Grand Parkway expansion, new businesses announced: 5 trending stories in the Greater Houston area

Catch up on Community Impact’s coverage this week with five trending Greater Houston stories from May 18-22.

1. Fort Bend County greenlights TxDOT primacy for Grand Parkway expansion

At a May 14 meeting, Fort Bend County commissioners voted to give the Texas Department of Transportation primacy on Segments C1 and C2, as well as the unbuilt portion of Segment D of the Grand Parkway project.

The vote allows TxDOT to be the primary contact responsible for construction and operation on the 26-mile extension from south Sugar Land to State Hwy. 288 near Rosharon, Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers said in a May 19 Facebook post.

The expansion, which is a part of the proposed 180-mile highway that circles the Greater Houston area, comes at no cost to the county.

Learn more from Editor Aubrey Howell.

2. 8 businesses now open in Sugar Land, Missouri City

From an HVAC training institute to pickleball courts and new dining options, eight new businesses have recently opened across the Sugar Land, Missouri City and Stafford area in 2026.

This list is not comprehensive.

Read more from Editor Aubrey Howell.

3. League City Walmart hosts grand opening following renovations

The Walmart in League City, located on FM 646, hosted a grand reopening celebration in mid-May after the company completed renovations on the location, staff said. The location did not close operations during the renovations, staff said.

In 2025 Walmart announced nearly 650 stores nationwide were selected for major renovations in 2025, with 67 of those stores within Texas and eight in the Greater Houston region, including the League City location, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.

Read the full story from Reporter Rachel Leland.

4. Conroe council reopens public comment, rolls back street closure fees after community pushback

Conroe residents will get more time to speak at City Council meetings, and downtown event organizers are getting a temporary break on street closure fees after two unanimous votes May 14.

The action came during the first regular meeting with newly seated council members Kristin Hoisington, Ken Blevins and John Sellars on the dais. Both items had drawn months of frustration from residents, small-business owners and downtown event supporters.

Discover more with Reporter Nichaela Shaheen.

5. Crawfish Cookoff, Sip & Shop: Check out 10 Houston-area events this weekend, May 22-24

From classic rock bands to the Superbroil Crawfish World Championship, check out 10 events happening in the Greater Houston area this weekend.

All events are subject to change, and this list is not comprehensive.

See more details from Reporter Sarah Brager.