Harris County Precinct 4, Daikin and the Astros Foundation unveiled the first installation of a new program called Cooling Communities at the Bayland Community Center on Dec. 17.

What happened: The Cooling Communities is a new annual initiative by Daikin and the Astros Foundation to bring comfort and reliability to Houston neighborhoods. The program involves upgrading HVAC systems where they are needed most across the Greater Houston area, according to a July news release on its launch.

The Bayland Community Center was the first recipient of the program in 2025. The center, which is a hub for youth sports, senior programs and local clubs, received $55,000 in HVAC upgrades.

Why it matters: Lesley Briones, Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner, said that Bayland Community Center is a lifeline for many families in Precinct 4 and even serves as a refuge and resource during the hottest days of the summer in times of disaster.

“The new HVAC system at Bayland will significantly enhance our resilience to extreme weather, creating protection for our most vulnerable neighbors,” Briones said.

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. 

FIFA World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most in-demand sporting events in the tournament's history, with over 150 million tickets requested during the Random Selection Draw ticketing phase to date. The figure represents the highest demand in FIFA World Cup history, according to a Dec. 29 news release.

Current situation: The final Random Selection Draw ticketing phase opened Dec. 11, a process that allows first-time fans to apply for single-match tickets based on who is playing whom, where and when for group stage matches.

As of Dec. 29, the draw has already garnered over 150 million ticket requests by fans from over 200 countries, bringing the FIFA World Cup 2026 oversubscribed over 30 times based on verified credit card numbers submitted with each ticket application, per the release.

Get involved: The Random Selection Draw will remain open until Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. Officials noted that the timing of a ticket request does not affect the chances of success.

This November, Texas voters approved 17 constitutional amendments, also known as state propositions. Here’s what’s next for some of those propositions and what they mean for Texans.

The overview: Texas voters authorized the state to spend $1 billion annually on water supply funding, totaling $20 billion over a two-decade period, through Proposition 4. Funding will flow into the Texas Water Fund, a state account created in 2023 to help finance water projects.

However, state law requires that the money does not begin moving into the water fund until September 2027, and it will not be available for grants until 2029. Until then, state agencies, water utilities and local organizations will need to plan for funding, adjust rules and processes to align with recent state laws and update Texas’ water and flood plans, according to the Texas Water Foundation.

More details: Texas homeowners were set to see expanded property tax breaks on their 2025 tax bills under Propositions 11 and 13. Four other property tax exemptions approved by voters will take effect Jan. 1.