A public memorial for former Montgomery County Judge Jimmie C. Edwards III is planned for May 2 at Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park following his death March 31 at age 77. 

Edwards was a decorated Vietnam veteran, former state representative and founding chairman of the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission, according to his obituary. 

“Known to many as a master storyteller, Jimmie had a rare gift for connecting people through humor, honesty, and lived experience,” his obituary reads. “Whether sharing memories of service, family stories, or lessons learned along the way, he left those around him better for having listened. He was a brother others leaned on, a son deeply connected to his roots, and a man whose presence filled a room.”

The big picture: Montgomery County commissioners on April 9 approved a resolution honoring Edwards as a former county judge, U.S. Marine and founding leader of the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park. The court also declared April 9 Judge Jimmie C. Edwards III Memorial Day in Montgomery County.

There are several events to attend in the Tomball area this weekend. Check them out below. This is not a comprehensive list, and events are subject to change.

Hot Sauce Festival
The Paradigm Hot Sauce Festival will feature a lineup of hot sauces and spicy eats as well as a pepper-eating contest.

• April 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Free

• 2130 S. Persimmon St., Tomball

12th Annual Moffitt Charity Crawfish Festival
The annual festival benefitting Boots for Troops will feature artists Josh Abbott, Easton Corbin, Jon Wolfe, and Cody Hibbard as well as a crawfish boil.

• April 18, 3-9 p.m.

• $78.25 (students), $154 (VIP)

• Sam Houston Race Park, 7575 N. Sam Houston Parkway W., Houston

Tomball ISD Fine Arts Festival
Tomball ISD will be hosting an art-focused festival at Tomball Memorial High to celebrate and honor the fine arts in the district.

• April 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Free (admission)

• 19100 Northpointe Ridge Lane, Tomball

Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin will serve as Harris County attorney effective June 15 after Commissioners Court approved her appointment April 16 in a 3-2 vote.

What happened: Kamin replaces County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne, who said he will serve in the position until she takes over in June. Commissioners Court named Fombonne as the county attorney Jan. 8 after now-U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee, D-Houston, resigned from the role to run for Congress, Community Impact previously reported.

Kamin must still earn voter approval in the Nov. 3 election, where she faces Republican candidate Jacqueline Lucci Smith, the sole Republican to enter the race to serve for the rest of Menefee's county attorney term, which expires in 2028.

What they're saying: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she expects Kamin to garner the votes Nov. 3, but it "doesn't feel right" to appoint her to the role prematurely. Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey also said the process lacked transparency and that he could not support her appointment.

Texas is home to the nation’s fastest-growing data center market, with one January report projecting that the state will see a 142% increase in its share of the data center industry by the end of 2028.

During a wide-ranging Texas House hearing April 9, lawmakers questioned data center developers, energy companies and state grid officials about the amount of water the large facilities use; how they impact noise levels and air quality; and whether residents can expect higher costs when data centers come to their communities.

What they're saying: “Water is a really scarce resource in this state, and so we have to have a clear picture of what these facilities use on the water side,” said Thomas Gleeson, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

More details: Data centers use water to cool their computer servers and prevent overheating. The facilities have historically used a water-intensive process known as "evaporative cooling," but data center executives said April 9 that they have transitioned to “closed-loop” systems where water is continuously reused.