Officials with Toyo Co. held an Oct. 6 ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of the company’s manufacturing facility expansion in Humble, according to an Oct. 7 news release. 

The details: Toyo is a global solar energy company that designs, manufactures, and sells solar cells, photovoltaic modules and related components across the solar power supply chain, according to the company's website. 

With the expansion, the facility—which opened in October 2025—now has the capacity to produce 2 gigawatts of solar modules annually, per the release. 

"Completing our 2 GW module expansion in Texas is an important milestone for Toyo," Toyo Chairman and CEO Takahiko Onozuka said in a statement. "We thank our employees, the Humble community, and our partners in the United States and Japan for their support."

Looking forward: Toyo officials said the company is in the midst of another expansion at the site that will include the construction of a heterojunction cell line, which will further increase the facility’s capacity to produce solar modules. 

• Expansion completed Oct. 6

• 6115 Greens Road, Humble

Mayday Fairs, a Porter-based nonprofit, launched in August to support local firefighters and their families who are experiencing life-altering hardship.

About the organization: Founded by Maxine Cruz and Heather Probst, the organization serves firefighters throughout Harris and Montgomery counties.

The event: The nonprofit will host its first fundraiser, the Mayday Book Fair, on Oct. 17 from 4-8 p.m. at J&Co Vintage Market in Porter. Admission is free, and the event will feature:

• Vendors, a book swap and a silent auction

• Books and book-related items for sale

• A raffle for a new Kindle

Proceeds from the silent auction and the Mayday Fair booth will directly benefit the family of local firefighter Jesse Castillo, who recently died from stage 4 lung cancer.

The Texas Renaissance Festival will return to Todd Mission for its 52nd season in 2026, running from Oct. 10 through Nov. 29.

Read all about it: Spanning 70 acres, the nation's largest Renaissance-themed event features 21 stages, more than 400 artisanal shops and over 200 acres of camping facilities.

The festival will showcase eight themed weekends from Oktoberfest on Oct. 10-11 to Celtic Christmas on Nov. 27-29. Additional themes include Pirate Adventure, Barbarian Invasion and All Hallows Eve.

What's new: This year the festival will bring back fan-favorite attractions alongside new acts, including Paladin, the Errant Fool; Sons of Olympus; and Lester Jesterson.

Tickets range from $16 to $40. Admission is free for kids 5 and under on Saturdays, and kids 13 and under get in free on Sundays.

Ahead of Texas' 2027 legislative session, the state comptroller's office has asked lawmakers to double funding for its $1 billion education savings account program.

The overview: The program gives participating families taxpayer dollars for private education and homeschooling, and officials said at least $2 billion are needed to maintain current participation in the program.

Meanwhile, some Texas families are raising concerns about their local school districts losing money as students leave public schools to participate in the program, known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

What they're saying: "149 students have accepted vouchers that were otherwise enrolled in Pflugerville ISD, [resulting in] an estimated loss of $1.2 million in attendance funding," said Stacy Harrell, a PfISD parent. "That lost funding will add to budget cuts that are already affecting Pflugerville ISD families. Four elementary schools [are closing], with the possibility of more."