Houston City Council members approved the authorization of a grant application to the state of Texas that would allow the city to partner with Houston ISD in a program aimed at addressing youth truancy.

The details: Council members approved the measure during the council’s Jan. 27 meeting. The city is seeking roughly $664,000 through the state to help fund the city's Juvenile Case Manager Program. According to agenda documents, the program aims to improve student attendance and deter involvement in the juvenile justice system by:

• Identifying truant youth
• Assessing factors contributing to truancy

Sugared + Bronzed is gearing up to open its fourth location in Houston—right in the heart of Rice Village on Feb. 16.

What we know: Sugared + Bronzed is a destination for spray tans and sugaring. Founded in 2010 in Santa Monica, the company aims to be a one-stop shop for people preparing for vacations, weddings and red carpet events, according to its website.

The store has locations across California, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and Texas. The Times Boulevard location will be the fourth to open in Houston, with the other three spread out in Montrose, the Heights and Uptown Park.

How it works: Guests can book services for sugaring and/or airbrush tanning. Sugaring is a form of hair removal that uses sugar, lemon and water to gently remove hair. It is often considered to be less harsh than traditional waxing, according to the website.

The store also offers airbrush tanning, a process that includes a precision airbrush that workers use by hand to mist onto a client's skin.

• 2401 Times Blvd., Ste. 100, Houston

From cultural celebrations to arts in the park, here are several events to check out in February. 

Galentine's Afternoon Tea: McHugh Tea Room is hosting a Galentine’s afternoon with delicious bites, mimosas and teas, as well as a hands-on Valentine’s card-making experience.

• Feb. 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• $60+ (per person)
• 5305 Bissonnet St., Bellaire

Bubbles and More Play Day: Families can enjoy bubbles, hula hoops, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk and other fun activities at the free play day hosted by the Nature Discovery Center. 

• Feb. 8, 1-3 p.m.
• Free
• 7112 Newcastle St., Bellaire

Lunar New Year Celebration: The Children’s Museum Houston is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a traditional lion dance, a Chinese yo-yo performance, an interactive storybook opera, horse puppets and themed crafts.

• Feb. 14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• $19.95 (general admission)
• 1500 Binz St., Houston

Houston invested just over $1 million in a new campaign finance management tool, aiming to improve accuracy and fiscal accountability in local elections.

In a nutshell: City Council approved the purchase Feb. 4, and several council members called the initiative a long-overdue replacement of the city’s dated campaign finance management system. The new tool will serve as a centralized system to document campaign contributions, lobbying and personal finance disclosures, per city documents. 

The city will purchase the tool from RFD & Associates—the company behind the Texas Ethics Commission’s electronic filing platform—a popular resource for tracking campaign finance contributions statewide.

Some context: Houston’s current platform for filing and searching through electronic records dates back to 2007, and several council members said the dated technology has created challenges for accurate tracking and enforcement of filing requirements.

What's next? The campaign finance tool is anticipated to go live on the city’s website within 60 days, with additional components for lobbying and personal finance disclosures set to launch within 180 days, said Mary Benton, the mayor’s chief of communications.

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