4/25/26 – Since I last posted about the Northpark Drive Expansion Project in Kingwood eleven days ago, contractors have continued to push forward.
They have also virtually completed everything east of the bridge abutment all the way to the eastern terminus of the project near the Kingwood Diversion Ditch. Here’s an update on what is and isn’t complete in Phase I.
Eastern Part of Project Virtually Done
The entire project from US59 to the eastern terminus is about a mile. Eight-tenths of that mile is virtually complete – everything between Parkwood Baptist Church to the start of the eastern bridge abutment in front of the Quick Quack Car Wash.
In this segment of the project, I observed:
Medians that need to be planted with grass in some areas
One lane of traffic on each side of the median still blocked off
Traffic cones still blocking off turn lanes where new traffic control lights have not yet been activated
A few gaps in “multi-use pathways.” They’re those things that resemble sidewalks, but are wider.
Other than that, it’s clear sailing in wider lanes than existed before the project. See the pictures below all taken during the afternoon of April 24, 2026. The sequence goes from east to west beginning near Russell Palmer Road.
Between Parkwood Baptist and Advance Auto Parts, looking at the newly completed turn lanes at Russell Palmer.New traffic signals at Russell Palmer are installed but not yet activated. Multi-use pathways in this area need the most help of anywhere else on the entire project.Just beyond Russell Palmer, we can see that pathways still have a few gaps and that the median has been scraped down to the dirt.Farther west, by Warren’s LandscapingStill father west by Smart StorageApproaching the entrance to Italiano’s and Kings Mill (left side). Sherwin Williams and Quick Quack on right mark the end of the mostly completed segment.
Bridge Construction
Things get a little hairier in the last 2/10s of a mile. The east abutment is coming along well. It appears to have reached its full height or close to it.
Eastern bridge abutment
According to the new three-week look ahead schedule, contractors will begin paving up to the ramp next week.
Railroad Crossing
So far, that’s all great news. But Northpark contractors still are working out issues at the UnionPacific Railroad crossing near Loop 494.
On the south side of Northpark, two traffic signal poles still block completion of the new surface lanes. Of course, they’re needed to control traffic for now.
Note unpaved sections of new surface lanes to left of inbound traffic.On the north side of Northpark, UPRR has installed new crossing signals, but the multi-use pathway is not complete.
Zig Zag Continues
Traffic near Loop 494 continues to curve in and out around a) the eastern bridge abutment and b) where the western bridge abutment will eventually go between Whataburger and PNC Bank.
Wide shot showing current traffic patternnear bridgeSecond abutment will be built in the “dirt covered” area west of Loop 494.
Entry-Pond Excavation
Meanwhile, excavation of the south entry pond at US59 continues.
Looking N across southern pondExcavation of the northern pond appears complete.
Contractors will apply cement and line both ponds at the same time to save money. That should happen around mid-May, 2026.
Street Illumination and Hydro-Mulch for Ditch One
The street light crew is continuing installation of street light foundations and light poles throughout the project.
You can also search this website for “Northpark” for links to close to more than 200 posts about the progress of the project.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/25/2026
3161 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DJI_20260424141826_0930_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2026-04-25 20:47:252026-04-27 06:03:16Northpark Making Good Progress Despite a Few Hiccups
4/24/25 – Sales tax on emergency supplies will be suspended from April 25-27, 2026. This is a great opportunity to stock up on things you might need for hurricane season and save some money.
Prepare yourself during the 2026 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, and you do not need to give an exemption certificate to claim the exemption.
This year’s holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 27.
Save tax on batteries, lanterns, flashlights and more this weekend.
What Qualifies
These emergency preparation supplies qualify for tax exemption if purchased for a sales price:
Less than $3000
Portable generators
Less than $300
Emergency ladders
Hurricane shutters
Less than $75
Axes
Batteries, single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Can openers – nonelectric
Carbon monoxide detectors
Coolers and ice chests for food storage – nonelectric
Examples of items include: candles, flashlights and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Radios – portable self-powered (including battery operated) – includes two-way and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting.
Note: Several over-the-counter self-care items, such as antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, spray and wipes, are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a “Drug Facts” panel in accordance with federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
What Does NOT Qualify
These supplies do NOT qualify for tax exemption:
Medical masks and face mask.
Cleaning supplies, such as disinfectants and bleach wipes
Gloves, including leather, fabric, latex and types used in healthcare
Toilet paper
Batteries for automobiles, boats and other motorized vehicles
Camping stoves
Camping supplies
Chainsaws
Plywood
Extension ladders
Stepladders
Tents
Repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies
Services performed on, or related to, emergency preparation supplies.
Online Purchases and Telephone Orders
During the holiday you can buy qualifying emergency preparation supplies in-store, online, by telephone, mail, custom order, or any other means. The sale of the item must take place during the specific period. The purchase date is easy to determine when the purchase is made in-store but becomes more complicated with remote purchases.
The purchaser must have given the consideration for the item during the period even if the item may not be delivered until after the period is over.
