Water infrastructure in The Woodlands is seeing long-term renewal and replacement projects under consideration this year after a process of community feedback and professional studies has led governing agencies to narrow down the scope of some projects.

Two-minute impact: More than 50 years after The Woodlands’ founding in 1974, plans to upgrade or replace parts of the community’s water infrastructure are underway, but officials said recent findings have led them to consider eliminating or delaying several projects, while others could be phased in over several years.

What residents need to know: While some projects are underway now, such as a $3 million project to clear drainage ditches and improve stormwater flow, others will require further study to determine a path forward, such as a multimillion-dollar plan to replace or refurbish the township’s oldest wastewater facility on Sawdust Road.

Another detail: Officials said they are looking to steer away from using bonds to finance large projects, so residents could potentially see higher water bills as the projects move forward in the coming years.  

Sin Yolanda is slated to open its doors in mid-April. 

What they offer: The restaurant offers Mexican cuisine and a cantina and is the second location to open in Texas.

• 1400 Research Forest Drive, Ste. 180, Shenandoah

The most recent five-year data for 2024 was released by U.S. Census Bureau early this year as part of its American Communities Survey, or ACS, showing population changes across the country between 2020-2024.

The context: ACS results provide a snapshot of more than 40 categories of statistics to explain how local communities have shifted in the past five years, highlighting trends in income, housing, education, demographics and health, according to the bureau's website.

The big picture: From 2019-24, the highest percentage population growth in The Woodlands area occurred in the 77384 ZIP code, and two ZIP codes—77381 and 77382—saw a decline.

Following an hours-long March 19 public hearing, Harris County commissioners unanimously approved the acquisition of 8.9 acres of Hermann Park for the expansion of Ben Taub Hospital, one of only two adult Level I trauma facilities in the county.

The long-awaited vote comes after months of contention about whether or not Harris Health—the county's hospital system—should acquire the land by eminent domain, which grants local governments the legal power to use land for public use.

What happened: Commissioners authorized the condemnation March 19 after Harris Health officials confirmed that no "feasible alternative" exists for the $410 million expansion of Ben Taub's campus.

Why it matters: Ben Taub Hospital consistently operates beyond its 402-bed capacity, and officials expect emergency room demand to increase over the next several years as Harris County's population grows, Community Impact previously reported. Porsa said the hospital's ER regularly suffers from hours-long wait times due to chronic backlogs.

Looking forward: Officials expect to have legal possession of the land within 6-9 months and break ground on the project in late 2027. 

With a partial federal government shutdown ongoing, officials with the Houston Airport System said on March 23 that passengers could continue to see growing wait times at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), including in some cases exceeding four hours at IAH.

As a result, federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have begun supporting TSA operations at airports nationwide, including in Houston, Houston Airport System officials announced in a March 23 news release.

Some context: Due to the partial federal government shutdown, which began Feb. 14, TSA officers are working without pay, which is creating staffing shortages that have led to longer than typical wait times at airports nationwide.

Diving in deeper: Per the release, with the addition of ICE agents at Houston airports, screening procedures for passengers remain unchanged. Additionally, officials noted the number of available TSA screening lanes can vary by airport and shift, depending on staffing levels.