HTX-SLM: Impact 11/3/2025

While overall Fort Bend ISD enrollment has stabilized in recent years, the number of students receiving special education services continues to rise—now exceeding 16% of the student population, Chief Academic Officer Adam Stephens said at the Oct. 27 board meeting.

What's happening: In addition to implementing peer-to-peer programs between special and general education students, the district is planning several virtual meetings where parents can learn more about transitioning their students from special education to post-graduation.

Board President Kristin Tassin emphasized the importance of expanding collaboration between ATS programs and community partners—including local colleges and technical programs—to broaden real-world opportunities for graduates.

Get involved: Stephens said the district continues to strengthen its partnership with families through events such as the Adult Transition Fair in the spring, organized with the nonprofit Arc of Fort Bend County, and the virtual “Noon Know-How”  learning sessions for parents taking place on various dates at noon throughout the school year.

Fresh Monkee is slated to begin serving protein shakes in Missouri City later this year.

What they offer: The shop offers a variety of protein shakes, with popular flavors including the Antioxidant Berry, Cinnamon Toast, Go Bananas, Strawberry Moon and Hazelnut S’mores, according to its website.

Zooming out: The Connecticut-based franchise has two existing Texas locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with several slated to come to the Houston area including Katy and The Woodlands, per its website.

• 9101 Sienna Crossing Drive, Ste. 200, Missouri City

Fort Bend County officials are seeking public input ahead of a redesign of the county’s website.

What residents need to know: The survey, which opened Oct. 16 and will close Nov. 14, allows residents to provide input on what they would like to see revised and improved on the website, Milton Durango, Fort Bend County public information manager, said in an email.

The details: The county is performing a $136,000 redesign of its website to create a modern, user-friendly and accessible website to serve the community more effectively, Durango said.

The redesign has several key priorities, including:

• Improved navigation and search
• Increased mobile-friendly design
• Enhanced transparency to county services, public meetings and documents
• Upgraded Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and accessibility

Approximately 460,000 Texans have Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Advocates are encouraging Texas voters to approve State Proposition 14, a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the state to spend $3 billion to launch the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

The overview: Proposition 14 would allocate $3 billion in state dollars to fund the institute for the next 10 years. The institute would work with researchers and doctors to study the prevention and treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

All funding for the institute would come from existing state revenue, donations and potential federal grants, meaning no new state taxes or fees would be created.

What they're saying: "If Proposition 14 passes, it really will establish Texas as an incredible leader in our country," neurological researcher Joshua Shulman said. 

At the polls: Early voting runs through Oct. 31, and Election Day is Nov. 4. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

Millions of Texans may see delays in their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits beginning Nov. 1, as the federal government shutdown reaches the one-month mark.

The latest: The federal food assistance program is set to run out of funding in November, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Two federal judges ruled Oct. 31 that the Trump Administration must use federal contingency funds, which are stockpiled for emergency expenses, to fund SNAP in November, although the next steps surrounding SNAP benefits were unclear as of press time.

The local impact: Over 3.5 million Texans receive SNAP benefits each month, according to Feeding Texas, the statewide network of food banks.

“People are at risk of going hungry if the government doesn't reopen and SNAP benefits are delayed. … These are already vulnerable Texans,” Feeding Texas CEO Celia Cole said in an Oct. 27 interview.

Food banks across the state Texas food banks previously expanded their operations to meet increased demand as thousands of federal workers go without paychecks during the shutdown.