Two candidates are running for Magnolia City Council Position 5 in the May 2 election. Incumbent Jack L. Huitt Jr. is running for Magnolia mayor.

What you need to know: Early voting begins April 20 and runs through April 28, according to the Texas Secretary of State's website. Election day is May 2. In Montgomery County, voters can cast their ballot at any polling location during early voting, but must vote at their designated polling place on election day. 

What else: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, visit communityimpact.com/election.

National beverage chain Swig, which specializes in customizable "dirty soda" drinks, opened a new location off Hwy. 249 near Spring Cypress Road.

The details: The new Cypress Village drive-thru shop adds to a growing list of Swig stores in the Greater Houston area, with another shop coming soon in Cypress along Fry Road, according to Community Impact. 

On the menu: Swig combines sodas with a customized mix of flavors, creams, purees and fresh fruits, according to its website.

Popular menu items include the Texas Tab, which blends Dr. Pepper, vanilla and coconut cream, as well as the Strawberry Breeze, a water-based beverage with strawberry puree and sugar-free coconut. The business also serves a variety of energy drinks, teas and refreshers, and customers can build their own drinks.

Zooming out: Founded in Utah, Swig has more than 150 shops across the country and nine throughout Greater Houston, including Katy, Magnolia and Atascocita, per its website. 

• 22532 Hwy. 249, Houston

The Montgomery County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office and Montgomery Central Appraisal District will be hosting multiple property tax workshops to educate locals on navigating the property tax process. The first batch workshop is scheduled to begin April 6, according to a March 24 Facebook post.

What to expect: A few of the topics expected to be covered include the property tax system, appraisal value, right to protest and deadlines, and more. The dates for the upcoming workshops are as follows:

• April 6 from 6-7:30 p.m. at North Montgomery County Community Center, 600 Gerald St., Willis
• April 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Woodforest-The Palms, 251 Central Pine St., Montgomery
• April 23 from 6-7:30 p.m. at East Montgomery County Senior Center, 21679 McCleskey Road, New Caney
• April 28 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Kevin Brady Community Center, 2250 Buckthorn Place, The Woodlands
• May 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. at West Montgomery County Community Development Center, 31355 Friendship Drive, Magnolia
• May 7 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Montgomery Central Appraisal District, 109 Gladstell St., Conroe

Student homelessness increased across many Greater Houston-area school districts over the last five school years, while foster care numbers showed a more uneven pattern from district to district, according to Texas Education Agency data released March 6.

The overview: Community Impact reviewed TEA data for 28 Greater Houston-area school districts to compare the number of enrolled students identified as experiencing homelessness or living in foster care in 2025-26 versus 2021-22. In the foster care data, Fort Bend ISD and Aldine ISD had the highest counts in 2025-26. 

In the homelessness data, Houston ISD stood above the rest of the districts shown, nearing 6,000 students in 2025-26. Other districts, including Alief ISD, Clear Creek ISD, Conroe ISD and Fort Bend ISD, all showed higher homeless student counts in 2025-26 than in 2021-22, while several others were flat or down.

Missed any Community Impact articles from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from March 30-April 2.

• Harris County Precinct 3 pilots new approach to street repair with recycled tires
• Buttermilk Cafe opening in Willis
• Big Air slated to open Missouri City location this summer
• Booked and busy: 31 stores to visit during the Houston Independent Bookstore Crawl
• New modern, retail, dining space coming to League City