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99 Karate to offer martial arts classes in New Caney

99 Karate is set to open in New Caney in May, officials with the East Montgomery County Improvement District announced via Facebook April 21. 

What they offer: Owned by Christian Auguste and his wife Carley, the martial arts studio will offer after-school and summer programs to teach children the fundamentals of karate in addition to evening classes for students of all ages, EMCID officials said.

Check it out: 99 Karate will host a grand opening celebration from noon-3 p.m. May 16 featuring giveaways, swag and program discounts, according to information on the business's Facebook page. 

  • Opening May 16 
  • 21042 Loop 494, New Caney 
 
Latest Education News
New Caney ISD trustees OK $750 bonuses for returning employees

All full-time New Caney ISD employees returning in the 2026-27 school year can expect a $750 bonus on their May 5 paycheck after the district’s board of trustees approved retention stipends April 20.

How it happened: NCISD employees will receive a $750 retention stipend, should they choose to continue to work at the district for the 2026-27 school year, said Christie Gates, executive director of human resources for NCISD, during trustees’ April 20 regular meeting. The stipends are expected to cost NCISD $2.1 million total, said Scott Powers, NCISD's executive director of public relations, via email April 21.

All full-time district employees—from teachers and auxiliary employees to administrators—qualify for the stipend, Gates said.

Read all about it: To qualify for the one-time retention stipend, employees must be in "good standing" and have received contract letters or "reasonable assurance" they will return to work for NCISD, Gates said.

 
In Your Neighborhood
March HAR report shows more stability in the Houston housing market

The March Housing Market Update from the Houston Association of Realtors, released April 8, shows signs of stability and growth in the Houston housing market. Factors behind this stability include slowly falling house prices and sales gains in single-family homes and townhomes/condominiums.

The conditions: According to HAR, single-family home sales rose by 3.7% with 7,644 homes sold in March compared to the 7,369 sold last March. Home prices fell slightly as well by 1.5%, leveling to a median price of $333,000. Houses saw a slight increase in days on the market, rising to 67 days compared to 62 days last year. Total property sales across the Houston area grew by 3.6%, with 9,001 properties sold, and the number of active property listings rose by 8.8%, equaling 55,611.

What the experts say: HAR Chief Economist Ted C. Jones said the current state of the global economy has led to some instability in interest rates; however, the market has stabilized in comparison to last year.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Earth Day Family Day Market

Creativity Rocks - OZ!

April 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Spring

April 25, 6-9 p.m.
Humble

Learn more.

Learn more.

 

6th Annual Texas Mini Golf Championship

The Market at River Oaks District

April 26, 9 a.m.
Montgomery

April 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Houston

Learn more.

Learn more.

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Statewide News
ERCOT forecasts quadruple growth in electric demand, warns estimate is likely overinflated

Demand on the Texas power grid could more than quadruple in the next six years, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced April 15.

The details: The state grid operator projected that peak electric demand could hit 367,790 megawatts by 2032—more than four times the current demand record of 85,508 megawatts, which was set during an August 2023 heat wave. Much of this forecasted growth is due to data centers, according to ERCOT documents.

However, ERCOT leaders warned that the growth forecast is “preliminary” and needs adjustments.

What's happening: During an April 17 meeting, ERCOT officials told the Public Utility Commission of Texas that they plan to work with utility providers to issue a revised forecast in the coming weeks.

“I think it's clear we need to engage in the process and look at ways to refine this number to something that's more usable,” PUC Chair Thomas Gleeson said.

Stay tuned: ERCOT said it expects peak electric demand on the grid this summer will hit between 90,500-98,000 megawatts, which would shatter the current demand record.

 

Your local team

Hannah Brol
Senior Editor

Kim Sommers
General Manager

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