Developers in Friendswood currently follow 2018 building and fire codes, but after contentious discussion, city officials could soon approve updating those codes to reflect the 2024 codes.

Why it matters: Updating the code allows Friendswood homeowners to achieve a good rating with an insurance service office’s grading schedule for building code effectiveness, according to city documents.

Looking ahead: City Council will hear the second and final reading of the ordinance at 5:30 p.m. at its Jan. 5 meeting.

Friendswood ISD’s board of trustees will consider at its Dec. 8 meeting a request for qualification, or RFQ, for a construction manager at risk, or CMAR, for various projects throughout the district.

What you need to know: If the measures are approved, the board will be provided a district-recommended vendor from the CMAR procurement process at a later date, according to district documents.

The details: Two RFQs for a CMAR are being requested for the following projects:

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

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Dec. 1-5.

Activities to do: There are several options to see Christmas lights around the Tomball and Magnolia area, including Magnolia Musical Christmas, Gullo House Christmas Lights and Tomball Methodist Church’s Trail of Lights. 

At a glance: In a Dec. 2 news conference, officials with Airbnb announced that Houston will receive a $1 million investment that will go toward supporting major community initiatives, expanding green infrastructure and increasing youth access to soccer. Airbnb was selected in June to serve as an official partner for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Community Impact previously reported. 

One more thing: Whataburger officials celebrated a Dec. 1 opening of their new location at 15940 Woodland Hills Drive, Humble. The eatery features a double drive-thru, dining room and digital menu boards, according to a Nov. 28 news release. 

Nine new medical cannabis dispensaries could soon open in Texas, the Department of Public Safety announced Dec. 1.

The overview: The nine companies were preliminarily approved to join three existing dispensaries that provide medical-grade, low-THC products to eligible patients through the Texas Compassionate Use Program. The program's expansion comes after state lawmakers passed House Bill 46 this spring.

Lawmakers also allowed dispensaries to store products in multiple locations, which advocates said would cut costs, and added more qualifying conditions to the program.

Zooming in: The nine providers given conditional licenses Dec. 1 are:

• Verano Texas LLC in West Texas
• Trulieve TX Inc. in the Panhandle
• Texas Patient Access LLC in North Texas
• Lonestar Compassionate Care Group LLC in North Texas
• Lone Star Bioscience Inc. in South Central Texas
• PC TX OPCO LLC, dba PharmaCann, in Southeast Texas
• Texa OP, dba TexaRx, in the Rio Grande Valley
• Story of Texas LLC in Southeast Texas
• Dilatso LLC in North Texas