After voters opposed all three Magnolia ISD bond propositions, MISD officials are planning to hear from and listen to the community, Chief Communications Officer Denise Meyers said.

Quote of note: “I think we need to really listen to them, what do they have to say, ... listening to everybody and figuring out what are the next steps,” Meyers said.

More details: The three propositions, had they passed, would have allowed the district to fund, among other things, the construction of a third high school, two elementary schools, a second natatorium and facility upgrades. MISD trustees voted Aug. 11 to put the three bond propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot, as previously reported by Community Impact.

What's next: The district will likely go out for another bond in the future. What that could look like or when that happens is up to the school board, MISD Assistant Superintendent of Operations Erich Morris said. The earliest the district could go out for another bond is next May.

Tomball residents reserving city parks will soon see higher fees after the council voted Nov. 17 to raise park reservation costs by $40 across all rental types. 

The setup: The decision replaces earlier proposals for either a refundable $100 deposit or a $40 nonrefundable maintenance fee, instead opting to fold the additional amount directly into the standard reservation charge. 

The change is intended to keep Tomball in line with surrounding cities and help cover staff time for cleaning and maintaining heavily used park facilities, staff said. 

During the discussion, council and staff said that Tomball’s park rental fees had previously been among the lowest in the region, and city staff said that a flat increase would simplify the fee schedule while ensuring sufficient revenue for upkeep. 

Related highlights: Alongside the fee change, council approved updates to the city’s park rules and regulations to allow piñatas.

However, the list of prohibited items was also expanded to include confetti, glitter, color powders, water balloons, rice and other items designed to break or scatter debris.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, see what grocery stores in the Houston area will be open and closed Nov. 27. This list is not comprehensive.

Aldi

• Nov. 27: closed

• Nov. 27: 6 a.m.-noon (stores); 7 a.m.-11 a.m. (curbside); 7 a.m.-10 a.m. (home delivery); closed (pharmacy)

• Nov. 27: Closing at 4 p.m. (stores); closed (pharmacy)

• Nov. 27: closed

• Nov. 27: closed

The rental-home market in the Houston region is showing signs of balance, with  more homes available to lease while overall pricing remains steady, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ October 2025 Rental Market Update.

What this means: According to the market update, single-family homes for rent in the Greater Houston area surged in availability. In October, 11,749 single-family homes were available for rent—the highest on record.

Leasing activity remained strong in the same month, 3,725 single-family homes were leased— up 9% from the same month a year earlier, the report states. 

Real estate agents added 7,122 new listings to the Multiple Listing Service in October versus 5,935 last year—a 20% year-over-year increase, per the report.

This year, voters in communities across Texas were skeptical of local property tax hikes and supportive of larger tax breaks for homeowners and businesses, results from the Nov. 4 election show.

The overview: Voters in Community Impact’s coverage areas approved just over half of the local bond propositions and tax rate elections on the November ballot, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Statewide, 40% of tax rate elections and 45.9% of bond propositions passed, according to Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican and property tax policy writer.

Zooming in: Cities, counties, school districts and other local government entities use funding from tax hikes to build new schools and facilities; hire educators and first responders; and maintain local infrastructure. However, amid high inflation nationwide, more Texas residents are tightening their belts and asking local officials to do the same, fiscal policy experts told Community Impact.

Local governments whose tax hikes were shot down are now grappling with how to make cuts while maintaining essential services, Community Impact reporting shows.