Spring - Klein Edition | February 2025

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Spring Klein Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 11 FEB. 19MARCH 18, 2025

Shifting to surface water Local water authority combats land sinkage with multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects

249

WINDFERN RD.

beneath the earth’s surface. HGSD General Manager Mike Turco said the phenomenon is often caused by groundwater withdrawal. Ocials said northwest Harris County has seen increased subsidence over the last four years. To alleviate this, water authorities must follow HGSD’s plan and have 60% of their jurisdictions using surface water by the end of 2025 and 80% by 2035.

The recently completed Alan Rendl Regional Pump Station is located o Gessner Road near Beltway 8.

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

Water entities serving Spring and Klein are ramping up eorts to convert a larger portion of their water supply to surface water, aiming to reduce groundwater reliance in compliance with Harris-Galveston Subsidence District regulations. HGSD data from 2019-23 shows the Greater Houston area continues to experience subsidence, or the collapsing of the land due to movement

2024 completion date

$120M construction cost

40.3M gallon capacity per day

SOURCE: NORTH HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY COMMUNITY IMPACT

CONTINUED ON 12

COURTESY NORTH HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY

Also in this issue

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Education: Meet the new president of Lone Star College-University Park (Page 10)

State: Find out what Houston-area legislators are prioritizing this session (Page 17)

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SPRING KLEIN EDITION

Impacts

• Opened Sept. 1 • 9610 Louetta Road, Spring • www.tikkamunch.com

Old Town Spring

3 Portillo’s The menu offers Chicago-style hot dogs. • Opened Jan. 14 • 7511 FM 1960 W., Houston • www.portillos.com

99 TOLL

2920

BOUDREAUX RD.

4 Slick City Action Park The venue has giant slides, zip lines and trapezes. • Opened Dec. 24 • 17335 Hwy. 249, Houston • www.slickcity.com 5 Chubby’s Seafood & Grill The restaurant serves Mexican cuisine and seafood. • Opened Jan. 16 • 3422 FM 2920, Spring • Facebook: Chubby’s Seafood & Grill 6 District Chicken & Gyro Menu items include wraps, platters and loaded fries. • Opened Dec. 1 • 7724 Louetta Road, Spring • www.tastedcg.com 7 Paris Peddler The boutique offers home decor, jewelry and gift items. • Opened Dec. 15

7 24

99 TOLL

HAYDEN LAKES DR.

249

CUTTEN RD.

VINTAGE PARK BLVD.

1960

BAMMEL NORTH HOUSTON RD.

• 209 Midway St., Spring • Facebook: Paris Peddler

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4 8

8 Eco Thrift The business sells gently used items. • Opened in November • 17355 Hwy. 249, Ste. 1K, Houston • www.ecothrift.com/willowbrook 9 Panicafe The cafe offers baked goods, coffee and tea. • Opened Dec. 9

MAP NOT TO SCALE

WILLOWBROOK MALL

• 6719 N. Grand Parkway, Spring • www.bojangles.com

Now open

1 Bojangles Chicken, biscuits, sides and desserts are on the menu. • Opened Feb. 4

2 Tikka Munch The food truck offers Indian fusion cuisine.

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• 24345 Gosling Road, Ste. 120A, Spring • www.panicafetx.com

• Opened in October • 19507 I-45, Ste. 506, Spring • www.bathandbodyworks.com

Now open

10 Waters of Wellness Family Medicine The clinic offers primary care and weight loss programs. • Opened Feb. 1 • 8714 Spring Cypress Road, Ste. 170, Spring • www.wowfamilymedicine.com 11 Rusty Horseshoe Bar and Grill The eatery serves salads, burgers and sandwiches. • Opened Jan. 12 • 19940 Kuykendahl Road, Spring • www.horseshoehtx.com 12 Goldfish Swim School Swim lessons are available for kids ages 4 months to 12 years old. • Opening Jan. 28 • 16000 Stuebner Airline Road, Ste. J, Spring • www.goldfishswimschool.com/spring

