Houston officials delayed voting on an agreement that would permanently eliminate the possibility of Houston annexing The Woodlands Township and provide for $50 million in payments from The Woodlands to Houston by 2030.

What happened: Initially set for a vote at its Aug. 26 meeting, council member Edward Pollard tagged the agenda item, delaying voting by one week.

Pollard said he has no reservations about the agreement but thinks it would be good to send it to the Budget & Fiscal Affairs committee for additional discussion.

The details: The amendment would end the long-term Regional Participation Fund payment structure between Houston and The Woodlands, providing for a total of about $27.4 million in payments from The Woodlands Township to the city over the next three years as well as releasing restrictions on the $22.6 million currently in the RPF to make those funds available to the city of Houston.

One more thing: The city's BFA meeting will be held Sept. 1. 

Luxury dog boarding brand K9 Resorts Houston Heights has partnered with Houston Pets Alive! to launch K9 WellSpa in August, a brand-new wellness experience for the four-legged friends.

The setup: K9 WellSpa, according to an Aug. 20 news release, is designed to transform the traditional grooming appointment into a "more restorative, comfort-first experience."

The spa offers services such as the signature Restorative French Bath, which features premium Les Poochs products and a massage glove-based cleansing process, per the release.

Another aspect of the spa includes the signature calming touch technique, where groomers use a seven-point gentle touch ritual designed to help dogs remain relaxed throughout their visit. Other services include standard teeth brushing and nail care treatments.

One more thing: To celebrate the launch, K9 Resorts Houston has partnered with Houston Pets Alive! to provide complimentary sessions for adoptable shelter dogs in August. The dogs will receive restorative treatments to refresh their coats and promote comfort ahead of potential adoption.

• 1619 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston

The University of Houston has seen continued enrollment growth as the school nears its 100th anniversary in 2027.

In a nutshell: UH welcomed nearly 7,100 freshmen this fall, breaking its freshman enrollment record for the third year in a row, university officials announced in an Aug. 24 news release. Freshmen also broke a new record with 39,000 applications, a 12% increase from last year.

The university also saw an increase in honors and graduate college enrollment, and students received 18% more merit scholarships than last year.

Zooming out: Last year, college enrollment reached an all-time high in Texas with more than 1.6 million students enrolled, according to preliminary numbers from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 

UH was among colleges with enrollment growth last year and broke its record with almost 49,000 students enrolled, according to a 2025 news release. The college also saw all-time high enrollment numbers at its Katy and Sugar Land campuses.

Precinct 1 is investing nearly $9.6 million in infrastructure and recreation projects to improve community connectivity and safety across south and west Houston.

The gist: Commissioner Rodney Ellis, alongside community leaders, announced funding for 16 projects across the precinct during a press conference Aug. 26. The grant money is part of Ellis’ Plan Together Partnership Program, which invests in community-identified projects. The projects are designed to enhance safety, resiliency and community connectivity, according to a news release.

The impact: The $9.6 million will partially fund all the projects, which are estimated to cost about $60.5 million in total. The projects will focus on planning, constructing and improving neighborhood sidewalks, trails, drainage and parks.

Texas voters will choose from Republican Bo French, Libertarian Arthur DiBianca and Democrat Jon Rosenthal in this November's Texas Railroad Commission race.

The details: The winner of the race will be sworn in to replace incumbent Commissioner Jim Wright in January.

French beat Wright in a May Republican primary runoff, advancing to the general election. Rosenthal ran uncontested in the March Democratic primary, while DiBianca was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

Did you know? The three-member railroad commission does not have any jurisdiction over the state's railroads—that authority was transferred to the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government by 2005, according to the commission's website. Instead, the agency regulates Texas' oil and gas industries.

Looking ahead: Early voting in dozens of local and state races runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.