The city of Tomball’s newly adopted comprehensive plan serves as a long-term blueprint for managing the city’s growth, guiding development and shaping infrastructure over the next five to 10 years.

The big picture: Tomball’s new comprehensive plan sets course for expanding the city’s economic base while maintaining its small-town charm, Mayor Lori Klein Quinn said. The plan highlights two focus areas for future business growth and redevelopment, and reinforces ongoing efforts to attract new employers and diversify the city’s economy, said Kelly Violette, executive director of the Tomball Economic Development Corp.

More details: The plan also calls for supporting small businesses through downtown revitalization, wayfinding and parking improvements, and marketing Tomball as a destination for shopping, dining and events. Quinn said it’s all part of creating a well-rounded economy.

One more thing: A major goal in the plan is to attract a hotel and convention center, a project city leaders said could elevate Tomball’s regional profile and support local businesses. Violette said the TEDC has studied potential sites and partnerships to make the facility feasible.

Owner Tana Johnson opened a new rage room, Rage 2 Release, in Pinehurst. 

What you need to know: Johnson said the business offers walk-ins, appointments and can host parties. She said the rage rooms are set up with furniture, electronics and other items to smash. 

• 32360 Hwy. 249, Ste. 190, Pinehurst 

Montgomery County Food Bank celebrated the completion of an 18,000-square-foot expansion to its facility in Conroe on Oct. 28, marking a milestone in its mission to fight hunger across the county, according to an Oct. 28 news release

Marking the milestone: Through the “Build Today, Feed Tomorrow” capital campaign, the food bank added new areas to boost efficiency, storage and volunteer capacity. 

The expansion includes the Howard Hughes Produce Rescue Center—expected to recover about 110,000 more pounds of produce each month—as well as a new Woodforest National Bank Volunteer Center and expanded cold storage, increasing refrigerated space by 43%.

The additional space will allow the organization to distribute 1 million more meals each year, building on the nearly 9 million meals provided to Montgomery County residents in 2024, per the release.

Harris County commissioners voted unanimously Oct. 30 to push back the proposed Dec. 11 public hearing for the Harris Health and the Ben Taub Hospital expansion in Houston’s Texas Medical Center. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo was absent.

The bottom line: Several amendments, internal deadlines and meetings are now being coordinated by county and city of Houston stakeholders as part of a potential expansion plan that will include community input and a formal presentation in January. Commissioners set the new date for the public hearing in March.

The context: Harris Health officials are in the process of a major expansion of Ben Taub Hospital, which would incorporate 8.9 acres of Hermann Park. Esmaeil Porsa, Harris Health president and CEO, said at the Oct. 30 meeting that the expansion must occur at this location for several reasons that would support more than 1 million uninsured individuals.

“It would allow this facility to be part of Ben Taub and won’t need additional licensing,” Porsa said.

Huntington Bancshares announced in October that it would acquire Cadence Bank, which has several locations throughout Austin, Dallas and Houston. 

What you need to know: Huntington Bancshares shared an Oct. 27 news release stating that it would acquire Cadence Bank, which has 390 locations throughout the southern U.S. 

The release states that with the acquisition, Huntington will not close any existing Cadence Bank branches. 

Millions of Texans may see delays in their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits beginning Nov. 1, as the federal government shutdown reaches the one-month mark.

The latest: The federal food assistance program is set to run out of funding in November, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Two federal judges ruled Oct. 31 that the Trump Administration must use federal contingency funds, which are stockpiled for emergency expenses, to fund SNAP in November, although the next steps surrounding SNAP benefits were unclear as of press time.

The local impact: Over 3.5 million Texans receive SNAP benefits each month, according to Feeding Texas, the statewide network of food banks.

“People are at risk of going hungry if the government doesn't reopen and SNAP benefits are delayed. … These are already vulnerable Texans,” Feeding Texas CEO Celia Cole said in an Oct. 27 interview.

Food banks across the state Texas food banks previously expanded their operations to meet increased demand as thousands of federal workers go without paychecks during the shutdown.

Approximately 460,000 Texans have Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Advocates are encouraging Texas voters to approve State Proposition 14, a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the state to spend $3 billion to launch the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

The overview: Proposition 14 would allocate $3 billion in state dollars to fund the institute for the next 10 years. The institute would work with researchers and doctors to study the prevention and treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

All funding for the institute would come from existing state revenue, donations and potential federal grants, meaning no new state taxes or fees would be created.

What they're saying: "If Proposition 14 passes, it really will establish Texas as an incredible leader in our country," neurological researcher Joshua Shulman said. 

At the polls: Early voting runs through Oct. 31, and Election Day is Nov. 4. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.