Golden Roots Academy & Respite Center will celebrate its grand opening in Humble with a community event and open house from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 8, Assistant Director Janice Hernandez confirmed via email Aug. 6. 

What they offer: The women-owned and -operated facility serves children ages 6 weeks-12 years, offering full- and part-time preschool as well as before- and after-school care options. 

Check it out: The open house event will feature face painting, barbecue, school supply giveaways, trampoline fun and tours of the new campus, according to information on the Facebook event. Goodie bags will be given on a first-come, first-served basis and the first 30 families who enroll will receive a 30% discount. 

• Grand opening Aug. 8 
• 18003 Lago Forest Drive, Humble 

Check out key information to prepare for the first day of school in Humble ISD.

Dates to know: The 2026-27 calendar runs from Aug. 12, 2026-May 28, 2027.

Something to note: School times for the 2026-27 school year are as follows:

• Elementary schools: 7:55 a.m.-3:20 p.m.
• Middle schools: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
• High schools: 7:25 a.m.-2:55 p.m.
• Guy M. Sconzo Early College High School: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Harris County commissioners took no action Aug. 6 on the county’s minority- and women-owned business contract program following a ruling from a federal judge deeming the city of Houston’s program unconstitutional.

The big picture: Run by the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity, the program was established in November 2020 by commissioners to provide equity among women- and minority-owned businesses for county contracts. 

The discussion: A number of business owners and community leaders said the program was vital to help small businesses gain access to larger contract opportunities when competing with more established companies. Business owners also emphasized the program did not guarantee every business owner would receive county contracts, as they were still subject to the bidding process and proving the ability to do the work needed.

Quote of note: “The program provides us opportunity,” said Steve Fraga, Tejas Office Products owner.
”We still have to be financially sound. We still need to run our companies like a majority-owned company.”

Within the next year, Texans will likely see changes to when they can vote early in elections, including expanded weekend voting hours.

The overview: Last year, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2753, which shifts Texas’ early voting window closer to election day, cutting out a three-day gap between the two voting periods and adding more Saturday and Sunday voting.

While the changes did not take effect immediately and were designed to help boost voter turnout, local election administrators said the law will also significantly raise costs for municipalities and delay the release of election results.

Election officials said the current three-day break allows staff to set up polling places for election day and prepare submitted ballots so results from early and mail-in voting can be released quickly after the polls close on election night.

The impact: Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth estimated that the shift would raise the cost of administering a large election by 30% and increase costs for smaller elections by 9%, due to personnel, equipment and voter education needs.