Fort Bend County officials gathered June 13 to cut the ribbon on Galaxy All-Abilities Park, the first all-abilities park funded by the county, located in Sugar Land.

The details: The 1.6-acre park, which is adjacent to the Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Annex, features a space theme as a nod to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the official Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros with its stadium located nearby.

Park features include:

• A wheelchair-accessible playground
• Interactive sensory walls featuring various textures and shapes
• Covered seating and shaded rest areas

Fort Bend ISD announced they are hosting a campus-based professionals job fair on June 17, according to a June 10 news release.

What you need to know: The job fair—which will feature opportunities for teachers, paraprofessionals and instructional associates—will be held at the James Reese Career and Technical Center from 3-6 p.m. June 17, per the release.

“Qualifications vary by position, but candidates should bring relevant experience, appropriate certifications where required, strong communication skills and a genuine commitment to student success,” Director of Talent Acquisition Yolanda Young said.

One last thing: Applicants can register for the job fair and view other district employment openings on the district's website, per the release.

On-site registration will also be available on the day of the event.

Houston City College and Space Center Houston signed a memorandum of understanding June 9 aimed at exposing students to programs the center offers.

What it means: The agreement—which first came about a year-and-a-half ago when HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher met with Williams Harris, president and CEO of Space Center Houston—will give students access to NASA-level science, hands-on STEM workshops, interactive astronaut presentations
and immersive aerospace projects.

HCC Southwest President Michael Webster said the center has competitions, camps and training available, but they need students and participants to fill those activities, something HCC can easily provide.

What they're saying: “This partnership brings new opportunities to connect education, workforce development and real-world experiences,” Harris said. “Together, we can help learners develop skills, confidence and capabilities needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

Next steps: Webster said there are plans for courses to take place this summer, but officials are still figuring out where they will take place within HCC.

In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2127, a sweeping regulatory measure designed to prevent cities and counties from adopting local ordinances that conflict with various sections of state law. Three years later, there is confusion about what local governments can and cannot do under the law.

The background: At the time, some legislators and other proponents of the bill said it would ensure consistency among Texas cities, citing ordinances passed by “liberal blue cities” that they said made it hard to run a business. Opponents of HB 2127, including some local leaders, said the law would prevent cities from addressing residents’ needs while undermining local worker safety provisions and nondiscrimination ordinances.

What's happening: During a June 4 hearing, the law’s critics said it has had a “chilling effect” on some local actions, while those who support the law expressed concerns that cities have not removed ordinances that are preempted by the state.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are considering whether changes are needed to clarify or better enforce the law.