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Good morning, Houston!

We’re finally at the end of a busy week for Courier Texas. On Tuesday, we met many of you at our On the Ballot event, where Gina Hinojosa and Don Lemon got to chatting with you on-stage. For highlights of that event, check out our political editor Brian McManus’ coverage.

Mooncakes are traditionally eaten this time of year. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX)

As we move into the weekend and start approaching fall, you’ll see more and more cultural celebrations are happening around the city to greet the changing seasons.

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday tradition in many East Asian households where family members gather to eat mooncakes and watch the full moon.

The moon is at its roundest and fullest on this special day, and families recite poetry and listen to music while looking up at the sky.

In honor of the holiday, I drove out to Kamalan Bakery yesterday evening to pick up some mooncakes. The tradition of eating mooncakes comes from ancient Chinese folklore and historic rebellions.

Kamalan Bakery sits inside Dun Huang Plaza and serves an assortment of baked goods year-round. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX)

If you’re celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Houston this year, or just want to take advantage of the multitude of cultural events the city has to offer, there are plenty of celebratory stops to add to your weekend agenda.

🌕 Find a Mid-Autumn event near you this weekend:

Super Saturday: Mid-Autumn Family Day

DIY Mooncake Workshop

Mid-Autumn Festival at the Children’s Museum

Anna Raj

Newsletter Editor, Courier HTX

🕯️ Democrat Texas State Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) passed away this week at 65. Texas Democratic nominee for US Senate James Talarico issued an official statement on Coleman’s passing Thursday afternoon.

🗣️ The sons of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo testified in Washington months after their father’s murder by ICE in Houston. Listen to what they had to say.

💸 Houston just approved $667,540 to be used for the Houston Recovery Center, a program designed to help homeless people with mental health issues, substance abuse problems, and other related medical issues. Find out how many Houstonians that money will help.

🥪 P. Terry’s just announced two new locations in the Houston suburbs. The popular Austin burger joint will have three locations in the Houston area altogether. Here’s where you can expect the next burger spot.

📬 Check your mailboxes for parking tickets, Houston. The city of Houston changed its ordinance and will now mail parking tickets to violators. The ordinance also extends the window for paying the ticket. Watch here.

🏛️ Houston City Council has pulled a $150 million public safety grant from their agenda meeting for the second week in a row. Find out what’s going on.

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Diabetic, childbearing, and HIV-positive Texans could lose life-saving medications. (PeopleImages/Shutterstock)

What Texas’ November election means for your healthcare

An affordable prescription can be the difference between life and death. But Texans’ access to crucial medications isn’t determined by their doctors and health insurance plans alone. Access starts in Congress and on the Senate floor.

This November, Texans won’t find a single healthcare question on their ballots. Instead, they’ll elect the state and federal officials who write the laws, programs, and regulations that determine that care.

Here’s what that could mean for three groups of Texans who rely on those policies to live.

Click here to find out →

You could start learning an instrument as soon as next week. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX)

🌱 If you’ve ever wondered where your food comes from, Saturday’s your chance to find out. This weekend, ranchers and naturalists will host a talk on farm-to-table practices. Get your free ticket here!

✍️ Get into creative writing in a low-pressure, no-stakes environment with tomorrow’s writer’s workshop.

🎨 Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by learning how art can be used for social change and cultural preservation. This art workshop on Saturday is open to anyone, with no previous experience necessary.

📚 Exchange analog media at this book and art swap on Sunday. Instead of paying for art, trade for it.

🎹 On Monday, you can attend this introduction to using a music studio. This orientation will guide you through using instruments and music software.

💃 Learn how to dance from professional instructors for free in Downtown Houston. Wednesday’s live class will get your body moving with other community members.