What you need to know: Montgomery County commissioners will meet on Oct. 8 to consider a resolution supporting legislation that could grant Texas counties the power to adopt and enforce local ordinances. The county is seeking this authority to address growth, public safety and infrastructure. Approximately 78% of Montgomery County is unincorporated, leaving a major portion without the regulatory resources available to municipalities.

The budget department will also present its monthly 2025 road bond program financial report, which highlights $192.2 million in bond proceeds as of Sept. 30. This includes $169.9 million allocated and $22.3 million remaining to allocate. Commissioners will also review a financial plan for $35 million in unlimited tax road bonds.

What's next: Precinct 4 has agenda items considering new, all-way-stop control and school zone speed limit adjustments at several locations:

• Brook Hollow Drive and Saddle and Surrey Lane

• Riverbrook Drive and Brook Hollow Drive

• Ricewood Drive and North Lake Houston Parkway

• Corsica Drive school zone and speed limit of 20 mph

Watchtower Defense held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 29, celebrating its new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Tomball.

How we got here: Watchtower Defense is a local manufacturing company that specializes in firearms and related products. Watchtower Defense CEO Jordan Davis said that its products serve a wide range of markets, including consumer, law enforcement and military markets.

According to an Oct. 5 news release, Watchtower Defense acquired the company Watchtower Firearms. The new ownership group decided to start fresh with a new vision for the company and moved to open a new headquarters in Tomball.

• Opened Sept. 29

• 11701 Holderrieth Road, Tomball

National Night Out, an annual campaign to build relationships between law enforcement and the community, will take over several streets in Montgomery County through Oct. 9.

The details: Community members can meet local law enforcement agencies, including the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Conroe Police Department and the five Montgomery County constable offices.

• Tavola and Highland Pines: Oct. 6 from 4-8 p.m. at Tavola Community Center in New Caney and Highland Pines Golf Club in Porter.

• Conroe: Oct. 6 from 5-8 p.m. at the JC Penny parking lot.

• Tomball: Oct. 6 from 6-8 p.m. at multiple locations, including Alexander Estates, Raburn Reserve, WoodLeaf Reserve, BridgeWater apartments, Crossings at Cherry apartments, OakBend apartments and the Tomball Event Center.

• West County/Woodtrace: Oct. 6 from 6-8 p.m. at the Woodtrace Recreation Center in Pinehurst.

• Magnolia: Oct. 8 from 6-8 p.m. at Unity Park.

• Kevin Brady Library: Oct. 9 from 2-4 p.m. at the Kevin Brady Library and Community Center in The Woodlands.

All events are free to the public and this list is not comprehensive.

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare and Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin announced the launch of the Protective Order Extended Team, or POET, on Oct. 2. The program is designed to expand access to domestic violence legal protections and support survivors countywide.

About the program: The nine-member POET team consists of trained social workers and administrators who will work at locations throughout the county. The program offers its services to survivors for free, regardless of background, immigration status or circumstance. To assist survivors, advocates will meet them at neutral locations to:

• Walk through the protective order process

• Create a safety plan

• Conduct a danger assessment

What else? Advocates and staff will file protective order paperwork and represent survivors in court for free. Survivors do not need to contact law enforcement to receive help. The program is funded through $7.5 million approved by the Harris County Commissioners Court in 2025, which funded four advocate positions. Kamin's office has agreed to fund five additional advocate positions.