Trust for Public Land ranked Houston 69th of 100 on the 2026 ParkScore Index, a national rating system that evaluates how effectively the nation's most populous cities provide safe, accessible green spaces. The ranking falls lower this year compared to last year's 66th-place finish.

According to a May 20 news release, the ranking change was due primarily to upward moves made by other cities, and not changes to the local park system.

The results: Trust for Public Land ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities by comparing five park categories: equity, access, investment, amenities and acreage.

More information: Additional insights shared on Houston's park system through the Trust for Public Land include:

• 65% of Houston residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park

• Residents in neighborhoods of color have access to 2% less park space per person than the city's average neighborhood

• Low-income neighborhoods have access to 35% less park space per person

Check out the story to see how Houston ranked in each category and for more insights.

JetSet Pilates officially opened its first Houston location in mid-May along West Dallas Street in River Oaks. The modern reformer Pilates franchise offers premium, full-body workouts.

How it works: The studio features 13 custom reformers and provides 50-minute, high-end classes that combine strength, cardio and Pilates-inspired movements, according to a May 21 news release. There are five levels of workouts that are set to DJ-curated music.

Meet the owner: The River Oaks location is owned and operated by Tiana Montgomery, a healthcare professional and nurse with experience across labor and delivery, oncology and medical device sales.

“Pilates played such a meaningful role in helping me regain my strength and confidence after pregnancy,” Montgomery said. “When I took my first JetSet class, I felt an immediate connection not just to the workout itself, but to how it supported both my physical and mental well-being."

JetSet Pilates River Oaks opened May 18 and will host a grand opening celebration May 30.

• 3515 W. Dallas St., Ste. 200, Houston

Early runoff election results are in for the Democratic and Republican runoff elections in the races for Harris County judge and district clerk.

Some context: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo formally announced in September that she will not seek reelection for a third term as judge of Texas’ largest county.

Hidalgo has served as county judge since 2019 and was reelected after winning the county seat during the November 2022 general election. Her current four-year term ends Dec. 31, 2026.

Also on the ballot: In the race for Harris County district clerk, Jose "Alex" Maldonado and Darrell Jordan Jr. are facing off for the Democratic nomination.

Early voting results are in for four key runoff elections for United States House of Representatives races.

Some background: Selected races include only contested U.S. House seats that fall within Community Impact’s Houston coverage zone and that were sent to a runoff election after the March primaries, which include Districts 7, 14, 18 and 38.

For District 7, Republican candidates Alexander Hale and Tina Cohen were sent to the runoff after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primaries. Other Republican candidates facing off for a place on the November ballot include Jon Bonck and Shelly Dezevallos for District 38.

On the other hand, Democratic candidates for U.S. House District 18, Christian Menefee and Al Green, were sent to face each other in the runoff election after the March primary votes were split, as well as Richard Davis and Thurman Bill Bartie squaring off for District 14.

All results are unofficial until canvassed.

In the May 26 runoff election, Republican voters across Texas cast their votes in a contentious U.S. Senate race between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The context: The Republican race for U.S. Senate is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

About the candidates: Cornyn, an incumbent senator with nearly 24 years in office, is seeking to hold his seat for another six years while being challenged by Paxton, the once-impeached state attorney general who was recently endorsed by President Donald Trump. Read each candidate's priorities in their own words here.  

The winning Republican candidate will face the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, state Rep. James Talarico of Austin, in November.
 
Keep reading to see the results in the Cornyn-Paxton race and find other runoff results at communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

For the first time in more than a decade, there is no incumbent in the Texas attorney general's race as Ken Paxton runs for the U.S. Senate. Voters across Texas made their picks for attorney general in the May 26 runoff election, with the winning candidate from each political party moving on to the November election.

The context: The Republican and Democratic attorney general races are among several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

The attorney general serves as Texas' top lawyer and law enforcement officer.

About the candidates: On the right, state Sen. Mayes Middleton of Galveston and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Austin are each seeking the Republican nomination for the seat.

On the left, state Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are vying for the Democratic nomination.

Keep reading to see the results in the two attorney general races and find other runoff results at communityimpact.com/voter-guide.