Oak Ridge North Mayor Paul Bond is facing opponent Russell Bradley in the May 2 election for mayor.

The term for the mayor is two years.

What you need to know: 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. 

The Back Nine Golf Shenandoah is now open, the owners confirmed.

What you need to know: The Back Nine Golf is a 24/7 indoor golf experience that offers simulators, lessons, leagues and private events within a 3,000-square-foot building. The planned opening in Shenandoah was previously reported by Community Impact.

• Opened March 7
• 17947 I-45, Ste. 216, Shenandoah

Rebecca Forbes, president of Operation Pets Alive, said she joined the team because she wanted to make a difference in stray animals' lives.

Operation Pets Alive is a no-kill, nonprofit organization in Montgomery County that works with volunteers to increase awareness around the need for a no-kill community of lifesaving efforts for homeless dogs and cats.

OPA was founded in 2010 and has since placed over 20,000 animals into forever homes.

The numbers: In 2025, OPA helped find homes for 444 dogs and 193 cats. In order to help speed up the adoption process, it transports pets to out-of-state rescue partners who have higher adoption rates, such as Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York.

OPA is 100% volunteer-based, and Forbes said her hope is that more people will work together to rescue animals.

Get involved: OPA's largest fundraiser, Rescues on the Runway, is coming up on April 2 at The Peach Orchard Venue. At the event, dogs will walk the red carpet with The Woodlands-area models and boutiques.

Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center and the nonprofit Angel Reach have agreed to a partnership to create a pathway system to help young adults in the foster system or facing homelessness join the medical industry, according to a March 20 news release.

The gist: The partnership hired five Angel Reach residents into paid patient care technician roles at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands. Through this program, the Angel Reach residents were able to work in clinical support roles with no previous health care experience, according to the news release. The training as part of the program includes, but is not limited to:

• Hands-on experience supporting patient care
• Assisting with daily living activities
• Obtaining vital signs
• Cross-training in patient transport and observation roles

Eligible Texans have until April 2 to register to vote if they would like to cast a ballot in the May 2 elections. Races that will be up for election include city council member seats and school district board of trustee spots across the Greater Houston area.

What you need to know: Texas requires voters to be registered 30 days before election day. Missing the deadline could prevent eligible residents from casting a ballot, unless they qualify for a limited ballot during early voting.

Key dates include:

• April 2: voter registration deadline
• April 20-28: early voting
• May 2: election day (7 a.m.-7 p.m.)

At least 257,000 students have applied for Texas’ inaugural education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office. Less than half of those applicants are likely to be accepted.

The overview: Applications for Texas Education Freedom Accounts close at 11:59 p.m. March 31. Students enrolling in private schools will receive $10,474 to spend on tuition and related expenses, while homeschool students can get up to $2,000 each, and students with disabilities may qualify for up to $30,000 each.

Through March 29, about 23% of applicants had indicated they would be homeschooled while 77% of applicants said they wanted to attend a private school, state data shows.

Program funding is capped at $1 billion for the 2026-27 school year, meaning between 90,000 and 100,000 students will likely be accepted.

By the numbers: About 34,000 students indicated in their application that they have a disability, per the comptroller's office. Students who have a disability and are considered low- or middle-income will receive priority acceptance into the program under state law.