Cheeky Monkeys officials are now targeting a late January or early February opening for their new location in Atascocita, franchise owner Nisar Maknojia confirmed in a Dec. 3 email.

The details: Cheeky Monkeys is an indoor playground facility with soft play areas—such as slides, trampolines and ball pits—geared for children ages 10 months to 8 years, Maknojia said. Amenities geared toward parents include free wifi and a cafe serving hot and cold beverages as well as treats.

The company has four other Greater Houston-area locations including one each in Vintage Park, Sugar Land, The Woodlands and Richmond, according to the business' website. The venues accept walk-ins and are available to host birthday parties.

What's next: Maknojia said the company is now hiring employees at the Atascocita location.

• Opening in late January or early February
• 4902 Atascocita Road, Ste. 600, Humble

Lone Star College-Kingwood will host a series of free workshops in January to help participants hone their digital skills, college officials announced in a Dec. 3 news release.

Some context: Per the release, the workshops are being offered through a partnership with Connected Nation, a nonprofit that provides innovative solutions to expand access to high-speed internet and related technologies.

What you need to know: According to the release, classes for English speakers will be held at LSC-Kingwood CLA Room 104 on Jan. 29-30 and at LSC-Atascocita Center Room 211 on Jan. 15-16. Classes for Spanish speakers will be held at LSC-East Aldine Center Room 109 on Jan. 13-14. 

Quote of note: "Not only are we focusing on how to navigate the internet while protecting a person's privacy, but we're also providing courses for people who want to learn the basics about using a computer, a mobile device or the internet," said Pat Chandler, director of continuing education for LSC-Kingwood, in a statement.

Lone Star College System trustees received updates on several projects associated with the college system’s $485 million bond approved by voters in 2014.

The details: LSCS Chancellor Mario Castillo said the college system is planning a Jan. 13 opening of the roughly $34 million Magnolia Center, which will serve as a satellite campus for LSC-Tomball. Once completed, Castillo said college system officials will move on to the roughly $10.5 million expansion of the LSC Victory Center.

A closer look: As previously reported by Community Impact, the Magnolia Center will offer academic transfer courses; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning programs; and emergency medical services Professions programs. As previously reported by Community Impact, the Victory Center will include more classrooms, a biology lab and a fitness center.

What’s next: While LCS officials couldn't provide a timeline for the LSC Victory Center by press time, Castillo said it was the last building that would be constructed that was funded through the 2014 bond.

Nine new medical cannabis dispensaries could soon open in Texas, the Department of Public Safety announced Dec. 1.

The overview: The nine companies were preliminarily approved to join three existing dispensaries that provide medical-grade, low-THC products to eligible patients through the Texas Compassionate Use Program. The program's expansion comes after state lawmakers passed House Bill 46 this spring.

Lawmakers also allowed dispensaries to store products in multiple locations, which advocates said would cut costs, and added more qualifying conditions to the program.

Zooming in: The nine providers given conditional licenses Dec. 1 are:

• Verano Texas LLC in West Texas
• Trulieve TX Inc. in the Panhandle
• Texas Patient Access LLC in North Texas
• Lonestar Compassionate Care Group LLC in North Texas
• Lone Star Bioscience Inc. in South Central Texas
• PC TX OPCO LLC, dba PharmaCann, in Southeast Texas
• Texa OP, dba TexaRx, in the Rio Grande Valley
• Story of Texas LLC in Southeast Texas
• Dilatso LLC in North Texas