Founded on Alba Street in the Heights, owner Daut Elshani said he opened D'Alba in 2021 to bring a modern and timeless eatery with locally sourced ingredients. Years later in 2025, the eatery expanded with a new location at FM 2978 in the Magnolia area.

Quote of note: “Houston is the most diverse city, so we brought the menu together, reflecting that and really elevating it and giving it a modern take,” Elshani said. “You'll notice we have Mediterranean dishes like the hummus, but we have a modern take on it, and then we'll have a Spanish style ceviche with a tomato sauce. And then ... our fresh pizzas, of course, and pastas on the more Italian side.”

On the menu: With several favorites offered, Elshani said some of their most ordered menu items are inspired by “happy accidents,” or menu items created during its trial process. One of those includes the balloon bread made from pizza dough in a wood fired oven that balloons up and includes basil pesto and truffle honey. 

Jeremiah's Italian Ice opened its Creekside area location in April.

The gist: The shop features a variety of treats, including soft ice cream, Italian ice and Jelati, a mix of soft ice cream and Italian ice.

• 24225 Kuykendahl Road, Ste. 300, Tomball

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from April 20-24.

• New DPS building coming soon to League City

• Lake Conroe Dam celebrates new state historical marker

• Neighborhood Fishin' program bringing catfish, rainbow trout to local lakes

• Picos sets official closing date as owner Arnaldo Richards continues to search for new location

• Registration opens for West U summer classes

TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is now available at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, and William P. Hobby Airport, giving eligible travelers another way to move through security, according to an April 23 news release from Houston Airports.

What you need to know: The system "enhances security screening by using facial comparison technology to verify identity faster and more efficiently," the news release notes.

Enrolled travelers with participating airlines can move through dedicated lanes at Hobby Airport and at IAH TSA Checkpoints Terminal A-North, Terminal C-North and Terminal E.

More details: Passengers must meet the following requirements to be eligible for TSA Precheck Touchless ID:

• Have TSA PreCheck
• Have an active airline profile with a participating airline
• Upload valid passport information to their airline profile

Texas residents are increasingly facing damaging storms that drive up home insurance rates and other housing costs. Ahead of the state's 2027 legislative session, consumer advocates and insurance industry representatives are urging lawmakers to consider affordability solutions.

What's happening: The average Texas home insurance premium—the amount paid to an insurance company—was $3,291 in 2024, according to the latest Texas Department of Insurance data. In total, premiums rose about 50% between 2022-24.

Texas’ high propensity for natural disasters has been “the No. 1 driver” behind recent rate increases, said Rich Johnson, a spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Texas.

Stay tuned: While Texas can't legislate itself out of weather risks, lawmakers have considered some policy changes to increase disaster resiliency and boost regulatory oversight of the insurance industry. Proposals range from creating grants to help residents weather-proof their homes to placing limits on future rate hikes.