HTX-BMW: Impact 8/25/2025

Richard Cutler, a former tennis player and enthusiast, has one of the largest private collections of tennis memorabilia in the nation, with over 200 racquets signed by legendary players of the past and present, as well as signed tennis balls, shoes, towels, hats and photographs.

Now, that private collection is on display for the public at the new Richard Cutler Tenniseum.

The full story: According to an Aug. 14 news release, Cutler's collectibles have been acquired over a span of 25 years, and the museum exhibit showcases the journey of tennis from its inception in 1873 to today.

Along the walls, guests of the museum will also see collections of racquets that were personally owned by popular tennis players and used in major tournaments such as the Olympics, including big names like Pete Sampras, Andrew Agassi, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe and Serena Williams.

Something to note: The tenniseum is available to visit free of charge and is open during business hours and on Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5 p.m.

• 10771 West Park Drive, Houston

The ear piercing business specializes in “earscaping,” a process centered around customized piercings and ear stacking. The store’s Galleria studio will sell an assortment of high-quality jewelry and is located next to Allsaints, across from Levi’s and Reformation, according to an Aug. 22 news release.

The overview: Per the release, Studs piercers are professionally trained to use implant-grade jewelry and needles instead of piercing guns. The store’s online policy states the company pierces children 13 and older, accepting walk-in customers and appointments.  

One more thing: Along with piercings, the store also offers checkups, jewelry changes and post-downsizing and sells earrings as singles or pairs.

• 5115 Westheimer Road, Ste. 2805, Houston

The Texas Transportation Commission officially approved the 2026 Unified Transportation Program on Aug. 21, outlining an additional $2.2 billion in state transportation funds for the Greater Houston area.

The big picture: The UTP is a 10-year project plan crafted and funded by the Texas Department of Transportation, and reviewed and updated on an annual basis according to feedback from communities and metropolitan planning organizations. The 2026 UTP allocated an additional $2.2 billion for projects in the Houston region through 2035.

Quote of note: "This more than $146 billion investment in our roadways will help Texas meet the critical needs of our growing state as more people and businesses move here for the freedom and opportunity they can’t find anywhere else," Gov. Greg Abbott said in a news release. "We must strengthen our roadways and improve congestion and safety to keep our economy booming and keep Texans moving. By investing billions of dollars in our transportation network today, we will build the future of Texas for generations to come."

In response to the growing demand for behavioral health professionals across Texas and the nation, the University of Houston is expanding its academic offerings in Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, an evidence-based therapy most commonly used to support individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

“Our goal is to train highly skilled individuals so they come out of our programs and can provide really effective treatment for our diverse community and our learners with autism and developmental disabilities,” Charlotte Carp, program director and a board-certified behavior analyst, said in an Aug. 14 news release. 

Programs are available online and in person at the UH Katy campus. 

Zooming out: The timing of this expansion aligns with a significant surge in demand for certified behavior analysts, per the release. In April, Community Impact reported on the rise of ABA centers in Katy, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Cypress, Tomball and Magnolia, where many clinical providers cited staffing demands as many public school districts see a rise in autism diagnoses. 

The number of leased listings for single-family homes and rentals available in the Greater Houston area both increased compared to last year in July, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ July 2025 Market Update released Aug. 20.

The details: Leased listings rose 6.5% compared to July 2024, with a total of 4,645 single-family rentals leased in July this year, according to the report.