Check out the latest on 3 Lake Houston-area transportation projects
Here's the latest information on three transportation projects in the Lake Houston area. This list is not comprehensive.
Kingwood Drive improvements Project: The Houston Public Works Department is working on upgrades to Kingwood Drive including repairing the curbs and the replacement of pavement markings at the intersection of Kingwood and Woodland Hills drives. Update: The project was initially slated to run May 29-June 6, but the starting date shifted to late July as the contractor needed to complete a separate project first.
ArborTrue now offering landscaping services in Lake Houston area, East Montgomery County
ArborTrue officials announced the company expanded its offerings to include landscaping services in the Greater Houston area—including Kingwood, Humble, Atascocita, New Caney and Porter—in August.
The details: Prior to launching Landscaping by ArborTrue, ArborTrue specialized in tree removal and maintenance services, said ArborTrue Lead Botanical Consultant Shannah Joplin.
Quote of note: "ArborTrue now has a dedicated landscaping division,” Nelson said. “We have the experience, staff, and capabilities to handle a broad depth of residential, government, and commercial projects and to help your landscapes thrive."
Check it out: Officials noted residents interested in obtaining Landscaping by ArborTrue can receive a free consultation by emailing [email protected].
Harris County commissioners authorize letter urging updated flood maps from FEMA
Harris County commissioners are urging officials from The Federal Emergency Management Agency to release updated floodplain maps.
The gist: Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia brought the motion to the Aug. 26 court meeting, where commissioners unanimously voted in favor to authorize a letter signed by court members to prioritize and expedite the maps which guide infrastructure and insurance decisions for a county with a growing population of more than 4.7 million residents and nearly 1.8 million households, according to the latest data by the U.S. Census Bureau.
“We respectfully urge FEMA to prioritize and expedite the release of these new flood risk maps for Harris County," Garcia said.
Zooming out: The last time frame FEMA was set to release Harris County’s preliminary flood insurance rate maps was in 2023, according to Harris County Flood Control District officials, as previously reported in Community Impact. Previously, the HCFCD projected FEMA would release maps in the spring or summer of 2022, but has continually pushed back its estimate.
Amid Democratic criticism, Texas lawmakers vote to overhaul STAAR and launch new tests in 2027
Both chambers of the Texas Legislature have voted to overhaul the state’s standardized testing system, putting public school students one step closer to taking new exams in the 2027-28 school year.
The details: House Bill 8 would eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and replace it with three shorter tests, which students would take at the beginning, middle and end of each school year.
Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said HB 8 would “reduce test anxiety, provide teachers with immediate feedback and create a pathway for trust in our system again." The majority of House Democrats and a few Republicans disagreed, arguing Aug. 26 that the bill would increase the amount of time students spend on exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the Texas Education Agency.
Next steps: After state senators passed HB 8 with a 21-7 vote Aug. 27, the bill returned to the House for consideration of a Senate amendment. If House lawmakers sign off on the changes, HB 8 will be sent to the governor.