For example, if a purchaser enters their credit card information in an online shopping website on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.to purchase a qualifying generator, but the generator will not be shipped until Friday, May 1, 2026, and will not arrive until Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the purchase will still qualify for the exemption.
However, if the charge to credit card is declined by the payment processor at 11:00 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026, and the purchaser does not resubmit payment until Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the purchase is taxable.
Additional Charges Affect the Sales Price
Delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges are part of the sales price. Consider these charges when determining whether an emergency preparation supply can be purchased tax free during the holiday.
For example, you purchase a rescue ladder for $299 with a $10 delivery charge, for a total sales price of $309. Because the total sales price of the ladder is more than $300, tax is due on the $309 sales price.
Sales Tax Holiday Refund Requests
Purchasers can buy certain emergency preparation supplies tax free during the annual Texas Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. If you pay sales tax on these items during the sales tax holiday, you can ask the seller for a refund of the tax paid. The seller can either grant the refund or provide their customer with Form 00-985, Assignment of Right to Refund (PDF) that allows the purchaser to file the refund claim directly with the Comptroller’s office.
Should you have additional questions about refund requests, please contact us at 800-531-5441, ext. 34545, or visit the Sales Tax Refunds web page for further details on filing a refund claim.
4/23/25 – Yesterday, the law firm McGehee, Chang, Feiler – the law firm representing downstream plaintiffs in the Addicks-Barker Reservoirs litigation – announced that Judge Loren A. Smith ruled in favor of plaintiffs in their “takings” case against the Army Corps of Engineers.
Takings Clause of Fifth Amendment
“Takings” refers to the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution. One of its clauses mandates that private property cannot be taken for public use without “just compensation.”
The vast Addicks reservoir in a May 2021 rain event. During Harvey, water was even higher.Barker Reservoir, also in May 2021.
When the Corps released water from the reservoirs during Hurricane Harvey, it flooded downstream residents. Plaintiffs argued that the flooding amounted to a taking under the Fifth Amendment and therefore they were entitled to just compensation for their losses.
Entering Year 9 of Litigation, More Likely to Come
We are now entering Year 9 of the litigation in the Addicks-Barker case. After Judge Smith’s ruling, the law firm wrote its clients in the case. They said, “This afternoon, we finally received the long-awaited decision from the Court. We are pleased to report that the Court found in our favor.”
The Court GRANTED summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs and DENIED a summary judgment in favor of defendant on all motions.
However, while basking in the win, the firm reminded clients that this is just the first phase of the case (the liability phase). “The second phase–the determination of damages, or how much the government needs to compensate the property owners–is still ahead,” said the release. “Nonetheless, we are pleased that the Court finally issued this ruling after nine years of litigation (since 2017).”
The first 15 pages cite the legal standards that apply to the case and lay out what the plaintiffs had to prove. Without going into every detail, I will observe that the Judge sided with plaintiffs on all key issues.
The time and duration of the flooding rose to the level of a taking.
Flooding from the release was both intentional and foreseeable.
Defendant’s own data and testimony revealed that the flooding of downstream was entirely foreseeable.
The Corps knowingly flooded plaintiffs’ properties.
The releases caused severe and catastrophic damage to plaintiffs’ properties.
The character of the land and plaintiffs reasonable investment-backed expectations did not anticipate intentional flooding of their properties.
Plaintiffs established that their properties experienced more flooding than if defendant had kept the gates closed.
The Corps could not invoke the “necessity doctrine” to excuse themselves because the dams were not in imminent peril before they chose to release water. Further, by the Corps own post-event analysis, “There were no observations of seepage, or critical distress areas located on the dams.” No structural damage or overtopping occurred.
The government’s “police powers” did not grant it immunity.
Northpark Making Good Progress Despite a Few Hiccups
4/25/26 – Since I last posted about the Northpark Drive Expansion Project in Kingwood eleven days ago, contractors have continued to push forward.
They have also virtually completed everything east of the bridge abutment all the way to the eastern terminus of the project near the Kingwood Diversion Ditch. Here’s an update on what is and isn’t complete in Phase I.
Eastern Part of Project Virtually Done
The entire project from US59 to the eastern terminus is about a mile. Eight-tenths of that mile is virtually complete – everything between Parkwood Baptist Church to the start of the eastern bridge abutment in front of the Quick Quack Car Wash.
In this segment of the project, I observed:
Other than that, it’s clear sailing in wider lanes than existed before the project. See the pictures below all taken during the afternoon of April 24, 2026. The sequence goes from east to west beginning near Russell Palmer Road.
Bridge Construction
Things get a little hairier in the last 2/10s of a mile. The east abutment is coming along well. It appears to have reached its full height or close to it.
According to the new three-week look ahead schedule, contractors will begin paving up to the ramp next week.
Railroad Crossing
So far, that’s all great news. But Northpark contractors still are working out issues at the UnionPacific Railroad crossing near Loop 494.
On the south side of Northpark, two traffic signal poles still block completion of the new surface lanes. Of course, they’re needed to control traffic for now.
Zig Zag Continues
Traffic near Loop 494 continues to curve in and out around a) the eastern bridge abutment and b) where the western bridge abutment will eventually go between Whataburger and PNC Bank.
