Low- to moderate-income Houstonians who are still dealing with home damage from Winter Storm Uri are one step closer to receiving federally-funded repairs.

Latest update: Houston City Council, during its Feb. 4 meeting, authorized agreements with six contractors who will oversee single-family home repair projects as part of a city program providing Winter Storm Uri recovery.

The approved ordinance allocates approximately $33.5 million in federal grant funding to Houston’s Winter Storm Uri home repair program, which offers reconstruction and reimbursement assistance to residents who experienced damage to their single-family homes, city documents show.

Some context: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Houston $50 million to assist with recovery from Winter Storm Uri through a program called Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, or CDBG-DR.

Approximately 80% of the grant funding was budgeted for the single-family home repair program, according to the city's action plan.

How it works: Residents can learn more about eligibility and the application through the Housing and Community Development Department. Applications must be submitted by mail or in person. 

Officials with the highly anticipated Mexican restaurant, Johnny Ritas Cocina y Cantina, confirmed that the establishment will fully open to customers Feb. 6.

Read all about it: Johnny Ritas will bring a mesquite- and charcoal-fired approach to Mexican cuisine that blends Tex-Mex favorites, Oaxacan tradition and Baja-inspired seafood, according to a Feb. 3 news release.

The neighborhood cantina is led by Chef Jesus Salinas and is named after owner Chico Ramirez's grandparents.

On the menu: While the whole menu has yet to be released, as of Feb. 4, highlights include:

• Aguas Chiles & Tostaditas en Crudo
• Ritas Enchiladas
• Molotes Oaxaquenos
• Johnny Snapper a la parrilla

• 5602 Fulton St., Houston

The Houston Association of Realtors has named René Galvan as its new president and CEO, the first leadership change in more than three decades after longtime executive Bob Hale retired Jan. 31, according to a Feb. 2 news release.

What we know: Galvan has been part of HAR’s leadership team since 1996 and served as executive vice president since 1998, per the release. HAR officials said he worked alongside Hale early in his career to help shape the original concept for HAR.com, which launched in 1997 and has since expanded statewide.

In the release, Galvan said his focus will be strengthening the services and tools the association’s roughly 50,000 members use “in this rapidly changing real estate environment.”

HAR said Hale—who served as president and CEO for 37 years—retired after 53 years with the association. The board honored him with the title of CEO emeritus, and Hale said he was confident the organization is “in excellent hands” with Galvan leading it.

Looking for plans to gear up for the big football game? Super Bowl LX takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, when the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots for a chance at the championship.

Scheduled performers include Charlie Puth to sing the national anthem and a halftime performance with international recording artist Bad Bunny, according to the National Football League’s website.

The event: Here are several events taking place around the Greater Houston area this weekend, from Feb.6-Feb. 8, for Super Bowl LX. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

• Super Bowl spreads at Lankford’s The Woodlands
• Heights Bier Garten watch party
• Live DJ and watch party in Spring
• Potluck, tailgating and more in Pearland
• Super Bowl squares and sliders in Sugar Land
• Game day buffet and pickleball play at PKL Social
• Game day food boards, watch party and custom cakes at Bayou Heights
• Seahawks Big Game Giveaway at Little Woodrow’s

Texas families can soon apply to receive state funds for private education or homeschooling under the state’s new education savings account program, known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

What's happening: The application opens at 9 a.m. Feb. 4 and is designed to be completed in about 15 minutes, according to the state comptroller’s office. Families can apply through 11:59 p.m. March 17.

Parents must submit information about their family's residency, household income, their children's educational history and each child's special education status, if applicable.

The details: To be eligible for the program, students must:

• Reside in Texas
• Be U.S. citizens or lawful residents
• Be eligible to attend a Texas public school, open-enrollment charter school or pre-K program