During a Sept. 9 city council meeting, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz announced two new appointments to the city's fire department.

The details: Marion Spann was named the executive assistant chief of administrative support, making her the first Black woman to serve in this role. Byron Robinson was appointed as the new fire marshal.

• Spann has served the department for 32 years and previously became the first Black woman to serve as an engineer operator, senior inspector and fire marshal.

• Robinson has served for 21 years as an inspector and chief inspector for the city of Houston.

What they're saying: Whitmire and council members praised the appointees, with council member Edward Pollard saying, "A trailblazer is what you both are."

On the other hand, council member Willie Davis said, "This is a sign of showing the rest of the world and everyone that Houston is going in a good direction."

From the creators of the Escape Room, Bam Kazam is letting the fun commence with its Sept. 12 grand opening event in Railway Heights, officials confirmed via a news release.

The setup: Bam Kazam offers players the freedom to experiment within different scenarios placed inside an elaborate, cinematic set, officials said.

The 25,000-square-foot immersive arcade is slated to feature 18 room-sized games and puzzles that challenge players’ physical and mental skills.

Players will have the option to choose which rooms they visit and how often, all while wearing an unlimited two-hour play wristband capable of unlocking 24 different levels, according to the release.

The background: Bam Kazam was founded by Victor Blake, who also created the popular Escape the Room entertainment concept, per the release.

What you need to know: According to the release information, one admission includes access to every available game for a session of up to two hours. Party bookings require a three-player minimum and parking on-location is free.

Bam Kazam’s challenges are designed for adult and family fun, and the venue will open at 8200 Washington Ave., Houston.

• 8200 Washington Ave., Ste. 100, Houston

Several new sidewalk areas are planned in the Heights after the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority secured an $850,000 federal grant to improve mobility and pedestrian safety.

The gist: MHRA was approved for the grant secured through U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher’s office, which will go toward sidewalk improvements, safer connections and improved access for students and children.

The grant was a part of a Community Project Funding request during fiscal year 2023-2024, according to a news release on MHRA’s website. The grant will provide the funding needed to improve sections of sidewalk that are missing, in poor condition or undersized, organization officials said.

Also of note: Work is already underway, with the project team finalizing sidewalk routes and coordinating with the city of Houston on design plans, according to a post on MHRA’s Facebook page.

Construction is set to begin in the third quarter of 2027.

The Harris County Commissioners Court is moving forward with a 7.6% property tax rate increase compared with last year, marking one of the largest tax hikes in the county’s recent history.

The overview: The court approved a tax rate of about $0.67 per $100 in taxable property value in a 3-2 vote during its Sept. 8 meeting. County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Precinct 4 Commissioner Tom Ramsey opposed the rate recommended by the county’s Office of Management and Budget.

The increase will add about $193 to the average homeowner’s property tax bill, OMB Director Daniel Ramos said.

Looking ahead: With a projected shortfall of about $180 million, the court is expected to adopt its 2026-27 fiscal year $3.09 billion budget during the Sept. 17 meeting. The court is also expected to take a final vote on the proposed tax rate, adopting it before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

This November, four candidates are running to lead the Texas Comptroller's Office and serve as the state's chief financial officer.

The overview: Libertarian V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza, Democrat Sarah Eckhardt, Green Party candidate Shehla Faizi and Republican Don Huffines are running for comptroller. Huffines, whom Gov. Greg Abbott appointed to the office in July, is considered the incumbent in this race.

How it works: The comptroller oversees government spending and administers the state's $1 billion education savings account program, which launched ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

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