Beginning Feb. 21, Express Family Clinic-New Caney will be open for patients on Saturdays.

The overview: Appointments are not needed for patients to visit Express Family Clinic, which is owned by Family Nurse Practitioner Melissa Herpel. The Saturday expansion was made to offer patients more flexibility for services, including:

• Sick visits
• School and athletics physicals
• Vaccinations

• 20125 FM 1314, Ste. A, Porter

The New Caney- and Porter-area population grew by roughly 30.3% over five years, rising from 64,476 residents in 2019 to 84,010 residents in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

The overview: On Jan. 29, the U.S. Census Bureau released new five-year data for 2024 as part of its American Community Survey, which represents a five-year estimate of the population across the country from 2020 to 2024. This data compares with the 2019 survey results, which studied the country from 2015 to 2019.

The following ZIP codes make up Community Impact's New Caney and Porter coverage area:

• 77357, which includes New Caney
• 77365, which includes Porter

• 77357: +35.6%
• 77365: +26.3%

Republican candidates in the contested March 3 primary for Montgomery County judge, as well as the unopposed Democratic primary candidate, shared their platforms in a Feb. 17 forum presented by The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce.

What to expect: Incumbent Mark Keough and challenger Wayne Mack, the current justice of the peace for Montgomery County Precinct 1, are seeking the Republican nomination for the Nov. 3 general election. Democratic candidate James Graf is unopposed in the primary election. Candidates for each party presented their platforms and answered questions in the forum separately.

What's next: Early voting began Feb. 17 and will end Feb. 27. A list of some of the positions on the sample ballot for voters in The Woodlands area in Montgomery County can be found here.

Election day is March 3.

After nearly four years of development, Sam Houston State University officially cut the ribbon to open its new Health Professions Building on Feb. 17.

Two-minute impact: The $65 million, 81,000-square-foot facility has been in early development since 2023, according to prior reporting from Community Impact. Built to operate alongside the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the new facility's strategic location offers students a “regional home to several major health care systems,” according to a Feb. 18 news release. This allows students in SHSU's health programs to learn and work alongside health care professionals in real-world settings.

More details: SHSU will host four programs in the new facility:

• Master of Science in Athletic Training
• Master of Science in Dietetics
• Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
• Doctor of Physical Therapy