Construction will begin soon on a retail shopping center expected to bring fast food options, a fitness center and medical clinics to Porter, the project’s owner confirmed March 13.

The timeline: Construction is tentatively estimated to begin this summer, and project permits are still pending. Work is slated to wrap up on the retail center by June 2027.

What to expect: The retail center will include three buildings ranging from 14,000-21,200 square feet, for a combined total space of about 55,600 square feet, according to Jan. 30 filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

• Opening date TBD
• 23221 FM 1314, Porter; 23227 FM 1314, Porter; 23233 FM 1314, Porter

The deadline to become a volunteer for New Caney ISD during the 2025-26 school year is fast approaching.

The gist: Those interested in volunteering at NCISD for the 2025-26 school year have until April 17 to apply. The last day of the 2025-26 school year for students is May 21.

NCISD volunteers can enrich student education by supporting students, teachers and programs at various campuses.

Explaining the role: To sign up as a volunteer with NCISD, a community member must:

• Complete an application
• Take an online orientation
• Pass a background check
• Sign up for volunteer assignments once their application is approved

More moderate prices have led to an influx of homes hitting the market, according to the Houston Association of Realtors' February 2026 housing market update. While there was a slight decrease in home sales, buyer activity has increased across the region.

The gist: According to HAR, property sales of all types compared to February last year have dwindled by 3.3%, with 7,024 properties sold. Despite this, the number of properties listed has risen by 14.3%, with 55,710 properties now available. 

According to HAR Chief Economist Ted C. Jones, the Houston housing market has been “bottoming out” for the past several years and is now returning to pre-pandemic levels.

As it stands right now, the median price declined 0.9% year over year in February to $322,078. Homes have also been spending more time on the market this February compared to last February—the average days spent on the market for a home went from 60 to 69 days, which is the highest it’s been since March 2013, when the average time was 74 days.

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Families have until 11:59 p.m. March 17 to apply for the first year of Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

The big picture: Under the $1 billion program, participating students will receive state funds for private education or homeschooling during the 2026-27 school year. It is unlikely that all applicants will be accepted, as application data shows more students have applied than the program can fund.

The program offers $2,000 to homeschooled students; $10,474 for private school tuition and related expenses; and up to $30,000 for students with disabilities. With demand set to exceed available funding, applications will be prioritized based on need and household income.

How we got here: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025, with proponents saying it will expand options for families who don't want to send their children to public schools. Critics of the program have said it will unfairly benefit students already in private schools and divert funding from public schools.