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Since its inception in January 2014, the Montgomery ISD fishing program has seen much success under the leadership of Toni Luedke and John Hooker. This success includes not only scholarships for its prospective students, but state championships and a strong team bond.

About the program: Hooker said that he originally didn't have much interest in being the advisor for the Montgomery ISD fishing team. While he was working at MISD, he said that his students would always ask him if he’d be interested in helping start the team. He eventually relented after a particular student named Blake Teesdale was finally able to convince him.

The team received the paperwork and information from the national organization in December 2013, and in January 2014, the MISD fishing team was officially founded. 

“The first year we were already behind the eight ball on the deal because the season had started in the fall, so the first year, we weren't really able to accomplish much, except for that we formed a team,” Hooker said.

Conroe voters will have multiple candidates to consider in the upcoming Nov. 3 election for the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees. Candidate filings for Positions 1, 2 and 3 closed on Aug. 17. 

On the Conroe ballot: Candidate filings for Positions 1, 2 and 3 closed on Aug. 17. 

Conroe ISD, Position 1

• Aggie Gambino (incumbent)
• Ryan Tsamouris

• Destinee Milton
• Rodney Hammer
• Robin Deferrari

• Misty Odenweller (incumbent)
• Phillip Martin

Greater Houston-area officials are monitoring conditions as a tropical system could bring heavy rainfall and the potential for flash flooding to the area as early as the morning of Sept. 1, per the National Weather Service.

What’s happening: Per the NWS, Tropical Depression 5 is expected to become a tropical storm after press time Aug. 31 before making landfall along the upper Texas or southwest Louisiana coast Sept. 1.

Gov. Greg Abbott at an Aug. 31 press conference said the storm is anticipated to make landfall near Chambers and Jefferson counties in the afternoon of Sept. 1. The worst of the rain is expected to be concentrated in Harris County.

That forecast could include a storm surge of 2-4 feet in Chambers and Jefferson counties, as well as local rainfall getting as high as 10-15 inches, including in some areas getting 3-4 inches per hour, Abbott said.

While the rainfall is expected to affect the area’s rivers, it’s too early to tell if it will pose any imminent danger, Abbott said.

At an Aug. 27 regular meeting, the San Jacinto River Authority approved the operating budget for FY 2026-27, set to begin on Sept 1. Within the budget, the Groundwater Reduction Plan rates are expected to remain the same, while the raw water rate will rise.

The breakdown: Presented by SJRA Controller Jamye Lewis, the SJRA has nine divisions as a quasi-state agency. When creating the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Lewis said the focus was on making sure the divisions can provide high levels of service to customers rather than generating revenue.

The nine divisions and their total operating revenues for FY 2026-27 are:

• Groundwater Reduction Plan division: $70.4 million

• Woodlands division: $46.6 million

• Raw water supply division: $25.1 million

• Highlands division: $5,000

• Lake Conroe division: $6.2 million

• Flood management division: $160,705

• General and administrative division: (no operating revenues budget)

• Region H (Greater Houston area): $653,469

• Bear Branch: $582,618

Two candidates are vying for Congressional District 2 in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election.

Meet the candidates: Republican Steve Toth will face Democrat Shaun Finnie in the race for U.S. House District 2, which covers portions of the communities of New Caney, Porter, Conroe, The Woodlands, Spring, Cy-Fair and the Lake Houston area.

Toth is currently a state representative for District 15, and won the Republican primary in March against three candidates, including incumbent Dan Crenshaw. Finnie is an oil and gas investment banker in The Woodlands.

Something to note: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, visit communityimpact.com/election.

The Texas Department of Transportation manages over 200,000 miles of state highways. Roughly 72% of all vehicle travel in the state occurs on TxDOT-maintained highways, TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said.

As Texas’ population continues to grow, so does “demand on our transportation systems, from busy urban corridors to rural communities,” Williams told lawmakers during an Aug. 17 hearing held by the Texas House Transportation Committee.

What's happening: More than 11,000 TxDOT projects are currently in the works, according to the agency’s website.

To keep motorists informed about road construction, TxDOT collects public input during the project planning process, then conducts outreach on social media, on project websites and through email notifications before and during closures, according to Eric Lykins, TxDOT’s senior director of district operations. The agency also places electronic message signs on roadways ahead of closures or detours, he said.

Some state lawmakers are encouraging transportation officials to improve outreach to motorists when roads, lanes and exits are closed or adjusted.