Statewide enrollment for a new virtual high school at Katy ISD is slated to open Feb. 2, district officials announced during a Jan. 30 news conference.

In a nutshell: Legacy Virtual High School will be accepting applications for full-time students, as well as students who would like to take additional courses in addition to classes at their home campus. The inaugural school year will welcome ninth- through 11th-grade students this summer, with the first class of 12th-grade students to be accepted in the fall of 2027.

Quote of note: “School choice really does matter,” KISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski said. "Every child is different, and families deserve options that fit their needs, whether that's a traditional classroom, career-focused programs or virtual learning. We are eager to deliver on that promise here in KISD."

Learn more: Courses will be free for full-time students, and taught by KISD-certified teachers. Supplemental courses will come with fees.

Unofficial voting totals from the Jan. 31 special election show Paula Taylor has secured the open Ward A seat on Katy City Council.

What you need to know: Two candidates competed to fill the unexpired term of former council member Dan Smith, who vacated his seat to run for the Waller County Precinct 4 commissioner, Community Impact reported.

Unofficial voting totals for the Ward A race show:

• Paula Taylor with 71.01%, or 245 votes
• Cara Bonin with 28.99%, or 100 votes

Barnes & Noble has opened in the Greentree Shopping Center in Katy, following resident demand.

What they offer: The 22,000-square-foot store will offer books, toys, games, magazines and gift items, company officials announced in a Jan. 21 news release. The Katy location will also feature a Barnes & Noble Cafe.

Zooming out: The New York-based franchise has over 700 bookstores with plans to add 60 new bookstores in 2026, per the release.

• 435 S. Fry Road, Katy

Campaign finance reports filed in January covering July 1-Dec. 31 show both Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County judge raised just over $1 million in total for their March primary election campaigns.

The bottom line: Seven of the nine candidates filed their reports with the Harris County Clerk’s Election Office, with Republican candidate and local firefighters union president Patrick “Marty” Lancton receiving the largest sum, over $500,000 in campaign contributions. Former Houston Mayor and Democratic candidate Annise Parker was second with over $416,000.

Also of note: No campaign finance reports were filed in January for Republican candidates Oscar Gonzalez and George Harry Zoes, according to the county election office.

On the ballot: To learn more about the Harris County judge candidates, head to their questionnaires on Community Impact’s election website.

Democratic primary candidates: here. Republican primary candidates: here.

Missed any Community Impact articles from this week? Check out the top trending stories from Community Impact's coverage areas in Houston from Jan. 26-30. 

• Kresston expansion brings larger homesites, adds Toll Brothers and Huntington Homes in Magnolia
• IAH to wrap up $1.46B Terminal Redevelopment Program in early 2026
• 7 Harris County judge candidates raised just over $1M for March primary election campaigns
• Harris Health nears $100M capital fundraising goal less than 3 years after bond vote
• University of Houston launches new online film leadership certificate

Two Republican candidates are running to lead the Texas Department of Agriculture in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The overview: Nate Sheets is challenging incumbent Sid Miller, who is seeking a fourth term as Texas agriculture commissioner. The winning Republican candidate will face Democrat Clayton Tucker in November, and the winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.

Tucker is running uncontested in the Democratic primary. Community Impact runs candidate Q&As for contested races only.

About the agency: The Texas Department of Agriculture's duties include administering federal nutrition programs and grants; facilitating trade of agricultural products; protecting crops from pests and diseases; providing financial assistance to farmers and rural communities; and conducting consumer protection programs, according to the agency's website.