HTX-NCP: Impact 11/10/2025

Casa Julia Tex Mex in New Caney will host two on-site application events ahead of their projected opening in January, restaurant officials announced via social media.

The details: On Nov. 11 from 1-5 p.m. and on Nov. 15 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., interested applicants are invited to visit the restaurant to apply in person. Officials noted no interviews will be conducted during the events.

What to expect: As previously reported by Community Impact, Casa Julia Tex Mex has an original location in Mont Belvieu.

Per the website, the menu boasts scratch-made dishes ranging from carne guisada and pork tamales to quesabirria tacos and empanadas. The drink menu includes beer, wine and cocktails such as the hibiscus margarita and the tequila old fashioned. A margarita flight featuring four different flavors is also available for $18.

• 23706 Speed St., New Caney

Construction began in October to widen Ford Road in Porter, which Montgomery County officials said will serve as an additional evacuation route out of the area once the project is completed.

About the project: According to previous reporting by Community Impact, the first phase of the project—which will cost roughly $5.9 million—will consist of widening the road from two to four lanes between Hwy. 59 and Needham Road. Ditches will also be reconstructed along the corridor.

The local impact: Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray and U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw visited the site in late October to discuss the project. 

“Evacuation routes out of the area were a problem during [Hurricane] Harvey, .... and that needs to be improved,” Crenshaw said. “It’s just a safety issue.”

What’s next: Gray said the second phase of the project, which will consist of widening Ford Road from two to four lanes between Needham Road and Mills Branch Drive, is projected to begin next summer.

Missed any Community Impact articles from this week? Check out the top trending stories from Community Impact's coverage areas in Houston from Nov. 3-7.

1. Houston Airport System issues advisory about indefinite TSA delays

2. See unofficial voting results for LCISD’s $1.99B bond

3. Unofficial voting results show all three Magnolia ISD bond propositions fail

4. Conroe ISD's Grand Oaks zoning plan in the works as area continues to grow

5. Sugar Land to make code changes as 52-acre Lake Pointe redevelopment nears construction

Airports in Dallas and Houston are required to begin reducing flights and other operations by 4% on Nov. 7 in response to air traffic controller shortages caused by the federal government shutdown, transportation officials announced Nov. 6.

The details: The cuts will affect 40 "high impact airports" across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. The affected Texas airports include:

• Dallas Love Field (DAL)
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

More than 20 months after wildfires swept through the Texas Panhandle in early 2024, burning over 1.2 million acres of land, state lawmakers questioned if Texas has the tools needed to tackle another major fire.

The context: Texas is always a fire-prone state, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. The association’s website reports that annual wildfire risk is most severe from February-April, when dry grasses and high winds can cause fires to spread, and August-October, when high temperatures and droughts contribute to fires.

“Our purpose today is to figure out—what is our response going to look like next February and March?” Rep. Ken King, a Republican representing Canadian and other Panhandle communities, said during a Nov. 3 committee hearing. “Are we better prepared … or are we in the same position we were in 2024, when our response was lacking?”

The details: Officials said Texas owns just two firefighting aircraft, with others "essentially [subleased] through the federal government."

During peak wildfire season, this means Texas may have access to limited resources.