As Tomball and the surrounding Harris County Emergency Services District No. 15 area keep adding rooftops and new commercial development, Tomball Fire Rescue Chief Joe Sykora said the department is feeling the pressure in one place first: demand for service.

The gist: Call volume has increased more than 93.8% over the past five years, city data shows, and keeping response coverage steady now depends on station placement, staffing and facility upgrades—not just new trucks.

Through Tomball Fire Rescue’s partnership with ESD 15—where the city of Tomball provides fire and emergency services on the district’s behalf—Sykora said the partnership is built to support long-term funding, staffing and facility planning as growth continues.

Last month on Feb. 23, Christian Brothers Automotive opened a new location in Tomball. The automotive repair franchise prides itself on customer service and honest car repairs, according to its website.

Two-minute impact: According to its website, the Tomball franchise location is locally owned and operated by Chip & Sandi Fenner. The franchise first opened in 1982 under CEO Mark Carr, and since then has expanded to 13 locations in Houston and 22 states nationwide.

• 24155 Tomball Parkway, Tomball

Families making up to $100,000 are now eligible for Sam Houston State University’s Bearkat Promise program, after the university announced Feb. 24 that it was raising the family income eligibility threshold from $40,000.

In a nutshell: The Bearkat Promise program provides eligible students with the mandatory tuition and fees they need for up to 15 credit hours per semester, according to its website. The increased income threshold starts in fall 2026.

More details: According to the news release, to qualify for the program, students must:

• Be an entering freshman or transfer student
• Be a Texas resident with demonstrated financial need
• Be eligible for a federal Pell Grant
• Submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid by the priority deadline of March 1
• Enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester