Houston will continue its multifamily recycling program to make 3,000 units recycling households by the end of 2026.

The Houston Solid Waste Management Department presented updates on its multifamily recycling program at the Budget and Fiscal Affairs meeting March 31.

What is it: Through a grant from The Recycling Partnership, Houston has a goal of delivering recycling services to 3,000 units across 12 multifamily properties throughout the city. The program is free, and funding comes from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. Services in the program include:

• In-unit recycling bins provided by the city
• Valet service options
• Future city-wide recycling policies
• Full service and management are done by the city of Houston
• Weekly contamination monitoring by staff

Officials with the popular coffee chain opened the first location inside Houston's Inner Loop in 2025. Now, the chain is set to open its second location off of Richmond Avenue just slightly outside of Loop 610.

What we know: A project filing by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shows that the new construction build will include building approximately 986 square feet for the quick-serve coffee drive-thru and walk-up model.

The $750,000 project is set to start construction at the end of 2026 and last through May 2027. However, details are subject to change.

On the menu: Dutch Bros Coffee serves various types of drinks, including coffee, cocoa, tea, lemonade and seasonal drinks, as well as Rebel energy drinks, chai tea and smoothies. The company also launched new food items at certain locations that include muffin tops, breakfast sandwiches, cake pops and bakery items.

• 5005 Richmond Ave., Houston

Officials with the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center recently announced the center received a $50,000 grant from The John M. O’Quinn Foundation to provide free parking once a month. 

What’s new: Typically, parking at the 155-acre nature sanctuary costs $6.50 for nonmembers, except on Thursdays, when parking is already free. 

The first free Sunday will be April 12, in honor of Earth Month, according to a March 26 news release from the arboretum. After April 12, the release states parking will be free on the second Sunday of every month through March 14, 2027.

The details: Located on the western edge of Memorial Park, the Houston Arboretum offers 5 miles of trails, educational field stations, ponds, diverse flora and wildlife, a nature playscape and an indoor discovery room. Public admission to the arboretum is free, with visitation open seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. March-October, and 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. November-February.

• 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston

Eligible Texans have until April 2 to register to vote if they would like to cast a ballot in the May 2 elections. Races that will be up for election include city council member seats and school district board of trustee spots across the Greater Houston area.

What you need to know: Texas requires voters to be registered 30 days before election day. Missing the deadline could prevent eligible residents from casting a ballot, unless they qualify for a limited ballot during early voting.

Key dates include:

• April 2: voter registration deadline
• April 20-28: early voting
• May 2: election day (7 a.m.-7 p.m.)

At least 257,000 students have applied for Texas’ inaugural education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office. Less than half of those applicants are likely to be accepted.

The overview: Applications for Texas Education Freedom Accounts close at 11:59 p.m. March 31. Students enrolling in private schools will receive $10,474 to spend on tuition and related expenses, while homeschool students can get up to $2,000 each, and students with disabilities may qualify for up to $30,000 each.

Through March 29, about 23% of applicants had indicated they would be homeschooled while 77% of applicants said they wanted to attend a private school, state data shows.

Program funding is capped at $1 billion for the 2026-27 school year, meaning between 90,000 and 100,000 students will likely be accepted.

By the numbers: About 34,000 students indicated in their application that they have a disability, per the comptroller's office. Students who have a disability and are considered low- or middle-income will receive priority acceptance into the program under state law.