Houston City Council approved a contract for the Houston Arts Alliance that authorizes up to $130 million in arts funding over the next five to seven years.

What happened: The HAA is the city's nonprofit arts partner, administering grants, overseeing public art projects and supporting artists and cultural organizations across Houston.

Council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, chair of the Arts and Culture Committee, said the contract will benefit the arts community, especially in the years after the pandemic, when there were funding challenges for the arts. She also said it is the highest agreement made with the HAA.

“Houston’s arts are not extra; they are part of who we are,” Evans-Shabazz said. “They drive tourism, support jobs, strengthen our neighborhoods, tell our stories and help make Houston a world-class city.”

One more thing: The contract will begin January 1, 2027.

A Copenhagen-based cafe and juice bar will open two locations in the Houston area in late fall.

What is it: Joe & The Juice is a cafe known for its fresh juices and light, health-focused menu. According to the news release, the first space, which will be located in Uptown Park, will include indoor and outdoor seating to make social interaction easier. Joe & The Juice’s signature juice menu includes ingredients such as coconut water, lemon, spinach, ginger, olive oil, carrot, kale and various fruits such as strawberries and kiwi. 

The shop also serves smoothies, coffee and lattes, sandwiches and power bowls.

One more thing: A second location is also slated to follow the opening of the first space. According to TDLR, the second location will be located in a 5,465 square foot location at 3400 White Oak Drive.

• Uptown Park Blvd., Ste. 10, Houston; 3400 White Oak Drive, Ste. B, Houston

Travelers flying through George Bush Intercontinental Airport now have a few more comfortable places to sit, work and charge before boarding.

The details: Houston Airports recently added new seating near gates A14 and A15 in Terminal A, increasing seating in that area by 24%, according to a June 23 release. The update added 47 seats, along with workstations, group seating and built-in charging.

The new setup is meant to better fit how people actually use airport space, according to the release. 

What this means: In Terminal A, the seating includes tray tables, charging access, work areas and group seating. The area also has large windows looking out over the airfield.

The seating was previously used in Terminal D before being moved and installed in Terminal A in May, ahead of a busy summer travel season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup travel period, per the release.

Harris County Commissioners unanimously approved appointing Marcus Stuckett, a former engineer with the Harris County Flood Control District, to the role of executive director for the agency.

The breakdown: In a June 25 business court meeting, Stuckett was nominated by Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey to fill the role following the resignation of Tina Petersen on June 11. Stuckett worked for the flood control district from 2015-2022, becoming a certified floodplain administrator and director of engineering for the district. Stuckett left the HCFCD to work as an associate vice president at Pape-Dawson Engineers.

Quote of note: “I am honored by the confidence placed in me by Commissioners Court and Administrator [Erica Lee] Carter," Stuckett said. "The Harris County Flood Control District has a long history of protecting residents from flooding through innovative engineering, strong partnerships, and responsible stewardship of public resources. I look forward to working alongside our dedicated employees, community partners and elected officials to continue delivering projects that reduce flood risk and improve quality of life for Harris County residents."

State lawmakers are considering water use impacts tied to the spread of new data center developments across Texas, and recently heard input from industry representatives and residents as they plan for next year's legislative session.

The initial review may preview proposed state laws regarding data centers and their local impacts. Ahead of the hearing, Gov. Greg Abbott also stated his "bottom line" expectations for data centers going forward: providing their own power, reusing water and reducing electricity costs for their neighbors.

Testimony from regulators revealed that Texas lacks accurate information about the water use of most data centers now operating statewide, despite mandates to submit those details. Representatives suggested data centers' self-reporting on utility use could be one topic to address next year. Many impacted residents and elected officials also raised concerns with public notice and local regulatory authority in relation to the high-profile developments.