PNC Bank officials said the bank held a grand opening for its new Humble location in early August.

The details: The new PNC branch offers full services including online banking, in-person services and mobile app services, per officials.

Some context: PNC Bank offers personal, small business and corporate services with over 2,000 locations across the U.S., according to the company's website. 

Founded over 160 years ago, the U.S.-based bank is headquartered in Pittsburgh, per the website.

• Opened in early August
• 20225 Hwy. 59, Humble

Humble ISD trustees received an overview of some of the ways students can earn college credits and industry certifications before graduating as the 2026-27 school year kicks off.

The details: Tong Utakrit, HISD director of advanced learning and services, provided trustees with the overview during the board’s Aug. 11 meeting. Utakrit said students earned the equivalent of roughly 43,000 college credit hours in the 2025-26 school year. He estimated the total amount of earned credits would equate to around $15.6 million in savings that students would have otherwise spent on college courses after high school.

A closer look: Utakrit said the number of AP exams administered in the district rose from 4,801 exams administered in the 2024-25 school year to 7,103 in the 2025-26 school year. During that time frame, the number of passing scores on those exams rose from 3,083 to 5,031, he said.

Also of note: Through the University of Texas OnRamps program, Utakrit said students can earn college credit by passing the UT college portion of the course they are taking.
 

Houston will let voters decide this November on whether or not the city should ban no-knock warrants and deprioritize the enforcement of low-level marijuana offenses.

What happened: Houston City Council passed an ordinance Aug. 12 to add an item to the Nov. 3 ballot that could amend the city’s charter to deprioritize misdemeanors related to marijuana possession. The city’s current code states that convictions could be a fine up to $2,000 per package.

The petition requests that the city designate misdemeanor marijuana possession to its lowest possible enforcement priority. The petition also suggests that the city update its budget, police department manual and policies and procedures to ensure that public safety resources are not used on misdemeanor marijuana enforcement.

The other part of the ordinance will allow voters to decide whether or not to ban no-knock warrants, which allow officers to enter without knocking or announcing their presence. 

One more thing: The midterm elections will be held Nov. 3 and residents who live within city limits can vote on these propositions.

The Executive Club at George Bush Intercontinental Airport has recently completed a full renovation, Houston Airport System officials announced in an Aug. 4 news release.

What's new? Operated by SSP America, the IAH Executive Club debuted a new modern look this summer featuring new furniture, fresh paint, updated decor and redesigned seating areas. Per the release, the lounge also features a central food and beverage area that includes buffet service and a dedicated bar.

Additional amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, a meeting room and televisions, snacks, beverages and reading material.

Who it's for: Located on Level 2 of Terminal D near Gate D12, IAH's Executive Club serves qualifying international passengers flying with British Airways, Emirates and EVA Airlines. Qualified passengers will note access to the IAH Executive Club on their boarding pass, per the release. 

• Renovations completed this summer 
• 2800 N. Terminal Road, Houston

From 2020-25, more than 45,000 wildfires burned over 2.7 million acres of Texas land, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are looking into ways to better prevent wildfires from happening and prepare communities to respond when fires do start.

The background: In 2025, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 34, which required the Texas A&M Forest Service to create a statewide database of firefighting equipment; established a council to improve emergency communications between local, state and federal agencies; and increased funding to help rural volunteer fire departments purchase equipment from $30 million to $40 million.

Quote of note: Sen. Kevin Sparks, a Midland Republican who authored the law, said more work needs to be done to increase wildfire preparedness across the state.

"As we move forward, our focus should be on a more proactive approach that prioritizes prevention and mitigation alongside response preparedness," Sparks said during an Aug. 11 hearing of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs.