Republican candidate Brett Ligon will be taking the vacant Texas Senate District 4 seat, as unofficial results show him with 75% of the votes, over opposing Democratic candidate Ron Angeletti.

• Ligon (R): 26,068 votes, or 75.06%
• Angeletti (D): 8,662 votes, or 24.94%

René Galvan was appointed the new CEO and president of the Houston Association of Realtors in February, as previously reported. Galvan succeeded Bob Hale, who retired Jan. 31. In an interview with Community Impact, Galvan discussed his background, what HAR does and the real estate market in the Greater Houston area. 

More details: Some of the questions asked by Community Impact include: 

• Broadly speaking, what does the Houston Association of Realtors do, and how do Realtors and buyers interact with HAR?
• When it comes to the housing market in the Greater Houston area, what trends are you seeing?
• What factors, economic or otherwise, do you see affecting the Houston housing market?

Forty-four ZIP codes in the Greater Houston area have childcare deserts, with 28 of those ZIP codes designated as chronic childcare deserts, according to April 9 data released by the research and advocacy nonprofit Children at Risk.

The 2026 analysis shows childcare facilities tend to open in areas where it is already attainable, whereas more rural and low-income regions are overlooked.

Zooming in: An area is considered a childcare desert when the number of children under six years old with working parents surpasses the number of childcare providers by three times in a certain ZIP code, according to Children at Risk’s website. A ZIP code becomes chronic once it is listed as a childcare desert for three sequential years.

The bottom line: During the 2026 Children at Risk’s child care desert April 13 press conference, Santrice Jones-Hare, director of the Greater Houston Strong Start Alliance at Children at Risk, said Houston’s overall childcare quality has improved; however, families' ability to access that care remains an obstacle.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from April 27-May 1.

1. Conroe ISD decentralizing its special education program

2. Azalea District under construction in New Caney

3. The Woodlands Township considering new fees

4. Turquoise Wine Bar to open in Cypress

5. Mediterranean eatery Brassica opening in Sugar Land