Houston City Council approved an ordinance that would require monthly reporting for infrastructure projects that are delayed, cancelled, redesigned or altered.

The details: The ordinance specifies required reporting for projects that are within city rights-of-way or on city property, including:

• Pavement rehabilitation

• Mill/overlay

• Panel replacement

• Street reconstruction

• Thoroughfare widening

• Intersection and signalization improvements

• Sidewalk reconstruction

The ordinance would mandate either monthly reporting or public online disclosure for projects that may be delayed or cancelled.

What they're saying: Council member Julian Ramirez said the ordinance was an amendment to the capital improvements plan last year.

“This would go a long way to ensure that council has the information needed to represent its constituents when it comes to infrastructure projects,” Ramirez said.

District C council member Joe Panzarella said residents in his district have supported the ordinance.

“Projects take a long time to go through design and planning and funding,” he said. “This is a way to keep residents in the loop through that process.”

Bafang Dumpling, a Taiwan-based restaurant chain, announced that it plans to open a Houston location in 2027.

What's on the menu: Known for its dumplings and potstickers, the restaurant offers a variety of flavors, including kimchi and pork potstickers, corn and chicken potstickers and veggie potstickers. It offers the same flavors for its dumplings.

Other menu items include:

• Sesame noodle

• Beef dry noodle

• Mala Taiwanese beef noodle soup

• Pork chop with braised pork belly rice

• Crispy wonton

The details: According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the project is expected to begin Dec. 15 and be completed by June 15, 2027. The 2,850-square-foot space is a remodel of a vacant storefront. The project is estimated to cost $300,000.

• 915 N Shepherd Drive, Ste. H, Houston

Educators, public officials and graduates from across the state gathered in Austin on Oct. 27 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Western Governors University in Texas. The online university offers certificates, bachelor's and master's degrees, which students can complete at their own pace.

About the organization: WGU was founded in 1997 by a bipartisan group of 19 governors in Western states to provide a more affordable and flexible option for higher education. In 2011, then-Gov. Rick Perry signed an executive order making Texas an official WGU affiliate.

Since 2011, WGU in Texas has reached the following milestones:

• 38,691 total graduates

• 45,545 degrees earned

• 24,087 students currently enrolled

Quote of note: "It was definitely one of those options that was super flexible, so that kind of fit my current schedule, especially since I work full-time," 2026 WGU graduate Jacob Gomez said. "It was super convenient for me."

The Harris County Clerk's Office announced the U.S. Department of Justice intends to send federal election monitors to Harris County polls on Election Day, Nov. 3.

The details: The DOJ Civil Rights Division plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws, specifically Voting Rights Act provisions protecting voters from discrimination.

What you need to know: Key details regarding the federal monitors and voting locations include:

• Monitors are expected to wear everyday clothing and may ask voters about their experiences as they exit.

• Monitors may be stationed outside the 100-foot electioneering boundary.

• Guidance from the Secretary of State confirmed federal monitors are not permitted inside polling locations under Texas law.

• Voters can cast ballots at more than 600 locations in Harris County.

• Voters should not anticipate disruptions, as county election operations will proceed as scheduled.

Voters have their last opportunity to cast a ballot in the Nov. 3 general election on Election Day.

What you need to know: More than 600 polling locations across Harris County will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and registered voters can cast a ballot at any of them. Voters must provide photo identification at the polls. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• Texas driver’s license

• Texas election identification certificate

• Texas personal identification card

• Texas handgun license

• U.S. military identification card containing the person’s photograph

• U.S. citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph

• U.S. passport

What’s on the ballot: Harris County races include county judge, county attorney, district clerk, county clerk, county treasurer and County Department of Education Places 5 and 7. Contested county commissioner seats include Precinct 2, where Adrian Garcia faces Richard Vega, and Precinct 4, where Lesley Briones faces Steve Radack.

Looking to catch up with Community Impact's coverage? Check out these six trending stories from Oct. 23-30.

• Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen P. Turner indicted

• City of Fulshear hears $520M Fulshear Town Square project proposal

• Luxury takes root in Houston

• Alvin ISD reviews TIRZ expiration, financial impact

• Houston Museum of Natural Science to launch new Marvel exhibit in December

• Ace Hardware coming to League City Parkway