On Oct. 6, the Conroe ISD board of trustees reviewed the status of the previously passed 2023 bond. Voters approved the $1.97 billion bond in November 2023 for eight new campuses and infrastructure improvements.

The breakdown: Chief Financial Officer Karen Garza and district financial advisor John Robuck presented the data. The district has issued $1.64 billion of the original bond funding, leaving $332.88 million to fund the remaining projects. Conroe ISD has $463 million in cash on hand, giving the district a combined $795.88 million available for the remaining projects. The total remaining cost to complete the projects is estimated to be $407.16 million. Except for Washington High School, the projects have already begun construction and are on pace to be completed by December 2027.

The gist: A new Whataburger location opened in Shenandoah on Oct. 5, according to officials. The Texas-based fast-food chain specializes in hamburgers and is best known for its eponymous burger. The new facility features:

• Local iconography
• A large dining room
• A digital menu board

In addition to hamburgers, the chain is known for chicken strips, chicken sandwiches and salads. Whataburger also serves breakfast from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. The new restaurant is located at 8800 Six Pines Drive in Shenandoah.

Montgomery County commissioners unanimously sent a resolution to local legislators on Oct. 8 seeking additional regulatory ability to manage local growth and development.

The big picture: Montgomery County is 78% unincorporated, meaning the majority of residents do not live within a city or township and rely on the county for public safety and infrastructure.

The resolution, which is being sent to all Montgomery County state representatives and senators, encourages them to draft legislation which would grant the county limited authority to create ordinances for land use and development.

In their words: “The current pace and scale of growth are outstripping the county’s ability to provide and expand infrastructure and public services,” the resolution reads. “Current county authority does not provide Montgomery County with the full range of tools necessary to address the unique and increasing challenges created by growth across its unincorporated areas.”

Read all about it: Entergy Texas announced that David Borde has been named its new president and CEO, succeeding Eliecer Viamontes, who left the company. The change was effective Oct. 5. Borde joined Entergy in 2009 and has served as the director of corporate development based in Texas, vice president of investor relations, and vice president of utility strategy and regulatory initiatives. His previous experience includes working in the investment banking division of Citigroup USA and as a lawyer at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Entergy serves portions of Texas, including Montgomery County and a small part of Harris County, with headquarters in The Woodlands and Beaumont.

What they're saying: "David has extensive experience in utility strategy, regulatory affairs and utility finance, along with his deep understanding of our business and customers," Entergy Chair and CEO Drew Marsh said. "He is a thoughtful and proven leader, and he will build on the strong foundation in Texas while advancing our commitment to providing safe, reliable and affordable energy to the communities we serve."

The Texas Renaissance Festival will return to Todd Mission for its 52nd season in 2026, running from Oct. 10 through Nov. 29.

Read all about it: Spanning 70 acres, the nation's largest Renaissance-themed event features 21 stages, more than 400 artisanal shops and over 200 acres of camping facilities.

The festival will showcase eight themed weekends from Oktoberfest on Oct. 10-11 to Celtic Christmas on Nov. 27-29. Additional themes include Pirate Adventure, Barbarian Invasion and All Hallows Eve.

What's new: This year the festival will bring back fan-favorite attractions alongside new acts, including Paladin, the Errant Fool; Sons of Olympus; and Lester Jesterson.

Tickets range from $16 to $40. Admission is free for kids 5 and under on Saturdays, and kids 13 and under get in free on Sundays.