A majority of Houston ISD classrooms under the district’s new special education program, which debuted with the start of the 2026-27 school year, have met the district’s goals for size, adult-to-student ratios and number of grade levels per class, district leaders said Sept. 10.

How we got here: HISD’s revamped Special Education Success Programs rolled out in the 2026-27 school year, which began on Aug. 10 for students, as previously reported by Community Impact.

The new programs reorganized classrooms for about 5,000 students who are enrolled in self-contained special education programs, which provide learning settings for students who need more support than a general education classroom can offer.

The impact: During the HISD board of managers’ regular Sept. 10 meeting, Deputy Superintendent Kristen Hole presented updated figures on the implemented programs:

• 97% of classrooms with 15 students or fewer

• 95% of classrooms with ratios of 1 staff member per five or fewer students

• 22% of classrooms with 2 or more grade levels, compared to 56% last year

Launched in late August, Seamless Laundry Co. is now offering same-day washing, drying and folding laundry services throughout the Bellaire, West University Place, Memorial, River Oaks, the Heights and Midtown areas, officials confirmed.

Who it's for: Officials told Community Impact that Seamless Laundry Co. aims to help families and locals cross off the daily chore of doing laundry through its convenient, budget-friendly mobile setup.

Using the booking system on its official website, clients can schedule when and where they would like Seamless Laundry drivers to collect their desired loads. Within 24 hours, the business will return clients’ freshly cleaned items right to their front door, according to the site.

Seamless Laundry Co.’s services are completely customizable, as staff washes clothes only according to the preferences specified by the client.

Keep in mind: Although the business has no physical storefront, clients may contact staff with additional questions through its online inquiry portal, by email or by phone at 281-305-8890.

Seamless Laundry Co. operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Houston, Bellaire, and West University Place are hosting several events celebrating music, culture, food and community in September and early October. The lineup includes:

• Hispanic Heritage Month: Miller Outdoor Theatre hosts a trio of performances starting Sept. 15, concluding with the 44th Annual Día de la Hispanidad.

• Houston Jazz Festival: The NOLA Resistance Quintet performs Sept. 18 at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

• Bellaire Foodie Fest: Hosted by the Bellaire Business Association on Sept. 26, this event features food samplings, drinks and entertainment to benefit local police and fire foundations.

• National Night Out: A community block party Oct. 6 at Colonial Park features emergency vehicles, kids' activities and complimentary snow cones for the first 150 attendees.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones added a $1.4 million investment in county worker programs and a minimum wage raise for Harris Center employees to the county’s proposed budget Sept. 8.

The gist: Briones announced her $1.4 million proposal during a press conference an hour before the Harris County Commissioners Court met to discuss amendments to the county’s proposed $3.09 billion budget and tax rates.

The money would establish a $20 minimum wage for more than 200 Harris Center frontline employees, who deliver mental health and behavioral crisis services, according to a press release.

The investment would also go toward:

• Apprenticeship Advantage Program

• Harris County Consultation Policy

• Harris County Worksite Safety Policy

Zooming in: The commissioners court met Sept. 8 to discuss amendments to the proposed budget, along with the proposed tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year. The discussion comes as the county faces a projected shortfall of about $180 million.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out these trending stories across the southern portion of the Greater Houston area from Sept. 7-11.

1. Fulshear officials break down multifamily development growth

2. Ismaili Center debuts new all-day café showcasing global cuisine

3. 'Redefine what is possible': Kinder Children's Cancer Center secures $10M in development funds

4. Regional organizers revitalize buried study for Clear Lake water taxi

5. New Indian restaurant opens in Pearland

6. Missouri City proposes City Council and commission changes

Three candidates are running to lead the Texas General Land Office in the Nov. 3 election.

The overview: Democrat Benjamin Flores and Libertarian Neill Snider are challenging Republican incumbent Dawn Buckingham for the seat.

Buckingham ran uncontested in the March Republican primary, Community Impact reported, while Flores won the Democratic primary. Snider was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

The context: The state land commissioner manages 13 million acres of state lands, with duties such as allocating disaster recovery funds, leasing state lands to generate revenue for the Texas Permanent School Fund, preserving state landmarks such as The Alamo and overseeing several veterans programs.

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