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Filing period for 14 Katy-area seats begins Jan. 14 for May election

Katy-area residents can soon apply for positions in the May 2 uniform election.

A closer look: The candidate filing period for the local election opens Jan. 14 and closes Feb. 13, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website.

Multiple positions for Katy ISD, Katy City Council and Fulshear City Council will be on the ballot, including: 
  • All city of Fulshear seats
  • Three Katy City Council seats
  • Three Katy ISD board seats

What else: Term durations vary for each entity, with Fulshear City Council members serving two years, Katy City Council and KISD board members, according to their respective websites.

What’s next?: The election will take place May 2, with early voting running from April 20-28, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website.
 
In Your Community
Katy to overlay pickleball lines on 2 Katy City Park tennis courts

Two city of Katy-owned tennis courts will soon be available for use for tennis or pickleball.

Zooming in: At a Jan. 12 meeting, Katy City Council unanimously approved a $1,200 contract with McKenna Contracting, Inc. to overlay pickleball lines on courts 5 and 6 at Katy City Park, located at 5850 Franz Road. 

The lines will differ in color from the lines of the tennis courts, said Kevin Browne, Katy's director of parks and recreation.

Remember this: City Council previously voted against a $56,540 proposal to build two pickleball courts over the existing tennis courts at the park after several community members spoke against the proposed action at a Dec. 8 meeting.

 
On The Business Beat
The Union Kitchen shutters doors at Katy location

The Union Kitchen has shuttered its doors in Katy, officials confirmed.

The details: The Katy restaurant—which was owned by Houston-based Gr8 Plate Hospitality—blended global cuisine with southern hospitality, serving soups, salads, pizza and burgers, according to its website.

In their own words: "The Union Kitchen has been part of the Katy community for many years, and we are deeply grateful to our loyal guests who made this location such a special place," Gr8 Plate Hospitality owner Paul Miller said in a Jan. 13 statement. 

Zooming out: The eatery has additional locations in Cypress, Memorial Kingwood and Houston, per its website.

  • 9920 Gaston Road, Ste. 100, Katy
 
In Your Community
MLK Unity Parade, MLK Tribute Concert: 9 events to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Greater Houston area

From volunteer events to parades, there are several events to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Greater Houston area. 

MLK Lonestar
The Lone Star Community Center is holding an event to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Jan. 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Free
  • Lone Star Community Center, 2500 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The Woodlands Methodist Church is holding its 37th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day with performances and guest speakers who highlight the importance of service and inclusion.
  • Jan. 18, 4 p.m.
  • Free
  • 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands

MLK Day of Service
During the MLK Day of Service Hope Farms event, volunteers will be able to help with winter cleanup and garden bed preparation, tree planting, landscape renewal, spring flower planting and other light contribution projects.
  • Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Free
  • Hope Farms, 10401 Scott St., Houston
 
CI Texas
Texas proposes 10,000% fee increase for hemp-derived THC retailers

Texas health officials are proposing sweeping new regulations on the state’s hemp industry, including raising the fees required to sell and manufacture consumable hemp products by roughly 10,000%.

The overview: In late December, the Texas Department of State Health Services published a slate of proposed rules regulating consumable hemp products. The proposals include:

  • A prohibition on sales to customers under 21 years old
  • Stricter testing and labeling requirements
  • Guidelines for product recalls
  • Tens of thousands of dollars in annual fees

DSHS records show that over 9,000 retailers are currently licensed to sell consumable hemp products in Texas, including recreational THC products and nonintoxicating substances like CBD. Under the proposal, annual licensing fees for hemp retailers would increase from $150 to $20,000, and manufacturer fees would be raised from $250 to $250,000.

The debate: Supporters of the proposal said the increased fees would improve oversight of thousands of Texas businesses that sell hemp-derived THC products and help the state enforce tighter regulations, while some local hemp retailers said the changes would put them out of business.

 
What's happening at ci

The overview: As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, has relaunched as InCIder.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

Event details: As part of the new program, Community Impact is hosting InCIder Hours across the state, events designed to celebrate and engage the company’s top supporters.

Houston’s first InCIder Hour will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 21 at Community Impact’s Houston headquarters, 16300 Northwest Freeway, Jersey Village.

Guests will have the opportunity to network with fellow InCIders, meet Community Impact staff and attend a moderated real estate-focused panel.

Become an InCIder today to get your invite! We’ll see you there.
 

Your local team

Aubrey Vogel
Editor

Amy Martinez
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

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