The Heights location will be the pizzeria’s fifth opening in Texas and second restaurant in Houston.

About the project: The restaurant will feature a full-service dining room, expanded menu and cocktail program, differing from Home Slice’s Midtown location, according to a Dec. 9 news release from the company. 

More details: Originally founded in Austin by Jen and Joseph Strickland and Terri Hannifin in 2005, the local mom-and-pop pizzeria became known for its authentic New York-style slices as well as its pasta, sandwiches and fresh desserts. 

“We always look for vibrant, walkable neighborhoods with rich histories, where people gather,” said owner Joseph Strickland. “Now that we have been operating a counter service and takeout place in Midtown for a few years, the time felt right to create a space where we could show Houston all of what we offer to our Austin crowd.”

• 602 Studewood St., Houston

Following the Dec. 8 deadline to file for a place on the 2026 primary ballots, 26 candidates filed to run across seven races in Harris County ahead of the March primary elections.

The big picture: Six races are being contested by Democratic and Republican candidates across the March primary elections. During the primary, voters will select the Democratic and Republican party nominees who will then appear on the November 2026 general election alongside any independent or other party candidates. The last day for candidates to file to run in the primary elections was Dec. 8, per the Texas Secretary of State's website.

What else? The deadline to register to vote in the 2026 primary elections is Feb. 2, with early voting starting Feb. 17 and election day March 3. 

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveiled a plan Dec. 9 to further raise property tax exemptions for Texas homeowners and lower the age at which Texans qualify for additional tax relief during the 2027 state legislative session.

The details: Deemed “Operation Double Nickel,” Patrick’s three-part plan asks state lawmakers to:

• Raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, by $40,000
• Allow homeowners who are at least 55 years old to qualify for a larger exemption reserved for seniors and people with disabilities
• Pass legislation to drive down property taxes charged by local governments