West University Place is proposing adding two police officers in the fiscal year 2027 budget, which begins Jan. 1.

What happened: During its July 30 budget workshop, council members discussed staying within the state’s voter-approved tax rate. However, Finance Director Marie Kalka informed officials that updated certified tax rolls showed the city would receive $342,000 more in revenue than originally expected, allowing officials to consider a small staffing increase without raising the tax rate.

Officials discussed multiple options for the police department to hire additional officers. However, council ultimately decided on hiring two new officers under Option A.

The options: Option A would add two officers, fund their salaries through the operating budget and pay one-time costs such as vehicle and equipment through reserves. It would also increase employee merit raises from 2% to 3%. The decision would cost the city approximately $370,000.

Other options B and B1 suggested hiring four officers and adding three or four vehicles, respectively. Option B would cost $839,000, and B1 would cost $973,000.

DD's Discount is a popular American discount retailer gearing up to launch a brand new store near Houston's Astrodome in early 2027.

The gist: Launched in 2004, the store is a subsidiary of Ross Stores, Inc., according to the store's website. The chain offers apparel, shoes, home decor, accessories and toys advertised at prices roughly 20% to 70% below regular department store prices.

According to a project filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the commercial tenant is expected to renovate a 25,112-square-foot building off Kirby Drive, replacing the former Shoe Palace. The privately funded $850,000 buildout will start construction in late September with an anticipated completion date of January 2027.

• 8202 Kirby Drive, Houston

As the start of the 2026-27 school year looms closer Aug. 10, the Houston ISD Police Department and its partners will be bolstering security and safety measures, according to an Aug. 4 news conference for the school district.

Two-minute impact: With students slated to soon return to HISD’s campuses, 112 guards have been added to monitor schools, and more will be added, Houston ISD Police Chief Shamara D. Garner said during the news conference. Officers will also be patrolling campuses 24 hours per day, she added.

Quote of note: “The beginning of a school year represents new opportunities for academic growth, new opportunities to reconnect with friends or even make new friends,” Garner said. “But what is not new is our shared commitment to keeping our students safe and to do all we can to maintain a safe learning environment.”

The city of Bellaire held a public hearing and presentation Aug. 3 over the Planning & Zoning Commission’s recommendations for reducing the city’s parking requirements.

What happened: Discussion regarding possible changes to local parking standards began back in May during a commission meeting, which outlined a tentative framework for how development constraints in commercial districts could be alleviated. Since then, the Planning and Zoning Commission, along with Bellaire’s Development Services Department, have drafted several proposed parking ordinances based on objectives such as off-site parking, parking credits and a new purpose statement.

This review of Bellaire’s current parking standards is just one part of the city’s larger comprehensive plan to promote more market-driven outcomes in the area, reduce excess parking supply, encourage more efficient land use and mitigate aesthetic issues related to parking.

Going forward: Final deliberation and consideration of the amendments to the city’s code of ordinances is anticipated to take place Sept. 21.

Texas is halting the approval of new data center projects until state regulators can audit all data centers seeking to connect to the power grid, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Aug. 3.

The overview: The governor directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to conduct “a comprehensive verification and audit” of all data center applicants “before any additional data centers are approved to move forward.” 

Data center regulation has emerged as a bipartisan issue in recent months, and the move comes amid both growing public criticism of Texas’ booming data center industry and recent political pressure for Abbott to respond.

Zooming in: Abbott asked the PUC and ERCOT to collect information about the tax exemptions each data center is collecting; details about each project's anticipated water and electricity usage; and how data center developers will work to limit noise, light pollution and other impacts on local communities.

Officials did not say how long the pause would last or when the audits would begin.