Beginning Jan. 11, a section of Ford Road will be closed due to railroad work happening near the road’s intersection with Loop 494 in Porter. 

What's happening? The total roadway closure of Ford Road will run through Jan. 14. Vehicles will need to detour through Needham Road and East Martin Drive instead of using Ford Road.

Learn more: The road is being closed while the Union Pacific Railroad works on the railway’s tracks. Traffic delays are expected due to the construction.

Check out what's happening in the New Caney and Porter area this weekend, Jan. 8-11.

Bilingual Storytime: Geared toward children age 5 and younger, this bilingual story time will include themed stories, songs and rhymes followed by an age-appropriate craft. Preregistration is not required; however, space is limited. Tickets will be available at the Children's Desk 15 minutes before the start of the program and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Jan. 9, 11-11:45 a.m.
• Free
• R.B. Tullis Library, 21569 Hwy. 59, New Caney

• Jan. 11, 3 p.m.
• $40 (presale), $45 (day of event)
• Final Gravity Brewpub, 22435 FM 1314, Ste. B-6, Porter

Texas charter system Harmony Public Schools launched a new virtual learning platform on Jan. 5 that allows students across the state to take high school courses online.

The overview: The Harmony Online Learning program includes dozens of courses aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards, all of which are self-paced, according to a news release.

More details: Students can choose from dozens of courses in core subjects, electives, Advanced Placement and Career and Technical Education, according to the program’s website. The offerings aim to help students complete credit recovery, get ahead with their requirements and access courses not available at their home campus. Credit earned through Harmony may be applied toward high school graduation requirements depending on local district policies, per the release.

One more thing: Interested families can enroll online, and spring courses begin Jan. 12, per the release. The cost of tuition per course is $325, a spokesperson from Harmony Public Schools told Community Impact.

Lone Star College has named Rigoberto J. Rincones Gomez as the next vice chancellor of academic affairs, the college announced in a Jan. 6 news release.

The gist: Rincones will begin Feb. 9 to provide strategic leadership for all academic functions and ensure regulatory compliance and fiscal responsibility across the college system. The new vice chancellor joins Lone Star College System from New Mexico State University’s Doña Ana Community College, where he also served as vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer, according to the release.

Notable quote: “Rincones is a seasoned academic leader with nearly 30 years of experience advancing academic innovation, strengthening student learning and supporting institutional effectiveness across community colleges and universities nationwide,” Seelpa Keshvala, LSCS executive vice chancellor of academics, said. "We look forward to working with Dr. Rincones as we continue offering high-quality academic and workforce programs.”