HTX-KTY: Impact 11/7/2025

Looking to brighten up your holidays with a festive light show? Check out these five hotspots for Christmas light viewing in the Katy-Fulshear area. This list is not comprehensive.

Classic Christmas: The holiday event at Katy Mills Mall features a walking path lined with twinkling lights, outdoor ice skating, a snow slide and Santa.

• Nov. 21-Dec. 28
• 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy

The Light Park: The drive-thru light show in the Typhoon Texas Waterpark parking lot features millions of lights, bright displays, festive food and drink and music. 

• Nov. 7-Jan. 4
• 555 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy

Magical Winter Lights: Throughout the holidays, families attending the festival at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds can interact with multicultural light displays, large lantern attractions, carnival rides and games. 

• Nov. 21-Jan. 4 
• 4310 TX-36 S., Rosenberg

The owners of Katy-based Nuestra Casa Bakery and Cafe have opened a new concept in Richmond.

What they offer: Quickbite Bakery and Coffee serves authentic Venezuelan flavors with menu items including baked breads and pastries as well as coffee and boba, according to its Instagram.

• 23655 FM 1093, Ste. 111, Richmond

Harris County commissioners unanimously approved an increase in the county’s fiscal year 2025-26 no-new-revenue property tax rate during the Nov. 4 court meeting. 

The gist: While commissioners adopted the $2.76 billion FY 2025-26 general fund budget and tax rates for the Harris County Flood Control District, Harris County Hospital District and the Port of Houston Authority on Sept. 24, the no-new-revenue rate was expected to be adopted near the end of October, according to Laura Lucas with the county administration office.

By the numbers: The four rates together make a combined property tax rate in the county of $0.6241 per $100 of valuation, an increase from the FY 2024-25 tax rate of $0.6038 per $100 of valuation.

The takeaway: The county’s tax rate document states the no-new-revenue tax rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year’s tax rate. The 0.55% increase will raise taxes on a $100,000 home by approximately $2.42, the document states.

Several claw machine arcades opened in the Houston area this year, per previous Community Impact reporting. Here are a few:

Claw City
Claw City officials confirmed the entertainment center opened a new location in late March. Claw City is a coin-operated claw machine arcade offering games and prizes, per its Facebook page.

• Opened March 30
• 19003 Windsor Pointe Drive, Ste. 300, Tomball

• Opened Jan. 25
• 19014-A Gulf Freeway, Friendswood

• Opened in September
• 7914 Fry Road, Ste. 260, Cypress

Airports in Dallas and Houston are required to begin reducing flights and other operations by 4% on Nov. 7 in response to air traffic controller shortages caused by the federal government shutdown, transportation officials announced Nov. 6.

The details: The cuts will affect 40 "high impact airports" across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. The affected Texas airports include:

• Dallas Love Field (DAL)
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)