From arts to athletics, these local businesses offer supplies, classes and training opportunities for students taking a variety of extracurricular courses in the 2026-27 school year. 

Cordovan Art School & Pottery Parlor: The school offers art classes of all kinds for all skill levels using various media from watercolor to clay for kids, teens, adults and homeschoolers. 

• Offers: classes/group instruction

• 18455 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Ste. 130, Humble

Andrew's Music: Music lessons for guitar, piano, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, bass and drums are available at this business, which also repairs instruments and sells music equipment.

• Offers: private lessons, supplies/equipment

• 23830 FM 1314, Ste. E., Porter

Just Play Sports: Just Play Sports Humble a destination for basketball and volleyball training, offering daily classes, private lessons, tournament teams, youth leagues, shooting cages, birthday parties, camps, clinics and more for athletes of all ages and skill levels.

• Offers: classes/group instruction, private lessons

• 2325 Atascocita Road, Humble

Raul Marquez Boxing Studio opened in Kingwood in mid-July, according to information on the fitness studio's Facebook page.

Meet the owner: The studio is led by Raul Marquez, a former International Boxing Federation world champion, a 1992 Olympic boxer, and a trainer and mentor to professional fighters. Per information on the studio's Facebook page, Marquez follows a "boxing fundamentals first, fitness second" gym philosophy.

What they offer: The studio offers classes for adults and kids of all experience levels, as well as open gym hours during non-class times, per the website.

• Opened July 15

• 2714 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Ste. 180, Humble

With Harris County commissioners set to make budget amendments next week, Commissioner Rodney Ellis is making an appeal for $4.5 million to go toward four community safety programs and strategies.

The big picture: The request is based on a report from Ellis’ office and Georgetown Law’s Center for Innovations in Community Safety. It evaluates results from three county programs, recommending investment to expand and sustain them, in addition to creating a community safety department. The county launched HART, RISE and the domestic violence intervention and prevention programs four years ago, which the report examines.

The context: The Harris County Commissioners Court is facing a $181 million shortfall, as Community Impact previously reported.

Sophie Elsner, senior policy adviser for Ellis’ office, said the county’s deficit will continue to grow if there is no change to how money is spent. About 60% of the budget goes toward the criminal justice system, which includes law enforcement, courts, prosecution and defense, she said.

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.