Conroe residents will get more time to speak at City Council meetings, and downtown event organizers are getting a temporary break on street closure fees after two unanimous votes May 14.

The action came during the first regular meeting with newly seated council members Kristin Hoisington, Ken Blevins and John Sellars on the dais. Both items had drawn months of frustration from residents, small-business owners and downtown event supporters.

What happened: Council voted unanimously to amend its 2024-26 rules of procedure to allow residents to speak on both agenda and non-agenda items at the beginning of publicly called meetings.

The change reverses a January 2025 rule that limited comments to current agenda items only. Mayor Duke Coon said at the time he would not enforce that restriction, as previously reported by Community Impact.

Also of note: Council also voted unanimously to temporarily restore street closure fees and related requirements to where they stood before Nov. 13, while staff and council continue working on a revised pricing model.

Edward Jones financial advisor Ryan Korenek relocated his Conroe office May 1, he confirmed. 

The details: The office moved from 221 Simonton St., Conroe, to 2040 N. Loop 336 W., Ste. 306, Conroe. 

The move was made to accommodate the growth of the team, Korenek said.

The business provides personalized financial guidance to help clients make decisions, build long-term wealth, protect their assets and stay on track with their goals through different stages of life.

• 2040 N. Loop 336 W., Ste. 306, Conroe

Willis High School seniors will be receiving their diplomas at the Johnson Coliseum at Sam Houston State University on May 23. Here is everything you need to know about the ceremony.

What parents should know: The Johnson Coliseum has a strict bag policy; only clear bags no larger than 12-by-12-by-6 inches and nonclear bags no larger than 4.5-by-6.5 inches will be admitted. Alongside the clear bag policy, the coliseum has a list of prohibited and permitted items for the ceremony.

One more thing: Parking for the ceremony is free and can be found in the parking garage adjacent to the venue. Elderly or disabled guests can find accommodated parking at the coliseum lot off B.K. Marks Boulevard. Golf carts will also be available on site to assist elderly and disabled guests.

The Texas Supreme Court on May 15 denied Gov. Greg Abbott’s request to remove state Rep. Gene Wu from office after the Houston Democrat led his colleagues in a walkout to protest congressional redistricting last summer.

The details: In the court’s majority opinion, Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock ruled that because Wu and other House Democrats “voluntarily returned” to the Capitol two weeks after their August departure, it was not necessary for the court to get involved.

The court also rejected a petition by Attorney General Ken Paxton to expel Wu and 12 other Democrats over the walkout, consolidating the two requests in one ruling.

What they're saying: Wu celebrated the ruling in a May 15 statement, saying that "the Constitution does not let a governor erase voters’ choices when their choices are inconvenient to him."

Abbott's office argued the governor's August lawsuit helped end the walkout and said the state was prepared to fight future quorum breaks: "If Democrats abandon their offices again, the governor will bring them right back to the Texas Supreme Court."