San Jacinto College has earned recognition from the Texas Skills Standards Board for aligning its instrumentation technology program with industry-related standards, placing the program among the state’s leading training pathways.

San Jacinto is one of only two colleges in Texas to receive this recognition, and this is the first year it has received the distinction, according to a Feb. 10 news release from the college.

The details: The recognition confirms that the program meets the competencies required for industrial instrumentation technicians in petrochemical, refining and advanced manufacturing sectors, according to the release.

Burger House in Webster closed this month, according to a sign posted on the door.

Quote of note: "Thank you so much for loving our Burger House for the past 16 years," 'Jane' said in the sign. "As I retire, our doors will be closing, but the memory with you will stay in my heart forever." 

What else: Burger House's menu offered a diverse selection of food including burgers, chicken and also Korean staples like beef bulgogi and soy garlic chicken. 

• 12430 State Hwy. 3, Webster  

Single-family sales declined to 4,999 homes compared to a year earlier, when 5,047 homes sold in January 2025, HAR reports. The median home price decreased to $322,045, its lowest level since January 2024, when it stood at $320,000.

What else: The average single-family home price rose 2.8% to $416,722, driven largely by more activity in the luxury market, according to the report. The luxury segment was the strongest-performing sector, with transactions up 15.5% year over year, the report states. As inventory expanded, homes averaged 66 days on the market, up from 61 days in 2025.

Quote of note: “With rates expected to ease a little this year, buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines may start to feel more confident and enter the market. That should help maintain demand and create additional opportunities for sellers throughout the year,” HAR Chair Theresa Hill said.

Thousands of students who apply for Texas’ education savings accounts will likely not be accepted into the first year of the program, application data from the state comptroller’s office shows.

What's happening: Over 101,000 students had applied for Texas Education Freedom Accounts as of Feb. 15. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. March 17.

Program funding is capped at $1 billion for the 2026-27 school year, meaning between 90,000 and 100,000 students will likely be accepted. With demand expected to outpace available funding, applications will be prioritized through a need- and income-based lottery system.

Zooming in: Over 70% of program applicants were from low- or middle-income households, according to data from the comptroller’s office. Under Senate Bill 2, the 2025 law that created the program:

• “Low-income” is defined as families with annual household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, or about $66,000 for a family of four.
• “Middle-income” is defined as families with incomes at or below 500% of the federal poverty line, or about $165,000 for a family of four.