Two candidates are vying in the Jan. 31 special election for a seat representing Ward A.

The opening comes after council member Dan Smith filed his run for Waller County commissioner, Precinct 4, vacating his unexpired term on council, Community Impact reported. The winner will serve the remaining time in the unexpired term through May 2027.

The Army Corps of Engineers Regional Planning and Environmental Center has released the draft version of the 2026 Addicks and Barker Master Plan, Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment for public review and comment, the Department of Defense announced in a Jan. 7 news release.

Get involved: The open house, which will take place from 4-6 p.m. Jan. 21 at The Glazier Community Center, 16600 Pine Forest Lane, Houston, will give the public a chance to provide feedback for responsible stewardship of the reservoir, per the release.

Zooming in: The Addicks and Barker reservoirs, located in the Katy area, were constructed in the 1940s to control downstream flooding in the Houston area and the Houston Ship Channel.

Digging deeper: The master plan provides guidance to the Corps when making management decisions related to the reservoirs, including environmental, cultural and recreational opportunities, the 2009 plan states.

What’s next: According to presentation documents, the final master plan will be released in April.

Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade has opened its third Houston location in Fulshear.

On the menu: The business, which began as a lemonade stand, has expanded its menu to offer handcrafted lemonades, superfood smoothies, tropically inspired coffees and teas as well as acai bowls, according to its website.

Zooming out: The Fulshear location joins a nearby Katy location at 25220 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. 300, per its website. 

• 27201 Fulshear Bend Drive, Fulshear

• Why are you running for Fort Bend County judge?
• What are your qualifications for why you’d be a strong candidate in this role?
• If elected, what will be your top priorities?
• What should the county's budgeting priorities be?
• How do you plan to continue preparing for population growth as the county nears one million residents?
• How do you plan to help grow economic development in the county?

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Jan. 12-16.

What you need to know: Le Labo is opening in January at Market Street in The Woodlands, officials confirmed. A mid-month opening date is anticipated at the shopping center. 

What else: The Menil Collection in Houston will temporarily close the on-campus bookstore for renovations. In a Jan. 14 news release, officials with the popular art museum announced the on-campus Menil Bookstore will undergo renovations starting in spring 2026. 

Five Republican candidates are running for a six-year term on the Texas Railroad Commission in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The big picture: Katherine Culbert, Hawk Dunlap, Bo French, James "Jim" Matlock and Jim Wright are vying for the Republican nomination for a seat on the railroad commission. The winning Republican candidate will face Jon Rosenthal in November, and the winner of that election will begin serving on the commission in January 2027.

Rosenthal, a state representative and oilfield mechanical engineer, is running uncontested in the Democratic primary. Community Impact runs candidate Q&As for contested races only.

The context: The railroad commission regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry, according to its website, while the state's railroads are under the control of the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government.