The background: Commissioners and department leaders have spent the last eight-plus months weighing how to offset at least $102 million in cuts and other savings surrounding the projected $2.95 billion FY 2025-26 budget. Factors impacting county department cuts in the budget process, according to the proposed budget document, included jail costs, indigent defense costs, health care costs and law enforcement contracts.
Items worth mentioning: The county clerk and administration offices will request discussion as part of a Texas law that allows for the creation of a salary grievance committee for elected officials. Several officials from elected offices went to Commissioners Court seeking higher pay in August, including judges within the county’s district courts and the county’s eight elected constables.
Woven Stitchery & Crafts, a new fabric and quilt shop, is having their grand opening weekend Sept. 13, according to a Sept. 4 news release.
The details: Founded by Bellaire resident Savreet Singh, Singh said that while she worked in corporate finance for 20 years, she has always loved to create. For example, for her child's birthday party, she created a quilt and personalized bags for party guests using fabric.
Wanting to shift from corporate to pursue her creative passion, Singh decided to open Woven to help others creatively—whether they are beginners or experienced sewers.
“I want to introduce and encourage others to set aside time and find a hobby that creates useful and beautiful handmade items that can be appreciated and even passed down and gifted,” she said.
What they offer: The modern fabric and quilting store stocks high-quality fabric available either precut or by the yard, tools and resources to create bags, bag and quilt patterns, sewing notions, needlework and cross stitch opens and even gift items.
Early education school centered around child-led exploration to open in River Oaks
The KLA Schools of River Oaks is set to break ground in September, enrolling children from six weeks to four years old, according to the KLA Schools website.
The specifics: The school franchise’s curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, an educational philosophy that prioritizes children’s natural curiosity.
The main principles of the philosophy include respect, responsibility and community, which the school implements through child-focused curriculum and parent involvement.
“At KLA Schools, we believe children thrive when they can connect what they learn in the classroom to their everyday lives,” KLA Schools of River Oaks stated on its website. “In our preschool in Texas, students, teachers and families come together as a diverse, supportive community, growing, learning and inspiring one another.”
What to know: Most Texas school districts required to display donated Ten Commandments posters under state law
Most Texas public schools are required to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms under Senate Bill 10, a state law that took effect Sept. 1.
The details: On Aug. 20, a Texas federal judge temporarily blocked the following 11 school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments:
Alamo Heights ISD
Austin ISD
Cy-Fair ISD
Dripping Springs ISD
Fort Bend ISD
Houston ISD
Lackland ISD
Lake Travis ISD
North East ISD
Northside ISD
Plano ISD
Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the ruling and directed other school districts to begin displaying donated copies of the Ten Commandments.
The debate: Proponents of SB 10, including Paxton and Republican state lawmakers, have argued that seeing the Ten Commandments on a daily basis will help Texas students better understand U.S. history and learn about morality.
Some religious scholars have stressed the importance of teaching students about religion in an “appropriate educational context.” Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns that non-Christian students will feel left out or be bullied by their peers for not following the Ten Commandments.
