HTX-COM: Impact 10/28/2025

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough lifted the county’s burn ban Oct. 26 following recent rainfall, he announced via Facebook. 

The gist: Keough said that the county’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index average is 530, which is "well below levels of concern." The KBDI is an index that is used to measure wildfire potential from 0 to 800, with 800 representing absolutely dry conditions, according to its website. The decision to lift the burn ban was made in coordination with the county fire marshal and the county's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Keough said. 

Before you go: The burning of outdoor trash and commercial waste is still illegal countywide, Keough said.

Pastor Aaron Bryan at Fellowship Baptist Church is inviting residents to the new church. 

The impact: Pastor Aaron Bryan said the church chose to plant roots in Conroe because of the city’s rapid growth.

“We felt like our area has a vast amount of need in the growing community of Conroe,” Bryan said. “Each generation needs the peace of trust in God’s promises.”

The church offers Sunday school for all ages at 9:30 a.m., followed by a main worship service at 10:30 a.m., featuring singing, special music and a message, Bryan said. Midweek Bible lessons are held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

• 1304 Wilson Road, Conroe

During the first week of early voting Oct. 20-25 almost 3% of registered voters in Montgomery County cast their ballots, with 12,239 votes cast–or 2.63% of registered voters. As of Oct. 26 there were 464,644 registered voters within the county, according to Montgomery County Election Central. 

Going forward: The last day of early voting is Friday, Oct. 31 and election day is Nov. 4. There are nine early voting locations across Montgomery County. 

Texas is home to about 3.5 million small businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Estimates show that the average Texas small-business owner could save about $2,500 per year if voters approve an expanded business tax exemption on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: State Proposition 9 would exempt up to $125,000 of a business’s personal property, such as equipment, furniture and vehicles, from taxation. Texas business owners currently receive a tax exemption on property worth $2,500 or less.

“At $2,500, virtually everyone's paying this tax,” NFIB Texas Director Jeff Burdett said in an Oct. 24 interview. “If you have a desk, a computer and a chair, you're probably over $2,500 [in inventory]. … It makes no difference for almost any business.”

At the polls: Early voting in the Nov. 4 election began Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.