The city of Tomball will sell four police vehicles to Montgomery ISD’s Police Department following Tomball City Council approval at its May 4 meeting.

Some context: This is the third time the city has sold vehicles to MISD—in 2024, six vehicles were sold to the district, and in 2025, four vehicles were sold to MISD.

More details: The vehicles will be sold for $3,000 each for a total of $12,000, per the agenda packet.

HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe has named AJ Milanak as its new chief financial officer, according to an April 27 news release.

Career history: Milanak joins the Conroe hospital from Grand Strand Medical Center, where he served as assistant chief financial officer, per the release.

In that role, Milanak worked with executive leadership on several financial and operational areas, including accounting, supply chain, case management, patient access, information technology and health information management, according to the release. He also led capital planning for major strategic initiatives and supported efforts tied to length of stay and overall operational performance.

Before joining HCA Healthcare, Milanak served as chief financial officer of Founders Group International, where he oversaw financial operations for a $60 million organization with more than 1,000 employees, per the release.

Council heard a presentation from Bret Keast of Kendig Keast Collaborative on the city’s unified development ordinance, or UDO, and later voted to select Tellepsen Builders as the construction manager at risk for the municipal complex project.

What happened: Keast told council the UDO is nearing the finish line, with a full draft expected in about four to six weeks, pending additional feedback from city staff, the city engineer and council.

The UDO is meant to bring Montgomery’s development rules into one clearer, more modern document, including standards for zoning districts, land uses, parking, landscaping, buffers, building design, site design and development review procedures, according to the presentation.

Why it matters: The city has been working with KKC to modernize its ordinances as Montgomery continues seeing development interest. As previously reported by Community Impact, KKC has been helping the city with future land use and mobility planning, interim ordinance updates, an illustrated master plan and the UDO.

Also on the agenda: Council voted to select Tellepsen Builders as the construction manager at risk. 

There are several events to attend in the Conroe and Montgomery area this weekend. Check them out below. This is not a comprehensive list and events are subject to change.

‘Potato Gumbo’
The Players Theatre Company will be performing the dark comedy “Potato Gumbo.”

• May 8-9, 7:30 p.m., May 10, 2 p.m.

• $21-$30

• 225 Metcalf St., Conroe

Montgomery ISD Auto Show
Montgomery ISD will host its first annual auto show, with funds generated going to support the district's automotive program. Attendees can expect a variety of cars, alongside coffee, pastries and snow cones available for purchase.

• May 9, 8 a.m.-noon

• Free (admission), $20 (per car display)

• The Den, 1520 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery

Montgomery County Disaster Preparedness Expo
This event will feature emergency response vehicles, disaster preparedness information, first responder meet-and-greets and public safety demonstrations.

• May 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Free (admission)

• Lone Star Convention and Expo Center, 9055 Airport Road, Conroe

There will be a prescribed burn at W. G. Jones State Forest on May 11, according to a May 5 news release from the Texas A&M Forest Service.

More details: The prescribed burn is part of forest management efforts to restore native species’ habitats, reduce excessive undergrowth and lower the risk of severe wildfires, according to the news release.

One more thing: Select areas of the forest will be closed during the prescribed burn, and smoke may be visible nearby during and after the prescribed burn, per the news release.

Graduates of Lone Star College System's fall, spring and summer courses for the 2025-26 school year will receive diplomas at ceremonies to be held May 9-16, according to a May 4 news release from the college system.

The overview: Eleven graduation ceremonies will be held for LSCS's Class of 2026 students, according to the release. Graduates will be receiving diplomas and certifications such as:

• Baccalaureate
• Associate
• Workforce and certificates
• GED completion
• Early College High School completion

As health care costs continue rising in Texas and across the nation, state lawmakers are working to understand the factors that make health care unaffordable and what can be done to rein in prices.

The big picture: About 5.2 million Texans, or 16.7% of the state’s population, did not have health insurance in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

For years, advocates have called on Texas lawmakers to pass laws to drive down health care costs and improve access to health insurance. During a two-day hearing April 30 and May 1, a Texas House committee examined why health care costs are rising. Lawmakers will discuss potential policy solutions later this year, committee chair Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, said.

What's happening: Yale University professor Zack Cooper said that since 2000, U.S. health care spending has grown three times faster than inflation. The average health insurance premium for a family of four is $27,000 per year, he said.

“Every family is basically buying a new Toyota Corolla worth of health insurance," Cooper told lawmakers.