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When Sam Houston State University finishes its estimated $13 million-$14 million renovation to The Woodlands Center, nearly 25% more nursing students will be admitted per cohort, said Dr. Devon M. Berry, director of SHSU’s School of Nursing.

The gist: Once the expansion is completed in fall 2029, the school’s total enrollment will have grown by around 70%, increasing to a total headcount of around 720—up from 425.

Quote of note: “We’re just responding to the need in Texas for nurses,” Berry said. “For us to be ... responsive to that, we wanted to find a way to increase our enrollment.”

Some context: Texas is projected to need 307,520 registered nurses by 2038, and a shortage in licensed vocational nurses is projected to begin in 2028, per the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis.

Indoor playground Lava Island is coming to Panther Creek Village Center next to Sprouts Farmers Market, Regency Centers senior leasing agent Rip Reynolds told Community Impact.

What to expect: The locations offer tropical-themed slides, trampolines and other activities as well as party packages with themed rooms, according to the business website. 

The new location will be next to the forthcoming Sprouts Farmers Market location slated to open in 2027.

• Opening in early 2027
• 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands

The city of Shenandoah named its first assistant city administrator as well as a new public works director at its June 24 meeting.

Meeting highlights: Joseph Peart, the director of public works for the city, was named to the new assistant city administrator position, leaving a vacancy in his former post. The assistant public works director, Rual Porras, was then named to the post of director of public works.

The backstory: The moves come after a June 10 decision to create the assistant city administrator position, which, according to meeting materials, carries a pay range of $147,000 to $222,350.

The city will not fill the position of assistant city administrator, thus creating room in the budget for the new post, according to discussion at the meeting.

On June 27, a series of public meetings will be held regarding the Montgomery County Mobility Plan, according to its website.

The gist: Montgomery County and the Houston-Galveston Area Council are developing the countywide transportation plan, which is estimated to take around 18 months, per its website. The final plan will include a workbook for each precinct that will include recommendations and funding insights.

Get involved: There will be six pop-up events June 27 for residents to attend—three in the morning and three in the afternoon.

• 10-11:30 a.m.
  • C.K. Ray Recreation Center, 1203 Candy Cane Lane, Conroe
  • Kevin Brady Library and Community Center, 2250 Buckthorne Place, The Woodlands
  • AV Bull Sallas Park, 21675 McCleskey Road, New Caney
• 2-3:30 p.m.
  • Charles B. Stewart Library, 202 Bessie Price Owen Drive, Montgomery
  • The Woodlands Mall, 1201 Lake Woodlands Drive, Ste. 700, The Woodlands
  • RB Tullis Library, 21569 Hwy. 59, New Caney

In July, Sam Houston State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine will launch a new psychiatry residency program, a specialty that COM Dean Dr. Thomas Mohr said is “desperately needed.”

Quote of note: “While our medical school is really created to help expand access to primary care ... even though it is not primary care, psychiatry is massively underserved,” Mohr said.

Diving in deeper: The new residency is a partnership between the college, Huntsville Memorial Hospital and Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare, which serves Montgomery, Walker and Liberty counties. The four-year program will accept four residents per year, and hit capacity at 16 residents.

Some context: In Montgomery County, the number of psychiatrists per 100,000 people is 7.4, while that figure is 2.6 and 2.2 in Walker and Liberty counties, respectively, according to the Texas Health Professions Resource Center.