17 Querageous Barber & Beauty School The cosmetology school offers $10 haircuts. • Opened Feb. 1 • 17719 Kuykendahl Road, Spring • Instagram: querageousbarbersupply 18 Supr Pickleball This business offers six indoor pickleball courts. • Opened Oct. 5 • 15028 Boudreaux Road, Tomball • www.suprpickleball.com 19 Primrose School Early education and child care services are available. • Opened Dec. 16 • 10875 Boudreaux Road, Tomball • www.primroseschools.com/schools/tomball

23 Crypto Burger The food truck’s menu features fries and eight different burgers, including the Brekky Burger— topped with cheese, a hash brown, bacon, a fried egg, cayenne pepper and FOMO sauce—and the El Jefe Burger, a Mexican-spiced beef patty topped with serrano peppers, onions, bacon, extra hot cayenne pepper sauce, shredded cheese and spicy garlic sauce. • Opened Dec. 15

13 Bamburger The eatery offers burgers, fries and shakes. • Opened Jan. 16 • 3624 FM 2920, Ste. 6, Spring • www.bamburger.online

Coming soon

• 6880 Louetta Road, Spring • www.cryptoburgerhtx.com

20 Gyro Republic Rice bowls, loaded fries and gyritos are on the menu. • Opening in February • 16702 Stuebner Airline Road, Spring • www.gyrorepublic.com 21 A Players Trap Kiicheen The eatery will serve chicken wings, chicken and waffles, grilled oysters, and shrimp and grits. • Opening in early 2025 • 704 Greens Road, Houston • Instagram: players.trap.kiicheen 22 Bank OZK Bank OZK offers personal, business and trust services. • Opening in March • 2821 FM 1960 W., Houston • www.ozk.com

14 Black Rabbit Tattoo Collective Owner Jesus Alvidrez said tattoo artists specialize in different artwork styles. • Opened Dec. 8 • 326 Main St., Spring • www.blackrabbittattoocollective.com 15 Pretzelmaker Sweet and savory flavors of pretzel bites are served here. • Opened Dec. 3 • 9315 Spring Cypress Road, Ste. D, Spring • www.pretzelmaker.com

Relocations

24 Big Island Little Cheese Shoppe The shop sells cheeses and themed charcuterie boards. • Relocated in late October • 209 Midway St., Ste. B, Spring • www.hawaiicheese.com

25 Spring Premier Dental The dentist office relocated to a larger space. • Relocated in November • 1700 Louetta Road, Spring • www.springpremierdental.com

16 Bath & Body Works The store offers candles, hand soaps and sanitizers.

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SPRING - KLEIN EDITION

Government

BY EMILY LINCKE

County mandates power backups at assisted living, nursing facilities Under a new fire code, the roughly 120 assisted living and nursing facilities located in unincorpo- rated Harris County will have until Jan. 1, 2026 to add emergency backup power systems, county leaders announced Jan. 8. The overview Harris County is the first in Texas to implement this fire code, which is designed to keep vulnera- ble senior populations safe during emergencies, Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen said Jan. 8. Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said the requirement for backup power systems will allow: • Safe facility temperatures to be maintained • Vital medical devices to be powered • Medications to be preserved

County invests $10.1M in solar panel project Harris County is one step closer to launching a $10.1 million pilot project to install solar panels at libraries and commu- nity centers following a unanimous vote by Harris County Commissioners on Jan. 9. What’s happening? Harris County’s two-phase Distributed Energy Resources pilot aims to make county facilities “less reliant on the electricity grid” and more resistant to power outages during weather events, according to Jan. 9 meeting documents. The project calls for solar panels, battery storage and dual-port electric vehicle charging stations. Construction on Phase I of the energy pilot began in January and is expected to wrap up by the first quarter of 2026.

The new fire code was approved following Winter Storm Uri and Hurricane Beryl—which induced widespread power outages—and resulted in:

At least 1 senior death due to extreme heat during Hurricane Beryl 14 nursing homes and 30 assisted living facilities in Harris County losing power for several days during Hurricane Beryl 10% of nursing homes and nearly 33% of assisted living facilities across Texas losing power during Winter Storm Uri 100 senior deaths due to hypothermia in Texas during Winter Storm Uri

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4/COMMUNITY IMPACT

• Emergency communications to be made • Evacuations to be safer

Facilities will be given one year to get into com- pliance with the new fire code, and county leaders plan to provide guidance and support during the transition, Briones said.

