First America Homes is introducing new home designs for its 203-acre residential phase within Valley Ranch's Azalea District, officials with the homebuilder announced in a May 11 news release.

First America Homes is a division of Valley Ranch developer, The Signorelli Co., and the exclusive builder for the Azalea District, per the release.

The details: The final single-family residential phase will add 359 new homesites to the mixed-use community. Per the release, this new home community will offer elegant home designs ranging from 1,600-3,200 square feet.

The Founders Circle—available to the first 40 qualified buyers—offers priority homesite selection, early access to floor plans and pricing incentives reserved exclusively for the program. Home sales are expected to open this summer, with pricing starting in the $300,000s.

Quote of note: “This special access is a great opportunity for families looking for a high-quality home within a walkable community that offers every lifestyle convenience and excellent long-term value,” First America Homes President John Winniford said in a statement.

A community meeting will be held May 26 to gather input on the East Montgomery County Improvement District's 200-acre park planned for New Caney.

What are the options: EMCID leaders will be gathering community feedback on the park ahead of filing an application with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for a grant, according to a May 8 social media post from the improvement district. Ideas for EMCID's park include gardens, playgrounds and walking and biking trails.

According to the post, meeting topics will include:

• EMCID and community development
• The property where the park will be located
• The current proposal for the park
• Questions and comments from the community

The luxury motor coach service Vonlane announced its departure point from the Houston metro in The Woodlands to Austin began service May 4. The route is the 12th for the company.

Vonlane launched a route between The Woodlands and Dallas last year.

What to expect: Vonlane now offers service between The Woodlands and Austin seven days a week at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, and DoubleTree by Hilton Austin-University Area, 1617 N. I-35, Austin.

On May 26, Democratic voters will choose their nominee for Texas lieutenant governor in a runoff election between state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, and union leader Marcos Vélez.

The big picture: The Democratic race for lieutenant governor is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

Goodwin and Vélez were the two highest-performing candidates in the three-person primary race, with Goodwin collecting 48% of the vote and Vélez receiving 31%. The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face incumbent Dan Patrick and potential third-party candidates in the November midterm election.

Some context: The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22, and runoff election day is May 26.

Following pressure from summer camp operators, lawmakers and legislative leaders, Texas is suspending a requirement that all camps install “end-to-end” fiber-optic internet infrastructure before opening this summer.

The background: After catastrophic flooding in Central Texas killed more than 130 people—including 28 deaths at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp—last July, state lawmakers passed a pair of laws designed to strengthen safety and emergency preparedness requirements for all Texas summer camps. One provision of the laws requires that camps install two types of broadband internet, including a fiber-optic system.

Nineteen camp operators sued the state over the fiber-optic rule in April, citing million-dollar installation fees and limited access to fiber-optic services in rural parts of Texas.

What's happening: The Department of State Health Services, which licenses youth camps, said it reached an agreement with the camp operators May 7. Under the agreement, Texas camps that maintain “redundant” broadband internet services—such as cellular, microwave or satellite technology—will not have their license revoked or denied as long as they meet all other safety requirements.