Conroe City Council members David Hairel and Shana Arthur have asked staff to research whether the city can realistically compete to host the newly proposed U.S. Space Academy.

What happened: President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 28 establishing a presidential commission to plan the NASA-led federal academy, which has a preliminary timeline of opening a permanent campus by 2031.

The council members identified Deison Technology Park as a potential location, highlighting Conroe's proximity to NASA's Johnson Space Center and access to I-45.

What's next?: The city has taken no formal vote, but Hairel and Arthur asked City Administrator David Willard to gather more information. Any effort by Conroe must align with a fast-moving state and federal selection process, as NASA is seeking information from interested states with submissions due Oct. 26.

According to a July 20 TDLR filing, a new Dutch Bros location is set to open in April 2027.

Two-minute impact: Project documents show the total cost is estimated at $250,000, and the project will mainly involve renovations and alterations to an existing building. The proposed Dutch Bros will be located inside the Crossroads Shopping Center.

• Estimated completion: April 14

• 1100 W. Davis St., Conroe

What you need to know: Montgomery County commissioners will meet on Sept. 17 to discuss temporary office and courtroom operations for the new 523rd District Court. Commissioners voted to create this larger court on Aug. 26, 2025, to address growing caseloads and overcrowding at the county jail. The court will be funded in the county's fiscal year 2026-27 budget, with annual operating costs estimated at around $1.5 million.

Also of note: A public hearing will be held for amendments to the county's Drainage Criteria Manual and Thoroughfare Plan. Commissioners will review revisions to the manual, which establishes minimum engineering requirements for drainage design and construction. They will also review amendments to the Thoroughfare Plan, a countywide transportation roadmap used to plan and deliver future projects.

Before you go: The county will discuss the ongoing project to connect David Memorial Drive to Hwy. 242. This project involves building the final 1,500 feet of roadway to improve traffic flow.

Montgomery County voters will choose between incumbent Mark Keough and challenger James Graf for Montgomery County Judge in the upcoming general election on Nov. 3.

What you need to know: The deadline for Montgomery County locals to register to vote is Oct. 5.

Early voting is scheduled to run from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30. On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The details: The nonprofit Bayou Land Conservancy, which focuses on preserving streams that lead into Lake Houston, has named Dr. Anna Weiss as its new executive director. Weiss succeeds Jill Boullion, who retired after ten years of service.

In her new role, Weiss will oversee daily operations and implement initiatives directed by the board. She has a decade of experience in the environmental sector, most recently serving as the Director of Green Galveston Initiatives at Vision Galveston.

Weiss earned her Ph.D. in Geosciences from The University of Texas at Austin and previously managed community-led restoration and research projects for the Billion Oyster Project in New York.

Quote of note: "It is an honor to lead the Bayou Land Conservancy. I am grateful to my predecessor, Jill, for her legacy of leadership and I am excited to build on the organization's amazing 30 years of conservation," said Dr. Weiss.