Mike Holley began serving as Montgomery County’s new district attorney in late October, after being appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Oct. 29.

The background: Holley succeeds former DA Brett Ligon, who resigned from the position in early October to run for Texas Senate District 4—Brandon Crighton’s seat, which he vacated due to being named chancellor and CEO at Texas Tech University.

More details: In an interview with Community Impact, Holley discussed his career journey, his top priorities as the county’s new DA and the crime challenges he sees in Montgomery County. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The new office for Harpers Kids’ Dentistry and Orthodontics offers services including children’s pediatric dentistry with sedation.

At a glance: The facility also offers orthodontics for children and adults and other services, including emergency dentistry, the operations manager said.

• Opened Nov. 4
• 10350 Hwy. 242, Ste. 500, Conroe

With the opening of a Family Place Library at the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library on Dec. 15, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation has completed a $1 million multiyear initiative to expand literacy access across the Greater Houston area, nonprofit officials announced in a Dec. 18 news release.

Read all about it: Per the release, the BBHLF's Family Place Libraries initiative launched in 2017 following the death of former first lady Barbara Bush to honor and advance her lifelong commitment to family literacy and early childhood education.

Quote of note: "Mrs. Bush believed deeply that parents are a child's first and most important teachers, and that libraries play a vital role in supporting families. Family Place Libraries bring her vision to live every single day," BBHLF President and CEO Julie Finck said in a statement.

Through partnerships with the Houston Public Library and Harris County Public Library, the BBHLF was able to open 40 Family Place Libraries across the Greater Houston area by the end of 2025—the year Bush would've turned 100 years old.

Here are eight fine dining restaurants near Downtown Houston that will be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

Trattoria Sofia: The Houston Heights restaurant serves authentic, rustic Italian food in an intimate, romantic setting, with a focus on seasonal items and fresh ingredients. Popular pastas include the cacio e pepe, lamb ragu and shrimp scampi.

• Open 4-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve
• 911 W. 11th St., Houston

B&B Butchers: The fine-dining steakhouse on Washington Avenue will be open Christmas Eve, serving Royal White Sturgeon Caviar, Snake River Farms Pork Chop and brisket ravioli.

• Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve 
• 1814 Washington Ave., Houston

Remi
The restaurant at Hotel Granduca is hosting a festive, family-style feast with sparkling bubbles, gourmet dishes and seasonal treats.

• Open 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Christmas Day
• 1080 Uptown Park Blvd., Houston

Here are five of the most-read CI Texas stories from this year and the latest updates on these trending topics.

1. Texas Senate passes bill that would nearly double property tax exemption for seniors, people with disabilities: Elderly and disabled homeowners were set to receive a $200,000 property tax exemption this year.

2. Texas House bill would make it easier to remove students from the classroom: The law gives teachers more discretion to remove students from the classroom if they are repeatedly disruptive or threaten the safety of others.

3. What to know about the 17 state propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot: Nearly 3 million Texans voted in the November election, approving all 17 constitutional amendments.

4. Texas House bill would prohibit cellphone use in K-12 schools: Under House Bill 1481, cellphones and other personal communication devices are prohibited bell-to-bell in Texas public schools.

5. Texas families can now access 2022-23 A-F school accountability ratings after multiyear legal battle: The state later released ratings for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years in August.