HTX-COM: Impact 9/19/2025

Montgomery City Council voted Sept. 9 to grant a special use permit allowing H-E-B to include a drive-thru for a future restaurant on its planned grocery store site.

The details: The permit applies to a 31.97-acre tract at the southeast corner of Hwy. 105 and FM 2854, according to city documents. The drive-thru will be located on the east side of the building with vehicle stacking positioned toward the rear of the store, staff told council.

City officials said the drive-thru will not impact traffic flow on Hwy. 105. The Planning and Zoning Commission previously reviewed the request and recommended approval.

No residents spoke during the public hearing held at the Sept. 9 meeting before council approved the request unanimously.

What you should know: H-E-B is set to build its Montgomery store by late 2026, with about 16.75 acres dedicated to the grocery store itself, as reported.

The number of students requiring special education services has increased in Conroe, Montgomery and Willis ISDs, rising 87%, 135% and 111%, respectively, between the 2018-19 and 2023-24 school years, according to Texas Education Agency data. With the growth in special education students, some districts came face-to-face with a gap in how much the services cost and the actual money they had on hand.

What's happening: Texas schools could see relief after Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 2, which spends $850 million on overhauling special education funding to allocate resources based on students’ individual needs, rather than rather than the students’ instructional setting. The funding won’t be allocated to school districts until the 2026-27 school year, according to the TEA.

What they're saying: “Any increase in funding will be utilized to close that gap,” WISD Communications Director Sarah Blakelock said.

Also of note: MISD's funds will go to key areas such as increased support for inclusive practices in general education settings, expanded dyslexia services, additional behavioral specialists and more evaluation personnel.

Salad and Go officials confirmed via email the salad chain is closing all of its Houston locations by the end of the day Sept. 19 and will continue to operate stores in the Dallas area.

Quote of note: “We're deeply grateful for our team's contributions and commitment to serving our guests. They've played an impactful role in building Salad and Go, and we're working to provide support to those affected by the closures as we move through this transition,” Salad and Go CEO Mike Tattersfield said.

The details: According to the website, Salad and Go is a drive-thru fast food chain offering affordable salads and wraps. Per the email release, the closures will allow Salad and Go to focus on strengthening the brand while improving quality.

The Conroe ISD board of trustees on Sept. 16 discussed the attendance zones for two new schools in the Grand Oaks feeder zone ahead of their opening. Grand Oaks Junior High School will open in 2027, and Kacy Arnold Elementary School will open in 2026.

The approach: Assistant Superintendent of Operations Chris McCord discussed the zoning process for the two schools, which were part of the 2023 bond, including the challenge posed by growing enrollment in the Grand Oaks area east of I-45.

Notable quote: “We would like for the junior high to serve as close as to full capacity of students because the more we can get it closer, the more we can optimize for academic programs, co-curricular, fine arts and sports,” McCord said. “It may require periodic zoning adjustments for the area based on whichever one is adopted.”

What’s next: The district will have community presentations at 6 p.m. Sept. 30 virtually and Oct. 1 at the Walter P. Jett Center at 19043 David Memorial Drive, Shenandoah.

Entergy Texas will build two new power plants to support the growing southeast Texas region following approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, officials announced in a Sept. 11 news release.

Two-minute impact: Per the release, the two natural gas power plants will be able to provide "enough reliable electricity capable of powering more than 300,000 homes." Combined, the two power plants will add more than 1,200 megawatts of energy to the southeast Texas power grid, while generating $2.8 billion in economic activity and creating over 9,000 construction jobs.

Officials noted the power plants are expected to allow Entergy Texas to meet new customer demand, increase reliability and lower costs for all customers.

Quote of note: "We've heard directly from our customers and communities about the need for more power to support our rapidly growing region, and these facilities will deliver just that," Entergy Texas CEO Eliecer Viamontes said in a statement. 

The timeline: Both facilities are planned to be in service by mid-2028, per the release.

More than $7.9 million of Funds for Veterans’ Assistance, or FVA, grants have been awarded to 38 organizations in the Greater Houston area, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sept. 12.

The gist: Abbott said the grants are part of the Texas Veterans Commission Grants Across Texas Tour. The grants support a wide range of services, from emergency financial assistance to transportation and home modification, according to a news release.

Quote of note:  “This over $7.9 million in grants will provide crucial services and financial support for our veterans and their families in the Gulf Coast and Houston so they can lead successful lives in our great state,” Abbott said.