Officials with both cities of West University Place and Bellaire will hold their annual State of the City address in February. Here is what residents need to know to attend.

West University Place: According to a Jan. 27 news release, this year's address in West U is expected to be particularly insightful, as Mayor Susan Sample highlights plans for pedestrian mobility enhancements, updates on various infrastructure projects and the Harris County Flood District's Poor Farm Ditch Reconstruction Project.

• When: Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Community Building, 6104 Auden St., West University Place

• When: Feb. 2 at 6 p.m.
• Where: Bellaire City Hall, 7008 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire

A new locally-owned Cabinet IQ showroom is set to open near Upper Kirby in late spring, owner Adrian McGrail confirmed Jan. 28.

What they offer: Cabinet IQ specializes in kitchen and bath design, with service that includes installation of cabinets and countertops, said McGrail, who operates the location with his wife, Patty. He said the new showroom will feature several displays highlighting eight cabinet lines and a variety of countertop options.

More details: While the physical showroom will open by mid-2026, McGrail said they've been operating as a "mobile" showroom since early 2025, bringing cabinet and countertop samples directly to customers' homes. He said they will continue to offer the service until the showroom's grand opening.

"Our company is highly process-driven, with a clear focus on delivering consistent 5-star experiences for every customer," McGrail told Community Impact.

• 3897 Southwest Freeway, Houston

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in late January that he has intentions of running for re-election after his current term expires in 2028.

What we know: In an official statement shared with Community Impact on Jan. 26, Whitmire said: "I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in my first two years in office, but I know the challenges facing us will need years of hard work and tough decision-making. My focus today is being Mayor, but I plan on running for re-election to continue fixing the problems Houstonians face.”

Some background: Whitmire originally defeated former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in a runoff race for Houston mayor in 2023. For his campaign, he ran on priorities such as public safety, city infrastructure, city services, budget transparency and ethics.

The changes: In his first two years in office, Whitmire has received both praise and criticism from residents and stakeholders for his approach to addressing several of Houston's challenges. To view stories from Community Impact coverage that mentioned Whitmire, click here.

Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin and Harris County Civil Court Judge Audrie Lawton Evans will face each other in the March 3 Democratic primary election.

The details: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 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.

Important dates: Early voting runs Feb. 17-27. Election day is March 3.

The March 3 primary election is coming up, and so is the deadline to register to vote. Eligible Texans must register by Feb. 2 to cast votes in dozens of races, including 18 statewide officials, 38 members of Congress, 166 state legislators and various local seats, such as county judges and commissioners.

How to register: Texans must submit a paper voter registration application by Feb. 2. Applications can be mailed to their county elections office or delivered in-person.

To avoid delivery delays under new federal postmark rules, prospective voters may requests that mailed applications be hand-stamped at a local post office.

The big picture: Texas holds primaries for partisan elected positions at the federal, state, regional and local levels. Republican and Democratic primary voters will have a say in which candidates will represent their chosen political party on the November ballot, shaping who is ultimately elected to each seat.

In recent years, no more than one-fourth of registered Texas voters have cast ballots in primary elections, state data shows.