BarkSuds is a new dog grooming salon franchise that has opened its doors this September.

The breakdown: Roberto Martinez, who owns and operates the franchise location, said his reasoning for opening BarkSuds was the lack of groomers in the area. Even though the salon recently opened, Martinez said there's been such a demand in the area that they've seen multiple fully booked days.

• Opened Sept. 8

• 24230 Kuykendahl Road, Ste. 230, The Woodlands

What you need to know: Montgomery County commissioners will meet on Sept. 17 to discuss temporary office and courtroom operations for the new 523rd District Court. Commissioners voted to create this larger court on Aug. 26, 2025, to address growing caseloads and overcrowding at the county jail. The court will be funded in the county's fiscal year 2026-27 budget, with annual operating costs estimated at around $1.5 million.

Also of note: A public hearing will be held for amendments to the county's Drainage Criteria Manual and Thoroughfare Plan. Commissioners will review revisions to the manual, which establishes minimum engineering requirements for drainage design and construction. They will also review amendments to the Thoroughfare Plan, a countywide transportation roadmap used to plan and deliver future projects.

Before you go: The county will discuss the ongoing project to connect David Memorial Drive to Hwy. 242. This project involves building the final 1,500 feet of roadway to improve traffic flow.

The details: The nonprofit Bayou Land Conservancy, which focuses on preserving streams that lead into Lake Houston, has named Dr. Anna Weiss as its new executive director. Weiss succeeds Jill Boullion, who retired after ten years of service.

In her new role, Weiss will oversee daily operations and implement initiatives directed by the board. She has a decade of experience in the environmental sector, most recently serving as the Director of Green Galveston Initiatives at Vision Galveston.

Weiss earned her Ph.D. in Geosciences from The University of Texas at Austin and previously managed community-led restoration and research projects for the Billion Oyster Project in New York.

Quote of note: "It is an honor to lead the Bayou Land Conservancy. I am grateful to my predecessor, Jill, for her legacy of leadership and I am excited to build on the organization's amazing 30 years of conservation," said Dr. Weiss.

Montgomery County voters will choose between incumbent Mark Keough and challenger James Graf for Montgomery County Judge in the upcoming general election on Nov. 3.

What you need to know: The deadline for Montgomery County locals to register to vote is Oct. 5.

Early voting is scheduled to run from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30. On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Harris County Commissioners Court is slated to discuss and adopt tax rates and budgets for the 2026-27 fiscal year during its Sept. 17 meeting.

The overview: As the county faces a projected about $180 million shortfall, commissioners are expected to set the tax rates and budgets for Harris County, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Harris Health system and the Port of Houston Authority, according to agenda documents. Commissioners are also set to discuss the budget for the Harris County Toll Road Authority.

The court will consider a 7.6% overall property tax rate increase, which commissioners discussed at their Sept. 8 meeting.

Also on the agenda: The court will consider approving a burn ban at the request of the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, according to agenda documents. The ban would take effect Sept. 17 and last at least 90 days or until the Texas Forest Service determines that drought conditions no longer exist in the county.

The National Integrated Drought Information System has marked Harris county as “abnormally dry,” a designation used to indicate areas entering or emerging from drought. As of Sept. 14, the 210 counties in Texas have instituted burn bans, according to the forest service.