Harris County commissioners authorize letter urging updated flood maps from FEMA
Harris County commissioners are urging officials from The Federal Emergency Management Agency to release updated floodplain maps.
The gist: Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia brought the motion to the Aug. 26 court meeting, where commissioners unanimously voted in favor to authorize a letter signed by court members to prioritize and expedite the maps which guide infrastructure and insurance decisions for a county with a growing population of more than 4.7 million residents and nearly 1.8 million households, according to the latest data by the U.S. Census Bureau.
“We respectfully urge FEMA to prioritize and expedite the release of these new flood risk maps for Harris County," Garcia said.
Zooming out: The last time frame FEMA was set to release Harris County’s preliminary flood insurance rate maps was in 2023, according to Harris County Flood Control District officials, as previously reported in Community Impact. Previously, the HCFCD projected FEMA would release maps in the spring or summer of 2022, but has continually pushed back its estimate.
Financial investment management firm PCC Wealth Partners now open in Spring
An independent, private wealth advisory firm is now offering client portfolio and financial planning services in Spring.
Meet the owner: Private wealth advisor and co-founder Duane Dollar announced the business opening on social media.
“The culmination of 34 years of employment has led my business partner and [I] to launch our own wealth management practice. This endeavor has demanded a considerable investment of time and involved making numerous challenging decisions,” Dollar said.
22 fall events, festivals to attend around the Greater Houston area through early November
There are a variety of fall events and festivals taking place throughout the Greater Houston area through early November. This list is not comprehensive and events are subject to change.
P-6 Farms’ Fall Festival During weekends this fall, attendees can visit P-6 Farms and enjoy its fall festival, which will include activities such as a pumpkin patch, vintage rides, pig races, food, drinks and themed photo opportunities.
Saturdays and Sundays between Sept. 27-Nov. 2, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
$25.95
9963 Poole’s Road, Montgomery
The Famous Market’s Fall Festival This festival in Pearland will feature over 50 vendors, a kids’ zone, food, a DJ and arts and crafts for attendees to enjoy.
Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Free (admission)
Pearland Town Center, 11200 Broadway St., Pearland
St. Paul’s 2025 Fall Festival and Craft Show In Katy, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will host its 14th annual fall festival and craft show that will feature vendors, food for sale, children’s activities and a train.
Gov. Abbott signs new congressional map; Texas Democrats vow to fight in court
Gov. Greg Abbott signed Texas’ new congressional map into law Aug. 29, declaring in a video posted to social media that “Texas is now more red in the United States Congress.”
The details: Under Texas’ current congressional boundaries, Republicans hold 25 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats. State lawmakers have said the new map will help them gain up to five more during the 2026 midterm elections.
Texas Democrats have called the mid-decade redistricting effort unconstitutional and "racially discriminatory," while Republicans asserted that the map "complies with the law" and was designed to help more Republicans get elected to the U.S. House.
Next steps: Texas’ new congressional map is set to take effect in early December, although it will be discussed in court two months earlier. After state senators approved the map Aug. 23, the League of United Latin American Citizens and a group of Texas residents filed a lawsuit asking that the map be found unconstitutional.
A panel of three federal judges will hear arguments in the case Oct. 1-10 in El Paso.
