Allen ISD students continued to outperform students across the state and region on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, as well as STAAR end-of-course exams in the 2025-26 school year, according to a district presentation.

In a nutshell: The Texas Education Agency released performance results for the exams earlier this summer and Allen ISD officials reviewed the results during an Aug. 24 board of trustees meeting. STAAR performance is one component used by the TEA in assigning annual accountability ratings to Texas school districts.

Allen ISD received an A rating from the TEA for the 2025-26 school year based on student performance and other factors.

Long story short: Jennifer Wilhelm, assistant superintendent of Learner Services, said Allen ISD remains a “high-achievement district” that continues to “outpace” the region and state in “all content areas and grade levels.” The results showed an increase in the percentage of students who met or mastered grade-level expectations, according to a staff presentation.

Cigar Warehouse and Bar is opening an Allen location, a company representative said.

The specifics: The business sells several different brands of cigars, its website states. The Allen location will have a smoking section and a full bar.

The context: Cigar Warehouse and Bar is moving into the space formerly occupied by LG's Cigar Lounge, which closed this spring.

• 975 Sam Rayburn Tollway, Ste. 190, Allen

Texas senators indicated Sept. 1 that they intend to tighten regulations on data centers during next year’s legislative session, which begins in January.

What they're saying: “I think every member's district has had an impact from a data center conversation, so there will be plenty of bills trying to put things in place that are reasonable, responsible regulatory frameworks for data centers,” state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, said.

The big picture: With some Texas residents and conservation groups sounding the alarm about water-intensive technologies used by some data centers, state agencies have warned that limited information is available on how much water the industry actually uses. Officials said they have also had trouble determining exactly how many data centers are operating in the state today, as there is no “comprehensive statewide list” of existing and planned facilities.

Estimates from state agencies and the University of Texas at Austin suggest that roughly 370 data centers are currently operating in Texas, with about 100 facilities under construction and another 180 being proposed.