Katy ISD has moved forward with attendance boundary modifications ahead of the upcoming opening of Elementary School 49.

What’s happening: At an Oct. 26 meeting, the Katy ISD board of trustees approved attendance boundary modifications for Elementary School 49 to be located at 6435 Pitts Road in the district’s growing northwest quadrant.

Chief Operations Officer Ted Vierling said the recommended boundary option presented at the Sept. 21 meeting has Winward staying at Youngblood, residents in Anniston west of Anniston Lakes Drive moving to Elementary School 49 and those east of Anniston Lakes Drive moving to Youngblood.

FM 529 will act as a boundary except for eastern Anniston. Other land use zones moving from Youngblood to Elementary School 49 include:

• Katy Prairie Estates and potential additional single-family developments

• North Sunterra (VI) and Summerwell at Sunterra

• North Sunterra (VII), additional individually-owned parcels and future single-family developments

On the horizon: Construction on Elementary School 49 began in March and is slated to be completed by June 2027. The changes will go into effect in August 2027.

Several businesses, restaurants and facilities are coming soon or undergoing renovations in Katy.

The details: These area projects were registered in the last several months with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. All information, including costs and timelines, is subject to change.

Big Blue Swim School

• Location: 24909 FM 529, Ste. 300, Katy

• Type of work: renovation/alteration

• Timeline: Aug. 3, 2026-Jan. 21, 2027

• Estimated cost: $1.9 million

The Morning Spread Breakfast Brunch Lunch

• Location: 25220 Kingsland Blvd., Katy

• Type of work: renovation/alteration

• Timeline: Sept. 14-Nov. 16

• Estimated cost: $200,000

Flamingo Art Gallery

• Location: 132 Cane Island Parkway, Ste. 111, Katy

• Type of work: renovation/alteration

• Timeline: Sept. 10, 2026-March 3, 2027

• Estimated cost: $200,000

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County will offer complimentary rides to and from the polls on Election Day, Nov. 3.

How it works: To receive a free ride, riders must show their voter registration card to a METRO operator or fare inspector when boarding. Regular fares still apply during the early voting period, as the complimentary rides are only available on Election Day.

Available fare services for the offer include: METRORail, local bus routes, METROLift, curb2curb and community connector.

“Every voter deserves the opportunity to make their voice heard, and transportation should never stand in the way,” said METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock via news release.

One more thing: METRO leaders encourage riders to plan their trips using the transit authority's Trip Planner and to confirm polling locations before traveling. Polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Houston Airport System will host its first Flavor Fest, allowing non-travelers to sample airport cuisine to benefit Wings of Compassion, an organization providing temporary financial aid to airport system employees experiencing hardship.

The details: Tickets cost $30 per person and include validated parking. Because both events take place in pre-security areas, attendees do not need a flight or boarding pass.

The events will take place:

• Nov. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at William P. Hobby Airport, with parking in the Blue Garage. Participating restaurants include Killen's BBQ, Common Bond and Velvet Taco.

• Nov. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, with parking in the CDE Garage. Participating restaurants include El Tiempo Cantina, The Annie and Little Purse Dumpling Den.

The festival will feature food and drinks, a live chef competition, People's Choice voting, live entertainment and retail partner giveaways.

More than 4.5 million Texans cast ballots in the first seven days of early voting in the Nov. 3 election, state data shows.

The overview: From Oct. 19-25, 23.8% of Texas' 19 million registered voters had voted in-person or by mail, according to voter turnout data submitted by counties and reported by the secretary of state. This is slightly below early voting turnout at the same point in 2018 and several percentage points above turnout in 2022.

Some context: Turnout this fall follows voter enthusiasm during the March primary election, when more Texans voted early than in recent primaries. In total, about 4.5 million people—or one-fourth of voters registered at the time—cast ballots in Texas' March election, setting a primary turnout record.

At the polls: Registered voters can visit any polling place in their county through Oct. 30, the last day of early voting. Election Day is Nov. 3. Texans can read Q&As with dozens of candidates, find local polling sites and print a custom sample ballot at communityimpact.com/voter-guide.