19 women-owned businesses to support in the Houston area
March 1 marks the start of International Women's History Month, a month dedicated to honoring women's contributions to American history. To celebrate, we have rounded up women-owned businesses in the Houston area you can support this month. This list is not comprehensive.
Read the full story by CI Staff.
Husband-and-wife duo provide reservoir of beekeeping essentials at Magnolia Bee & Supply
In 2012, Texas law made it possible for beekeeping to qualify residents for an agricultural valuation on their property taxes.
Andy Knight and his wife, Sandra Knight, said they were among the first residents in San Jacinto County to take advantage of the new rule about nine years ago. But what started out as a simple way to reduce property valuation turned into a lifelong hobby and a new side hustle.
Andy said he created Magnolia Bee & Supply LLC in 2021 and opened his storefront in February 2022 after returning from the American Beekeeping Federation Conference.
Read the full story by Reporter Cassandra Jenkins.
League City City Council approves controversial book review committee
Despite a protest and dozens of residents speaking out against the idea, League City City Council has moved forward with what several have called a book ban and First Amendment violation.
City Council on Feb. 28 voted 5-3 in favor of the final reading of an ordinance establishing the city's Community Standards Review Committee, a group that will review Helen Hall Library books flagged as potentially inappropriate by residents. The committee could remove or reshelve such books or decide to not do anything, city staff told Community Impact.
Read the full story by Editor Jake Magee.
NHCRWA board approves historic water rate drop
The North Harris County Regional Water Authority has seen a change in leadership and lowering of water rates since last fall—two historic moves for the authority.
In late 2022, candidates Mark Ramsey, David Barker and Melissa Rowell unseated three long-term incumbents during the Nov. 8 election. In early 2023, the new board then voted to lower water rates for the first time in the authority’s 22-year history. The rate decrease went into effect Feb. 1.
Ramsey, the president of the board, said the board members who ran against incumbents in November campaigned to hold water rates constant, but after finding a $30 million surplus in the operating budget later in January, the board decided to reduce the rates by an amount it believes is sustainable.
Read the full story by Reporter Cassandra Jenkins and Editor Danica Lloyd.
Fort Bend ISD approves rezoning changes for 2 Missouri City-area high schools
Following in its steps Feb. 13 to address student population overflow at some of its schools, the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees agreed to move forward with a plan to shift the attendance boundaries of two more schools during the board’s Feb. 27 special meeting. The two Missouri City high schools of Ridge Point High School and Hightower High School are over capacity, spurring the need to rezone students to alternative schools.
The adopted Option E boundary slices portions out of map section 258E and moves map section 245A into the Almeta Crawford High School boundary, according to information provided by FBISD staff during the meeting.
FBISD officials clarified in a Feb. 28 interview that planning district 258E is located in Sienna, in the Mount Logan neighborhood. Officials noted in the interview that there is a definite "natural physical feature" that divides the neighborhood.
Read the full story by Reporter Jack Dowling.
