After former Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin vacated her seat in early 2026 to run for Harris County attorney, seven candidates stepped up to replace her as District C representative.

Geographically, District C includes portions of the Heights, Washington Avenue, Montrose, Rice Village and Meyerland.

Preparing for the polls: Candidates had from Dec. 1 to Feb. 2 to file an application with the city of Houston. A drawing for the ballot order was conducted at City Hall on Feb. 3.

Something to note: Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot:

• Angelica Luna Kaufman
• Sophia Campos
• Audrey Nath
• Laura C. Gallier
• Patrick Outhout
• Joe Panzarella
• Nick Hellyar

Officials with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced March 5 the national launch of a new traveling museum exhibition called "The Journey to End Cancer: From Cause to Cure."

Read all about it: The exhibition, according to a March 5 news release, brings cancer science to life through interactive, multimedia experiences that showcase the research, technologies and therapies used to shape the future of cancer care.

At the exhibition, visitors can expect to:

• hear first-person stories from cancer survivors
• see insights from experts at top cancer centers
• engage with dynamic animation
• participate in interactive games

• 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston

The Houston Municipal Courts Department is streamlining its jury management system.

Beginning March 9, potential jurors will be directed to respond online through a juror portal and will be paid via a debit card, instead of a traditional check by mail.

What’s different: Residents will now receive a postcard-style summons via the mail. They will then be prompted to respond through an online juror portal, which allows individuals to complete their juror questionnaire and submit their requests for exemptions or disqualifications online.

Potential jurors will also have the option to enroll in text notifications.

What else: Juror compensation is $6 a day and will now be paid via a debit card that jurors will receive on the day they report for service.

The city of Houston averages about 70,000 jury summons a year for residents.

Houston Airport System officials are urging travelers to arrive early as TSA wait times may exceed two hours in some locations, HAS officials said in a March 8 news release. 

What's happening: Due to the partial federal government shutdown, TSA officers are working without pay, creating staffing shortages that have led to longer than typical wait times at airports nationwide, including at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).

Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak said HAS is expecting about 2.2 million spring break travelers during the government shutdown.

"Spring break brings some of the busiest travel days of the year," Szczesniak said in a statement. "When more passengers meet fewer security lanes, wait times can grow quickly."

Keep in mind: At HOU, officials said travelers should plan to arrive four hours before their scheduled departure, as TSA wait times may extend beyond two hours.

At IAH, officials said travelers should allow extra time for security screening, noting some international air carriers have recently moved from Terminal D to E.

Texas held its primary elections on March 3, with Republican and Democratic voters selecting their parties’ nominees for scores of federal, state and local seats. Yet for some candidates, a major hurdle still remains before the November election.

The overview: Dozens of primary races are headed to May runoffs after no candidate picked up more than half of the vote, triggering an overtime round between the two highest-performing candidates.

The details:  Texas’ runoff election is set for May 26, the day after Memorial Day. Early voting runs from May 18-22, per the secretary of state.

State law requires primary candidates to receive more than 50% of the vote to advance to a general election, meaning a candidate must earn a majority of the vote—not just the highest number of votes—to win their primary outright. This rule means crowded races in Texas primaries and special elections frequently result in runoffs.

In those races, the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff.

Keep reading to learn about voting in the runoffs and who's on the ballot.