Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association filed suit Dec. 22 in Montgomery County district court, alleging the city of Conroe improperly rejected a voter petition that the association said should trigger an election on whether Conroe firefighters can collectively bargain under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 174.

What’s happening?: In a Dec. 22 news release announcing the lawsuit, Lloyd Sandefer, Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association president, described collective bargaining as a process that “fosters collaboration between firefighters and management,” providing a structured way to resolve disputes and maintain labor peace, while also helping set staffing levels and standards for training, equipment and workplace safety.

Sandefer, Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association president, said the group is asking the court to “let the voters decide the issue,” by requiring the city to place collective bargaining on the May 2026 ballot.

Diving in deeper: The filing requests nonmonetary relief and seeks attorney fees and costs, according to the petition.

Home sales rose year over year in November in the Conroe and Montgomery area, according to market data provided by local real estate firm The Sawyer Realty Group.

In a nutshell: In five of the eight ZIP codes in the Conroe and Montgomery area, home sales increased, with total home sales increasing 1.8% year over year in November.

Lone Star Family Health Center—a federally qualified health center in Montgomery County—saw 31,346 patients in 2024. This year, as patients visit the health center, they’ll be welcomed into the nonprofit’s expanded building that includes an extra 24,000 square feet of space, new medical rooms, a second pharmacy, and dedicated spaces for mental health and women’s health services.

With the holiday season right around the corner, see what grocery stores in the Houston area will be open and closed Dec. 24-25. This list is not comprehensive.

Trader Joe's

• Dec. 24: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Dec. 25: Closed

• Dec. 24: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. (stores), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (pharmacy)
• Dec. 25: Closed

• Dec. 24 6 a.m.-8 p.m. (stores), Closes at 5 p.m. (pharmacy),  7 a.m.-7 p.m. (curbside), 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (home delivery)
• Dec. 25: closed

Frontier Airlines has added three new nonstop routes out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, airline officials announced in a Dec. 18 news release.

The details: Per the release, the new nonstop routes include IAH to:

• La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala, beginning Dec. 18
• El Salvador International Airport in Comalapa, El Salvador, beginning Dec. 19
• Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, beginning Dec. 20

• Guatemala: $49
• El Salvador: $59
• Honduras: $49