Links Car Wash has plans to open a new location in Porter, according to the company website. The car wash franchise has 30 locations operating or opening soon across the nation.

What they offer: Links Car Wash has several single car wash options ranging from basic to ultimate packages. The car wash also features vacuums, mat cleaners, glass cleaners and microfiber towels.

Stay tuned: Per the website, Links Car Wash also has additional Greater Houston-area locations planned for Cypress, Magnolia and Spring. 

• Opening date TBD
• 21926 FM 1314, Porter

The Kingwood Big Band changed its name to the Kingwood Jazz Orchestra this summer, conductor Dennis Eichler confirmed July 7.

Founded in 2004, the 18-piece musical group is made up of both community members and student musicians, and is funded through the Lake Houston Musical Arts Society.

What's changed: Eichler said the name change was done to more accurately convey to the public the genre of music the group performs.

"We just felt like a lot of folks didn't really understand when they heard the name 'Kingwood Big Band' they would think it was something like a marching band or a symphonic band," Eichler said. "So if we add the word 'jazz' in the name, they would instantly know that it's jazz-oriented."

• Lone Star College-Kingwood, 20000 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood

Montgomery County has spent more than $102 million from its voter-approved 2025 road bond program, with another round of bond funding likely coming near the end of the year.

During a July 9 Commissioners Court meeting, Budget Officer Amanda Carter said the county has received $188 million in bond proceeds and $3.7 million in interest income, bringing total revenue for the program to $191.7 million.

Of that amount, commissioners have allocated $145.3 million toward road projects, leaving $46.4 million available for future allocations. The county also had $89.3 million in cash remaining in its road bond account.

By the numbers: The July financial report shows the following allocations and spending by precinct:

• Precinct 1: $28.3 million allocated; $19.4 million spent
• Precinct 2: $56.6 million allocated; $44.1 million spent
• Precinct 3: $29.2 million allocated; $21.5 million spent
• Precinct 4: $31.2 million allocated; $17.3 million spent

Houston Airport System welcomed an estimated 4.5 million passengers during the period in which the Houston area hosted 2026 FIFA World Cup games, according to a July 9 news release.

The details: Officials noted nearly 1.8 million departing passengers were screened by Transportation Security Administration officials at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport during the 25-day travel period. Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials processed more than 439,000 international passengers at IAH and Hobby from June 12-July 3.

Also of note: IAH handled 60 charter flights related to FIFA World Cup 2026, including 30 team charters serving 13 national teams, per the release. Royal Air Maroc and Corendon operated 30 additional charter flights carrying more than 5,800 passengers.

What they’re saying: "We understood from the beginning that for many visitors, the airport would be their first and last impression of Houston," said Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports. "Our employees, volunteers, airlines, federal partners, concessionaires and regional partners worked together to make sure Houston was ready. They delivered."

At least one person has died due to flooding in the Texas Hill Country, Gov. Greg Abbott said July 16.

The details: The fatality occurred along the Guadalupe River between Kerrville and Comfort—downstream from Hunt, where many summer camps are located and the majority of the flooding took place in July 2025. Flooding this year has been more intense downstream than upstream, Abbott said.

Zooming in: More than 70 people have been rescued from floodwaters, and evacuation orders have been issued in multiple parts of South-Central Texas, the governor said.

"We have massive flooding in ... the Greater Kerrville area, but we also are looking at what's been taking place in Uvalde—there are massive challenges in Uvalde as well," Abbott told reporters. "In fact, people need to expect very meaningful flooding in the Rio Grande [Valley]."

The big picture: Parts of South-Central Texas were expected to see more than 30 inches of rain during this week's storms, and 59 counties were under a state disaster declaration.