Emmanuel Baptist Church broke ground Nov. 16 on its new permanent campus in New Caney, church officials announced in a Nov. 13 news release.

The details: Per the release, the first phase of construction will include a temporary worship space that can accommodate up to 325 people as well as a nursery and children's education areas.

Emmanuel Baptist Church currently holds services on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at 21650 Loop 494, New Caney. The new facility—which church officials said will serve as a hub for worship, outreach and community engagement—will be located directly east of Keefer Crossing Middle School. 

Quote of note: "We give God thanks and praise for bringing us so far," Senior Pastor Joshua Crutchfield said in a statement. "We are excited and eager to lay down roots in our community in order to bless and serve the people around us."

• Completion in the third quarter of 2026
• 21862 Gene Campbell Road, New Caney

Check out what's happening in New Caney and Porter, Nov. 19-23. 

Coffee with the Constable: Participants can meet local Montgomery County representatives at Shouting Grounds Coffee Company. Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth "Rowdy" Hayden, Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray and Jason Dunn, Precinct 4 justice of the peace, will be speaking with residents.

• Nov. 19, 8-9 a.m.
• Free (admission)
• 22735 Antique Lane, New Caney

• Nov. 19, 10 a.m.
• Free
• 21569 Hwy. 59, New Caney

Montgomery County Commissioners Court is set to meet Nov. 18 to discuss the county’s mental health treatment facility, a historical courthouse master plan and the fiscal year 2025-26 budget.

What you need to know: The court will consider approving $117,500 for Precinct 1 for the expansion of the Montgomery County Mental Health Treatment Facility.

The facility, which broke ground Aug. 18, is aimed at increasing care access for justice-involved individuals experiencing mental health crises. With the expansion, the facility’s capacity will double, Community Impact previously reported.

Also on the agenda: Commissioners are also slated to consider and approve an access authorization agreement between the county and Mustang Express Pipeline.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration on Nov. 17 lifted a flight reduction emergency order for 40 airports, including George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.

What's happening: The FAA safety team indicated a steady decline in staff-trigger events in air traffic control facilities, such as delays and cancellations, and recommended that normal operations resume across the national airspace system, according to a Nov. 17 news release from the administration. 

According to previous Community Impact reporting, "high impact airports" such as IAH and HOU were ordered early November to cut flights by 10% in response to air traffic controller shortages due to the federal government shutdown, which ended Nov. 12. Federal employees, including air traffic controllers and some pilots, were not paid during this time.

One more detail: The FAA reported eight staffing triggers—an alert of insufficient staffing at an air control facility—Nov. 15 and only one on Nov. 16 compared to a record-high of 81 on Nov. 8, according to the release. 

Texans began receiving full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits Nov. 14, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced. The renewed SNAP payments came after two weeks of delays due to the 43-day federal government shutdown, which ended Nov. 12.

The overview: SNAP is a federally funded program that provides low-income individuals and families with monthly stipends to spend on groceries. The food assistance program ran out of funding Nov. 1, one month after the government shut down amid disagreements over federal health insurance subsidies.

The details: Over 3.5 million Texans receive SNAP benefits each month, according to Feeding Texas, the statewide network of food banks. Payments are issued on a rolling basis throughout each month.

“For SNAP clients who receive benefits on or after the 14th of the month, full benefits will be issued on their normal issuance date,” the HHSC website states. “SNAP clients who already received partial benefits will receive the rest of their monthly amount on or after Nov. 14.”