Pappa Geno’s officials confirmed the Philly Cheesesteak eatery opened a new location in Jersey Village in early March. 

The details: Pappa Geno’s opened its second location in Katy in January 2023, per previous Community Impact reporting. According to the website Pappa Geno’s started as a counter-service spot at 801 Ella Blvd., Ste. C, Houston.

On the menu: The eatery offers Philly cheesesteaks, sandwiches, and burgers freshly prepared to order. Menu items offered include Pappa Geno’s steak & cheese, Philly works and the smothered Philly.

Houston City Council approved $4 million for playground improvements at 11 parks around the city during the March 18 City Council meeting.

What this means: Three parks in District C will receive playground improvements by the end of 2026. Parks include Mangum Manor Park, Cleveland Park and Cherryhurst Park.

District C council member Abbie Kamin said these improvements, especially for Mangum Manor Park, are overdue.

“This is a park that is used daily by residents,” Kamin said. “Going back to 2023, the playground was condemned; it was deemed unsafe. The playground was, in effect, removed and what was left at Mangum Park was an empty field.”

Who it's for: Other parks that will receive part of the approved $4 million funding include:

• Beulah Maxie Park
• Crestmont Park
• Walter Jones Park

Following an hours-long March 19 public hearing, Harris County commissioners unanimously approved the acquisition of 8.9 acres of Hermann Park for the expansion of Ben Taub Hospital, one of only two adult Level I trauma facilities in the county.

The long-awaited vote comes after months of contention about whether or not Harris Health—the county's hospital system—should acquire the land by eminent domain, which grants local governments the legal power to use land for public use.

What happened: Commissioners authorized the condemnation March 19 after Harris Health officials confirmed that no "feasible alternative" exists for the $410 million expansion of Ben Taub's campus.

Why it matters: Ben Taub Hospital consistently operates beyond its 402-bed capacity, and officials expect emergency room demand to increase over the next several years as Harris County's population grows, Community Impact previously reported. Porsa said the hospital's ER regularly suffers from hours-long wait times due to chronic backlogs.

Looking forward: Officials expect to have legal possession of the land within 6-9 months and break ground on the project in late 2027. 

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from March 16-20.

• Fleet Week Houston ship lineup announced
• Photos: Houston officials give HUD Deputy Director tour of new hub for individuals experiencing homelessness
• Houston Methodist announces $104M expansion in Cypress
• Greater Heights Strategic Connections Plan to see final round of resident engagement in March
• See when these 9 Greater Houston-area water parks will open for the 2026 season