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Education

BY EMILY LINCKE

Spring ISD implements equity recommendations Spring ISD administrators and staff have been chipping away at recommendations from a 2021 study to make the district operate more equitably, according to a Jan. 16 update. In a nutshell In May 2021, the results of a study conducted by education consultants Cambridge Education were shared with SISD’s board, as previously reported by Community Impact . The report examined both progress and areas in need of improvement throughout SISD in the pursuit of equity. SISD has several ongoing efforts, including: • Social-emotional learning activities are now part of the curriculum and professional development courses. • The Department of Guidance and Counseling and Mental Health offers support for teachers

Klein ISD campus projects progress

Recent milestones

66% of employees assigned a cultural competence professional learning course have completed it. 39% of employees have been trained in a cultural humility course compared to 4% in the 2023-24 school year. 3% of employees have been trained in a cultural equity course that launched in June.

Campus renovations are underway at several Klein ISD campuses, according to a Jan. 27 email from KISD officials. The projects Wunderlich Intermediate School will undergo a “comprehensive renovation” for $30 million. Funded by the district’s 2022 bond, construction is slated to be completed in July 2026. Aging roofs at Vistas High, Kohrville Ele- mentary, Kreinhop Elementary, McDougle Elementary and Roth Elementary schools will receive a makeover for a total of $1 million in bond funding. Officials said these projects should wrap up by July. Klein Cain High School’s entryway roof will also be replaced under a warranty for $250,000 by July.

SOURCE: SPRING ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

implementing social-emotional learning curriculum. • Monthly meetings between at-risk counselors, guidance counselors and SISD’s Guidance and Counseling & Mental Health Department give students individualized support. • Trainings are given to employees on student discipline and de-escalation practices. • Coaching is offered for staff supporting emer- gent bilingual students.

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SPRING - KLEIN EDITION

Education

BY EMILY LINCKE CONTRIBUTIONS BY HANNAH BROL

Matthew Dempsey to lead Lone Star College’s University Park campus

In December, Lone Star College officials named Matthew Dempsey as the new president of LSC-University Park. He has 25 years of experience in higher education, including work as a part-time biology instructor, administrative and instructional positions at Dallas College, vice president of instruction at LSC-CyFair, and interim president of LSC-UP following the departure of Virginia Fraire in June. What made you interested in serving as president of LSC-UP? I’m a community college gradu- ate, so I’ve seen the value of being a community college student. ... So I know it’s a great place to learn. It’s a great place to teach, and my employment history has always been with community colleges. So I learned a lot. ... I think I was just ready for that next level, that next challenge—to become a president. ... I have to tell you, from day one, this campus, this community, everything from the support staff to the faculty, it [has] felt like a very natural and good fit. What are your short- and long- term priorities for LSC-UP? There’s amazing work being done here at University Park. So there’s a phrase that I’ve heard a lot since I got here—is that “Lone Star College-University Park is not a problem in need of a solution.” So I think it really establishes the fact that I need to be a steward of the good work that’s already being done here. ... I really want to align Univer- sity Park’s campus with some of

COURTESY LONE STAR COLLEGE

the efforts that are being done at the state level to prioritize employment. So ... if our true mission at the community college level is to enhance lives, and we know that one of the ways that we can do that [is] through gainful employment, then I think it’s my responsibility as the president to make sure that I connect those two entities—local business and industry—with the output. ... Your next employee is walking across my stage in May. Do you plan to bring additional degree pathways to LSC-UP? University Park is known as the campus of innovation, and so I would expect to see some more innovative degree plans. Right now, we know that the state of Texas is prioritizing credentials of value, so I think we have to do a deeper analysis of what those credentials of value are. The other thing is to align those with what our community needs.

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

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BY EMILY LINCKE

Klein ISD advocates for more funding as 89th Texas Legislature convenes

Funding woes Underfunded mandates are state requirements for public school districts for which the state does not provide enough funding.

