HTX-TOM: Impact 9/16/2025

Need something to do this weekend? See this list of events going on throughout the Tomball and Magnolia area this weekend. This list is not comprehensive. Events are subject to change.

Show and Tell for Adults: Reminisce and connect with others by bringing a memento, such as a souvenir or photo, and sharing a story to go along with it.

• Sept. 19, noon-1 p.m.
• Free
• Lone Star College-Tomball Community Library, 30555 Tomball Parkway, Tomball

• Sept. 19, 7 p.m.
• $100 (dinner tickets), $200 (VIP dinner tickets)
• Balmorhea Weddings & Events, 33400 Wright Road, Magnolia

U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell, who represents U.S. House District 8, announced Sept. 11 that he will not be seeking reelection in 2026.

Quote of note: “When I first ran for Congress, my mission was clear: strengthen our border, stand up for our veterans, and be a strong voice for Texas. I’m proud of the real progress we’ve made. ... But over the July 4th weekend, standing in floodwaters alongside my neighbors, I had a moment of clarity,” Luttrell said in his Sept. 11 statement. “It reminded me that while the work in Washington is important, my family, my community, and my state need me here—closer to home.”

Some context: Luttrell represents U.S. House District 8, which encompasses portions of Harris, Montgomery and Walker counties and all of San Jacinto and Polk counties, according to his website. He was first elected to the office in 2022, Community Impact previously reported. Former U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady held the office prior to Luttrell being elected.

Lone Star College System’s enrollment numbers are 5.9% higher than they were in fall 2024 and 15.9% higher than a decade ago, according to a Sept. 10 news release.

“We celebrate the fact that more students are choosing to call Lone Star College System home. However, our primary focus is not on boosting enrollment but on improving student outcomes through high-quality education,” LSCS Executive Vice Chancellor Seelpa Keshvala said in the release.

Breaking it down: According to the news release, enrollment is at an all-time high this fall with 97,294 students. 29,860 students are new to the college, while 32.5% of students are full-time and 67.5% are part-time.

Quote of note: “Regardless of their background, we want to help our students get from where they are to where they want to be,”  Keshvala said. “We are striving to remove barriers, increase retention and completion, and embrace innovation to inspire growth and excellence in higher education.”

Across the state, most school districts and campuses maintained or improved Texas Education Agency A-F accountability scores between the 2023-24 to 2024-25 school years, and the Houston region is no exception. 

Within districts in Community Impact’s Greater Houston coverage area, Willis and Houston ISDs saw the largest increases across all categories that make up the overall score, per data released by the TEA on Aug. 15. 

The bigger picture: The data showed that since 2023-24, the number of schools that received an A rating across Greater Houston grew from 21.9% to 26.9%, while the number of campuses rated F shrank from 6.4% to 2.6%.  

Going forward: House Bill 8, which was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott on Sept. 4, would eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test and replace it with three shorter tests taken at the beginning, middle and end of each school year.

Cities, counties and school district boards across Texas are required to provide more notice for public meetings under a new state law aimed at increasing public participation in government affairs.

The details: Local government agencies must post meeting notices at least three business days in advance of the meeting, meaning weekends and holidays do not count toward the minimum posting period.

House Bill 1522, which became law Sept. 1, increases the notice requirement from 72 hours.

The law change is part of “an effort to promote government transparency and citizen participation,” Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, said during a May 13 legislative hearing.

The local impact: Some city and county governments across Community Impact’s coverage areas are changing their meeting schedules to comply with the new law, including:

• Bastrop City Council
• Conroe City Council
• Fort Bend County Commissioners Court
• Montgomery County Commissioners Court
• The Woodlands Township