The family and veteran-owned Copper Kettle Chocolate Factory is under new management, according to its new owners. Husband and wife Christine and Travis Nardi have taken over the business as the third generation of chocolatiers to run the shop.

According to the business website, the shop offers a variety of items, including:

• Truffles

• Toffee

• Sugar-free options

• Assorted desserts

The chocolate factory is located at 15014 Spring Cypress Rd in Cypress. A date for the grand re-opening of the business is currently to be determined.

On Oct. 1, the Lone Star College System board of trustees unanimously approved a fiscal year 2026-27 total tax rate of $0.1058 per $100 valuation.

This rate is $0.0002 lower than the previous fiscal year's rate and is budgeted to generate $356.2 million in tax revenue.

Diving deeper: The total tax rate consists of two parts:

• An M&O rate of $0.0839 per $100 valuation for college operations, including employee salaries and utilities

• An I&S rate of $0.0219 per $100 valuation to pay off bond debt, with leaders hoping to pay off $404 million in debt by approximately 2030 or 2031

What you should know: Taxpayers in the Harris Central Appraisal District are expected to see a drop in their college system property tax bill. However, some taxpayers in the Montgomery Central Appraisal District and the San Jacinto County Appraisal District are expected to see higher bills due to increased median property values.

Harris County leaders broke ground Sept. 30 on the first of seven community solar program sites at the Reliant Center. The initiative, called the Affordable Community Energy Program (ACE), is the region's first county-led community solar program. It is designed to expand clean energy access and affordability for low-income residents while enhancing grid resilience during extreme weather and power outages.

The program details include:

• An $88.3 million investment the Harris County Commissioners Court approved in March

• Generation of up to 45 megawatts of solar energy and 20 megawatt-hours of battery storage on publicly-owned land

• Expected energy bill cuts of about 20% for 9,500 to 10,000 income-qualifying households at or below 80% of the area median income

• Expected completion of the Reliant Center site in 2027, with the remaining six sites continuing construction through 2029

• Resident enrollment starting in 2027 for both renters and homeowners

Several trending stories emerged from the northern portion of the Greater Houston area between Sept. 25-Oct. 1:

• Power Electronics breaks ground on 53-acre manufacturing campus in Houston area

• TxDOT proposes $209M widening for portion of Grand Parkway

• Maintaining Lake Houston: Dredging and Maintenance District looks to provide long-term solution

• Klein Farmers Market to hold grand opening in Spring-Klein area

• Walmart debuts modernized store, expanded offerings in Porter

• Midnight Cravingz announces grand opening, specials

• Tomball and Magnolia businesses work against rising costs

• Conroe Icehouse opening soon