Approximate cost to Klein ISD of underfunded mandates annually:

With the 89th Texas legislative session begin- ning Jan. 14, Klein ISD’s board of trustees reviewed its 2025 legislative priorities on Jan. 13. A closer look According to KISD’s website, the district’s legislative priorities for 2025 are: • Funding: KISD is advocating for a higher basic allotment and more funding for state mandates. • College, career and military readiness program innovation: The district hopes more funding will be dedicated for dual-enrollment college courses, workforce development programs and military enlistment opportunities. • Teacher and staff recruitment and retention: The district is asking for state help with reten- tion incentives.

• Safety and security: To help fund campus secu- rity, mental health resources and emergency preparation, KISD is requesting the state allocate more money for safety measures. • Transparency and accountability: A state voucher program would give families public money to send their children to private schools, but KISD opposes a program that does not require private schools comply with the same standards as public schools. Did you know? According to the Texas Education Agency, Texas public schools are allocated $6,160 in state funding annually per general education student—about 59% of KISD’s enrollment. When accounting for additional funding for high-needs students, KISD

Special education $51.4M

Transportation $15.8M

Safety $8.7M

SOURCE: KLEIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

on average receives just over $9,000 per student annually from the state, Chief Financial Officer Dan Schaefer said at the Feb. 3 board meeting. Public schools statewide spent an average of $15,503 per student in 2022-23, per the TEA. Most of the additional funding comes from local property taxes.

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Shifting to surface water From the cover

What’s happening

North Harris County Regional Water Authority projects

Existing lines

NHCRWA

Planned projects 1 Schindewolf Pump Station Improvements include replacing portions of an existing pump station. • Timeline: Construction begins in 2025; service begins in 2026 • Cost: $1 million 2 Louetta Pump Station Improvements at this existing pump station will ensure adequate water supply is delivered to new water-receiving facilities. • Timeline: Construction begins in 2026; service begins in 2027 • Cost: $48.23 million 3 Project 23 This project will ultimately bring water to future distribution lines via a new pump station. • Timeline: Construction begins in 2026; service begins in 2027 • Cost: $188.8 million 4 Project 39 This project will supply water to an additional 21 water-receiving facilities via 30 miles of piping. • Timeline: Construction begins in

99 TOLL

The North Harris County Regional Water Authority is working on several projects to convert groundwater use to surface water use. NHCRWA General Manager Jun Chang said about 32%-34% of its total water usage currently comes from surface water. Chang said most of the NHCRWA’s projects for the 2025 surface water deadline focus on expanding water lines. Loops of water lines connect municipal utility districts to pump stations, and each loop expansion helps create a more interconnected internal distribution system to deliver surface water to increasingly distant areas as the network grows. Most projects are paid for through bonds, funds from state entities and co-funding agreements. Board member Mark Ramsey said the NHCRWA is $2.7 billion in debt, and it’s expected to climb to $7 billion in the next 10 years. He hopes the Texas Legislature can provide “regulatory relief” to avoid unsustainable water rates. “We’re now headed toward $15 billion in cost with interest. ... We don’t have even $100 million of actual damage [from subsidence] identied,” Ramsey said. “Why are we doing this government- mandated project to x something that may or may not actually be a problem?”

1960

249

2027; service begins in 2028 • Cost: $193.5 million Completed projects 5 Alan Rendl Pump Station This new pump station delivers water to the west and northwest parts of the service area. • Timeline: Construction began in

2020; service began in 2024 • Cost: $120.32 million 6 Project 7 This project added 7 miles of distribution lines from the Alan Rendl Pump Station to nine water- receiving facilities. • Timeline: Construction began in 2023; service began in 2024 • Cost: $5.78 million

SOURCE: NORTH HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The background

What it means

members who unseated longtime incumbents in 2022. While the cuts provide short-term relief for water users, Chang said a nancial adviser esti- mated they could only last another six months before an increase is likely. The NHCRWA could see rates exceed $8 per 1,000 gallons by 2032.

Water rates customers pay correlate to how much debt is incurred from bonds issued for building water infrastructure, Chang said. Despite ongoing projects, the NHCRWA’s rates are now at their lowest in a decade after the board cut rates over the past two years following the election of three new board

Turco described subsidence as the gradual sink- ing of land caused by the extraction of uids from an aquifer system. As groundwater is pumped out, the water levels within the aquifer decline, causing the clay layers in the aquifer to depressurize and compact.

