Katy ISD to launch full-time virtual high school campus in 2026
Katy ISD is set to expand its digital learning landscape with the launch of Legacy Virtual High School—a full-time virtual campus set to open in fall 2026—made possible by the 89th Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 569 that authorizes public school districts to operate virtual schools.
Since 2011, officials said KISD has integrated virtual learning into its programs and began certifying in-house virtual teachers in 2015-16. This summer alone, over 6,900 students participated in virtual instruction, with growing demand for full-time options.
Who's eligible: The school will offer free, full-time enrollment to Katy ISD students and Texas residents, per a Sept. 22 news release.
Part-time, tuition-based courses will also be available for students seeking advanced, accelerated or supplemental classes not offered at their home campuses. Out-of-district students must apply to enroll for access to part-time courses.
The next steps: Craig said a website is set to launch in mid-October with LVHS enrollment anticipated to open in 2026.
Lamar CISD sees early literacy gains with new curriculum
Following the adoption of the University of Florida Literacy Institute's Foundations curriculum in May 2023, early literacy students across Lamar CISD are seeing gains in its second year of implementation.
Theresa Gage, elementary English language arts and reading coordinator, said learning outcomes and teacher feedback have proven the implementation a success.
“The goal is to produce confident readers and writers, especially with our youngest learners,” she said at the Sept. 16 board meeting.
Digging deeper: Gage said data from the 2024-25 Measurement of Academic Progress exam for Reading Fluency highlights the program’s impact, with the number of kindergarten students flagged for potential reading difficulties dropping from 21% at the beginning of the year to 13% by year’s end.
Additionally, first- and second-graders demonstrated the highest reading growth across all grade levels in the district.
Looking ahead: While UFLI is primarily used in kindergarten through second-grade classrooms, Gage said it can also be used in small-group instruction for older students who need extra help with phonics.
Vineyard Vines, a high-end clothing store, has opened in Katy Mills Mall.
Zooming in: The nationwide brand—which sells clothing and fashion accessories for men, women and children—has over 100 retail locations across the country, according to its website.
Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess won’t seek third term ahead of 2026 election
Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess formally announced she will not seek reelection for a third term as the district clerk of Texas’ largest county. Burgess said in a Sept. 22 news release that she also won’t pursue another political office.
The details: Burgess and her staff support the legal proceedings within more than 90 courts in Harris County. She first took office in 2019, then went on to win reelection in 2022. Her current term ends Dec. 31, 2026.
Quote of note: “I have truly loved this job and everything we have accomplished,” Burgess said. “When I leave this office on Dec. 31, 2026, it will be with my head held high, proud of our work, and grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Harris County.”
The context: The announcement comes less than a week after Burgess appeared before Harris County commissioners Sept. 18, addressing her request for a raise with the county’s salary grievance committee.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Houston area.
Aki Sushi and Asian Fusion opened its doors in Manvel in September. Nestled in Manvel Town Center, the family-owned restaurant serves steak and sushi that is made fresh daily, as previously reported by Community Impact. At the restaurant, customers can choose from a variety of sushi, including popular items such as spicy tuna rolls, shaggy dog rolls and California rolls. Additionally, Aki Sushi and Asain Fusion offers bento boxes, rice and noodle dishes, hibachi, nigiri and sashimi.
🥩 New Brazilian steakhouse coming to Webster in 2026 (Read more)
🍔 Smalls Sliders opens fourth Texas location near Hwy. 249, Grand Parkway (Read more)
😋 Newly opened boba cafe serves authentic Japanese food, fresh boba (Read more)
🆕 New Mediterranean restaurant opens in Pearland (Read more)
Owner Letty Martinez said she has plans to open The Taco Shop in Humble this fall.
Martinez said The Taco Shop will offer authentic Mexican breakfast options and will be located two doors away from her other restaurant, Letty’s Authentic Mexican Cocina.
“Letty’s usually opens at 11 a.m. so I wanted to open a restaurant to offer breakfast,” Martinez said.
Thousands of Texas businesses barred from selling THC to customers under 21
Many Texas retailers can no longer sell consumable THC products to customers under 21 years old after the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved two emergency rules Sept. 23.
The overview: The new rules, which were drafted after Gov. Greg Abbott issued a Sept. 10 executive order requesting tighter THC regulations, apply only to retailers that sell alcohol. The rules state that businesses may not sell, serve or deliver consumable hemp products to minors and must check all customers' IDs before selling them THC products.
Zooming in: About 60,000 Texas businesses hold TABC licenses and will be prohibited from selling THC products to minors. Those businesses include bars, restaurants, liquor stores, grocery stores and some convenience stores.
However, the rule does not apply to THC retailers that do not sell alcohol or have a TABC license, such as smoke shops, gas stations or online sellers. The TABC and the Texas Department of State Health Services are working to determine how to best enforce age restrictions for THC retailers that do not sell alcohol, agency spokespeople said.
