Located at 5235 Glenmont Drive, Bellaire’s new Public Works facility will house employee offices and equipment from various departments, city staff said in an April 6 City Council meeting.

Remember this: The city purchased the property in March 2025 for $7 million after Bellaire City Manager Sharon Citino gave a presentation detailing how the city’s Public Works department has been without a permanent administrative building since 2015.

About the project: In an April 6 City Council presentation, Assistant City Manager and City Engineer Beth Jones and Jeff Gerber, CEO of PGAL Inc., described the current site plan for the building.

Budget explained: As of April 6, Jones said the price has increased from $14.7 million to $16.35 million, due to the relocation of various staff equipment and facilities into the building. According to the presentation, the funds come from certificate of obligation bonds sold for purchase and funds appropriated in the 2025 and 2026 fiscal year capital improvement projects budget.

Dr. Kristy Hamilton has opened a new plastic surgery center on Bissonnet Street.

At a glance: Hamilton’s new clinic features three operating rooms, where she performs breast augmentations, liposuction, facelifts and other cosmetic surgeries. 

The business also offers non-surgical procedures, such as dermal fillers, Botox and facial profile balancing, which is done with micro-adjustments to the cheekbones, jawline and nose, the website states. 

Her thoughts: Hamilton stated in an April 4 social media post that her goal was to create a “place of artistry and innovation where plastic surgery elevates beauty beyond what nature provided.”

• 2311 Bissonnet St., Houston

Officials with the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a regional transportation organization in Texas, recently launched a new website designed to help commuters and employers plan ahead as the city prepares for a busy summer chock-full of events.

Why now: Houston is preparing to hold seven matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament in June-July, as well as a 39-day fan festival. The city will also host several Houston Astros games and a large Independence Day celebration during that time frame.

The combination of events is expected to bring more than 500,000 visitors to the area between June 14 and July 1 and could increase traffic by 20%-40%.

What you need to know: The website showcases:

• A calendar that highlights high-traffic days
• Maps showing corridors expected to see heavier congestion
• Park and ride, vanpool and public transportation information
• Tips for adjusting work schedules or teleworking
• Planning guides for busy event days

Funding for Texas’ education savings account program is expected to dry up before it reaches all low-income applicants, the state comptroller’s office announced April 2.

The overview: More than a quarter of a million students applied for the first year of Texas Education Freedom Accounts, which will give participating families access to state funds to send their children to private school or homeschool them.

The details: Most eligible students will be placed on a waitlist for the 2026-27 school year, as the $1 billion program is expected to serve between 90,000 and 100,000 students. State officials said all funds are expected to go to students with disabilities, their siblings and children from low-income families.

The state will use a four-tier, randomized lottery system to determine who is accepted. Once funding runs out, the remaining students will be placed on a waitlist.

How it works: Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000 each in ESA funding, depending on their individual needs. Other accepted students will receive $10,474 for private education or $2,000 for homeschooling.