The city of Tomball’s newly adopted comprehensive plan serves as a long-term blueprint for managing the city’s growth, guiding development and shaping infrastructure over the next five to 10 years.

In a nutshell: As Tomball grows, transportation remains one of the city’s biggest challenges and opportunities, Mayor Lori Klein Quinn said. The new comprehensive plan has an updated Major Thoroughfare Plan, with 11 proposed road connections and extensions designed to reduce congestion, improve safety and enhance connectivity.

Put in perspective: Traffic in Tomball has risen as new development fills in around the city. Average daily counts jumped 73% along Hwy. 249 south of FM 2920 between 2021 and 2024, with smaller increases across FM 2920 and Business 249, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Also of note: Beyond roads, the comprehensive plan lays out a vision for mobility that includes more than cars—expanding sidewalks, trail networks and alternative transit. One focus is a potential trolley connecting Old Town, the Depot Plaza and nearby parking areas.

Jump and Play is now open in Tomball.

The details: The indoor playground is for children of all ages, with special areas for babies, toddlers, older children and teenagers. Prices range from free for babies up to 11 months old, $6.99 for 1-2-year-olds and $11.99 for ages 3-15-year-olds, according to its website.

• 27620 Hwy. 249, Tomball

On Oct. 23, Lt. Col. Paul Mendes’ family members listened to sentimental stories looking back on his life as a veteran, city administrator for Magnolia and friend. Family members also got to see a section of Hwy. 249 that will be dedicated to Mendes, who died in 2019.

The background: A section of Hwy. 249, which passes through Montgomery County, was officially designated as the Lt. Col. Paul P. Mendes Memorial Parkway by the Texas Legislature, according to an Oct. 24 news release.

Hwy. 249 includes 15.5 miles from the southern edge of Montgomery County on the west side to the northern county line. At the Oct. 23 dedication ceremony, Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said Mendes was a driving force in making that 15.5-mile stretch happen.

Quote of note: “The road will be here to serve the community and the travelers who accept the open connection just like Paul's office door, which was always open to anyone who needed help,” Riley said at the ceremony.

Montgomery County commissioners on Oct. 28 approved a plan to reassign courtroom and office space in the main courthouse and the James H. Keeshan Building to prepare for the addition of a new criminal district court set to begin operations Sept. 1, 2026.

The impact: The proposal—presented by Judges Vince Santini and Kristin Bays—creates space for the incoming 523rd District Court while freeing up two additional courtrooms in the existing courthouse. The project will be funded through unspent money from the courts’ fiscal year 2025 operations budget, roughly $500,000, and, if needed, supplemented by the court facilities fund—both earmarked for judicial purposes, Bays said. County officials emphasized that the plan will have no impact on the county’s general budget.

More details: Commissioners in August approved the creation of the new 523rd District Court after judges warned earlier this year that existing facilities were running out of space to handle growing caseloads.

What's next: Commissioners directed staff to return within weeks with final bids and cost estimates.

TDECU—Houston’s largest credit union—and Smart Financial Credit Union—one of the city’s oldest—announced plans to merge, according to an Oct. 22 news release, combining their legacies under a shared mission to strengthen communities and expand member opportunities.

Marking a milestone: Pending regulatory approval and a member vote by Smart Financial, the merger is expected to be finalized in early 2026. The combined credit union will hold nearly $6 billion in assets and serve more than 460,000 members across Texas through a network of 48 branches, per the release.

TDECU President and CEO Isaac Johnson will lead the merged organization, while Smart Financial CEO LeAnn Kaczynski will serve as chief integration officer for one year to oversee the transition.

Also of note: TDECU’s ties with the University of Houston, Houston Texans and Buc-ee’s will join Smart Financial’s work with Smart Financial Centre and local charities through the Smart Financial Foundation.

Members of both institutions will see no immediate changes to accounts or services during the transition, according to the release.

Memorial Hermann Health System announced in a Oct. 23 news release that Guy B. Giesecke will take over as senior vice president and chief executive officer of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.

What we know: Formerly the chief executive officer over the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Giesecke will transition to his new role with Memorial Hermann immediately.

Quote of note: “I’m honored to join Children’s Memorial Hermann and contribute to an organization so deeply committed to advancing high-value, patient-centered care,” Giesecke said. “This is an exciting opportunity to help build on a legacy of excellence while supporting the health and well-being of children, families and communities across the region.”

Texas homeowners could see larger property tax breaks on this year’s bills if voters approve two state propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: Proposition 13 would raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, from $100,000 to $140,000. Proposition 11 would give homeowners who are over 65 years old or have a disability a $200,000 exemption.

The exemptions would apply only to taxes charged by public schools.

The impact: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the Houston Republican who authored the legislation, estimated in June that the average Texas homeowner would see about $484 in annual savings if the tax cuts are approved by voters, with roughly $950 in savings for seniors and people with disabilities. These estimates do not account for potential tax rate increases by local governments.

If voters approve the two ballot measures, the cuts will take effect for the current tax year and appear on homeowners’ upcoming tax bills, according to the Texas House Research Organization.