Since its founding in 1946, Wharton County Junior College has continued to build on its mission of helping students reach their goals, growing from approximately 200 students to 7,000. 

The early days: In September 1946, Wharton County Junior College used five Wharton Fairground buildings to begin its inaugural classes, according to a Jan. 9 news release. It wasn’t until two years later that the college received its first permanent campus after county voters approved a tax bond to build new facilities. 

Looking ahead: To prepare for its 80th anniversary in September, the college has prepared a lineup of events to celebrate throughout the year. 

• 911 E. Boling Highway, Wharton

Two Republican candidates are running for U.S. House District 22—which includes parts of Katy, Fulshear, Sugar Land and Missouri City—in the upcoming March primary election.

Zooming in: The position is currently held by Republican Troy E. Nehls, who is not seeking re-election.

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Here's what we asked them:

• Why are you running for office?
• What are your qualifications for why you’d be a strong candidate in this role?
• If elected, what will be your top priorities?
• What are the biggest challenges facing this district, and how do you plan to address these issues?
• With district boundaries and representation changing, how will you ensure your constituents have the resources they need?
• What do you see as the greatest challenge for Texas in the next five years?

Harris Health officials are one step closer in the process of acquiring nearly 9 acres of Hermann Park—also known as the Warnecke Tract—as part of a $410 million Ben Taub Hospital expansion at the Texas Medical Center after Harris County commissioners voted in favor of the March 19 formal public hearing date.

Quote of note: “None of this gives permission to just move forward with impunity,” Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said. “Without creating consensus or at least making the effort to create consensus and dialogue.”

The gist: The unanimous vote at the Jan. 29 Commissioners Court meeting paves the way for Harris County to condemn approximately 8.9 acres of parkland for the proposed hospital expansion.

Zooming out: Public town hall meetings across the county have occurred since October, including in all four county precincts, discussing the hospital district’s proposal—a prospect that has raised concerns among some residents and community members.

The Coastal Texas Project, also known as the Ike Dike, received $5 million in federal funding, the largest single federal investment in the project since Congress authorized the project in 2022. 

The overview: The $34 billion project aims to protect Houston’s critical energy and shipping corridors from storm damage by building a system of gates and dune systems designed to mitigate storm surge, according to previous reporting by Community Impact. 

The background: The 87th Texas Legislature established the GCPD in 2021, and it serves as the state sponsor for the project, according to the release.

Although the project was authorized in 2022, funding has been slow to come in, and the $5 million marks the largest single federal investment to date, according to the release.

Quote of note: “Texas is home to the largest concentration of oil and gas infrastructure in the United States, and safeguarding our coast from catastrophic storms protects every American,” Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said in the news release.