Conroe City Council voted Jan. 8 to support setting aside about 42 acres inside the city’s long-struggling Technology Park for a future “venue” concept that staff compared to regional draws like The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and Houston’s Discovery Green.

The big picture: Nancy Mikeska, deputy city administrator and community development director, told council the Technology Park—purchased in 2008 and opened in 2013—“struggled all along,” in part because airport-related height limits made it harder to attract the kinds of high-tech businesses the city originally envisioned. 

What’s proposed: Mikeska framed the concept as “some type of venue” and pointed to models like Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and Houston’s Discovery Green. Plans discussed with council included amphitheaters, special events and movie nights, trails, a man-made lake, a splash pad, a food truck area and a dog park. Mikeska stressed that council’s action only signals support, not final approval or funding

Next steps: The concept now moves to Conroe Industrial Development Corp. for further consideration.

Conroe City Council voted Jan. 8 to let the city attorney hire a third-party firm to review financial disclosure statements submitted by city candidates and elected officials under the city’s ethics and financial disclosure ordinance.

What happened: City Attorney Mike Garner told council he had been asked back in November to identify a firm for the work. He said finding the right vendor may be “fairly niche,” and he expected it to involve a law firm with municipal government experience paired with someone with a financial background, adding that staff would bring details back to council once a firm is identified and parameters are set.

The decision comes as Conroe gears up for the May 2 general election for council Places 3, 4 and 5, along with municipal judge.

What residents said: Several speakers urged council to hold off, arguing the city already has a state-required personal financial statement process and that adding another layer—without clear standards, storage protocols or an appeals process—could create the appearance of political leverage and discourage participation.

Montgomery County Food Bank will spotlight four community partners during its 2026 Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope Gala, set for Saturday, Feb. 7 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, according to a Jan. 6 news release.

What’s happening?: The gala serves as the food bank’s signature fundraiser and supports hunger relief through its network of partner agencies. The organization said each donated dollar can provide up to four meals.

This year’s theme, “Through the Looking Glass,” invites guests to consider what the county can accomplish “when our community comes together in generosity and compassion,” the release states.

Per the release, the 2026 gala honorees are:

• ExxonMobil, Community Partner of the Year
• St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Partner Agency of the Year
• Fortifi Food Processing Solutions, Volunteer of the Year
• Ann Snyder, Legacy Award

Residents who use W.G. Jones State Forest should expect temporary closures this week as the Texas A&M Forest Service plans a prescribed burn in the forest Jan. 15, weather permitting. The burn will take place within state forest boundaries between I-45 and Hwy. 242, south of FM 1488, according to a news release.

The impact: Prescribed burning serves as a forest management tool that officials use to restore habitat, reduce undergrowth and improve community safety by cutting down the fuel that can feed wildfires, the release states. The planned burn also targets habitat restoration for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and will include inter-departmental training for state and local emergency response resources.

The agency plans to notify surrounding city and fire officials as well as area residents and groups who frequent the forest by email, and it will post notification signs in adjoining rights of way, according to the release. Firefighters and equipment will be staged on-site as a precaution, and some areas of the forest will be closed to the public during operations.