Houston City Council approved changes to the city’s tax abatement ordinance, requiring companies seeking certain property tax exemptions to meet stronger labor standards, including higher wages, health insurance benefits, workers' compensation and stronger worker protections.

Explained: Houston uses tax abatements to incentivize businesses to come to and invest in the city and hire locally by offering a reduction in property taxes for a specified period. In return, businesses must meet the applicable requirements for employee wages, health benefits and other worker protections. Council member Alejandra Salinas proposed the ordinance.

Part of the ordinance includes preventing contractors with a recent history of violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules or committing wage theft from participating in projects related to the tax abatement.

Also of note: Since 2004, the city has approved only 21 tax abatements, the most recent in December 2025. According to the ordinance, the changes will apply only to future grants.

The Taiwanese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung is planning to open its first Texas location in Houston.

What we know: According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing, the project will modify six existing spaces within the Galleria mall, including the space currently occupied by Nobu, into one large venue.

The venue is expected to span nearly 17,000 square feet and cost $1 million to modify.

What's on the menu: The restaurant is famous for its handmade Xiao Long Bao, which are traditional Chinese steamed soup dumplings. The menu also features other dumplings, buns, wontons, noodle soup, fried rice, desserts and signature cocktails.

Stay tuned: Construction is anticipated to begin Feb. 1 and will take approximately four to five months to complete. Details are subject to change.

• 5115 Westheimer Road, Houston

On Oct. 28, the Lone Star College System formally signed a Guaranteed Transfer Partnership Agreement (GTPA) with five higher education institutions.

The framework: The partnership includes Prairie View A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Texas State University, Texas Tech University and the University of Houston-Downtown. The program is part of Lone Star College's 2025–2030 strategic plan to create pathways for students to get gainful employment and transfer opportunities. The GTPA will create 50 different guaranteed transfer pathways to degrees. Under this program:

• Students will know which credits transfer toward their degrees from the start for up to six years.

• Continuously enrolled students do not lose ground if course requirements change.

• High school students taking dual credit courses can apply those credits toward a bachelor's degree at a partnered university.

What they are saying: University of Houston-Downtown interim president Deborah Bordelon noted the agreement is about accountability and holding each other to higher standards.

The Harris County Commissioners Court approved extensions for federal pre-disaster project grants and a study on detention basin management practices during its Oct. 29 meeting. County Judge Lina Hidalgo was not in attendance.

The details: The Federal Emergency Management Agency grant extensions give the Harris County Flood Control District more time to complete the Urban Flood Risk Study and three detention basins:

• Meyergrove Stormwater Detention Basin: extends performance by 6 months and 18 days

• East T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin: extends performance through April 1, 2027

• Halls Bayou Blue Bell Detention Basin: extends performance through April 1, 2027

Also of note: The court also approved U.S. Department of Agriculture grant extensions, including 92 calendar days for Hurricane Beryl debris removal. None of the extensions include extra money. Additionally, commissioners approved a three-year, $533,444 agreement with the University of Houston to study floating vegetated islands.

One more thing: The court did not vote on adding 20 positions to the constable workforce after the items were pulled from the agenda.