The city of Katy will add a police and emergency medical services substation within the Texas Heritage Marketplace development to help reduce response time to the west side of the city, At-Large council member Chris Harris said.

What's happening: At a Jan. 26 meeting, Katy City Council unanimously approved the $227,248 purchase of a 1.304-acre tract of land to build the substation, which will house both police and EMS in the same building as well as an ambulance.

Why it matters: "We needed an area, especially for the ambulance and fire response time to have stationed out on our western edge," Harris said. "It's gonna be helpful as far as response time to get police and fire over there."

What's next: The architecture and structure of the building haven't been determined yet as the land continues to be developed, Harris said. He said he expects design to go to council for approval in 2027.

A new La La Land cafe is expected to open in Katy's Meadows Marketplace, according to recent filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

About the project: Renovations of the space—which is currently home to Main Squeeze Juice Co.—are set to start in March and wrap up in June, with an estimated $245,000 construction cost, per the filing.

What they offer: The menu features craft lattes and teas such as the Banana Cloud Latte and a signature Arnold Palmer, per its website. Several toasts are also served, including an avocado toast, a truffle burrata toast and a toast topped with hazelnut cacao spread, strawberries and bananas.

• 6825 S. Fry Road, Ste. 100, Katy

Major lane closures will remain in place on I-10 East near Normandy Road as repairs continue, according to a Feb. 5 news release from the Texas Department of Transportation.

What you need to know: TxDOT said crews have worked overnight after a utility waterline rupture late Feb. 5 triggered a pavement failure near Normandy Road, forcing TxDOT to shut down all eastbound lanes and close the inside lane and shoulder westbound.

Motorists should expect delays and are strongly encouraged to take alternate routes, per the release, including:

• US 90
• US 90A/BU 90 (McCarty Road)
• Hwy. 225

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Feb. 2-6.

In case you missed it: Main Street Market held its last market in downtown Conroe Feb. 7 after nearly five years. The organizers announced the closure via Facebook on Jan. 29.

"This has always been more than a market," market developer Farralyn Withrow said in the social media post. "It’s been a tight-knit community and the starting place for 100+ new businesses. It’s been a major part of the ecosystem that is downtown Conroe." 

Also of note: Magnolia City Council moved Jan. 28 to terminate City Administrator Chris Whittaker, approving a resolution declaring a “lack of confidence” and removing him from office effective immediately.

The motion to terminate Whittaker's employment passed 4-0, with council member Geoff Beyers absent.

One more thing: Statewide enrollment for a new Katy ISD online program called Legacy Virtual High School opened Feb. 2, according to a Jan. 30 news conference from district officials. 

Texas gained more new residents last year than any other U.S. state, recently released U.S. Census Bureau data shows. Yet the Lone Star State’s overall population growth slowed significantly amid a nationwide reduction in immigration from other countries.

The big picture: Texas grew by 391,243 residents in 2025, bringing the state’s total population to 31.7 million. This includes:

• Domestic migration: Over 67,000 people moved to Texas from other states.
• International migration: Over 167,000 people moved to Texas from other countries.
• Natural change: There were roughly 157,000 more births than deaths in Texas.