Budget season is around the corner for Houston, and the city is hosting workshops for each department.

What is it?: Budget workshops are when departments present their proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and answer questions from council members and the public.

The meetings will take place May 12-19 at City Hall and are open to the public.

“We know most Houstonians interested in the budget process can’t make it downtown during the workday to attend the workshops,” At-Large council member Sallie Alcorn said. “These meetings are also shown live on HTV and may be found after the fact, linked on the HTV website.”

The city is also offering a budget survey, where residents can give feedback on what they believe should be prioritized in the budget.

Arnaldo Richards, owner of the authentic Mexican restaurant Picos, has announced an official closing date for Picos. 

What’s new: After being open for 42 years, Richards said in an April 21 social media post that the restaurant will temporarily close if a new location is not established by August 30.  

In the post, Richards said the space Picos currently occupies will be turned into a high-rise development, forcing Richards to relocate.

The context: The Houston staple originally announced in August 2025 that the restaurant was preparing for an immediate closure after more than 40 years in service, as previously reported by Community Impact. 

However, a month later, officials said that the restaurant would remain open until the end of 2025 after seeing a wave of support following the first closure announcement.

• 3601 Kirby Drive, Houston

Catfish and rainbow trout are now making their way to several community lakes in the Greater Houston area and across the state.

How it works: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is stocking 18 lakes in nine cities around Texas, including Austin, Houston and Bryan-College Station.

The Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes program is aimed at encouraging family fishing at 18 locations around the state that provide parking and are close to neighborhoods.

Quote of note: “Catfish are fun and easy to catch for anglers of all ages and experience levels. If you’ve never fished before, these are the perfect places to get started,” said Marcos DeJesus, East Texas regional director for TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division, in a news release. “If you are an experienced angler, these are the perfect places to introduce fishing to a friend or family member.”

Texans are expected to save millions in sales taxes on emergency supplies—everything from tarps to generators—during an annual tax holiday April 25-27.

How it works: The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. April 24 and lasts until midnight April 27.

Texans are expected to save about $2.4 million in state and local taxes, according to the comptroller’s office. Last year, Texans saved about $2.3 million, agency spokesperson Kevin Lyons said.

According to the comptroller’s office, items qualify for the tax exemption if they are priced at:

• Less than $75 for items including household batteries, fuel containers, flashlights, smoke detectors, tarps and first aid kits

• Less than $300 for hurricane shutters and emergency ladders

• Less than $3,000 for portable generators