Several veteran-owned businesses recently opened in the New Caney and Porter area this summer. 

Dan’s Garage and Auto Parts: Owned by Dan Hart, Dan’s Garage and Auto Parts offers auto repair services using advanced diagnostic tools, including transmission repair and replacement, general auto repair and maintenance, manufacturer-recommended service, and brake repair and replacement. With 25 years of experience, per the website, Hart is a Kingwood High School graduate and U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard the U.S.S. Acadia.

• Opened in early June
• 23718 Loop 494, Ste. A, Porter

• Opened July 7
• 3202 Roman Forest Blvd., New Caney

On Dec. 10, Noah’s Give-A-Gift, a local nonprofit that helps schools, will mark one year since its launch. The organization chose its first recipient school Dec. 10, 2024.

The backstory: Lindsay and Nicholas Carthen founded the organization in honor of their son, Noah Martin Carthen, who died Dec. 10, 2018, at 20 months old. 

Quote of note: “Since Noah's passing in 2018, God blessed us with our rainbow baby, Eliana, [who is six years old], and our sunshine, Callen [who is four years old],” Lindsay Carthen said. “We have since felt Noah's presence when a butterfly flies by.”

Giving back: Noah’s Give-A-Gift leaders select a school with high rates of students coming from low-income families and donate resources to help. This year, New Caney ISD’s Oakley Elementary has been selected to be the recipient, and clothing and Christmas toys will be donated to students.
 

Travelers should prepare for longer security wait times at Houston's airports "until further notice" due to the federal government shutdown, according to a Nov. 2 advisory.

Two-minute impact: Transportation Security Administration wait times may exceed one hour at William P. Hobby Airport, or HOU, and three hours at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, according to the advisory.

Security checkpoints at terminals A and E are the only TSA screening locations open at IAH as of press time, per the advisory. Additionally, passengers at HOU may see reduced lanes available.

Quote of note: "The federal government shutdown has impacted TSA staffing and operations nationwide, and Houston Airports is doing everything possible to support our TSA partners and keep passengers moving safely and efficiently," Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports, said in a statement. "We ask that passengers continue to arrive early and expect extended security wait times until the federal government shutdown is resolved.”

During the two weeks of early voting Oct. 20-31, a little over 7% of registered voters in Montgomery County cast their ballots, with 34,350 votes cast—or 7.38% of registered voters. 

As of Nov. 2, there were 465,127 registered voters within the county, according to Montgomery County Election Central. 

Diving in deeper: The last day of early voting was Oct. 31, and Election Day is Nov. 4. Registered voters in Montgomery County must cast their ballots at their assigned polling locations on Election Day.

During the last week of early voting, Oct. 27-31, the county saw 22,111 voters cast their ballots, while the first week of early voters made up 12,239 of ballots cast. 

Election Day is Nov. 4. Polling places across Texas will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., according to the secretary of state’s office.

The overview: Voters in the following counties can vote at any polling place within their county of residence through the countywide voting program: Bastrop, Bexar, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Fort Bend, Galveston, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson. Registered voters in other counties are required to visit a polling place specific to their voting precinct.

On the ballot: Texas voters will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution during the Nov. 4 election. Each proposition was approved by at least two-thirds of state lawmakers this spring before being placed on the ballot.

Voters in various communities across the state may also see local propositions and races on their ballots, including a 20% tax rate increase in Austin, a congressional race in Harris County and a state Senate race in Tarrant County.

Learn more: To get to know the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.