Additional sidewalk repair within West University Place will advance with an estimated project start date in the first quarter of the new year, after City Council approved a two-year extension with the same contractors currently working on repairs.

The improvements are estimated for completion in 2027.

What they're saying: “Nearly every home and business in West U has access to a sidewalk,” Mayor Susan Sample said in a Dec. 9 news release. “The council is proud to lead a pedestrian-friendly city, and it has been our priority to continue making investments that will ensure West U’s sidewalks remain safe and accessible for all.”

How we got here: At the Dec. 8 meeting, West University Place City Council approved the $453,772 budget amendment for a total of $800,000 to Queens Constructors LLC, which brings West U to a funding commitment of more than $1 million total for sidewalk repairs, according to the news release.

Defy Pilates, a workout studio in Bellaire, is poised to relocate from Bissonnet Street to Cedar Street in January.

The latest update: A post on the studio's social media page shows that the last day at Bissonnet will be Dec. 24. It is anticipated to reopen at the new location Jan. 2. Officials with Defy Pilates noted that the move is only a block away. The new studio will feature more parking, additional reformer machines, and expanded class times and styles.

About the company: Defy Pilates offers 45-minute sessions that range from beginner to advanced, including all-level reformer classes, as well as specialty workouts.

Classes are available Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Prices range from $50 for a two-week introductory for five classes to $540 for 20 classes in a year.

• 5236 Cedar St., Bellaire

Following the Dec. 8 deadline to file for a place on the 2026 primary ballots, 26 candidates filed to run across seven races in Harris County ahead of the March primary elections.

The big picture: Six races are being contested by Democratic and Republican candidates across the March primary elections. During the primary, voters will select the Democratic and Republican party nominees who will then appear on the November 2026 general election alongside any independent or other party candidates. The last day for candidates to file to run in the primary elections was Dec. 8, per the Texas Secretary of State's website.

What else? The deadline to register to vote in the 2026 primary elections is Feb. 2, with early voting starting Feb. 17 and election day March 3. 

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveiled a plan Dec. 9 to further raise property tax exemptions for Texas homeowners and lower the age at which Texans qualify for additional tax relief during the 2027 state legislative session.

The details: Deemed “Operation Double Nickel,” Patrick’s three-part plan asks state lawmakers to:

• Raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, by $40,000
• Allow homeowners who are at least 55 years old to qualify for a larger exemption reserved for seniors and people with disabilities
• Pass legislation to drive down property taxes charged by local governments