In-N-Out Burger officials are eyeing Humble for their next Greater Houston-area location, company officials confirmed via email Feb. 13.

Mike Abbate, vice president of store development for In-N-Out Burger, said the company is still in the development application process for a proposed location in the Deerbrook Plaza shopping center. However, he added it's too early to say when, or if the company will be able to obtain the approvals necessary to open a restaurant there or to provide an estimated opening date.

Quote of note: "We are hopeful about the possibility to serve the Humble community with this proposed location," Abbate said via email.

On the menu: The California-based fast-food chain is known for its burgers, fries, shakes and "not-so-secret" menu. This special menu features options like double meat, protein-style and animal-style options.

Some context: In-N-Out Burger currently has six Greater Houston-area locations, including one each in Cypress, Katy, Stafford, Webster, Willowbrook and The Woodlands.

• Opening date TBD
• 9663 FM 1960 Bypass, Humble

A former Humble City Council member and city employee was chosen to fill the vacant council seat Feb. 12.

How it happened: Mark Martin was chosen by Humble City Council to fill Place 1, which was left vacant following the death of council member Charles “Andy” Curry on Dec. 15. City leaders accepted applications for the seat from Jan. 23-30.

Five people applied to fill Place 1, and they were each interviewed by City Council before Martin was chosen.

What they're saying: “As we learned more about each of these individuals, of course we wanted to really drill down and learn about their relevant knowledge and experience,” Mayor Norman Funderberk said. “We wanted to assess their preparedness, and specifically, with that whole process, just [have] a good feeling for their appointment readiness.”

City law allows the council to either hold a special election or appoint a replacement council member, as previously reported. The Place 1 term runs until 2027.

As early voting begins Feb. 17, here is everything voters in the Lake Houston area need to know ahead of the March 3 primary election.

What residents should know: In Harris County, voters can cast their ballot at any polling location during early voting and on election day. Harris County will have 60 polling locations open during early voting and 224 polling locations open on election day, according to the Harris County Clerk's Office website.

Per the website, the polling locations will be open in accordance with the following schedule:

• Feb. 17-21: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Feb. 22: noon-7 p.m.
• Feb. 23-27: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• March 3: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• U.S. House, District 2
• U.S. House, District 29
• Texas House, District 3
• Texas House, District 142
• Harris County attorney
• Harris County clerk (Republicans and Democrats)
• Harris County district clerk
• Harris County judge (Republicans and Democrats)

Harris County residents can now see preliminary Federal Emergency Management Agency map data through a new interactive dashboard from FEMA and the Harris County Flood Control District in the first countywide update since 2007.

The big picture: As previously reported by Community Impact, the HCFCD and FEMA originally had planned a map update release in 2022, but the release was delayed repeatedly. The Modeling, Assessment and Awareness Project (MAAPNext) kicked off in 2019 and aims to supplement FEMA maps, while incorporating the data in an interactive, user-friendly dashboard.

Quote of note: “These maps are draft, there will be years of opportunity to review these maps and engage with the process before they are final,” HCFCD Executive Director Tina Petersen said. “We have a lot more work to do, but it is really fulfilling to see that the FEMA maps are showing the progress that we all know is happening.”

The timeline: The estimated timeline provided to commissioners highlighted the maps may not become final until 2028.

Here are several Black-owned businesses located across the Houston metro to commemorate Black History Month, as recently reported by Community Impact.

Good Eatz
Veteran and Good Eatz owner LaTroy Johnson opened his restaurant in July 2022. Johnson said he chose the location due to its friendly community.

• 8805 Jones Road, Ste. A-101, Jersey Village

• 29110 Hwy. 290, Ste. 220, Cypress

• 5802 FM 1488, Ste. F, Magnolia

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Feb. 9-13.

Check this out: Montgomery County Precinct 2 residents will have an opportunity to dispose of their heavy trash March 7-8 during Commissioner Charlie Riley’s Heavy Trash Clean Up Day, according to a Feb. 4 Facebook post.

From 8 a.m.-5 p.m. March 7 and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 8, residents can bring their heavy trash to 31245 Friendship Drive, Magnolia. Accepted items include batteries, tires and electronics, among others. 

In other news: The Houston Texans are setting up shop in Bridgeland.

The NFL franchise is collaborating with Harris County Precincts 3 and 4 and Howard Hughes Holdings to invest $83 million into a new “Toro District” in Cypress, which will include a new Texans headquarters and training facilities. Harris County commissioners approved the public-private partnership Feb. 12 following a closed-session meeting.

Also of note: A new La La Land Cafe is expected to open in Katy's Meadows Marketplace later this year.