Friendswood ISD’s board of trustees approved two requests for qualifications, or RFQ, for construction managers at risk, or CMAR, at its Dec. 8 meeting.

The district is looking to solicit a CMAR to construct foundation projects throughout the district, according to board agenda documents. 

What you need to know: A CMAR allows FISD to connect with the district’s architect and get a contractor to begin working on construction projects right away, said Nolan Correa, FISD’s executive director of facilities and capital projects. 

The details: Two RFQs for a CMAR were approved for the following projects:

• Foundation projects at Friendswood High School and FISD's administration building
• Multi-campus heating, ventilation and air conditioning and electrical

Construction on a new, all-inclusive playground at Independence Park in Pearland could begin as soon as 2027. 

What happened: Pearland City Council voted unanimously to approve pursuing the application process to secure a $1 million Texas Parks and Wildlife grant to fund the playground at its Dec. 8 meeting.

What they’re saying: During the 87th legislative session, staff and local stakeholders advocated for a $1 million request to the Texas House of Representatives' Committee on Appropriations for the 89th legislative session, through Jeff Barry, R-Pearland, according to city documents.

If approved, the project’s design phase could begin by summer 2026, and construction could begin in fall 2027, City Manager Trent Epperson said.

When Harris County commissioners meet Dec. 11, they’ll review several agenda items on the docket, including updates on the county jail and discussions on renewing full property tax exemptions for child care providers and tackling countywide food insecurity.

The context: Items for discussion at the upcoming December court meeting include the reauthorization of full property tax exemptions for eligible child care providers in the county. In 2024, an estimated 327 Harris County child care providers qualified for 100% property tax exemption after Harris County commissioners authorized the exemptions at a March 26, 2024, court meeting.

Also on the agenda: Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones is requesting that Harris County Public Health develop a countywide strategy to address food insecurity, according to her agenda item pending approval. The overall food insecurity rate for Harris County is 18.2% as of 2023, according to Feeding America’s 2025 “Map the Meal Gap” report published May 14. That percentile has risen since 2019, when it was 13.9%—or 644,710 people—according to the 2023 report.

Texas voters will see 18 statewide races on the ballot in 2026.

The overview: Texas will hold Republican and Democratic primary elections on March 3 to determine who will appear on the statewide ballot in November. Texas is one of 17 states with open primaries, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, meaning registered voters can cast their ballots in either primary and do not need to register with a specific party.

What to know: The 18 statewide races on the 2026 primary ballots are:

• U.S. Senate
• Governor
• Lieutenant governor
• Attorney general
• Comptroller of public accounts
• General land commissioner
• Agriculture commissioner
• Railroad commissioner
• Texas Supreme Court, chief justice
• Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 2
• Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 7
• Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 8
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 3
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 4
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 9
• 15th Court of Appeals, chief justice
• 15th Court of Appeals justice, Place 2
• 15th Court of Appeals justice, Place 3