A new State Farm office will be opening soon in the ArchPoint at 1485 retail center in New Caney, said Saqib Ali, president of project developer ArchPoint Ventures, via email Sept. 1.

What they offer: State Farm is a national insurance agency with about 19,000 agents, according to the company’s website. The agency offers insurance in areas such as:

• Auto and motorcycle

• Homes, condos and renters

• Life

• Business

• Pet

• Boat and recreational vehicles

Some context: ArchPoint at 1485 features 14,000 square feet of retail space, as previously reported by Community Impact. The center will be home to other businesses, including Lee Psychiatry, Texan Mattress and a salon, Ali said.

• Opening in December

• 19261 FM 1485, New Caney (suite number TBD)

Four candidates will face off for one New Caney ISD trustee seat in the November general election.

What's happening? NCISD trustee Creg Mixon, who holds Position 2, has not filed for reelection in the Nov. 3 election, according to NCISD’s website. The four candidates running for Mixon’s spot are:

• Chad Turner

• Kevin Jensen

• Kristina Haggard

• Ryan Schurdell

What else? Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents.

Montgomery County commissioners are slowing the timeline for a justice center bond, deciding not to rush the project onto the May ballot.

During a Sept. 17 workshop, officials agreed they need a clearer picture of long-term courtroom, office, parking and security needs before asking voters for funding.

Diving in deeper: Commissioners asked architects to evaluate if the selected Conroe site can accommodate these long-term needs through 2050, requesting updated square-footage and cost estimates. Department heads and the sheriff's office also requested more involvement to address security, parking and public access.

While a previous $350 million concept proposed 21 courtrooms, County Court at Law No. 2 Judge Claudia Laird noted the county currently needs 23 courtrooms and could require 31 by 2029. Filings are projected to increase by 2050, potentially requiring 35 to 42 courtrooms.

What’s next: BSW Architects will survey county departments, taking about three months to revise the proposal. Commissioners plan to hold another workshop around December or January.

According to the August monthly housing update from the Houston Association of Realtors, the number of single-family home sales has decreased by 11.5% across the Greater Houston region.

The breakdown: With the decrease in single-family home sales, affordability rates for homeowners saw year-over-year growth for 22 of the last 25 months, HAR data shows. The nationwide growth rate stood at 15 out of the last 25 months.

When compared to single-family home sales in 2019, the 2026 market has seen a 20.1% decrease overall.

In their words: “Buyers have more options and more time to make decisions, while sellers continue to benefit from relatively stable prices," HAR Chair Theresa Hill with Compass RE Texas, LLC - Houston said. "That's a healthier environment for consumers and a positive sign for the long-term strength of our market.”

Several notable stories trended across the northern portion of the Greater Houston area from Sept. 11-18:

• The Lone Star College System student enrollment exceeded 100,000 students for the fall semester, marking a milestone for the college system.
• Texas Roadhouse filed for a new 7,926-square-foot location in Montgomery, which is projected to cost $1.5 million to construct.
• Midnight Cravingz plans to bring late-night specialty ice cream to Cypress in October.
• CenterPoint Energy representatives will share information in November about an upcoming electric grid resiliency project in Jersey Village.
• The Klein ISD board unanimously approved a Certification of Compliance on Sept. 14.
• The Flying Biscuit Cafe is anticipating a fall opening for a new Magnolia location.
• Sprouts Farmers Market is now open in The Woodlands.
• Construction is scheduled to begin in November on the first phase of a 200-acre park project in New Caney.

This November, four candidates are running to lead the Texas Comptroller's Office and serve as the state's chief financial officer.

The overview: Libertarian V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza, Democrat Sarah Eckhardt, Green Party candidate Shehla Faizi and Republican Don Huffines are running for comptroller. Huffines, whom Gov. Greg Abbott appointed to the office in July, is considered the incumbent in this race.

How it works: The comptroller oversees government spending and administers the state's $1 billion education savings account program, which launched ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

Looking ahead: Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30 in the midterm election, and Election Day is Nov. 3.