Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out six trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Oct. 16-23.
Race Rock breaks ground on $100M expansion in Brookshire
Race Rock, a nationwide manufacturer and distributor of steel infrastructure products for the utility, highway and energy markets, is expanding its presence in Waller County.
The new manufacturing facility—which will be constructed adjacent to the company's existing location at 7007 FM 362 in Brookshire—will expand the production of transmission and substation structures to help meet the country's infrastructure needs, officials announced in an Oct. 14 news release.
Once the expansion is completed, the company's campus will span more than 100 acres and provide jobs for more than 500 highly skilled employees.
Learn more from Editor Aubrey Howell.
League City approves nearly $50M construction contract for Pat Hallisey Park
League City City Council approved a $49.76 million construction contract with Harris County-based contractor SpawGlass Construction Corp. at its Oct. 13 meeting.
Pat Hallisey Park will be located on the city’s west side, near Calder Drive and Ervin Street, and serve as a regional recreational facility, and will provide:
Get the full breakdown from Editor Haley Velasco.
Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen P. Turner indicted
Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen P. Turner was indicted Oct. 22 on federal charges following at least two years of investigation, Bobby Eberle, the director of communications for the county judge, said at an Oct. 22 county press conference.
Turner and two people in her office were arrested Oct. 22 for using county money to hire two employees to care for Turner’s mother, U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz said at a press conference. The trio was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, theft concerning federal money and wire fraud.
Reitz said he suspects Turner used tens or hundreds of thousands of county dollars, but the exact amount will become clearer as the case unfolds. However, Eberle said it is important to note that Turner has not been convicted and remains in charge of the office.
Turner assumed her elected position in 2021, leading the Tax Assessor-Collector office, which collects property taxes. Her term is currently set to end in 2028, according to Ballotpedia.
Learn more from Reporter Pili Saravia.
Pearland reviews Flock camera use, data-sharing safeguards
Pearland City Council reviewed the city’s use of Flock Safety license plate-reading cameras during its Oct. 19 special workshop, discussing the technology’s role in criminal investigations and concerns about data sharing.
Pearland began partnering with Flock Safety in early 2022, with its first cameras installed in summer 2022, city documents show.
Pearland's Police Department has access to 112 cameras across the city, including:
31 city cameras
48 cameras operated by homeowners associations
31 cameras operated by private entities
2 Alvin ISD cameras located at Shadow Creek High School
Read the full story by Reporter Catherine White.
New 5-year strategic plan aims to position Houston as a premier film destination
Officials with the Houston First Corporation launched a new five-year strategic plan in early October aimed at expanding the city's film and media production industry.
The 5-year strategic plan is designed to "significantly" expand Houston's film and media production industry through objective goals, as well as generate new economic activity and establish the city as a premier production destination in the South, according to an Oct. 6 news release.
The plan has three overarching strategic priorities:
Elevate Houston as the film capital of Texas
Deepen collaboration among local government, education and industry leaders
Drive economic impact through job creation, hotel stays and increased tourism
Officials with Houston First and the Houston Film Commission intend to accomplish these goals through five different strategies:
Get the full breakdown from Editor Cassandra Jenkins.
Ronald McDonald House unveils new look, logo as part of worldwide rebranding
Officials with the Ronald McDonald House Greater Houston chapter in the Texas Medical Center unveiled their new look and tagline Oct. 15 as part of the organization's global initiative.
The refreshed logo combines the organization's heart-and-home graphic with the iconic McDonald's red, according to a news release. The logo also honors more than five decades of partnership. Along with the logo, the nonprofit organization also released its new tagline, "Family Stays."
“Family Stays is more than a tagline to underscore our new brand—it reflects the heart of who we are and what families need most during a child’s medical journey,” Houston CEO Cristina Vetrano said via news release. "We believe every family needs to stay together through life’s most difficult moments.”
See what the buzz is about with Editor Cassandra Jenkins.
