Conroe ISD begins attendance boundary process for new Grand Oaks-area schools
The Conroe ISD board of trustees on Sept. 16 discussed the attendance zones for two new schools in the Grand Oaks feeder zone ahead of their opening. Grand Oaks Junior High School will open in 2027, and Kacy Arnold Elementary School will open in 2026.
The approach: Assistant Superintendent of Operations Chris McCord discussed the zoning process for the two schools, which were part of the 2023 bond, including the challenge posed by growing enrollment in the Grand Oaks area east of I-45.
Notable quote: “We would like for the junior high to serve as close as to full capacity of students because the more we can get it closer, the more we can optimize for academic programs, co-curricular, fine arts and sports,” McCord said. “It may require periodic zoning adjustments for the area based on whichever one is adopted.”
What’s next: The district will have community presentations at 6 p.m. Sept. 30 virtually and Oct. 1 at the Walter P. Jett Center at 19043 David Memorial Drive, Shenandoah.
After operating OP Beauty Lab in Greenbriar Drive in Houston for three years, owners Ashley Neuben and Olesya Plotnikova said OP Beauty Lab has expanded with a second location and is now offering European spa services in The Woodlands.
What they offer: According to the website, services offered include manicures, pedicures, lash extensions, brow services and permanent makeup services.
Visitors at NRG Park will have access to a new 240-foot-long rideshare canopy, according to a Sept. 11 news release from NRG Park.
The canopy was officially unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 12.
The overview: The rideshare canopy, which is in the Yellow Lot of the park, will have the following features:
Protected pedestrian loading zone
ADA-accessible walkways
The cost: The total project cost is estimated at $675,000, according to the news release. Funding was split among the:
Houston Texans
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation, or HCSCC
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ, 24
TIRZ 24 contributed $300,000, while the remaining cost was divided equally among HCSCC, the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the release notes.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo won't seek third term ahead of 2026 election
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo formally announced she will not seek reelection for a third term as judge of Texas’ largest county. Hidalgo said in a Sept. 15 news release that she is keeping her promise not to serve more than two terms.
Quote of note: “I ran for office as a change maker to challenge the establishment and bring a fresh perspective to a Harris County government," Hidalgo said. “I’m so proud of our community and all of the progress that we’ve achieved together, from expanding early childhood education to making our community safer.”
Also of note: The announcement comes just weeks after addressing a crowd of Houston business leaders and constituents Sept. 5 about her reelection status during the 2025 State of the County keynote address. Hidalgo hinted she would announce “soon” whether or not she would run in 2026.
Hidalgo has served as county judge since 2019 and was reelected after winning the county seat during the November 2022 general election. Her current four-year term ends Dec. 31, 2026.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Houston area.
From crispy wings and fiery Nashville hot chicken to authentic Middle Eastern shawarma and freshly made tacos, Kilani Food Hall is a new food hub that offers a curated selection of dishes from a variety of world cuisines.
Per the website, the seven halal concepts include: Lit Wingz, which offers crispy fried wings with signature sauces; Burnin' Chick, which serves Nashville style hot chicken;Cheeky Buns, which features smash burgers and gourmet hot dogs; The Shawerma Man, which specializes in Middle Eastern shawarma; Gyro Bros, which offers traditional Greek gyros; A&M Fry Shack, which serves fried fish and seafood favorites; Taco Nova, which serves Mexican tacos.
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The owner of Sambrooks Hospitality, Michael Sambrooks, announced in a Sept. 16 news release that he has taken over the lease at Mandito's Tex-Mex in Bellaire, which closed over the weekend, and intends to rebrand it as Candente.
Candente is an industrial-style Tex-Mex restaurant that opened in Montrose in 2019. It is known for fajitas, carne asada, chicken and seafood cooked over a wood-fired grill. The spot also provides classic cocktails, such as margaritas, tequila flights and ranch waters.
Sambrooks said that the Bellaire location will serve the same menu of handcrafted Tex-Mex staples and classic cocktails as the Montrose location.
