HTX-SKL: Impact 9/22/2025

More than 145 flood mitigation projects in high-flood-risk areas across Harris County will advance with secured local, state and federal funding partnerships after the unanimous approval from Harris County Commissioners as part of a restructured proposal built upon the work completed from the 2018 flood bond. 

Explained: At the Sept. 18 court meeting, Harris County Flood Control District Executive Director Christina Petersen addressed commissioners on the updates and debuted the new 2018 flood bond dashboard—a public website where users can find flood project schedules, funding sources, completion dates, prioritization scores, locations and lifecycles for all projects that will be updated quarterly, according to Petersen.

What residents should know: Rising costs, inflation and pandemic construction issues were factors that flood district officials said have challenged how they’re moving forward with certain projects and closing others. The following number of 2018 bond-related IDs or packages have been decided in the following categories, according to HCFCD:

• Active: 75 
• Paused: 26 await future funding
• Closed: 15 determined not feasible

Per a Sept. 12 press release, the American Cancer Society and Occidental have partnered to expand access to life-saving cancer treatment to patients across Texas. Occidental’s half-million-dollar donation will help the American Cancer Society continue to deliver the resources patients need to access cancer care that could save their lives.

The details: With the new contribution, Occidental is helping fund essential access to care programs that remove barriers often standing between diagnosis and survival for cancer patients, according to the release.

Programs the partnership is helping with include free lodging, rides to treatment and 24/7 support for cancer patients and caregivers.

Quote of note: “We are honored to contribute to the American Cancer Society and help remove barriers to accessing vital care so people can focus on their healing journey,” said Rob Stevens, vice president of supply chain with Occidental.

Looking to take family photos or celebrate fall to the fullest? Here are eight pumpkin patches to check out in the Greater Houston area.

Pumpkin Patch at Harvest Season Farm: A ticket to the pumpkin patch at Harvest Season Farm includes access to a bouncy house, unlimited hay rides and pumpkin painting. 

• Sept. 20-Nov. 2, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 
• $15 (per ticket)
• 21110 Bauer Hockley Road, Tomball

Pumpkin Patch at P-6 Farms: Families exploring the pumpkin patch at P-6 Farms can also enjoy vintage rides, pig races, giant slides and an animal barn.

• Sept. 27-Nov. 2, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• $27.42 (per ticket)
• 9963 Pooles Road, Montgomery

This school year, students who are eligible for reduced-price meals can receive free breakfast and lunch at public schools across Texas.

The overview: During the recent legislative session, state lawmakers approved $19.8 million to cover the cost of reduced-price meals for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.

What parents should know: Eligibility for free school meals is determined based on a family’s income through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

Families can contact their school district to fill out an application for free or reduced-price meals at any time during the school year. Students who are deemed eligible for reduced-price meals will receive them at no cost through the 2026-27 school year.

What they're saying: “Kids who would have paid a small fee for meals will now receive them at no cost,” said Stacie Sanchez Hare, director of No Kid Hungry Texas. “[School] is where we know so many kids get their meals—it is a guaranteed place for kids to have access to free and nutritional meals.”