Early voting for the Houston City Council District C special election begins March 18, with election day set for April 4. Here’s what voters need to know.

How we got here: Residents who live in District C, currently represented by council member Abbie Kamin, will have a new representative on council after the April 4 special election.

Kamin won the primary election for Harris County attorney in March, a seat up for grabs after former county attorney Christian Menefee stepped down to serve as congressman for Texas' 18th Congressional District.

On the ballot: The Houston City Council seat has seven candidates vying for it, with the elected candidate serving the district until January 2028. District C includes River Oaks, Montrose, The Heights, Washington Avenue, Rice Village and Meyerland.

For additional information about the candidates, read Community Impact’s Q&A.

What you need to know: Early voting will go through March 31, and election day will be held April 4. Harris County will operate six early voting locations and 20 vote centers on election day.

Known for its 24-hour infrared sauna studio, Hotworx is set to open a new location near Richmond Avenue in 2026.

In a nutshell: A project filing by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shows that the workout studio will renovate an existing 1,800 square foot space inside the West Loop Market Center.

The renovation, which will cost approximately $117,000, includes an interior build-out for the new sauna and gym space. The construction timeline for renovations is set to take approximately four months from April 6 to July 30. Details are subject to change.

A closer look: Hotworx offers a variety of sessions like hot yoga, barre, cycling and Pilates inside an infrared sauna or heated studio. According to the Hotworx website, the heat is expected to strengthen and activate the regenerative process in the human body.

• 2901 W. Loop S., Ste. 102, Houston

In honor of Women's History Month, which runs March 1-31, here are a few women-owned businesses located in the Greater Houston area.

​​Retail Therapy
After years of responding to emergencies as an EMT, Kimberly Smith found a different way to take care of people in 2006. Smith now serves the community through a consignment store she took over 20 years ago with used brand-name clothing in Cypress.

Beyond resale, the shop extends its mission by donating clothing to a local women's shelter, turning gently worn pieces into a source of identity and fresh starts for women in need.

• 10782 Grant Road, Houston

• 2757 Rayford Road, Spring

Harris County Commissioners Court will review more than 450 agenda items March 19, including a public hearing on the proposed parkland acquisition for Ben Taub Hospital's expansion as well as potential changes to the county's criminal legal system.

The overview: In compliance with Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code, commissioners will hear from community members about the proposed acquisition of 8.9 acres of Hermann Park to make way for a $410 million expansion of Ben Taub Hospital. 

Hospital officials say the expansion is critical to address bed capacity limitations at the Level I trauma facility. However, some residents are concerned with the potential environmental implications. 

Also on the agenda: Commissioners are also set to discuss potential operational and fiscal changes to county's legal system as a result of Senate Bill 9, a 2021 law that shifted bail-setting authority for certain violent offenses to elected judges.

Stay tuned: Harris County Commissioners Court meetings are held at 9 a.m. in Downtown Houston. The administration building is located at 1001 Preston St., Houston.