The Montgomery County Memorial Library System announced a new systemwide program, Innovate@MCMLS, intended to engage community members with technological and creative tools, according to a Dec. 3 news release.

The details: The initiative will begin in January at the Kevin Brady Library and Community Center in The Woodlands and will promote and provide information, education, culture and innovation opportunities for Montgomery County residents, according to the release. ​​​​

The specifics: The library will add an innovation space that will include a professional podcast studio with audio and video production capabilities as well as a makerspace with fabrication tools, 3D modular printers and scanners and other equipment, according to the news release.

Remember this: The Kevin Brady Library and Community Center officially opened on Sept. 2 at 2250 Buckthorne Place, The Woodlands. The center is named for Kevin Brady, who represented Texas' 8th Congressional District from 1997 until 2023, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.  

Fresh Monkee, a new smoothie store that specializes in hand-crafted shakes made with high-fiber, protein-rich, low-sugar and all-natural ingredients, opened its new location in The Woodlands on Dec. 1.

The details: The business has more than 30 shake recipes to choose from, such as cinnamon toast and chocolate coconut. The store will have a grand opening early 2026, but the hours of operation will fluctuate during the holiday season, owner Mitch Provost said.

• Opened Dec. 1
• 25118 Grogans Mill Road, The Woodlands

Nine new medical cannabis dispensaries could soon open in Texas, the Department of Public Safety announced Dec. 1.

The overview: The nine companies were preliminarily approved to join three existing dispensaries that provide medical-grade, low-THC products to eligible patients through the Texas Compassionate Use Program. The program's expansion comes after state lawmakers passed House Bill 46 this spring.

Lawmakers also allowed dispensaries to store products in multiple locations, which advocates said would cut costs, and added more qualifying conditions to the program.

Zooming in: The nine providers given conditional licenses Dec. 1 are:

• Verano Texas LLC in West Texas
• Trulieve TX Inc. in the Panhandle
• Texas Patient Access LLC in North Texas
• Lonestar Compassionate Care Group LLC in North Texas
• Lone Star Bioscience Inc. in South Central Texas
• PC TX OPCO LLC, dba PharmaCann, in Southeast Texas
• Texa OP, dba TexaRx, in the Rio Grande Valley
• Story of Texas LLC in Southeast Texas
• Dilatso LLC in North Texas