Understanding subsidence

An aquifer is an underground rock structure containing water. Original land surface elevation 1 2

Water rate trends in northwest Harris County If the local water authority doesn’t meet its surface water conversion targets by the end of the year, the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District will implement a disincentive fee to encourage compliance with groundwater reduction requirements. Residents would pay this fee instead of the water pumpage fee.

NHCRWA groundwater

NHCRWA surface water

HGSD disincentive fee

$2 $4

Silt & clay: Prior to excessive groundwater use, clay and silt layers are loosely packed.

Gravel & sand: After long-term groundwater withdrawals, clay and silt layers compact.

2015

2016

2017

2018 2019

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

2025

$8.46

$8.75

$9.24

$9.58

$9.80

$10.78

$11.86 $12.12

SOURCE: HARRISGALVESTON SUBSIDENCE DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: NORTH HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

The impact

Stay tuned

Subsidence in Spring and Klein 0 Total vertical displacement 0 Per year subsidence rate 0 Population growth from 2018-23

Population growth and water demand can impact subsidence, which can lead to more ooding, permanent land loss and infrastructure damage, Turco said. HGSD data shows that areas in Spring and Klein saw an average of 0.76-1.83 centimeters of displace- ment per year between 2019-23. Parts of Harris County still relying on groundwater tend to have higher levels of subsidence, Turco said. “Those areas are primarily on groundwater, and subsidence rates there have been fairly consis- tent,” Turco said. “In recent years, we’ve seen rates pick up.” For instance, a subsidence monitoring station located o Lindell Road near Southwell Park had the highest rate of annual subsidence with over 30 centimeters of displacement since monitoring began in 2007. This location falls within the 77373 ZIP code, which has grown 15.5% in population from 2018-23, according to ve-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, led House Bill 1643 on Dec. 17 to reduce the HGSD’s authority over the NHCRWA. The bill aims to: • Remove the NHCRWA from the HGSD’s jurisdiction • Exempt the entity from groundwater reduction requirements • Let the NHCRWA set their own timelines for transitioning to surface water use Ramsey said he spoke with Oliverson about ling the bill, and he believes its passage would allow the NHCRWA to address hot spots, improve project timing and reduce interest payments driving up water rates. “If we don’t get regulatory relief and we don’t get funding from other sources, that will drive [water rates] to $15, maybe $20 per 1,000 gallons, which is obviously an unsustainable number,” Ramsey said.

Lindell Road near Southwell Park 0 30.5 cm since 2007 0 1.83 cm

0 +15.5%

Spring High School 0 11.1 cm since 2014 North Bend Drive 0 67 cm since 1994

0 1.42 cm

0 +15.5%

0 1.14 cm

0 +4.6%

South Tranquil Path Drive 0 3.9 cm since 2020 FM 2920 near Hooks Airport 0 21 cm since 2007

0 1.29 cm

0 +20.4%

0 1.08 cm

0 +4%

Hwy. 249 near Timber Tech Avenue 0 24.8 cm since 2007 0 0.76 cm

0 +34.9%

Beneke Elementary School 0 43.5 cm since 1999

0 1.14 cm

0 -0.4%

SOURCES: HARRISGALVESTON SUBSIDENCE DISTRICT, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU COMMUNITY IMPACT

Notice of Dr. Dixie Leung’s Departure from Pristine Ob-Gyn:

Dear Patients, I am writing to inform you that I will be leaving Pristine Ob-Gyn Care effective 2/27/2025. It has been a great privilege to serve as your physician. My excellent colleagues at Pristine remain and will be available to provide care. Please feel free to discuss your preferences with the office staff, who can assist you during this transition. Thank you for the trust and confidence you have placed in me.

- Dr. Leung

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Dining

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

Kevin Calzada owns Belle’s Kitchen.

The Supreme Benedict ($16.99) is a signature menu item at Belle’s Kitchen.

