The rodeo arena at A.V. 'Bull' Sallas Park has reopened to livestock, officials with Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray's Office announced via Facebook on Jan. 12.

Some context: The arena had been closed since Nov. 19, when Precinct 4 officials announced its temporary closure due to a statewide outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1, or EHV-1.

Sid Miller, commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, confirmed the outbreak in a Nov. 19 news release stating the virus was first reported after the World Championship Barrel Racing Finals, which took place in Waco from Nov. 5-9.

At the time, Precinct 4 officials said the arena was being closed in an effort to minimize the spread of EHV-1 and "out of an abundance of caution."

Check it out: Now reopened to livestock, the rodeo arena offers open riding hours from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, according to the Precinct 4 website. For more information about reservations and rental fees, call 936-597-4444.

• 21675-B McCleskey Road, New Caney

Check out what's happening in the New Caney and Porter area this weekend, Jan. 15-18.

Rodeo Art Show: Support young artists at New Caney ISD's 2026 Rodeo Art Show. Students will display art they submitted to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Light refreshments will be available.

• Jan. 15, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• Randall Reed Stadium Community Room, 21360 Valley Ranch Parkway, New Caney

• Jan. 18, 1-5 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 26452 Sorters McClellan Road, Porter

Houston-area hospitality businesses can now earn points for their sustainability practices as part of a new program that aims to limit environmental harm ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a nutshell: The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee launched the “New Year, New Hou” initiative Jan. 12 to mitigate the environmental impact of tourism during the tournament, which will run from June 11 to July 19, per a news release. Roughly 500,000 people are expected to visit Houston to watch the games, Community Impact previously reported.

About the program: Hotels, motels and restaurants—including cafés and bars—based within the Houston-Galveston Area Council's boundaries can participate in the program through Feb. 28, according to the release.

Qualifying businesses can earn badges by implementing environmentally friendly practices pertaining to waste management, energy efficiency and natural resources, according to the committee’s Hospitality Sustainability Toolkit. 

What to expect: Verified businesses will be added to a “sustainable tourism guide” for World Cup visitors, per the release. 

From volunteer events to parades, there are several events to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Greater Houston area. 

MLK Lonestar
The Lone Star Community Center is holding an event to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

• Jan. 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Free
• Lone Star Community Center, 2500 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery

• Jan. 18, 4 p.m.
• Free
• 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands

• Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Free
• Hope Farms, 10401 Scott St., Houston

Texas health officials are proposing sweeping new regulations on the state’s hemp industry, including raising the fees required to sell and manufacture consumable hemp products by roughly 10,000%.

The overview: In late December, the Texas Department of State Health Services published a slate of proposed rules regulating consumable hemp products. The proposals include:

• A prohibition on sales to customers under 21 years old
• Stricter testing and labeling requirements
• Guidelines for product recalls
• Tens of thousands of dollars in annual fees