With more than three decades of experience in law enforcement—most of it spent in school-based policing—David Rider, the new chief of police for Katy ISD, brings both deep expertise and a student-centered approach to his role.

In February, he stepped into his newest chapter as Katy ISD’s police chief after 15 years at neighboring Fort Bend ISD. Drawn by the district’s reputation and its proximity to his previous department, he said he saw both as strengths to build on and opportunities to expand safety initiatives districtwide.

In this conversation, Rider discusses his career path, his goals for trust-building across the community and the lesser-known but essential work happening behind the scenes at Katy ISD Police Department—from 24/7 camera monitoring to a gift-giving program supporting hundreds of students.

"When I talk to our officers, and I tell them that we're educators first, that means that we need to be building relationships every day," he said in the interview.

Read the full interview.

In December, Katy’s Circle B Veterinary Hospital celebrates a decade of providing compassionate pet care while fostering bonds with the families who love them.

What they offer: Per the website, the clinic offers comprehensive pet care, including:

• Preventative and general care, including puppy and kitten care, vaccinations, parasite prevention and control, microchipping, international health certificates and wellness exams
• Medical and specialized treatments, including acupuncture, behavioral medicine, pain management, radiology, and echocardiograms and abdominal ultrasound
• Surgical and critical procedures, including laser therapy, hospice and euthanasia, dental care, endoscopy and surgery
• Bed ‘N Biscuits, a luxury boarding, grooming and doggy day care located at 27006 Hoyt Lane, Katy

• 1443 FM 1463, Ste. 200, Katy

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County was awarded more than $100 million in federal funding for several low-emission initiatives aimed at significantly improving air quality across METRO’s service area.

“This funding represents a major step in our effort to transition METRO’s fleet to cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles,” interim President Tom Jasien said in a Nov. 24 news release. “These improvements will strengthen our commitment to sustainability while ensuring we continue to deliver reliable service for the Houston region.”

Zooming in: METRO officials said the $100 million grant will allow for the following projects to be completed:

• Replacing at least 100 aging diesel buses with new compressed natural gas buses
• Building a new CNG fueling station
• Upgrading maintenance facilities to support expanded CNG operations

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Dec. 1-5.

Activities to do: There are several options to see Christmas lights around the Tomball and Magnolia area, including Magnolia Musical Christmas, Gullo House Christmas Lights and Tomball Methodist Church’s Trail of Lights. 

At a glance: In a Dec. 2 news conference, officials with Airbnb announced that Houston will receive a $1 million investment that will go toward supporting major community initiatives, expanding green infrastructure and increasing youth access to soccer. Airbnb was selected in June to serve as an official partner for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Community Impact previously reported. 

One more thing: Whataburger officials celebrated a Dec. 1 opening of their new location at 15940 Woodland Hills Drive, Humble. The eatery features a double drive-thru, dining room and digital menu boards, according to a Nov. 28 news release. 

Texas can use its newly redrawn congressional map in the 2026 elections, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Dec. 4.

The background: State lawmakers approved the new congressional boundaries this summer, after President Donald Trump asked them to produce a new map in an attempt to help Republicans maintain a narrow majority in the U.S. House, Community Impact previously reported. Texas Republicans have said they hoped the map would help the GOP secure 30 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats, up from 25 Republican-held seats today.

What's happening: The Supreme Court's ruling overturns a Nov. 18 injunction from an El Paso federal court, which deemed Texas’ redistricting plan "racially gerrymandered” and directed officials to use a 2021 congressional map instead.

“The District Court improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections,” the Supreme Court said in the unsigned Dec. 4 order.

The order comes just four days before the Dec. 8 deadline for Texas candidates to file to run in the March primary elections.

The Texas comptroller’s office has released a set of rules to govern the state’s $1 billion education savings account program, or ESAs. Accepted families will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to a private school or homeschool them.

The overview: Accredited private schools and education vendors can begin applying to join the program as soon as Dec. 9, and applications will open for interested families Feb. 4.

Most families accepted into the program will receive about $10,300 per student, which can be spent on tuition at accredited private prekindergarten or K-12 schools and related expenses. Homeschooled students will receive up to $2,000 per year, while students with disabilities will be eligible for up to $30,000 annually.

Zooming in: Depending on a family’s income, students with disabilities may receive priority acceptance into the ESA program. Families can submit documentation from a physician or the U.S. Social Security Administration to be prioritized, although a detailed evaluation and individualized education plan are required to receive the additional special education funding.