From a special session in Austin to new attendance boundaries from Humble ISD, here are four things Humble, Kingwood and Atascocita residents need to know this week.

  1. The Texas Legislature begins its special session Tuesday
    Gov. Greg Abbott called for a special session for state lawmakers to address legislation that failed to pass during the regular 85th session. Among the 19 items are property tax reform and regulating bathroom usage based on gender. Take a look at special session priorities from local representatives Mark Keough and Brandon Creighton. www.capitol.state.tx.us


  2. Construction timeline set for Townsen Boulevard expansion
    The city of Humble will begin advertising for bids on the expansion of Townsen Boulevard this summer. Construction will begin in October with completion expected by the summer or fall of 2018, Assistant City Manager Jason Stuebe said. The roadway will be expanded to four lanes between the northern entrance of the Wal-Mart Supercenter and where the road bends west toward Hwy. 59. The project is budgeted to cost $4.3 million.


  3. Harris County to stay out of ‘sanctuary cities’ lawsuit
    Harris County’s leaders have chosen to stay out of a legal challenge to Texas’ controversial “sanctuary cities” law for now. A motion by Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis to authorize County Attorney Vince Ryan to join the lawsuit against Senate Bill 4 failed Tuesday at the Harris County Commissioners Court meeting.

    Emmett said counties operate less independently than cities in the eyes of the state government, and he worried about the legality of a suit from Harris County. Emmett and Precinct 2 Commissioner Jack Morman also said they thought it bad precedent to sue the state over every law with which the county disagreed.

  4. Humble ISD explores boundaries for Middle School No. 9
    Humble ISD presented six attendance zone options for Middle School No. 9, which is scheduled to open in for the 2018-19 school year.

    The school is located within Atascocita subdivision The Groves. The attendance boundaries will impact neighborhoods currently zoned to Timberwood and Woodcreek middle schools, which were both more than 400 students over capacity for the 2016-17 school year. The zone will also take families who could be shifted twice in two years because Middle School No. 10 is expected to open near Ridge Creek Elementary in 2020.

    A committee considering the six zones will meet again in July and present a recommendation to the board in August. The board is expected to approve an attendance zone in September.