Humble ISD board President Marques Holmes has been elected to serve on the Texas Association of School Boards board of directors, HISD officials announced in a Dec. 10 news release.

The details: Holmes will serve as Region 4, Position A Director on TASB's board through October 2026, according to the release. TASB directors serve as representatives of the school boards in their regions with the aim of assisting the organization’s mission of promoting educational excellence through good governance, educational experiences for school leaders and public-school advocacy, according to TASB’s website.

Some context: Holmes was initially appointed to serve as HISD’s Position 6 trustee in 2021 to fill the vacancy left by former trustee Lori Twomey. Holmes was reelected to the position in May 2023. Holmes earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and has several certifications in leadership training and development, according to the release.

Unofficial results show Alejandra Salinas has won the runoff race for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 4.

Salinas across all three counties holds 58.56% of the vote, which translates to 25,796 votes cast in her favor. Her opponent, Dwight Boykins, holds 41.44% of the vote, which translates to 18,257 votes cast, according to unofficial results.

All prospects were vying for the vacant seat left behind by former council member Letitia Plummer, who resigned her position to run for Harris County Judge.

In case you missed it: Boykins and Salinas became the top two contenders after no candidates received more than 50% of the vote on Election Day. 

Something to note: Houston City Council members are limited to serving two terms of four years each, with each term beginning on Jan. 2.

Keep in mind: All results are unofficial until canvassed. For more information about voting in Harris County, visit www.harrisvotes.com.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Dec. 8-12.

A sneak peek: Vegas Texas Casino officials said the practice-style casino has plans to open between Dec. 15-Jan. 1 in Cypress pending receipt of its Certificate of Occupancy and TABC license. The casino is fully compliant with all Texas gambling and sweepstakes laws, and no gambling of any kind is offered, officials said. 

In case you missed it: On Jan. 1, drivers will see an increase in toll rates, according to a Nov. 18 news release from the Harris County Toll Road Authority. The toll rate increases are along the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority’s portion of Hwy. 249. 

Craving something new? From a new sushi spot to a rebranded Mexican birria locale, Community Impact compiled six dining updates across the Greater Houston area, including restaurants that recently opened or are coming soon.

Texas has grown rapidly in recent years, and data indicates that development is not slowing down. The Lone Star State gained about 168,000 jobs from September 2024-September 2025, leading the nation in job growth, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

The overview: Texas is attractive to businesses looking to relocate or expand their operations due to its tax incentives and grants, lack of a personal income tax and roughly 200 higher education institutions, business leaders said during a Dec. 10 summit held in College Station by industry network YTexas.

As businesses of all sizes continue to move to Texas, local governments and associations also need to “support the ones that are already here,” said Dean Browell, the chief behavioral officer for Feedback, a digital ethnographic research firm.

Zooming in: In an October study, Feedback found that long-term Texas residents want to live in growing communities with strong education systems and plentiful job opportunities. That growth, however, can lead to rising property taxes and living expenses before residents begin feeling the benefits, Browell said.