HTX-PLF: Impact 10/21/2025

A replacement campus, athletic facility improvements and technology upgrades are some of the items included in Friendswood ISD’s $165 million bond package, which will go before voters in November.

In a nutshell: This bond election is the first the district has called for since 2020. 

What residents should know: The $165 million bond package includes a total tax rate increase of $0.16 per $100 valuation of a home, based on projected 2025 taxable values, Petree said.

Put in perspective: Laura Hartlieb, a CAC member and FISD parent, supports the bond. She said the projects in it aim to prioritize the district’s needs. She pointed to aging campuses, such as Westwood Elementary, which opened in 1967, and Bales Intermediate, which opened in 1994.

The bottom line: Though no timeline is set, Petree said projects could begin “right away” if the bond passes.

Urban Bird Hot Chicken, a Katy-based chicken restaurant chain, opened a location in Pearland on Oct. 8, according to a social media post from the business. 

Why it matters: The new location is part of 10 new storefronts scheduled to open in Texas this year, according to previous reporting by Community Impact. 

The details: Urban Bird Hot Chicken sells Nashville-style hot chicken, including halal tenders and sandwiches as well as loaded fries like Urban Fries, Tijuana Street Fries and Buffalo Mac Fries.

• 9250 Broadway St., Ste. 180, Pearland

As water restrictions and shortages become more common in Texas communities, state lawmakers are asking voters to approve $20 billion to fund new water supply projects and improve existing systems over the next 20 years.

The overview: If voters approve State Proposition 4, which is on the November ballot, the state will create a dedicated funding stream to help local utilities access more water and upgrade their infrastructure. Without the new funding, Texas’ water crisis could deepen, experts say.

“We’ve got 1,500+ people moving to Texas every day, and not one of them is bringing a single drop of water with them,” Dean Sharp, who leads the management division of the Texas American Water Works Association, said Oct. 16.

Key takeaway: Despite the $1 billion annual price tag, Proposition 4 would not create any new state taxes or increase costs for Texans, lawmakers and experts said. Beginning in 2027, the money would come from existing sales tax revenue and be deposited in the Texas Water Fund, a state account that voters approved in 2023.

The nonprofit Harris County Public Library Foundation has officially launched, a press release from the organization announced. 

What to know: The nonprofit is dedicated to supporting and enhancing library services for the more than 5 million residents of Harris County and was established to champion the library's mission and secure financial support to expand its services and collections of materials and resources according to the foundation's website.

What else: The HCPL Foundation will hold its first annual Booked for Lunch event on Nov. 10 at the Junior League of Houston. The 2025 Booked for Lunch event is specifically focused on raising funds to increase the quantity of both printed and digital books in the Harris County Public Library collection and reduce wait times for borrowers.