The Bellaire City Library has recently started tagging more than 80,000 library books with a radio frequency identification, or RFID.

How it works: RFID tagging uses radio frequency technology to wirelessly track books through radio waves emitted by the tags to self-service checkout stations, reader pads, inventory wands and security gates, Library Director Chris Arrowood said.

Residents checking out books at the library will do so at a self-service kiosk and then walk through security gates that are similar to those in retail stores to ensure all materials have been properly checked out.

A closer look: According to an email from Arrowood, the benefits of RFID tagging include reduced wait times, faster inventory checks and real-time information queries. 

Next steps: As of March 9, library staff and volunteers from the Friends of the Bellaire Library have recently started the process and predict the tagging of all the books to take three to four months, Bright said.

A few months after it was announced that a Hobby Lobby would be built inside Meyerland Plaza, a new listing by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shows that a HomeGoods will be added to the site.

HomeGoods is an off-price retailer offering a selection of brand-name home fashions, furniture, decor, lighting, rugs and seasonal items.

What we know: According to the project filing, the job includes renovating an existing 33,689 square foot space with new lighting, ceilings, HVAC and paint. The entire project will cost $1.7 million.

Construction is set to start on the interior in November, with an estimated completion date in March 2027.

• 290 Meyerland Plaza, Houston

More moderate prices have led to an influx of homes hitting the market, according to the Houston Association of Realtors' February 2026 housing market update. While there was a slight decrease in home sales, buyer activity has increased across the region.

The gist: According to HAR, property sales of all types compared to February last year have dwindled by 3.3%, with 7,024 properties sold. Despite this, the number of properties listed has risen by 14.3%, with 55,710 properties now available. 

According to HAR Chief Economist Ted C. Jones, the Houston housing market has been “bottoming out” for the past several years and is now returning to pre-pandemic levels.

As it stands right now, the median price declined 0.9% year over year in February to $322,078. Homes have also been spending more time on the market this February compared to last February—the average days spent on the market for a home went from 60 to 69 days, which is the highest it’s been since March 2013, when the average time was 74 days.

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Families have until 11:59 p.m. March 17 to apply for the first year of Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

The big picture: Under the $1 billion program, participating students will receive state funds for private education or homeschooling during the 2026-27 school year. It is unlikely that all applicants will be accepted, as application data shows more students have applied than the program can fund.

The program offers $2,000 to homeschooled students; $10,474 for private school tuition and related expenses; and up to $30,000 for students with disabilities. With demand set to exceed available funding, applications will be prioritized based on need and household income.

How we got here: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025, with proponents saying it will expand options for families who don't want to send their children to public schools. Critics of the program have said it will unfairly benefit students already in private schools and divert funding from public schools.