HTX-LHK: Impact 11/10/2025

The Wandering Mystic—a veteran-owned shop offering games and crystals in Kingwood—is expanding its shop, owners and operators Raymond and Katrina Kohl confirmed.

The gist: The Kohls said the store features a mix of tabletop adventures, metaphysical treasures, eclectic gifts and local artwork. In early 2026, the owners will add an additional 1,400 square feet of space to The Wandering Mystic, which will allow them to grow their gaming area, retail space and offerings.

“From trading card tournaments and [Dungeons & Dragons] nights to workshops and community events, The Wandering Mystic is where imagination, friendship and a little bit of mystery come to life,” the Kohls said in an email to Community Impact.

• 3033 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood

Construction began in October to widen Ford Road in Porter, which Montgomery County officials said will serve as an additional evacuation route out of the area once the project is completed.

About the project: According to previous reporting by Community Impact, the first phase of the project—which will cost roughly $5.9 million—will consist of widening the road from two to four lanes between Hwy. 59 and Needham Road. Ditches will also be reconstructed along the corridor.

The local impact: Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray and U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw visited the site in late October to discuss the project. 

“Evacuation routes out of the area were a problem during [Hurricane] Harvey, .... and that needs to be improved,” Crenshaw said. “It’s just a safety issue.”

What’s next: Gray said the second phase of the project, which will consist of widening Ford Road from two to four lanes between Needham Road and Mills Branch Drive, is projected to begin next summer.

Airports in Dallas and Houston are required to begin reducing flights and other operations by 4% on Nov. 7 in response to air traffic controller shortages caused by the federal government shutdown, transportation officials announced Nov. 6.

The details: The cuts will affect 40 "high impact airports" across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. The affected Texas airports include:

• Dallas Love Field (DAL)
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

Harris County commissioners opted not to draft regulations on roadside vendors and panhandlers in unincorporated areas of the county in a split vote Oct. 30.

The overview: In May, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 2012, which allows counties to curb roadside and parking lot soliciting. The bill permits restrictions on people asking for money or selling food or merchandise, including animals, along roadways.

What happened: During Harris County commissioners’ Oct. 30 meeting, a motion to pursue drafting panhandling and roadside soliciting regulations failed, with Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones voting against the measure; Judge Lina Hidalgo was absent from the meeting. 

Remember this? If the motion would have passed, the county attorney would have worked with court offices to draft an ordinance including:

• Clear prohibitions on panhandling that affects traffic lanes, medians and other areas that pose safety risks
• A focus on improving traffic flow and quality of life by creating designated safety zones away from busy traffic
• Opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness to be directed to resources

Missed any Community Impact articles from this week? Check out the top trending stories from Community Impact's coverage areas in Houston from Nov. 3-7.

1. Houston Airport System issues advisory about indefinite TSA delays

2. See unofficial voting results for LCISD’s $1.99B bond

3. Unofficial voting results show all three Magnolia ISD bond propositions fail

4. Conroe ISD's Grand Oaks zoning plan in the works as area continues to grow

5. Sugar Land to make code changes as 52-acre Lake Pointe redevelopment nears construction

More than 20 months after wildfires swept through the Texas Panhandle in early 2024, burning over 1.2 million acres of land, state lawmakers questioned if Texas has the tools needed to tackle another major fire.

The context: Texas is always a fire-prone state, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. The association’s website reports that annual wildfire risk is most severe from February-April, when dry grasses and high winds can cause fires to spread, and August-October, when high temperatures and droughts contribute to fires.

“Our purpose today is to figure out—what is our response going to look like next February and March?” Rep. Ken King, a Republican representing Canadian and other Panhandle communities, said during a Nov. 3 committee hearing. “Are we better prepared … or are we in the same position we were in 2024, when our response was lacking?”

The details: Officials said Texas owns just two firefighting aircraft, with others "essentially [subleased] through the federal government."

During peak wildfire season, this means Texas may have access to limited resources.