Lone Star College System trustees received updates on several projects associated with the college system’s $485 million bond approved by voters in 2014.

The details: LSCS Chancellor Mario Castillo said the college system is planning a Jan. 13 opening of the roughly $34 million Magnolia Center, which will serve as a satellite campus for LSC-Tomball. Once completed, Castillo said college system officials will move on to the roughly $10.5 million expansion of the LSC Victory Center.

A closer look: As previously reported by Community Impact, the Magnolia Center will offer academic transfer courses; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning programs; and emergency medical services Professions programs. As previously reported by Community Impact, the Victory Center will include more classrooms, a biology lab and a fitness center.

What’s next: While LCS officials couldn't provide a timeline for the LSC Victory Center by press time, Castillo said it was the last building that would be constructed that was funded through the 2014 bond.

Cypress-based House of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics is now open off Hwy. 290, Community Impact confirmed with the office.

Two-minute impact: The local dentistry soft opened to the community Nov. 17 and will celebrate its grand opening Dec. 13 from 2-4 p.m., office manager David Williams said. Grand opening attendees will be able to tour the new office, meet the dental team and participate in giveaways, he said.

Williams said House of Smiles focuses on creating positive and comfortable dental experiences for children of all ages, offering services such as preventative cleanings, infant and toddler care, and tooth-colored crowns and fillings, among others. 

What else?: Located at 27220 Hwy. 290 Ste. B, Cypress, the office also provides orthodontic care to adults, including traditional braces and clear aligners. 

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