Four Democratic candidates are running for Congressional District 18 in the upcoming March primaries.

The big picture: Gretchen Brown, Amanda Edwards, Al Green and Christian Dashaun Menefee will compete for the Democratic nomination. The winning Democratic candidate will face the winner of the Republican nomination in November. Elizabeth Vences and Ronald Dwayne Whitfield are vying for the Republican nomination.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are elected for a two-year term with no term limits. Following congressional redistricting, which will take effect in January 2027, District 18 will cover portions of southwest, central and northeast Houston.

Something to note: The March primary election is separate from the Nov. 4 special election that was held to fill the vacant congressional seat following the death of incumbent Sylvester Turner in March.

The special election, which had 16 candidates, resulted in a runoff election between the top two vote-getters: Menefee and Edwards. A special runoff election will be held Jan. 31 for the remainder of Turner's unexpired term.  

GameStop, a large retail gaming hub in the United States, disclosed in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that it closed 590 stores in fiscal year 2024 and expects to shutter a "significant number of additional stores" during FY2025.

What we know: While GameStop has yet to release a standalone press release on the closures, the company's SEC filing states that officials have conducted a "comprehensive store optimization review" and are identifying for closure based on market conditions and individual store performance.

In the company's documents, GameStop notes that a significant number of customers have chosen to download games instead of buying games physically in-store.

"If consumers’ preference for downloading video game content in lieu of physical software continues to increase, our business and financial performance may be adversely impacted," the filing states.

The projections: While GameStop has yet to release a formal list of all individual stores closing by city or region, an unofficial list has been compiled of stores that closed in January.  

Houston ISD board managers voted to phase out the district’s graphic design offerings at four high schools at the board’s Jan. 15 meeting.

The details: Board managers were originally scheduled to vote on ending the programs at Heights, Kashmere, Northside and Waltrip high schools during the board’s Dec. 11 meeting before opting to table the vote until Jan. 15. While the programs will be phased out of the campuses beginning in the 2026-27 school year, HISD Chief Academic Officer Kristen Hole said interested students would still be able to take the courses at the Barbara Jordan Career Center.

A closer look: According to agenda documents, each of the four high schools is set to phase out its graphic design programs. Additionally, Waltrip High School will phase out its digital communications program.

What they’re saying: More than 70 individuals signed up to speak at the board’s Jan. 15 meeting, with many of those individuals voicing concerns over the district’s plan to phase out the programs.

Houston-area hospitality businesses can now earn points for their sustainability practices as part of a new program that aims to limit environmental harm ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a nutshell: The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee launched the “New Year, New Hou” initiative Jan. 12 to mitigate the environmental impact of tourism during the tournament, which will run from June 11 to July 19, per a news release. Roughly 500,000 people are expected to visit Houston to watch the games, Community Impact previously reported.

About the program: Hotels, motels and restaurants—including cafés and bars—based within the Houston-Galveston Area Council's boundaries can participate in the program through Feb. 28, according to the release.

Qualifying businesses can earn badges by implementing environmentally friendly practices pertaining to waste management, energy efficiency and natural resources, according to the committee’s Hospitality Sustainability Toolkit. 

What to expect: Verified businesses will be added to a “sustainable tourism guide” for World Cup visitors, per the release. 

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Jan. 12-16.

What you need to know: Le Labo is opening in January at Market Street in The Woodlands, officials confirmed. A mid-month opening date is anticipated at the shopping center. 

What else: The Menil Collection in Houston will temporarily close the on-campus bookstore for renovations. In a Jan. 14 news release, officials with the popular art museum announced the on-campus Menil Bookstore will undergo renovations starting in spring 2026.