Houston officials approved an additional $6.7 million in funding for senior programs that include nutrition and transportation services.

What happened: At the Sept. 16 meeting, Houston City Council members unanimously approved a contract extension that provides nutrition and transportation services for senior adult programs, such as Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to people’s homes.

The decision also increases funding by $6.7 million through partnerships with other municipalities and organizations, such as BakerRipley and the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center.

Those in favor: Council member Joe Panzarella supported the extension, which is set to expire in September 2027.

“This program helps those in need get transportation to locations for congregate meals, as well as home-delivered meals,” he said. “This serves over 10,000 meals a day, assisting over 7,200 homebound seniors and transporting over 450 individuals.”

One more thing: The contract began in October 2021 and has been extended every year since then. It is capped at a total of $55.4 million.

Secondhand clothing boutique Heaven Bites Vintage welcomed shoppers with open arms Aug. 15 during its official grand opening, owner Jackie Smith confirmed.

What we know: The nostalgic shop previously occupied a location in East Downtown Houston, but is now operating from the Heights at 123 W. 18th St., Houston.

What to expect: For those looking to sport vintage wares, Heaven Bites Vintage offers a curated, specially sourced selection of Japanese fashion—or J-fashion—Y2K fashion and other whimsical clothing genres.

Smith told Community Impact that the boutique also displays items from multiple local artists and vendors. This includes, but is not limited to, handmade jewelry, home decor, aesthetic art pieces and chunky necklace collections.

Before you go: Heaven Bites Vintage’s hours are currently 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. On Sunday, hours are 12-6 p.m., per the store's official Instagram.

• 123 W. 18th St., Houston

According to the August monthly housing update from the Houston Association of Realtors, the number of single-family home sales has decreased by 11.5% across the Greater Houston region.

The breakdown: With the decrease in single-family home sales, affordability rates for home owners saw year over year growth for 22 of the last 25 months, HAR data shows. The nationwide growth rate stood at 15 out of the last 25 months.

When compared to single-family home sales in 2019, the 2026 market has seen a 20.1% decrease overall.

In their words: “Buyers have more options and more time to make decisions, while sellers continue to benefit from relatively stable prices," HAR Chair Theresa Hill with Compass RE Texas, LLC - Houston said. "That's a healthier environment for consumers and a positive sign for the long-term strength of our market.”

Candidates Letitia Plummer and Orlando Sanchez are running to lead Harris County government.

What you need to know: Plummer, a Democrat and Orlando, a Republican, will face off in November’s general election to become Harris County’s next judge. The judge oversees the Harris County Commissioners Court, which governs the county. The court and county judge are responsible for the about five million residents who live in Harris County.

Before you go: Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30, according to the Texas Secretary of State's website. Election day is Nov. 3 and polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Registered voters can cast their ballot at any polling location during early voting and Election Day.

To strengthen consumer protections, the Texas Department of Insurance is asking state lawmakers to consider adjusting when new home and auto insurance rates are implemented.

What's happening: Texas currently operates under a "file-and-use" system, allowing insurance companies to begin using new rates immediately after they are filed, regardless of whether the TDI has reviewed them.

In a Sept. 14 letter detailing actions the department is taking to address Texas' high home insurance costs, Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford suggested that the legislature look into "adding a delay between a rate filing and its use in the market." Under the current system, if the TDI finds an issue with a new insurance rate, there is "limited" redress for affected policyholders if that rate is already in effect.

The background: Crawford's letter comes after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the TDI to take affordability-focused actions in an Aug. 24 letter.

Texans paid the nation's fourth-highest home insurance premiums at the end of 2025, according to previous Community Impact reporting.