In 2025, Community Impact covered an array of stories in the Bellaire, Meyerland and West University Place neighborhoods. See what eight stories were the most read this year and check out any new updates.

1. Houston ISD approve 2025-26 academic calendar with an additional instructional day
2. Meet the candidates running for Houston City Council at-large Position 4 in November
3. Chick-fil-A to offer free breakfast to Houstonians every Tuesday in January
4. Houston ISD announces Sandi Massey to serve as chief of schools
5. ‘The system is broken:’ Harris County commissioners seek 5 additional district courts to address backlog
6. Molly Tea to bring the essence of Eastern tea culture to Houston
7. Southern comfort food restaurant Mia’s Table coming to Bellaire Triangle shopping center
8. Harris County downtown building renamed after Sylvester Turner

Stories are in order of most page views.

The craft store is planning to open a new location in Meyerland Plaza, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 

About the project: According to the filing, the store will span approximately 69,000 square feet, previously occupied by Palais Royal, and cost $3.5 million to remodel.

The backstory: David and Barbara Green founded Hobby Lobby in 1970 after taking out a $600 loan to make picture frames, states a note on the website. Two years later, the couple opened the first storefront in Oklahoma City. 

The franchise offers around 70,000 items, including home decor, seasonal decor, tableware, craft supplies, yarn and fabric.

• 726 Meyerland Plaza, Houston

Ring in the new year with various celebrations going on across the Greater Houston area.

High Noon Countdown 2026: Attendees can ring in the New Year with a balloon drop extravaganza at The Woodlands Children's Museum.

• Dec. 31, 9:30-11 a.m., 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m., 2-3:30 p.m.
• $10 (adult), $25 (child)
• The Woodlands Children’s Museum, 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, Ste. 280, The Woodlands

• Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m.-Jan. 1, 12:30 a.m.
• $30 (individual ticket), $50 (couple admission)
• Tomball VFW, 14408 Alice Road, Tomball

• Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-Jan. 1, 2 a.m.
• $99.29 (per ticket)
• 401 Franklin St., Houston

2026 is a big election year in Texas. Voters will see 18 statewide races, all congressional seats, most state legislative seats and a variety of local positions on the ballot.

The overview: The Republican and Democratic primary elections will be held March 3, and the midterm election is set for Nov. 3.

Texas holds primaries for all partisan elected positions, such as state officials; state and federal lawmakers; and county judges, commissioners and justices of the peace. Third-party candidates, including independents, Libertarian Party candidates and Green Party candidates, have separate election processes will not be listed on the primary ballots in March. Eligible candidates representing various parties will appear on the November ballot.

Looking back: All statewide offices on the ballot are currently held by Republicans, although some are not running for reelection. No Democrat or third-party candidate has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, election records show.

Check out the full article for more details on election processes and an overview of state-level races.