Montgomery’s planned municipal complex that will be its new City Hall and house its police department is now estimated to cost $16.6 million, the city’s contractor told council members at their Nov. 9 meeting.

Some context: The city is planning to move City Hall to the former Jim’s Hardware building on Liberty Street in Montgomery. Jim’s Hardware closed in 2025 and the city acquired the building.

The current $16.6 million price tag includes expanding and replacing the existing parking lot, according to Tellepsen, the city’s contractor. Construction is expected to begin by March and take a year to complete.

Also on the agenda: The city council approved an escrow agreement between the city and Montgomery County Emergency Services District #2 for the latter to build a new facility off Plez Morgan Drive.

The district acquired nine acres of land there and plans to build a “hub for administration, training, logistics, and support services” for the Montgomery County Fire Department’s operations.

Lone Star College System did not cut any classes from its core curriculum after conducting a review mandated by Senate Bill 37, which went into effect in September 2025.

What’s happened: Under SB 37, governing boards of higher education institutions must review their core curriculum lists every five years, with the first review due by Jan. 1, 2027, according to the bill posted on the Texas Legislature’s website.

On Nov. 5, LSCS’s board of trustees unanimously approved a list of 135 courses for the college system’s core curriculum for the 2026-27 school year.

How we got here: A team of faculty members evaluated LSCS’s core curriculum list, in accordance with SB 37, from February to September.

As Thanksgiving approaches, the Greater Houston area is hosting several turkey trot races. The details: The events are subject to change and include:

• The second annual 1K Turkey Trot at Peckham Park in Katy on Nov. 14

• The District 2.4.9 Turkey Trot in Tomball on Nov. 21, benefiting the nonprofit Kirstyn’s Krew.

• The Better Together Turkey Trot in Spring on Nov. 26, hosted by Kids R Kids.

• The 18th annual Bay Area Turkey Trot in Houston on Nov. 26, where dogs are welcome.

• The Friendswood Turkey Trot on Nov. 26, featuring a post-race festival at Centennial Park.

• The 41st annual Sugar Land Turkey Trot on Nov. 26.

• The 37th annual Run Thru the Woods in The Woodlands on Nov. 26, supporting local YMCA programs.

• The Jersey Village Turkey Trot on Nov. 26 at Jersey Village High School.

• The Addi's Faith Turkey Day 5K and Kids Wishbone 1K in Kingwood on Nov. 26, supporting Addi's Faith Foundation.

Texas' first female lieutenant governor, Austin state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, held her first news conference since the election on Nov. 10 in Austin.

What happened: Goodwin, a Democrat, also announced her political transition team, which is led by lobbyist Angela Hale and outgoing state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie.

The team, which includes four former state senators—two Democrats and two Republicans—will help prepare Goodwin to take over as lieutenant governor in January and work with state senators.

"My focus right now is sitting down with each senator, many of whom I worked with while in the House, to talk about their individual priorities and how we can work together so they can represent their districts," Goodwin told reporters Nov. 10.

More context: Goodwin will preside over the Republican-majority Texas Senate. How much power she will have over the chamber is largely up to senators, who will approve new Senate rules when the legislature convenes Jan. 12.