Two-minute impact: Redbird & Co. Salon Suites, a privately owned location offering suites for independent beauty and wellness professionals, is under construction and set to open by the end of 2026. Located at 31316 Nichols Sawmill Road in Magnolia, the salon is owned by Gloria Davis, a beauty professional who runs Waxing by G.

The private salons are designed for professionals including:

• Hairstylists

• Barbers

• Estheticians

• Lash artists

• Massage therapists

• Nail technicians

The salon is currently seeking local talent to lease the suites for private shops.

What's being done: A new Dollar Tree location will be opening next January in the Four Corners Shopping Center in Tomball, according to a Sept. 4 TDLR filing.

According to the project documents, the total cost is estimated to be $596,926. The project will be a complete interior remodel with new finishes and fixtures across 11,825 sq ft.

Over 100,000 students have enrolled at Lone Star College System for the fall semester, marking a milestone for the college system, according to a Sept. 14 news release.

A new chapter: For the fall semester of the 2026-27 school year, 100,023 students are enrolled to take courses at LSCS, according to the release.

LSCS's current enrollment represents an increase of 2.8% compared to the fall enrollment for 2025, which was 97,294, according to the college system's website. Enrollment has grown 17.45% compared to the fall of 2022.

Notable quote: “We are proud to serve each of these students, equipping them with the tools they need to pursue their dreams,” said Christina Hagerty, LSCS senior associate vice chancellor of curriculum and instruction, via the release.

The Harris County Commissioners Court is moving forward with a 7.6% property tax rate increase compared with last year, marking one of the largest tax hikes in the county’s recent history.
The overview: The court approved a tax rate of about $0.67 per $100 in taxable property value in a 3-2 vote during its Sept. 8 meeting. County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Precinct 4 Commissioner Tom Ramsey opposed the rate recommended by the county’s Office of Management and Budget.
The increase will add about $193 to the average homeowner’s property tax bill, OMB Director Daniel Ramos said.

Looking ahead: With a projected shortfall of about $180 million, the court is expected to adopt its 2026-27 fiscal year $3.09 billion budget during the Sept. 17 meeting. The court is expected to also take a final vote on the proposed tax rate, adopting it before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Several notable events occurred across the northern part of the Greater Houston area from Sept. 4-11:

• Montgomery County Commissioners approve tax rate increase, budget

• Trader Joe’s to set up shop in Spring

• The Woodlands residents speak out on township agreement with mounted patrol; 2027 budget approved

• Waygood coffee shop coming soon to Tomball

• Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital places final beam atop North Tower

• Harris County ESD 9 to discuss FY 2026-27 budget, insurance policies

• Construction on 7 Brew Coffee in Humble projected to begin in October

• Lone Star College System cancels November election for 3 unopposed trustees

Across Texas, the taxes that homeowners pay to their local school districts went down by about 13.6% in 2025, one state senator found.

The overview: Across the board, many Texas counties mailed out reduced property tax bills for the 2025 tax year, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, reported. During a Sept. 1 hearing of the Senate Local Government Committee, he said the average homeowner's property tax bill went down by about $140 last year, falling from $1,037 per year in 2024 to $896 per year in 2025.

Texas' 2026-27 budget includes $51 billion in property tax relief, previous Community Impact reporting shows. Unless the legislature rolls back existing tax exemptions, the state will be required to spend that much or more on tax relief in future bienniums.

How it works: The state does not charge property taxes, meaning homeowners are taxed by local entities such as school districts, cities, counties and municipal utility districts. The Texas Legislature, however, can place limits on how much local governments raise taxes annually and require tax exemptions for certain groups.