Keller officials unanimously approved new updates to its fire code at a regular meeting April 21.
The new code includes changes for emerging technology risks, fire protection requirements and new sections, which impact scooter storage and locations for electric vehicle charging stations.

The details: Micromobility devices like scooters, hoverboards and skateboards are now prohibited from being stored and charged in pathways or common areas of multi-family occupancies, schools and city buildings in Keller.

A presentation Keller Fire Marshal Stephanie Billarreal provided to council showed 78% of lithium-ion battery fires occur indoors.

Billarreal also said EV charging stations are now prohibited in commercial structures aside from parking garages. New code also requires that charging stations have a heat detector for chargers in multi-family buildings with garages.

HOUSEPLANTS by Ephemera opened its Keller location in mid-April.

The details: The shop offers easy-to-care-for plants, build-your-own terrarium kits and long-term plant care support, owners Frank Garcia and Suz Reyes said.

The duo said anyone who has questions about plant care can snap a photo of their plants, email them or message them through the store's social media channels and they will help come up with a solution to keep the plant healthy.

Garcia and Reyes said they will host monthly events. The business has also collaborated with the Keller Public Library and the Keller High School Indianettes' annual holiday market.

"Keller has always embraced us with open arms, so it only felt natural to set up shop here and serve this lovely community," they said.

The shop is located in the Yellow House alongside the new Nopalita Café, Viva Pottery & Gallery, Jacinda Studio and Unearthed Therapy & Yoga.

• 139 S. Elm St., Keller

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Some Texas families began learning April 22 if they were accepted to the state’s education savings account program for the 2026-27 school year, officials said.

The big picture: Over 42,600 students will receive funding notices through April 24, the state comptroller’s office announced April 22. The first awardees include low- and middle-income students with disabilities and their eligible siblings.

Families accepted to the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program will receive state funds to send their children to private school or homeschool them.

The details: The first round of awardees is set to receive about $400 million of the $1 billion allocated for the program. Up to 100,000 students are expected to qualify for the program's first year.

The comptroller's office will run a lottery the week of April 27 to determine which low-income students will be accepted based on a prioritization system.

Stay tuned: Families that do not qualify for funding will also be notified through April 24. Additional students will receive funding awards in the coming weeks, a program spokesperson said.