A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Jan. 13 for the grand opening of the new Judge Ted Poe Community Center in Atascocita with local officials—including the center’s namesake—community members and county employees in attendance.

At a glance: The 8,500-square-foot community center was renovated by Harris County Precinct 3 from an existing building in Atascocita Park, as previously reported by Community Impact. The project ended up costing about $3 million, Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said during the Jan. 13 event.

"The Judge Ted Poe Community Center is a facility that will serve as a hub for learning [and] connecting community life," Ramsey said.

What’s in a name: In October, Precinct 3 officials announced that the center would bear Poe’s name, as previously reported. The center is the precinct’s ninth community center.

Little B’s Bakery officials said the bakery celebrated its first anniversary on Jan. 4.

The details: In honor of the anniversary, Little B’s Bakery hosted an event Jan. 3 featuring free slices of cake, a raffle, coupons and goodie bags for the first 10 customers who came in.

What they offer: Locally owned in Kingwood, Little B’s Bakery offers a variety of pastries including ready-to-go cakes, cookies and cupcakes, per the website. Pastry flavors vary by the season.

• 1310 Northpark Drive, Ste. 400, Kingwood

Houston-area hospitality businesses can now earn points for their sustainability practices as part of a new program that aims to limit environmental harm ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a nutshell: The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee launched the “New Year, New Hou” initiative Jan. 12 to mitigate the environmental impact of tourism during the tournament, which will run from June 11 to July 19, per a news release. Roughly 500,000 people are expected to visit Houston to watch the games, Community Impact previously reported.

About the program: Hotels, motels and restaurants—including cafés and bars—based within the Houston-Galveston Area Council's boundaries can participate in the program through Feb. 28, according to the release.

Qualifying businesses can earn badges by implementing environmentally friendly practices pertaining to waste management, energy efficiency and natural resources, according to the committee’s Hospitality Sustainability Toolkit. 

What to expect: Verified businesses will be added to a “sustainable tourism guide” for World Cup visitors, per the release. 

From volunteer events to parades, there are several events to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Greater Houston area. 

MLK Lonestar
The Lone Star Community Center is holding an event to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

• Jan. 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Free
• Lone Star Community Center, 2500 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery

• Jan. 18, 4 p.m.
• Free
• 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands

• Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Free
• Hope Farms, 10401 Scott St., Houston

Texas health officials are proposing sweeping new regulations on the state’s hemp industry, including raising the fees required to sell and manufacture consumable hemp products by roughly 10,000%.

The overview: In late December, the Texas Department of State Health Services published a slate of proposed rules regulating consumable hemp products. The proposals include:

• A prohibition on sales to customers under 21 years old
• Stricter testing and labeling requirements
• Guidelines for product recalls
• Tens of thousands of dollars in annual fees