Humble ISD officials are inviting community members to review and provide feedback on instructional materials under consideration for the 2026-27 school year, according to a Dec. 12 news release.

The details: The public is encouraged to review the materials and share feedback during a public showcase at the district’s Instructional Support Center, located at 4810 Magnolia Cove Drive, Kingwood. Per the release, instructional materials for the following courses will be available for review:

• Secondary mathematics (grades 6-8) 
• Algebra I
• Algebra II
• Algebraic reasoning
• Geometry
• Pre-calculus
• Elementary English and Spanish language arts and reading (grades K-5)
• African American Studies

Check out what's happening in the Lake Houston area this Christmas weekend, Dec. 24-28.

The Rink at Redemption Square: Skaters of all ages can enjoy this synthetic ice rink at Redemption Square through Jan. 4. Participants are not allowed to bring their own skates, and tickets can be purchased at the gate. 

• Dec. 24, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Dec. 25, 2-9 p.m.; Dec. 26-28, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 
• $15 (adults), $10 (age 5-12), free (age 4 and under) 
• 250 Assay St., Houston 

• Dec. 25, 7 p.m. (doors open)
• Cost TBD 
• 19304 Hwy. 59 N., Humble

With the holiday season right around the corner, see what grocery stores in the Houston area will be open and closed Dec. 24-25. This list is not comprehensive.

Trader Joe's

• Dec. 24: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Dec. 25: Closed

• Dec. 24: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. (stores), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (pharmacy)
• Dec. 25: Closed

• Dec. 24 6 a.m.-8 p.m. (stores), Closes at 5 p.m. (pharmacy),  7 a.m.-7 p.m. (curbside), 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (home delivery)
• Dec. 25: closed

Houston City College officials announced a $2 million investment from Google to expand its artificial intelligence and robotics programs. The grant funding is expected to support new AI faculty and technicians and reach thousands of local high school and college students.

The impact: With the grant, HCC officials said they will establish a variety of initiatives, including:

• Hire at least 10+ full-time faculty and technicians specializing in AI
• Develop a new curriculum
• Enhance lab facilities
• Train 40 college and 40 high school instructors who could reach an estimated 3,200 high school and 4,800 HCC students
• Establish a regional coalition of 20 institutions and partners to meet the needs of the local economy

At the Houston campus, Conroe ISD high school junior Ezra Dakatubia and HCC classmate Ahad Maredia presented their robotics and software program project. The robot was programmed to recognize hand pattern movements that propel the robot's direction—a capability that could be utilized as safety products within the industrial industry, they said.

A historic 20-story downtown Houston building has officially been renamed and dedicated after the late U.S. Rep and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Dec. 17.

The gist: ​​​​​The Harris County Sylvester Turner Administration building is located at 1010 Lamar St., Houston, and houses Harris County’s Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity and will be the future site for members of the Harris County Attorney’s Office, according to county officials.

Quote of note: Members of Sylvester Turner’s family attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside both the city of Houston and Harris County officials. His daughter Ashley Turner Captain said her father took a lot of pride working with the county.

“Thank you all so much for voting unanimously to honor my dad in this way by naming a building after him,” Captain said. “You know, he took a lot of pride in working closely with the county. That wasn't by accident. He really did feel like we needed to work together as the city of Houston and Harris County.”