.5 million people are registered voters in the county.

At the polls: Early in-person voting runs from Oct. 20-31, and Election Day is Nov. 4. For more information about what’s on the ballot and what to bring to the polls, visit www.communityimpact.com/election.

Quote of note: Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said in an October news release the county will have 70 early voting locations and 600 voting locations on Election Day.

“This election provides Harris County voters an opportunity to shape the future of their communities and impact leadership at both the local and state levels,” Hudspeth said.

Houston’s inaugural Fleet Week event honoring U.S. military has been postponed until 2026 due to what city officials called “significant challenges” due to the federal government shutdown, according to an Oct. 22 news release. 

More details: Fleet Week, a celebration of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard, held in various locations across the country, was originally scheduled to be in Houston from Nov. 5-12, which coincided with the Veteran’s Day federal holiday. Fleet Week Houston was to serve as the closing event for the yearlong celebrations of the Navy and Marine Corps' 250th anniversaries.

What to expect: While no new dates have been announced, city officials said they will be working with the Port of Houston and military leadership to announce when the new dates can be confirmed.

In their words: “The city of Houston and the Steering Committee want to ensure our inaugural Fleet Week Houston is an outstanding experience that appropriately honors service members and deepens community-military connections,” a statement from city officials reads.

Texas is home to about 3.5 million small businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Estimates show that the average Texas small-business owner could save about $2,500 per year if voters approve an expanded business tax exemption on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: State Proposition 9 would exempt up to $125,000 of a business’s personal property, such as equipment, furniture and vehicles, from taxation. Texas business owners currently receive a tax exemption on property worth $2,500 or less.

“At $2,500, virtually everyone's paying this tax,” NFIB Texas Director Jeff Burdett said in an Oct. 24 interview. “If you have a desk, a computer and a chair, you're probably over $2,500 [in inventory]. … It makes no difference for almost any business.”

At the polls: Early voting in the Nov. 4 election began Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.