The Mexican-inspired cafe Aleyotl Coffee & Bakery began an extended soft opening on Sept. 11 in Cypress. Co-owner and barista Yanitzi Duarte confirmed the business, located at 28404 Hempstead Road, Unit G09, plans to hold an official grand opening toward late October.

According to Duarte, the cafe's concept is inspired by roots in Michoacán and Mexico City. Aleyotl Coffee & Bakery offers coffee, matcha and baked goods.

Featured drink options at the cafe include:

• Horchata Matcha

• Duvalín Latte

• Mazapán Latte

• Café de Olla

What you need to know: The Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9 board of commissioners unanimously approved a property tax rate increase of $0.045 per $100 of valuation during a Sept. 24 meeting. This is the second property tax rate increase for the district in the past 10 years. The board also approved the fiscal year 2026-27 budget in a 3-1 vote, which includes a projected $3.89 million shortfall. Costs from additional personnel for two upcoming fire stations contribute to this projected shortfall.

• The adopted tax rate is projected to increase a median-valued homestead's yearly property tax bill by about $1.20 a month compared to the previous tax year.
• The district's reserve funds have been built up for planned growth, but financial projections show these funds depleting in future fiscal years.
• Three of the five board seats are up for election on Nov. 3, with four candidates on the ballot.

To cast votes for a U.S. senator, governor, state attorney general and dozens of other races during the Nov. 3 midterm election, Texans must ensure they are registered to vote or have submitted an application by Oct. 5.

How it works: To be eligible to register to vote, an individual must:

• Be a U.S. citizen

• Reside in the county they apply to vote in

• Be at least 18 years old by Election Day

• Not have been declared mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a court

Getting registered: Eligible Texans must submit a paper voter registration application by Oct. 5. The online form must be printed, signed and mailed to the applicant's local elections office.

One more thing: Voters who are already registered have through Oct. 5 to update their name or address, if needed.

Some voters may appear on the state "suspense" list if local officials cannot confirm their address, although they will still be able to vote in the election.

More information: Learn more about federal, state and local races at communityimpact.com/election.

The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing a $209 million Grand Parkway widening project through the Spring area in Harris and Montgomery counties. Funded by toll revenue, the project would widen a 6.73-mile section of the roadway to maintain stable traffic flow and vehicle speed. Public feedback on the proposal is being collected through Oct. 9.

The plan: The project is needed because State Highway 99 is unable to maintain a minimum traffic flow level of C. No additional right-of-way is needed for the project, which proposes:

• Three 12-foot-wide main lanes in each direction
• 10-foot-wide paved shoulders replacing the grassy median
• Concrete traffic barriers
• Direct connectors between I-45 and the Grand Parkway

What to expect: The project timeline includes: