Fundraising efforts are ongoing for a new long-term housing property in New Caney that will be run by nonprofit Radiate Coalition, a spokesperson for the organization confirmed via email Oct. 15. The home, dubbed Shepherd’s Field, will house survivors of abuse, trafficking and exploitation as well as young women who have aged out of the foster care system.

What they offer: Radiate Coalition aims to help women through Christian programs, as previously reported by Community Impact. The programs that will be offered at Shepherd’s Field include:

• Medical and dental care

• Trauma-informed psychological care

• Education

• Discipleship

• Mentorship

• Nutrition

How we got here: The new Shepherd’s Field home will be opened in a building that was donated to the nonprofit, as previously reported. Renovations, which were originally expected to start in the spring, have not yet begun while Radiate Coalition continues to collect donations.

• Program launching in 2027

• 1100 Parthenon Place, New Caney

New Caney ISD’s 13th elementary school will be called Crossroads Elementary School, and construction is slated to begin in November at the site.

In a nutshell: Construction on Crossroads Elementary, a $44 million campus, is expected to be completed in late spring or summer 2028, as previously reported by Community Impact. The school will be 110,000 square feet and two stories tall.

Remember this? NCISD's 13th elementary school will be funded by the district's $695 million bond package, which was approved by voters in May 2023.

Montgomery County commissioners voted 5-0 on Oct. 22 to approve additional law enforcement for The Woodlands Township’s mounted patrol services. This follows the township's September vote to approve the sheriff's office proposal, transitioning from Alpha & Omega Mounted Patrol services. Under the new agreement, the county will house seven horses in stables at a park off Fish Creek Thoroughfare.

The specifics: The township agreed to pay one-time costs of up to $954,000 and close to $1.4 million in recurring costs. Two full-time county personnel will move to the facility to assist with the horses. The agreement adds a sergeant and six deputies to the unit.

Also of note: Commissioners also unanimously approved:

• Plans to complete the David Memorial Drive extension to Hwy. 242, awarding a $1.8 million contract to JFO Services.

• A contract awarded to Thompson Consulting for San Jacinto River Watershed flood mitigation efforts.

In July, Texas' top elected officials directed most state agencies, appellate courts and public universities to cut spending by 3% in their base budget requests for the next two years.

The overview: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said those reductions will help Texas hold a "strong fiscal position" by expanding property tax relief and maintaining public education funding when the legislature returns to Austin next year.

The issue: Dozens of agency leaders have warned that the cuts, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, are not sustainable. They would cause Texas residents to lose "essential" services and lead to losses in state revenue, leaders said at the capitol and in budget documents.

Government institutions protesting the budget reductions include the comptroller's office, the attorney general, Texas' Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, state criminal justice agencies and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.