The Harris County Clerk's Office announced the U.S. Department of Justice intends to send federal election monitors to Harris County polls on Election Day, Nov. 3.

The details: The DOJ Civil Rights Division plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws, specifically Voting Rights Act provisions protecting voters from discrimination.

What you need to know: Key details regarding the federal monitors and voting locations include:

• Monitors are expected to wear everyday clothing and may ask voters about their experiences as they exit.

• Monitors may be stationed outside the 100-foot electioneering boundary.

• Guidance from the Secretary of State confirmed federal monitors are not permitted inside polling locations under Texas law.

• Voters can cast ballots at more than 600 locations in Harris County.

• Voters should not anticipate disruptions, as county election operations will proceed as scheduled.

Montgomery County groundwater officials announced on Oct. 29 that the county is not an attractive location for new data center development. Leaders from the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) explained that existing regulations protecting against the overuse of water make it unlikely for developers to target the area. The county relies mostly on groundwater for its water needs.

Key details from the LSGCD officials include:

• The district has spacing rules governing new wells that would make it difficult for data centers to win approval.
• Data centers would need cooling systems that do not tax the water system to be feasible.
• Strong regulations make the county less attractive to data centers that would cause large production damage or impacts.
• The county is investing in science to estimate how groundwater pumping will affect land subsidence by 2080.
• The county cannot rely exclusively on groundwater and uses Lake Conroe to fill the gap.

Educators, public officials and graduates from across the state gathered in Austin on Oct. 27 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Western Governors University in Texas. The online university offers certificates, bachelor's and master's degrees, which students can complete at their own pace.

About the organization: WGU was founded in 1997 by a bipartisan group of 19 governors in Western states to provide a more affordable and flexible option for higher education. In 2011, then-Gov. Rick Perry signed an executive order making Texas an official WGU affiliate.

Since 2011, WGU in Texas has reached the following milestones:

• 38,691 total graduates

• 45,545 degrees earned

• 24,087 students currently enrolled

Quote of note: "It was definitely one of those options that was super flexible, so that kind of fit my current schedule, especially since I work full-time," 2026 WGU graduate Jacob Gomez said. "It was super convenient for me."

Looking to catch up with coverage from Community Impact? Check out these eight stories from across the North Houston area, Oct. 23-30:

• Klein Collins High School to begin $29M project in 2027

• GALLERY: IAH celebrates opening of Terminal B featuring 'football field-sized' United Club

• Jimmy Butler's cafe BIGFACE is setting up shop in Cypress

• Montgomery County commissioners vote to proceed with mounted patrol services

• QuikTrip files plans for new location on FM 1960

• Montgomery County Precinct 4 to open new park

• Local record store Sound Revolution celebrates 50 years

• More than 100,000 people cast ballots in first week of early voting in Montgomery County