Tomball officials got a fresh look at how the city plans to protect its own paper trail—and make local history easier for residents to access.

Tomball City Council received a progress update Jan. 5 on the Tomball Archive and History Center, a city-backed program designed to preserve municipal records and community history—and eventually make those materials easier for the public to search and use.

The setup: City archivist Allison LaRocca told City Council the Tomball Archive and History Center serves as “the main repository for the historical permanent city archives and records, as well as community donated materials,” and that she focused the last quarter on building the foundation the center needs to run “in a legal and accountable and responsible way.”

What’s next: Looking ahead, the quarterly report outlines five priorities for the next quarter: finalize a city-county intergovernmental working agreement, move toward a joint advisory committee, select an archival management system for digital access, begin processing collections for public access, and increase community awareness and donor engagement.

Lone Star College has named Rigoberto J. Rincones Gomez as the next vice chancellor of academic affairs, the college announced in a Jan. 6 news release.

The gist: Rincones will begin Feb. 9 to provide strategic leadership for all academic functions and ensure regulatory compliance and fiscal responsibility across the college system. The new vice chancellor joins Lone Star College System from New Mexico State University’s Doña Ana Community College, where he also served as vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer, according to the release.

Notable quote: “Rincones is a seasoned academic leader with nearly 30 years of experience advancing academic innovation, strengthening student learning and supporting institutional effectiveness across community colleges and universities nationwide,” Seelpa Keshvala, LSCS executive vice chancellor of academics, said. "We look forward to working with Dr. Rincones as we continue offering high-quality academic and workforce programs.”

Harris County commissioners will meet Jan. 8 with more than 300 agenda items spanning from county operations and security regarding the upcoming election cycle to possible postponements with the Ben Taub Hospital expansion in the Texas Medical Center.

What you need to know: Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth has several items related to overseeing the upcoming March, May and November elections. One item by the county clerk includes establishing an interlocal agreement with the city of Houston Police Department as part of an Election Security Task Force. 

At the polls: Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey seeks a discussion on the county's compliance with Senate Bill 1933, which allows the secretary of state’s office to oversee Harris County elections if an election complaint is filed.

Growing challenges: One of Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis's agenda items calls for the postponement of the Harris Health community engagement report regarding the Ben Taub Hospital expansion, adding another delay with the Texas Medical Center project. Commissioners voted unanimously last October to postpone the Dec. 11 public hearing.

Fast-casual eatery Jason's Deli is celebrating its 50th anniversary by honoring the fresh food, people and communities that have defined the restaurant, officials announced in a Dec. 30 news release.

The background: The deli was founded in 1976 by Joe Tortorice Jr. in Beaumont and has since branched out to 114 Texas locations and 235 delis nationwide in 27 states, per the release.

What's new: According to the release, the eatery is celebrating its anniversary by spotlighting new soups during the National Soup Month of January, while also rolling out new items, including the Deli-Bration Cookie—a sugar cookie topped with sprinkles—and returning others.

In their own words: “Our 50th anniversary is about staying true to what’s made Jason’s Deli special since day one—thoughtfully prepared dishes, diverse selections and genuine care for the people we serve,” Clare Wilson, vice president of culinary and R&D at Jason’s Deli, said in the release. 

The founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes announced the immediate and permanent closure of all Sprinkles locations across the country in a recent social media post. 

The context: Candace Nelson founded the cupcake business in 2005 and popularized the idea of the Cupcake ATM. In a video posted on Instagram, Nelson said she sold the company to private equity in 2012 and has no current ownership or operational involvement. 

Latest update: As of Jan. 2, the Sprinkles website is still live, but all bakery locations have been removed, and several pages state “page not found.”