On March 6, Blinn College hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on the 100-acre property that will be the home of the new Waller campus. During the ceremony, Blinn College officials spoke about how the new campus symbolizes the strong relationship Blinn has with the local Waller area. 

How it happened: The new facility came to fruition thanks to legislation passed by Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, which added the Harris County portion of Waller ISD to Blinn’s official service area, she said during the ceremony. Kolkhorst expressed her joy at the growth not only of Blinn College but also of the Waller area as a whole. 

Quote of note: “It’s a physical symbol of the commitment for the future of [the] Texas area that is growing so dynamically,” Kolkhorst said. “I will tell you the march for the future of Texas is really right here and Blinn College will be at the front of that line.”

Local eatery Galiana's Tex Mex & Agave Bar is relocating from Coles Crossing to Towne Lake, the restaurant announced Feb. 23 on social media.

Read all about it: Galiana's has started interior construction in the 4,657-square-foot space in Towne Lake Market, a retail center at the corner of Cypress North Houston and Greenhouse roads.

A project filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shows the build out is expected to wrap up by the end of April. Details are subject to change. 

Zooming out: The restaurant adds to a growing list of new tenants setting up shop in the Towne Lake master-planned community, including Connie's Frozen Custard and Ventana Nails & Spa. 

Stay tuned: Galiana's plans to open its new doors in early summer, owner Dario Herrera said. The original location in the Coles Crossing Shopping Center remains open as the business undergoes the transition, Herrera said, but Galiana's may close for a few weeks as the Towne Lake restaurant nears its opening.

• 11231 Greenhouse Road Ste. 150, Cypress

Officials with the FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee announced in a news conference Feb. 27 a new initiative called Freekicks Soccer.

The program—in collaboration with the Houston Host Committee, the city of Houston, Harris County Precincts 1-4 and the youth soccer community—is designed to address the limited access to organized soccer for youth in underserved communities across Harris County.

What you need to know: The initiative will construct and refurbish 23 soccer pitches, or fields, across six parks in the county, including:

• Blue Ridge Park: 13845 Blue Ridge Road, Houston
• George Bush Park: 16756 Westheimer Parkway, Houston
• Moody Park: 3725 Fulton St., Houston
• Alabonson Park: 9652 N. Houston Rosslyn Road, Houston
• Baytown Soccer Complex: 9600 N. Main St., Baytown
• Keith-Wiess Park: 12300 Aldine Westfield Road, Houston

Cancer Clinician and Translational Scientist Dr. Daniela Matei will become the next director of the Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center following a national search, Houston Methodist officials announced in a Feb. 27 news release.

The details: Currently chief of the Division of Reproductive Science in Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Matei is an expert in ovarian cancer treatment and research, per the release.

What they’re saying: Chang said Matei’s vision will “enhance the momentum of our research enterprise and support our shared goal of turning scientific innovation into real-world impact for patients.”

What’s next? Matei will begin her role as director in April, per the release.