Ballot set for Houston City Council At-Large Position 4
Fifteen candidates are running to fill City Council member At-Large Position 4 Letitia Plummer’s seat, after she announced her candidacy for the Harris County judge position July 8, effectively resigning her post on council.
Meet the candidates: Read more to learn more about the candidates running.
Obes Nwabara, who previously declared his intentions to run for City Council, announced in a Sept. 2 social media post that he has suspended his campaign because of the "current threat faced by marginalized communities in our city" and his belief that the city needs to unite behind a single candidate.
More details: If elected, the candidate will remain in the seat until the term ends Jan. 1, 2028.
The last day to register to vote is Oct. 6. Early voting begins Oct. 20, and Election Day is Nov. 4.
Chateau Bellecru brings French wine, hospitality to Houston Heights
Designed to remind customers of a Parisian evening or a Bordeaux tasting room, Chateau Bellecru serves a curated selection of wines from vineyards across France, according to the business’s website.
The overview: The chateau sits near the intersection of I-10 and Studemont Street, hosting wine tastings and private celebrations, among other experiences.
The menu posted online states that a selection of red and white wines is updated weekly. The wine bar also offers rosé wines and nonalcoholic options as well as a selection of appetizers, including pastries and charcuterie boards.
See all the candidates running for Texas' 18th Congressional District
This November, a special election will be held to fill the vacant Texas 18th Congressional District seat after incumbent Sylvester Turner, who also previously served as Houston mayor, died March 4.
Lina Hidalgo talks childhood education, reelection announcement in State of the County address
In her 2025 State of the County keynote address, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo emphasized the importance of funding early childhood education initiatives in the county, just shy of one month after her proposal to let voters decide on a 1-cent property tax increase failed to pass at an August commissioners court meeting.
Quote of note: “We have to be fearless in building what the community deserves,” Hidalgo said at the Sept. 5 event at the Marriott Marquis in Downtown Houston. “And I beg you that if we fight for early childhood education, I think the community would like that.”
The overview: The State of the County address is an annual event hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership. Keynote speakers discuss economic initiatives and opportunities for constituents and business leaders in the Greater Houston area.
GHP President Steve Kean asked Hidalgo directly about her reelection status. Hidalgo said that while she was not going to break news about her reelection at the event, she will be making an announcement “very, very soon.”
‘This will save lives’: New Texas laws require summer camps to remove cabins from floodplains
Two months after 25 campers and two counselors died in the historic July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic, Gov. Greg Abbott signed three new laws Sept. 5 that he said will “make youth camps safer” and ensure Texas communities are better prepared for future disasters. The flood victims' families attended the Sept. 5 bill signing ceremony in Austin.
The details: Under the two-pronged camp safety package, summer camps are required to remove existing cabins from floodplains by Jan. 1.
Camps must also develop and annually update comprehensive emergency plans, set up warning systems to notify campers if something is wrong and install ladders so campers can climb on cabin roofs during floods.
Looking ahead: Two other disaster preparedness bills, as well as legislation designed to regulate Texas’ multibillion-dollar THC industry, did not pass during the recent special legislative session, which ended around 1 a.m. Sept. 4.
When asked Sept. 5 if he planned to call a third legislative overtime to continue work on those policies, Abbott told reporters to "stay tuned."
