After a monthslong search, the city of Bellaire has named Jason D. Hester the new chief of police. 

What we know: Hester previously worked for the Texas Department of Public Safety, where he started his career in 1998 as a highway patrol trooper. In 2023, he was promoted from assistant chief of the regulatory services division to chief of DPS’s infrastructure operations division. He currently serves on the national board of the FBI National Academy and has developed curricula on subjects such as use of force, firearms, driving and leadership.

The backstory: The position became available after the retirement of Police Chief Onesimo Lopez in December, as previously reported by Community Impact. Since Lopez’s last day in December, Lt. Shane O'Sullivan has served as the interim chief of police.

Houston-based ice cream shop Cosmic Ice Cream Co. is opening a new location this spring, according to the company’s website. 

What we know: The brand currently has locations in the Bay Area, Spring Branch and Pearland and has begun construction on the Bellaire location, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing. 

On the menu: Cosmic Ice Cream Co. serves flavors including vanilla bean, strawberries and cream, salted caramel, toasted coconut and banana pudding, among other flavors. Additionally, the store offers seasonal flavors, which currently include thin mint and lemon blueberry shortbread, according to the website. 

• 5400 Bissonnet St., Bellaire

Houston City Council approved new bylaws May 6 for the nonprofit foundation tied to BARC Animal Services in the first step toward trying to help increase operational funding for the shelter.

The setup: The Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department hired a consultant in early 2026 to help the city revitalize the BARC Foundation, a nonprofit formed in 2010 whose duties include fundraising to support the operation of the BARC Animal Services.

The consultant determined that the revitalization effort should include:

• Creating and approving new bylaws for the board
• Hiring an executive director to manage the day-to-day duties of the foundation
• Appointing new board members

Officials with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County unveiled METRONow in early 2025. The new regional mobility plan was launched with a focus on improving the everyday transit experience by investing in safety, cleanliness, reliability and accessibility.

Now, a year later, METRO officials have released a report highlighting the plan's progress since its inception.

The full story: To date, METRO has invested approximately $65.44 million in roadway repairs and upgrades, according to a report released by the transit authority in April. Projects completed in the first year include:

• Installing or rehabilitating nearly 2,000 bus shelters systemwide with added shade, lighting and seating
• Upgrading 5,600 bus stops citywide to be more accessible
• Completing 320,000 square feet of sidewalk improvements

As health care costs continue rising in Texas and across the nation, state lawmakers are working to understand the factors that make health care unaffordable and what can be done to rein in prices.

The big picture: About 5.2 million Texans, or 16.7% of the state’s population, did not have health insurance in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

For years, advocates have called on Texas lawmakers to pass laws to drive down health care costs and improve access to health insurance. During a two-day hearing April 30 and May 1, a Texas House committee examined why health care costs are rising. Lawmakers will discuss potential policy solutions later this year, committee chair Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, said.

What's happening: Yale University professor Zack Cooper said that since 2000, U.S. health care spending has grown three times faster than inflation. The average health insurance premium for a family of four is $27,000 per year, he said.

“Every family is basically buying a new Toyota Corolla worth of health insurance," Cooper told lawmakers.