PHOTOS BY JOVANNA AGUILARCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Belle’s Kitchen serves homemade Southern breakfast

The French toast mini kabobs ($6.99) consist of blueberries, strawberries, bananas and French toast.

qualications, the cooking experience and culinary experience to own a restaurant,” Kevin Calzada said. “And I was super excited to just start something from the ground up with a new concept and menu.” Must-try menu items Since opening in 2010, Belle’s Kitchen owners have modied its menu selection of over 150 choices to less than 100 choices and plan to mini- mize it to 40-60 menu items, Kevin Calzada said. With his mother Felix Calzada and chef Salvador Lara on board, the Southern breakfast restaurant oers homemade meals such as chilaquiles, omelets, pancakes and huevos rancheros.

With years of experience in the restaurant industry, Kevin Calzada said he took over own- ership of Belle’s Kitchen in 2019 after the original founder moved away to pursue other ventures. Under Kevin Calzada’s ownership, Belle’s Kitchen operates as a family-owned restaurant with homestyle breakfast menu items made in-house and is open from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. A family aair Kevin Calzada said he earned his cooking experi- ence from his father at age 11 and continued in the restaurant industry while working at Pappasito’s Cantina and Mastro’s Steakhouse.

1960

3335 FM 1960 W., Houston Facebook: Belle’s Kitchen

“Having spent the past years working in the restaurant industry, I felt like I had the

SPRING KLEIN EDITION

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State

BY EMILY LINCKE, JESSICA SHORTEN & AUBREY VOGEL

5 legislative updates from Houston-area lawmakers

With the 89th Texas legislative session underway as of Jan. 14, Houston-area lawmakers have begun working on hundreds of bills they hope to pass into law. Priorities for local representatives and senators include power line durability, enhancing Texas’ electric grid and school board elections. Lawmakers across the state have been ling bills for the 89th session since Nov. 12 with a ling deadline of March 14. The session is scheduled to end June 2, barring no special sessions being called. 1 Houston could see buried power lines following study to analyze cost After more than 2.2 million customers lost power during Hurricane Beryl, Texas lawmakers are requesting a study through House Bill 842 on the cost and feasibility of burying power lines in the Gulf Coast region. The bill, led by Rep. Suleman Lalani, D-Sugar Land, calls for the study to include all areas in the state within 150 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, according to the draft legislation. The study would explore the potential: • Cost of burying existing power lines • Cost of maintaining and repairing underground power lines • Cost saving analysis with reduced outages • Technologies developed or tested by the Department of Energy

3 New bill targets ban on e-cigarette stores near schools Governments would be able to ban e-cigarette stores from operating within 300 feet of a campus through House Bill 1183. The bill was led by Rep. Charles Cunningham, R-Humble.

2 House bill seeks to change school board elections House Bill 955 from Rep. Steve Toth, R-The

Woodlands, aims to make school board candidates sign on with a political party to run for oce as well as expand the mandatory term period from three to four years. The Texas Election Code outlines school boards as nonpartisan positions

Number of U.S. students who have ever used tobacco as of 2024

3.87M

E-cigarettes Cigarettes Cigars

Rep. Steve Toth, RThe Woodlands

1.57M

1.05M

that are subject to election for three- or four- year terms. However, the new bill would require school board candidates to run in both a primary and general election before gaining the seat. If passed, independent school districts would have until December to reschedule their regular election timeframes to adhere to the new requirements. Toth’s oce did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.

SOURCES: ANNUAL NATIONAL YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

4 Lawmakers seek the creation of a statewide grid security commission Texas lawmakers are seeking to create a Texas Grid Security Commission to provide oversight into the state’s electric grid stability. According to the draft legislation for Senate Bill 75, co-authored by 17 senators, the commission would evaluate municipalities across the state.

