The city of Houston wants to update how park funding is distributed throughout the city to ensure that parks in certain districts receive the money needed for critical needs, projects and development.

As of early March, the city has 21 park sectors. The sector that receives the most amount of funding includes River Oaks, Upper Kirby and Montrose neighborhoods, with $21 million. Parks and Recreation Department Director Kenneth Allen presented the disparities in park funding and distribution.

Some background: Since 2007, the city has collected over $100 million for a Parks and Recreation Dedication fund across 21 park sectors. The funding has been used to acquire land and develop and improve park facilities to meet the needs of the city’s growing population, Allen said.

“As a department, we want to call attention to the need to balance park investment across all 21 sectors,” Allen said.

Breaking it down: Allen suggested that the city update its open space ordinance to provide 30% or more of the park dedication fund revenue to be deployed citywide.

Texas-based lifestyle brand and retailer Flea Style is officially returning to Houston with its ninth brick-and-mortar location, opening March 7 at River Oaks Shopping Center.

A sneak peek: In a Feb. 17 news release, brand officials call Flea Style the "home of the original hat bar," where guests can experience a 1,540-square-foot space featuring a mezzanine level designed for private hat bar parties, a 10.5-foot vintage oak bar saloon and an interactive hat bar.

How it works: At Flea Style, guests can walk in or reserve a spot to design their own custom hat, which includes a complimentary beverage while stylists piece together each product.

All hats are unisex and designed and manufactured by Flea Style. Guests can also customize wool and straw hats with bands, pins, feathers and patches.

One more thing: Flea Style will be open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

• 1963 W. Gray St., Ste. A, Houston

With 85% of polling locations reporting as of early morning March 4, several Texas House and Senate races across the Greater Houston have winners in the March 3 primary election.

All results are unofficial until canvassed.

Some context: Per the Texas Secretary of State's website, members of the Texas Legislature must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• A qualified elector of the state
• At least 21 years old to serve in the House; at least 26 years old to serve in the Senate
• A resident of Texas for two years to serve in the House, or for five years to serve in the Senate
• A resident of the district they're representing for one year 

With early voting results released from Harris County, a number of candidates are either showing early leads or narrow margins in various races. All results are unofficial until canvassed.

The big picture: In the March Republican primary election, there were two major county-level races that were contested. For Harris County clerk, Lynda Sanchez and Mike Wolfe have a tight race, with Sanchez getting 54,385 votes and Wolfe receiving 54,056 votes out of early voting.

What else: In the Democratic primary, Abbie Kamin holds a narrow margin for county attorney with 92,994 votes compared to 92,879 for Audrie Lawton Evans out of early voting results. In the race for district clerk, eight candidates are on the ballot, with Darrell Jordan Jr. and Jose "Alex" Maldonado getting 37,959 votes and 32,306, respectively.

Stay tuned: Election day results will be released throughout the evening. Visit Community Impact's election coverage headquarters for information on other races across Texas.

Both the Democratic and Republican primary races for Harris County judge appear to be headed to a May 26 runoff, with no candidate earning the majority of the vote, unofficial results show. Harris County released the update at 3:28 a.m. with 240 out of 275 voting precincts reporting for the Democratic primary and 265 out 270 reporting for the Republican primary.

More details: Precinct 2 commissioner candidate Richard Vega has won the Republican nod in the March 3 primary and will face Democratic incumbent Adrian Garcia in November. All results are unofficial until canvassed. 

Some context: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced in September she would not seek reelection for a third term in office, Community Impact previously reported. She was first elected in 2018 after defeating then-incumbent Republican Ed Emmett, and her current four-year term ends Dec. 31.

What else: Garcia ran unopposed in the March 3 Democratic primary for Precinct 2 commissioner. First elected in 2018, Garcia represents the southeast region of Harris County and the Aldine area.

Six Republican and Democratic candidates have emerged as clear victors in the March primaries for the U.S. House and are heading to the Nov. 4 election. 

Selected races included only contested seats that fall within Community Impact’s Houston coverage zone, which includes Districts 2, 7, 8, 14, 18, 22, 29 and 38.

The update: Out of the eight races per party, six candidates garnered more than 50% of the vote with a decisive victory. However, two races in both the Republican and Democratic parties saw split votes, triggering a runoff election in May. 

Republican winners include:

• Steve Toth, District 2
• Randy Weber, District 14
• Ronald Dwayne Whitefield, District 18
• Trever Nehls, District 22
• Martha Fiero, District 29
• Jessica Hart Steinmann, District 8

• Shaun Finnie, District 2
• Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, District 7
• Laura Jones, District 8
• Marquette Greene-Scott, District 22
• Sylvia Garcia, District 29
• Melissa McDonough, District 38

With 249 of Texas' 254 counties reporting some election results early March 4, state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, held a steady lead over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

What to know: Talarico led Crockett by nearly eight percentage points in the early hours of March 4, with the Austin Democrat holding 53.28% of the vote over Crockett's 45.45% in the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate. Ahmad R. Hassan was in a distant third place with 1.27% of the vote, per unofficial returns.

State legislators also led the Democratic primary races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller, unofficial results showed, although some of those contests had not been called as of press time.

Something to note: Republicans currently hold all statewide offices in Texas and no Democrat or third-party candidate has won a statewide seat since 1994, election records show.

With 253 of Texas' 254 counties reporting some election results, three statewide Republican primary races are headed to runoffs, while candidates had decisive leads in other races.

The details: The Republican primary contests for U.S. Senate, attorney general and railroad commissioner appear to be heading to May runoffs, unofficial election returns showed.

Incumbent John Cornyn and state attorney general Ken Paxton will face each other in a runoff to determine who will be the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate after neither candidate cleared the 50% threshold required to avoid an additional round. In the attorney general race, state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, will face off in an overtime round.

Incumbent Jim Wright and former Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French will compete in a runoff for railroad commissioner. All primary runoffs will take place on May 26, according to the secretary of state.