The Pop Stop—a dirty soda and coffee shop—has opened at a new location in Roman Forest.

The overview: Co-owner Modisty Pruett and co-owner Cara Gautreaux launched their business in June, traveling around the area and offering pick-up orders in Tavola. The business, which incorporates a 1950s theme, offers:

• Specialty coffee drinks such as the “Jitterbug,” which is an iced caramel latte with whipped cream and cinnamon
• Dirty sodas including the “Lime Ricky Remix,” which consists of root beer, lime, vanilla and cream
• Lemonade
• Energy sodas

• Relocated Sept. 8
• 17643 Hwy. 59, Roman Forest

Montgomery County Precinct 4 officials held an open house-style meeting Dec. 11 to allow residents to learn more about the precinct's Flood Mitigation Grant Plan. As previously reported by Community Impact, the plan will establish a long-term strategy for flood mitigation in Precinct 4, identify specific project areas for future grant funding and implement as part of Precinct 4's 20-year Drainage Plan.

Zooming in: Precinct 4's plan evaluates 15 neighborhoods where drainage issues and historical flood losses have been documented, including 10 in the New Caney and Porter area. The proposed projects were selected based on their eligibility for funding through the FEMA grant program, which requires that projects demonstrate a clear benefit-cost ratio and potential for future federal funding.

Next steps: Precinct 4 officials noted public feedback will be reviewed and incorporated into the Flood Mitigation Grant Plan. Precinct 4 will then finalize the plan and submit projects to FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program for funding consideration. As funding becomes available, projects would be constructed in phases over approximately 20 years.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Dec. 8-12.

A sneak peek: Vegas Texas Casino officials said the practice-style casino has plans to open between Dec. 15-Jan. 1 in Cypress pending receipt of its Certificate of Occupancy and TABC license. The casino is fully compliant with all Texas gambling and sweepstakes laws, and no gambling of any kind is offered, officials said. 

In case you missed it: On Jan. 1, drivers will see an increase in toll rates, according to a Nov. 18 news release from the Harris County Toll Road Authority. The toll rate increases are along the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority’s portion of Hwy. 249. 

Craving something new? From a new sushi spot to a rebranded Mexican birria locale, Community Impact compiled six dining updates across the Greater Houston area, including restaurants that recently opened or are coming soon.

Texas has grown rapidly in recent years, and data indicates that development is not slowing down. The Lone Star State gained about 168,000 jobs from September 2024-September 2025, leading the nation in job growth, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

The overview: Texas is attractive to businesses looking to relocate or expand their operations due to its tax incentives and grants, lack of a personal income tax and roughly 200 higher education institutions, business leaders said during a Dec. 10 summit held in College Station by industry network YTexas.

As businesses of all sizes continue to move to Texas, local governments and associations also need to “support the ones that are already here,” said Dean Browell, the chief behavioral officer for Feedback, a digital ethnographic research firm.

Zooming in: In an October study, Feedback found that long-term Texas residents want to live in growing communities with strong education systems and plentiful job opportunities. That growth, however, can lead to rising property taxes and living expenses before residents begin feeling the benefits, Browell said.