5 Maintenance district to be considered for Lake Houston

Lake Houston

Harris County

Texas coastal counties

A new board-governed maintenance district will be created for Lake Houston, should House Bill 1532 be approved. Filed by Cunningham, HB 1532 would establish the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District, which would cover Lake Houston in Harris County’s boundaries. According to the bill, the district would:

• Coordinate the removal of lake sediment and debris • Have the ability to issue bonds • Not be allowed to impose a tax or charge a fee • Be permitted to seek grants

GULF OF MEXICO

Mexico

SOURCE: MAPS OF THE WORLDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Events

Transportation

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

BY VANESSA HOLT & CARSON WEAVER

IAH Terminal B lobby closes until 2026 The Terminal B lobby at George Bush Intercontinental Airport temporarily closed Jan. 21 due to progress in the $2.5 billion expansion of the terminal, according to a news release from United Airlines. The terminal is expected to reopen in 2026, per the release. The details While the Terminal B lobby is closed, signage along Will Clayton Parkway and JFK Boulevard will redirect passengers to check in at the Terminal C lobby. The A/B parking garages will remain open, and United will provide a free shuttle service to and from Terminal C for those parking in A/B garages, per the release. After checking in through the Terminal C lobby, passengers are to take the above-ground train to Terminal B.

Regional Grand Parkway safety task force forms The eort to “end the streak” of daily deaths on Texas roads has received a new boost from the Harris County Sheri’s Oce. The agency has partnered with several other neighboring law enforcement entities to form a new multi- agency partnership to address safety on the Grand Parkway, Harris County Sheri Ed Gonzalez said at a Dec. 18 press conference. Gonzalez said a partnership of area agencies will include the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheri’s Oce, Fort Bend County Sheri’s Oce and other regional entities. The task force began working in November to increase enforcement and awareness of safe driv- ing practices on the corridor, where 2,280 crashes occurred in Harris County alone in 2024, resulting in nine deaths, Gonzalez said.

• Free (admission) • 22351 Imperial Valley Drive, Houston • www.springisd.org

February

Strategies to improve safety

AAUW Luncheon The annual fundraising event hosted by the North Harris County American Association of University Women will feature keynote speaker Judge Yvonne Ho and Cy-Fair ISD Chief of Sta Teresa Hull at Shirley Acres. • Feb. 22, 10:30 a.m. • $75 • 217 Woerner Road, Houston • www.aauw.org Journalling group Join a journaling group at the Barbara Bush Branch Library with individuals who enjoy writing. • Feb. 22, 2:30-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 6817 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.hcpl.net

Hope Cowan & Zachary Montasser The Cypress Creek FACE Foundation for the Arts is presenting harpist Hope Cowan and violinist Zachary Montasser performing classical, folk and popular works. • March 11, 2 p.m. • $12-$18 • 6450 Louetta Road, Ste. 200, Spring • www.cypresscreekface.org Granny’s Secret Quilt Workshop Join Glenda Wilder for a day workshop at Cupcake Quilts. • March 22, 10 a.m. • $99 • 21120 Spring Towne Drive, Spring • www.cupcakequilts.com Home Place of Texas golf tournament This inaugural golf tournament features a four-person scramble at Windrose Golf Club. Proceeds benet adults with developmental disabilities. • March 28, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. • $150 (single player), $600 (foursome) • 6235 Pine Lakes Blvd., Spring • www.hpotx.org

Increasing patrols targeting speeding and impaired driving

Using technology for speed detection

Addressing aggressive driving behavior

Educating drivers to obey speed limits and drive sober

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT

Black History Month Family Day Celebrate Black History Month at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts with art activities, face painting and the history of jazz performance. • Feb. 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free (admission) • 6815 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.pearlmfa.org

Some context The initiative started in November in response to “concerning” statistics on car crashes on the Grand Parkway, Gonzalez said. “This corridor has become known as ... a speedway, and it’s a culture that has been allowed to occur with very little law enforcement pres- ent and that’s something we want to change,” Gonzalez said.

March

Spring ISD leadership summits These seventh annual summits are designed to enhance students’ leadership skills. • March 1 (girls’ event), March 22 (boys’ event)

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FIRST EDITION!

A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT FEBRUARY 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

EXCURSIONS: A Port Aransas Quest CRITTER: Black-Tailed Prairie Dog OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: A Western Wear Pair FEATURE PREVIEW: Panhandle Fires, One Year Later

Above: Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, in Port Aransas.

