Fulshear voters will have an additional proposition on May 2 ballots in addition to all City Council seats that are up for election following redistricting.

What residents need to know: Fulshear voters will determine whether to increase the city’s general fund sales tax from 1% to 1.25% while reducing the city’s Economic Development Corp. A-Board sales tax from 0.5% to 0.25% during a May 2 special election.

Coastal Prairie Conservancy members and community officials gathered April 10 to cut the ribbon on the new Katy Prairie Welcome Center.

The full story: The Welcome Center’s main purpose is to act as a starting point for guests to experience firsthand the almost 20,000-acre Katy Prairie Reserve, which aims to decrease flood risk, support wildlife, maintain the region’s agricultural heritage and provide the public with recreational activities.

The center, located at 31975 Hebert Road, also serves as a hub for year-round programming and events. The remodeled facility previously belonged to Dow Chemical, said Shirley Hunter, who serves as a Coastal Prairie Conservancy board member.

Notable quote: “It’s a place where kids can come and learn about nature and what’s going on,” Hunter said. “We’re really excited that we have an official place for people to come see the value of a prairie.”

Looking ahead: The conservatory aims to permanently protect 50,000 acres across southeast Texas, according to an April 14 news release.

Kalasphere Studios is set to begin offering creative activities in Jordan Ranch this summer, officials confirmed.

What to expect: The studio will offer paint your own pottery, candle making, building mosaics, slime creation, tote painting and wine glass art, per its website.

Celebration options will be available for birthday parties, special events and corporate events.

• 29907 Jordan Crossing Blvd., Ste. 100, Katy

Harris County leaders are gearing up for a sweeping effort to expand affordable access to child care and early learning—a burdensome expense for many families.

The overview: Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia and Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones launched the initiative to tackle local concerns about education options for children under age 5. In January, their offices created the Harris County Coalition on Early Childhood Education and Care, which officials said will help shape local policy and direct state-level reform of subsidized early childhood education during Texas’ 90th legislative session.

The need: Harris County has approximately 166,000 children under age 5 who qualify for subsidized prekindergarten, according to data from county officials. However, federal funding for subsidized care only goes so far.

At least 30,000 eligible children in Harris County are on a waitlist for subsidized care, the data shows, meaning some families must wait over a year for scholarships. 

Another detail: Gov. Greg Abbott announced a Task Force on Early Childhood Education in January, indicating aligned policy goals between Harris County and the state.

The State Board of Education gave preliminary approval April 10 to roughly 200 literary works that all Texas public school students would be required to read beginning in 2030.

What happened: The SBOE trimmed about 100 titles from a list proposed by the Texas Education Agency, which board members and educators criticized as too long to be taught. The Republican-led board signed off on a revised list in a 9-5 party-line vote April 10.

The details: The draft list ranges from nursery rhymes and short stories in early grades to classical and 20th-century literature in high school. The list also includes about a dozen excerpts from the Bible. While students learn about world religions today, Texans testified that if the reading list is approved, it would be the first time in recent history that state leaders mandate religious readings in the classroom.  

Next steps: Board members are scheduled to take a final vote on the reading list in June. If approved, the list will be used in classrooms in the 2030-31 school year.