Entry-Pond Excavation
Meanwhile, excavation of the south entry pond at US59 continues.
Contractors will apply cement and line both ponds at the same time to save money. That should happen around mid-May, 2026.
Street Illumination and Hydro-Mulch for Ditch One
The street light crew is continuing installation of street light foundations and light poles throughout the project.
Ditch 1 reestablishment has been completed.
Contractors will seed the slopes with hydro-mulch during the week of 5/4/26, weather permitting.
For More Information
See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 web pages associated with this project for plans, videos and construction timelines. They also include a new 3-week lookahead schedule.
You can also search this website for “Northpark” for links to close to more than 200 posts about the progress of the project.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/25/2026
3161 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Sales Tax Holiday on Emergency Supplies – April 25-27
4/24/25 – Sales tax on emergency supplies will be suspended from April 25-27, 2026. This is a great opportunity to stock up on things you might need for hurricane season and save some money.
Prepare yourself during the 2026 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, and you do not need to give an exemption certificate to claim the exemption.
This year’s holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 27.
What Qualifies
These emergency preparation supplies qualify for tax exemption if purchased for a sales price:
Note: Several over-the-counter self-care items, such as antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, spray and wipes, are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a “Drug Facts” panel in accordance with federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
What Does NOT Qualify
These supplies do NOT qualify for tax exemption:
Online Purchases and Telephone Orders
During the holiday you can buy qualifying emergency preparation supplies in-store, online, by telephone, mail, custom order, or any other means. The sale of the item must take place during the specific period. The purchase date is easy to determine when the purchase is made in-store but becomes more complicated with remote purchases.
The purchaser must have given the consideration for the item during the period even if the item may not be delivered until after the period is over.
For example, if a purchaser enters their credit card information in an online shopping website on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.to purchase a qualifying generator, but the generator will not be shipped until Friday, May 1, 2026, and will not arrive until Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the purchase will still qualify for the exemption.
However, if the charge to credit card is declined by the payment processor at 11:00 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026, and the purchaser does not resubmit payment until Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the purchase is taxable.
Additional Charges Affect the Sales Price
Delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges are part of the sales price. Consider these charges when determining whether an emergency preparation supply can be purchased tax free during the holiday.
For example, you purchase a rescue ladder for $299 with a $10 delivery charge, for a total sales price of $309. Because the total sales price of the ladder is more than $300, tax is due on the $309 sales price.
Sales Tax Holiday Refund Requests
Purchasers can buy certain emergency preparation supplies tax free during the annual Texas Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. If you pay sales tax on these items during the sales tax holiday, you can ask the seller for a refund of the tax paid. The seller can either grant the refund or provide their customer with Form 00-985, Assignment of Right to Refund (PDF) that allows the purchaser to file the refund claim directly with the Comptroller’s office.
Should you have additional questions about refund requests, please contact us at 800-531-5441, ext. 34545, or visit the Sales Tax Refunds web page for further details on filing a refund claim.
For more information, contact Tax Help, or call 800-252-5555.
For information on emergency preparedness, check out the Preparedness section of my links page.
Information in Spanish: Tax-Free Purchases on Emergency Supplies
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/24/2026 based on information from the Texas Comptroller
3160 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Addicks-Barker Downstream Plaintiffs Win Summary Judgement
4/23/25 – Yesterday, the law firm McGehee, Chang, Feiler – the law firm representing downstream plaintiffs in the Addicks-Barker Reservoirs litigation – announced that Judge Loren A. Smith ruled in favor of plaintiffs in their “takings” case against the Army Corps of Engineers.
Takings Clause of Fifth Amendment
“Takings” refers to the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution. One of its clauses mandates that private property cannot be taken for public use without “just compensation.”
When the Corps released water from the reservoirs during Hurricane Harvey, it flooded downstream residents. Plaintiffs argued that the flooding amounted to a taking under the Fifth Amendment and therefore they were entitled to just compensation for their losses.
Entering Year 9 of Litigation, More Likely to Come
We are now entering Year 9 of the litigation in the Addicks-Barker case. After Judge Smith’s ruling, the law firm wrote its clients in the case. They said, “This afternoon, we finally received the long-awaited decision from the Court. We are pleased to report that the Court found in our favor.”
The Court GRANTED summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs and DENIED a summary judgment in favor of defendant on all motions.
However, while basking in the win, the firm reminded clients that this is just the first phase of the case (the liability phase). “The second phase–the determination of damages, or how much the government needs to compensate the property owners–is still ahead,” said the release. “Nonetheless, we are pleased that the Court finally issued this ruling after nine years of litigation (since 2017).”
Basis for Addicks-Barker Judgement
The Opinion from the judge is 48 pages long and is filled with legal jargon. But it is still readable.
The first 15 pages cite the legal standards that apply to the case and lay out what the plaintiffs had to prove. Without going into every detail, I will observe that the Judge sided with plaintiffs on all key issues.
For a complete explanation, read the original opinion.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/23/26
3159 Days since Hurricane Harvey