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TEXAS MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2025

Dear Fellow Texan, WELCOME

I couldn’t be prouder and more excited to bring you this special edition of Texas Monthly ’s February issue within the pages of Community Impact . One great Texas institution meets another. Community Impact and Texas Monthly have shared goals: to equip you with the news and perspectives that help you understand your state and your neighborhood and inspire you to engage with the people and places that surround you. Each month, we’ll provide you a kind of sampler of what Texas Monthly has to offer. Food, drink, travel, critters, and a taste of some of the award-winning storytelling Texas Monthly is known for. Enjoy the next few pages, thank you for welcoming us into your home, and please consider subscribing to Texas Monthly. —ROSS McCAMMON

EXCURSIONS Among the Craniacs North America’s tallest bird stalks Port Aransas once again. Its fans are back too. BY ROSE CAHALAN

I'M LEANING ON the rail of the Scat Cat, a red-and-white charter fishing boat in Aran- sas Bay, when two bottlenose dolphins leap majestically out of the water alongside our wake. The midday February sun gleams on their fins as the pair chases us. “Look!” I shout. A few of my sixty or so fellow passengers turn to watch, but this is only a warm-up for the real stars of the show: the whooping cranes. Today’s tour is part of the Whooping Crane Festival, an annual four-day winter celebra- tion of one of the continent’s rarest avian

species—and its tallest. About two thousand birders have descended on Port Aransas, a Gulf Coast town of around 2,900 residents on Mustang Island, for the twenty-seventh iteration, which is packed with more than fifty events, including birding tours and lectures by scientists. (This year’s festival happens February 20–23.) Before the arrival of European settlers, more than ten thousand of these birds soared across the continent, but habitat destruction and overhunting drove them to the brink. By

EDITOR IN CHIEF, TEXAS MONTHLY

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Its Reputation As a Ranch Pest Is Changing. The most common of the five species of prairie dogs in North America, these charismatic creatures today inhabit only about 2 percent of their native range, which once covered roughly 100 million acres of the Great Plains. Agriculture and urban development have consumed much of that habitat, and some ranch- ers, worried that these prairie dogs were competing with cattle for grass, exter- minated them. It turns out, though, that they are beneficial for grasslands. SO HOW DO THEY HELP? Prairie dogs nibble down the woody shrubs that could hide their predators and that often take over grasslands. This preserves habitat for birds and animals such as pronghorn. Plus, the rodents’ digging mixes and aerates the soil, and their scat provides nutrients. HOW DO WE KNOW FOR SURE? Scientists collected data from a group of GPS collar–wearing cattle that grazed on three pastures within a pre- serve. In warm seasons, the herd spent more time on the prairie dog colony than in areas outside it. I HEARD THEY CARRY PLAGUE. IS THAT TRUE? Prairie dogs are susceptible to the syl- vatic plague, caused by the same bac- terium as the bubonic plague. But it’s primarily fleas, not rodents, that spread it. At a respectful distance, you can en- joy them without fear. —Robyn Ross CRITTER BLACK�TAILED PRAIRIE DOG

early efforts to revive whooping cranes with captive breeding. During several breeding seasons in the late seventies and early eight- ies, he even lived in a shed with a female crane named Tex, who had imprinted on humans after hatching at the San Antonio Zoo. “Cranes require a great deal of space,” Ar- chibald said. “Each species selects a different type of wetland or grassland.” Unfortunately, those are some of the most easily destroyed habitats: With no trees to cut down, develop- ers can simply pave them over. Captive breed- ing has played a crucial role in the comeback of the species. In the past decade, the Dallas Zoo has picked up the baton, as one of seven organizations in the U.S. and Canada to carry on Archibald’s legacy of breeding baby whoop- ing cranes to release in the wild.

1941 only 21 whooping cranes were left in the wild. Today, after decades of extensive conservation work, there are about 700 wild whoopers left. Wherever there are cranes, there are crani- acs. The birders who visit Port Aransas—“We estimate the economic impact to be near $1 million,” says Brett Stawar, president and CEO of the town’s tourism bureau—bring with them an intense enthusiasm. The undisputed king of the craniacs is George Archibald, the 78-year-old cofounder of the International Crane Foundation. Archibald was a leader in

A birder at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, in Port Aransas, on December 14, 2024; birders in Port Aransas; a sign at the preserve.

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