Tomball officials accepted a check for $1 million tied to federal grant funding Feb. 17, which will be used for a new fire ladder truck. 

Officials called the grant, with help from U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt's office, timely help as the city plans for a new fire truck amid rising costs and years-long manufacturing backlogs.

“This is a small token of my appreciation for those that protect what matters most. That's our livelihood, our families, our children and our safety. And without you, we are nobody,” Hunt said. 

Why it matters: City leaders said the city’s growth is increasing service demands while also putting pressure on budgets, making outside funding more urgent.

 Fire Chief Joe Sykora said the grant is tied to an order for a truck similar to the one currently in service. Syoka said delivery timelines have stretched dramatically—meaning cities often have to order years in advance.

“We will receive this one roughly in August of 2029. That’s how far behind our manufacturers are today after COVID,” Sykora said.

Tejas Burger Joint will relocate from 214 W. Main St., Tomball, to 306 Market St., Tomball, owner Scott Moore confirmed.

In a nutshell: Alongside the relocation, the restaurant will rebrand as Wise Guys Pizza & Burgers, expanding beyond burgers with a menu that will include wood-fired pizza, wings and a full bar. The new space comes with a built-in wood-fired pizza oven, prompting the menu expansion and name change. Moore said the move will also bring more seating and a significantly larger kitchen.

• 306 Market St., Tomball

Republican candidates in the contested March 3 primary for Montgomery County judge, as well as the unopposed Democratic primary candidate, shared their platforms in a Feb. 17 forum presented by The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce.

What to expect: Incumbent Mark Keough and challenger Wayne Mack, the current justice of the peace for Montgomery County Precinct 1, are seeking the Republican nomination for the Nov. 3 general election. Democratic candidate James Graf is unopposed in the primary election. Candidates for each party presented their platforms and answered questions in the forum separately.

What's next: Early voting began Feb. 17 and will end Feb. 27. A list of some of the positions on the sample ballot for voters in The Woodlands area in Montgomery County can be found here.

Election day is March 3.

Harris County Precinct 4 has partnered with the University of Houston to create an interactive dashboard of mental health providers in under-resourced ZIP codes.

The overview: Harris County commissioners unanimously approved the agreement Feb. 12. As part of the partnership, UH researchers are developing an interactive and publicly accessible online dashboard highlighting service disparities in Precinct 4. 

Why it matters: The project aims to help residents in underserved portions of Katy, Cy-Fair, Tomball and the Memorial area connect with licensed providers, which could serve as a blueprint for addressing mental health needs countywide. 

UH and Precinct 4 staff will also host community workshops to encourage open conversations about mental health and teach residents how to use the tool, which staff said will launch by June. 

Quote of note: “We’re very hopeful that having this type of information will be able to inform investments and any partnerships we have in the future so that we can support a more coordinated approach to behavioral health and justice system planning,” Precinct 4 policy advisor Larisa Barreto said.

Community members and leaders gathered Feb. 6 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Habitat for Humanity MCTX ReStore off Hwy. 242. 

The details: The ReStore sells donated furniture, appliances and home improvement items, with proceeds helping fund local homebuilding and repair efforts.  Executive Director Rhonda Darby told attendees that “every time you shop, donate or volunteer,” those dollars are turned into “real impact” for local families needing stable housing.

Board leaders also pointed to Habitat’s neighborhood footprint in Conroe, including the Cedar Creek neighborhood—described as 37 acres with 129 Habitat-built homes—and the Marble Creek project in Magnolia, an 81-acre development planned for more than 200 homes.

• 9407 Hwy. 242, Conroe

A major new natural gas power project in east Houston just cleared another state milestone, pushing a planned 455-megawatt plant closer to reality as Texas races to add generation amid rising demand.

What this means: Gov. Greg Abbott announced the new unit planned at the existing Greens Bayou facility has been designated a qualified project under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation program, according to a Feb. 17 news release. The plant represents $617 million in capital investment and is expected to start producing electricity for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas region in 2028, according to the governor’s office.

The project is intended to strengthen grid reliability and create jobs, crediting state leaders and local partners for helping move the plan ahead, per the release.

What’s next: According to the release, with the JETI designation now in place, the focus shifts to the buildout and timeline leading up to the planned 2028 start date—when the additional capacity is expected to begin feeding electricity into the ERCOT grid.