Over a decade after work began on it back in 2014, Lone Star College System officials will welcome the first students through the doors of Lone Star College-Magnolia Center on Jan. 20 for the spring 2026 semester.

What’s happening: Lone Star College-Tomball President Lee Ann Nutt said that at the Magnolia Center, a satellite campus for LSC-Tomball, students can complete associate degrees for university transfer and work toward workforce certifications in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as emergency medical services, according to the campus’ website. The HVAC and EMS programs were chosen based on feedback from the community.

Zooming out: While officials get ready to open this new campus, enrollment at the college system as a whole is growing, per LSCS data. Between the fall of 2012 and the fall of 2025, enrollment grew 25%—rising from 77,877 to 97,294.

Stay tuned: Nutt said she’ll feel like LSCS has succeeded if they register 500 students over the first spring and summer semesters.

Milano Nail Spa officials said the salon is offering nail services as of Oct. 26 in Tomball.

The details: Milano Nail Spa offers services including manicures and pedicures, per the website. Other services offered include:

• Custom nail art
• New gel polish application
• Nail extensions

• 27104 Tomball Parkway, Ste. 900, Tomball

The Tomball ISD board of trustees is set to have its workshop and regular meetings Dec. 8 and Dec. 9. According to meeting agenda documents, discussions will include district purchases, attendance boundaries and trustee Tina Salem’s resignation.

The details: At the Dec. 8 workshop, TISD Chief Financial Officer Zach Boles will provide a report on the status of the district's 2025 bond, according to meeting documents. Last May, four bond propositions centered on campus renovations, technology, athletic upgrades and multiprogram activity centers were approved by voters.

What else: On Dec. 9, during its regular meeting, the board will also vote to consider using money from the 2021 bond to purchase new items and fund infrastructure, including new security cameras, sidewalks at TISD's Early Excellence Academy and new furniture, according to meeting documents.

The Blinn College District will complete its new 17,000-square-foot facility dedicated to workforce training and technical education in May 2026—just in time for summer 2026 classes, Leighton Schubert, executive vice chancellor at Blinn College, confirmed.

How it works: The new complex, named the Waller Workforce and Technical Education Complex, will sit on Binford Park Road. According to a Sept. 15 news release, the facility will have three lecture classrooms, a computer learning lab, a medical learning lab, a mechatronics and advanced manufacturing lab, and a skilled trades lab, as well as faculty and staff offices.

According to the release, programs within the new facility on the Waller Campus will include:

• Expanded mechatronics and advanced manufacturing courses
• Emergency medical technician basic certification
• Phlebotomy

Effective Dec. 5, the Harris County Commissioners Court has lifted a burn ban in unincorporated Harris County, the county fire marshal’s office announced on social media.

Some context: Harris County commissioners previously implemented the burn ban Oct. 16 due to “ongoing dry weather and heightened fire danger,” Community Impact previously reported.

What you need to know: Outdoor burning is still not allowed in many counties across Texas, per the announcement. Additionally, outdoor burning in most cases is illegal in Harris County as it contributes to air pollution, according to Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, or HCPHES.

However, outdoor burning is permitted in some instances, such as vegetation management, so long as it follows guidelines established by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 

Before you go: Alternatives to burning include recycling, composting plant waste and mulching wood, according to HCPHES. Report illegal outdoor burning to Harris County at 713-920-2831. 

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Dec. 1-5.

Activities to do: There are several options to see Christmas lights around the Tomball and Magnolia area, including Magnolia Musical Christmas, Gullo House Christmas Lights and Tomball Methodist Church’s Trail of Lights. 

At a glance: In a Dec. 2 news conference, officials with Airbnb announced that Houston will receive a $1 million investment that will go toward supporting major community initiatives, expanding green infrastructure and increasing youth access to soccer. Airbnb was selected in June to serve as an official partner for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Community Impact previously reported. 

One more thing: Whataburger officials celebrated a Dec. 1 opening of their new location at 15940 Woodland Hills Drive, Humble. The eatery features a double drive-thru, dining room and digital menu boards, according to a Nov. 28 news release. 

The Texas comptroller’s office has released a set of rules to govern the state’s $1 billion education savings account program, or ESAs. Accepted families will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to a private school or homeschool them.

The overview: Accredited private schools and education vendors can begin applying to join the program as soon as Dec. 9, and applications will open for interested families Feb. 4.

Most families accepted into the program will receive about $10,300 per student, which can be spent on tuition at accredited private prekindergarten or K-12 schools and related expenses. Homeschooled students will receive up to $2,000 per year, while students with disabilities will be eligible for up to $30,000 annually.

Zooming in: Depending on a family’s income, students with disabilities may receive priority acceptance into the ESA program. Families can submit documentation from a physician or the U.S. Social Security Administration to be prioritized, although a detailed evaluation and individualized education plan are required to receive the additional special education funding.