HTX-BMW: Impact 11/4/2025

For those looking to help out in the Bellaire, Meyerland and West U communities, check out these several local nonprofit groups offering volunteer opportunities and accepting donations. 

Houston Area Women’s Center: This organization works to end domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking. Services include crisis intervention, support programs and violence prevention initiatives.

• Sample activities: joining a volunteer fundraising committee, helping at events, offering holiday gift items to survivors and their families, assembling essential supply kits to aid women and children in the HAWC shelter
• Donations accepted: monetary contributions, food items, brand new clothing for women, infants and toddlers, toys, diapers, hygiene products, beauty products, first aid items, luggage, detergent, smaller appliances
• 3077 El Camino St., Houston

Dane and Travis Boersma started Dutch Bros Coffee as a pushcart in Oregon in 1992. Now, the company is planning its fifth location in Houston.

What’s new: Dutch Bros is set to open a new location near Meyerland, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 

The new building will have drive-thru and walk-up areas and is estimated to cost $750,000, according to the filing. Construction is planned to begin in May and finish by Dec. 21, 2026. Details are subject to change.

On the menu: Dutch Bros serves classic coffees and teas, along with energy drinks, shakes and seasonal drinks.

• 9943 S. Post Oak Road, Houston

Travelers should prepare for longer security wait times at Houston's airports "until further notice" due to the federal government shutdown, according to a Nov. 2 advisory.

Two-minute impact: Transportation Security Administration wait times may exceed one hour at William P. Hobby Airport, or HOU, and three hours at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, according to the advisory.

Security checkpoints at terminals A and E are the only TSA screening locations open at IAH as of press time, per the advisory. Additionally, passengers at HOU may see reduced lanes available.

Quote of note: "The federal government shutdown has impacted TSA staffing and operations nationwide, and Houston Airports is doing everything possible to support our TSA partners and keep passengers moving safely and efficiently," Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports, said in a statement. "We ask that passengers continue to arrive early and expect extended security wait times until the federal government shutdown is resolved.”

A total of 212,104 in-person and mail-in ballots have been cast in Harris County through the 12-day early voting period ahead of the Nov. 4 general and special elections, according to the county clerk’s office. The county’s voter registration department found that more than 2.5 million people are registered voters in Harris County.

By the numbers: Out of the 212,000-plus early votes cast in Harris County, more than 10,000 voters mailed in their ballots. More than half of the early votes cast, or 204,993, were completed in-person, according to data from the county clerk’s office.

The results are in: The top three early voting in-person voter turnout locations in Harris County were:

• Metropolitan Multi-service Center in River Oaks with 11,223 ballots cast
• Juergens Hall Community Center in Cypress with 8,708 ballots cast
• Richard and Meg Weekley Community Center in Cypress with 8,540 ballots cast

Election Day is Nov. 4. Polling places across Texas will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., according to the secretary of state’s office.

The overview: Voters in the following counties can vote at any polling place within their county of residence through the countywide voting program: Bastrop, Bexar, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Fort Bend, Galveston, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson. Registered voters in other counties are required to visit a polling place specific to their voting precinct.

On the ballot: Texas voters will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution during the Nov. 4 election. Each proposition was approved by at least two-thirds of state lawmakers this spring before being placed on the ballot.

Voters in various communities across the state may also see local propositions and races on their ballots, including a 20% tax rate increase in Austin, a congressional race in Harris County and a state Senate race in Tarrant County.

Learn more: To get to know the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.