The San Jacinto College board of trustees has approved a leadership realignment following recent retirement announcements within the college’s Strategic Leadership Team, or SLT, according to a Dec. 9 news release.

The context: The SLT advises Chancellor Brenda Hellyer and the board of trustees on collegewide strategy and works to advance the college’s BOLD 2030 plan, which focuses on education, community engagement and partnerships.

Here are six places to keep an eye out for in 2026, as previously reported by Community Impact. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

Desert Rose Beauty Co.: J. Miles Salon is relocating to a new location in Friendswood and will rebrand as Desert Rose Beauty Co., construction staff working on the new space said. The last day in its current location will be Jan. 2, and when the salon reopens, it will have a new Western aesthetic, according to a social media post from J. Miles Salon.

• Opening Jan. 6
• 122 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood

Ambriza: Houston-based Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen is slated to open by the second quarter of 2026, owner Julio Garcia said.

Starters will include street corn, empanadas and ceviche, among other items, and main courses feature fajitas, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas and flautas.

• Opening in the second quarter of 2026
• 110 Osprey Drive, Webster

Here are five of the most-read CI Texas stories from this year and the latest updates on these trending topics.

1. Texas Senate passes bill that would nearly double property tax exemption for seniors, people with disabilities: Elderly and disabled homeowners were set to receive a $200,000 property tax exemption this year.

2. Texas House bill would make it easier to remove students from the classroom: The law gives teachers more discretion to remove students from the classroom if they are repeatedly disruptive or threaten the safety of others.

3. What to know about the 17 state propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot: Nearly 3 million Texans voted in the November election, approving all 17 constitutional amendments.

4. Texas House bill would prohibit cellphone use in K-12 schools: Under House Bill 1481, cellphones and other personal communication devices are prohibited bell-to-bell in Texas public schools.

5. Texas families can now access 2022-23 A-F school accountability ratings after multiyear legal battle: The state later released ratings for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years in August.

The final steel beam has been put into place on a $470 million expansion project at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, according to a Dec. 12 news release from the Houston Airport System.

What's happening: As previously reported by Community Impact, the expansion is set to bring seven new gates to the airport, more than doubling the number of existing gates. Other improvements include:

• An updated baggage claim system
• Additional baggage claim carousels
• Expanded dining and retail options
• Weather-protected canopies at departures