Drivers should plan for a weekend closure at the Buddy Riley Boulevard and FM 1488 intersection, according to a Texas Department of Transportation notice posted by the city of Magnolia on Facebook on Feb. 19.

What you need to know: The intersection will temporarily close starting at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and is expected to reopen on or before 5 a.m. Feb. 23.

TxDOT said the closure is needed so crews can replace a waterline along the FM 1488 right of way as part of the FM 1488 widening project. Crews will work throughout the weekend to complete the improvements as quickly and safely as possible.

Magnolia Public Works is also tracking the work and will be on hand if issues arise, city officials said via Facebook.

Residents experiencing water pressure issues can report them at 281-356-2266, option 2.

TxDOT encouraged motorists to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and follow posted detour signage.

Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries is celebrating 40 years of service, having begun in 1986, Community Relations Director Dandi Daniels confirmed.

The gist: The nonprofit provides emergency assistance with food, clothing, medical and dental care and other household bills. Daniels said in 2025, TEAM served 1,418 families with the help of 92 volunteers. TEAM also has a resale shop in downtown Tomball that opened in 1990.

One more thing: For its 40th anniversary, Daniels said the nonprofit’s fundraising goal is $240,000. The online campaign, “Harnessing our Hearts for Action,” launches March 1 and will run through May.

• 300 W. Main St., Tomball

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

Magnolia Lions Club: Pancake Supper
This Saturday, the Magnolia Lions Club will be hosting a family-friendly all-you-can-eat pancake and bacon supper. The proceeds from the event will go to support local community programs. The Lions Club will be providing a wide variety of games for all ages, such as a silent raffle, live music, bounce houses and more. 

• Feb. 21, 5-8 p.m.
• $12 (adults), $10 (children under 10)
• 31138 Nichols Sawmill Road, Magnolia

• Feb. 21, 11 a.m.
• Free (admission)
• 14320 FM 2920, Tomball

Effective March 9, former U.S. Rep. Erica Lee Carter will serve as the new Harris County administrator after commissioners unanimously approved her appointment Feb. 12.

In a nutshell: Lee Carter will lead the Office of County Administration, or OCA, which oversees the day-to-day operations of the county and coordinates across its departments. She will be the first African American woman to hold the position, which was created in 2021.

Did you know? Lee Carter served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2024-2025 in a special election to Texas’ 18th Congressional District after her mother, late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, died in 2024. 

She has also overseen policy initiatives within Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ office for several years with a focus on economic opportunity, voting access and budget management, per a news release from the OCA.

Quote of note: “It is my commitment to work each day to make progress towards your 2050 vision and ensure the county is safe and fair, thriving, resilient, connected, healthy and secure,” Lee Carter said Feb. 12. 

During an arctic blast last month, the Texas power grid remained stable throughout the storm and the state came away largely unscathed. The Lone Star State has not seen widespread blackouts since February 2021, when millions of Texans lost power and nearly 250 people died.

The response: In Uri’s wake, state lawmakers and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas made changes to restructure ERCOT’s governing board, mandate earlier public alerts during tight grid conditions and require that energy providers “weatherize” their facilities to withstand extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Roughly 40,000 megawatts of power—enough to serve about 10 million residential customers—have been added to the grid since 2021 and the state’s energy supply has become more diverse.

Looking ahead: State leaders have expressed confidence that the grid would hold up during “a storm similar to Uri.” Yet some energy analysts caution that rapidly rising electric demand, driven by the construction of new data centers throughout Texas, means challenges may still lie ahead.