Several operational changes are being planned in the upcoming year, officials said, to better serve library-goers at the West University Branch location, which includes moving the youth section downstairs and improving accessibility for families with children and teens.

Digging deeper: At the Dec. 8 City Council meeting, an update was presented by Harris County Public Library officials who oversee the West U branch location. Executive Director Edward Melton said that with the large number of families who attend and participate at the West U location, the changes will help to eliminate safety hazards.

The specifics: The following changes were discussed by county library officials:

• Moving youth services to the ground floor
• Enhancing visibility and safety for children and teens with closer proximity to the main entrance, service desks and restrooms
• Moving adults and quieter study areas upstairs
• Keeping the self-checkout and holds on the first floor

Trader Joe’s has confirmed plans to open a new store in Bellaire, according to city officials.

What’s happening: The grocery store is set to open in the Bellaire Boulevard Shopping Center, according to a Dec. 16 news release from the city manager’s office. The store will replace the former Randall’s across Bissonnet Street at 5130 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire.

As of Dec. 16, an official with Trader Joe’s said that a timeline is not yet available, but city officials noted that updates will be shared as the project progresses.

About the company: The store carries fresh produce, snacks, meat and seafood, frozen items, baked goods, beer and wine, flowers and plants.

• 5130 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire

Pending single-family sales in the Greater Houston area rose 7.2% year over year in November, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ November 2025 Housing Market Update released Dec. 10. Meanwhile, single-family home sales decreased year over year in November from 6,499 to 6,347, according to the report.

What else: In terms of home prices, the median home price decreased 1.5% to $325,000, according to the report.

Quote of note: “Houston’s housing market is setting into a balanced pace,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar with LPT Realty said via news release. “Buyers now have more time, more options and a little more breathing room to negotiate. Sellers are still attracting offers, but realistic pricing and expectations make all the difference.”

The Texas power grid is expected to hold up this winter, officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said Dec. 9. This is due in part to “tremendous supply growth on the ERCOT grid,” ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said, amid an influx of data centers coming to the state.

The overview: Since last winter, over 11,000 megawatts of generating capacity have been added to the ERCOT grid, Vegas said. That growth, which largely comes from battery storage and solar facilities, could be used to power about 2.8 million homes during periods of peak electric demand.

Zooming in: Under most weather conditions, there is a less than 2% chance of a grid emergency through February, ERCOT found.

However, Texas could be in trouble in the unlikely event that a repeat of Winter Storm Uri hits large parts of the state this winter, although ERCOT noted that the probability of such a severe storm happening again was "well under one percent." The February 2021 freeze devastated an unprepared power grid, resulting in nearly 250 deaths.