At a March 23 meeting, Katy City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting U-turns along Morton Road between Elder Road and Patna Drive.

The details: The ordinance comes as a nearby school requires vehicles to turn right out of the parking lot, resulting in unsafe U-turns further up the street, Police Chief Bryon Woytek said.

What they’re saying: Several council members, including Rory Robertson and Janet Corte, said they have seen issues with U-turns, both along Morton Road and other places in town.

Looking ahead: The notice will be posted in the city’s paper or record April 2, with penalties enforceable after 15 days, officials said. Violators can receive a fine not to exceed $200.

Families can now enjoy an upgraded play area at the Katy Mills Mall.

The setup: The HIVE, a “modern interactive play structure,” replaces the former Disney-themed playground, General Manager Heidi McMillan said. The $100,000 installation began in December and was completed in January.

Also of note: Katy Mills officials brought in students at the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts at the University of Houston to create custom artwork for the walls in the play area and at one of the mall entrances, McMillan said. In total, Katy Mills received 13 mural designs from UH students.

“We had a hard time choosing a winner and decided to showcase them all,” McMillan said. “It has been a great community partnership and we hope that this will be an annual design competition for our local artists.”

• 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy

Lamar Consolidated ISD officials are looking to refine the district’s Innovative School Day program.

What’s happening: At a March 17 meeting, the Lamar CISD board of trustees approved several contract agreements for its Innovative School Day program with nine accredited vendors.

The outside agencies will be responsible for developing, organizing and implementing the programs, Deputy Superintendent Kevin Phillips said.

About the program: Innovative School Days allow teachers to catch up on their curriculum and offer students lessons “distinct from classroom instruction” in a multitude of skills to get them ready for what's ahead after they graduate, Phillips said. The program aims to increase teacher retention and work-life balance.

Programs are held once every two weeks and led by campus faculty members or “approved third-party vendors” for students attending pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

What’s next: School principals will now choose from a list of vendors to enhance their Innovative School Days, Phillips said. Outside entities will align with staff to sort out scheduling and logistics to better administer the programs.

As part of Harris County’s goal to reform its criminal justice system, county leaders want to expand the capabilities of public attorneys who represent criminal defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, known as “indigent” cases.

The big picture: March data from the Public Defender's Office show public attorneys have been appointed to about 15% of felony indigent cases and 30% of misdemeanor cases so far this year. However, county leaders want the office to be able to take on half of all indigent cases in the legal system.

To do so, officials told commissioners they will need more funding for increased staffing and expanded services.

Did you know? All defendants charged with a crime in Harris County have a right to an attorney regardless of their ability to pay. In 2025, more than 88,000 indigent defendants in Harris County were appointed legal counsel, approximately 17% of whom were public attorneys. 

Looking forward: The PDO and the Managed Assigned Counsel Office will present commissioners with a strategic plan for expanded services by Aug. 1.

On March 19, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced the opening of its new Colorectal Center located on the second floor of its Duncan Building, per a news release.

More details: The 24,565-square-foot center blends art and technology, aiming to create a calm, healing environment focused on patient experience, per the news release. This center includes 32 exam rooms, along with a lobby featuring three focus rooms. Patients will have access to supportive services such as nutrition counseling, pain management, genetic counseling and risk assessment.

Quote of note: “When we treat young patients, we are addressing more than just the cancer,” Dr. Y. Nancy You, professor of colon and rectal surgery and director of the young-onset colorectal cancer program, said via news release. “We also recognize the significant psychological impact that a diagnosis can have on their lives. This new center provides a dedicated space where we can deliver personalized, whole-person care and walk that journey with every patient, so they know they are not alone."