Fort Bend ISD will replace eight school buses aimed at  improving student health and safety. 

The big picture: At an Aug. 31 meeting, Fort Bend ISD board of trustees approved a budget amendment to use 2023 bond contingency funds to fund the remaining $515,679 for eight new school buses after the district was awarded a $841,072 grant as part of the Texas Clean School Bus Program.

The details: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Clean School Bus Program offers schools grants to replace diesel buses that are at least 20 years old with newer buses. Its mission is to reduce children’s exposure to diesel exhaust emissions, according to its website. 

Zooming out: The grant comes as the state works to ensure all school buses have three-point seat belts for every passenger and driver. In March, Fort Bend ISD officials said only 122 of 416 district buses were equipped with three-point seatbelts, while 61 of 107 contracted buses included the required seatbelts.

Little Caesars has opened a second Missouri City location, officials announced in a Sept. 3 news release.

On the menu: The eatery offers Hot-N-Ready pizzas, Detroit-style deep dish pizzas, breadsticks, wings and desserts, per the release.

“We’re thrilled to bring another Little Caesars location to the Missouri City community,” said Ajaz Punjani, local Little Caesars franchisee. “Our goal is to make it easier than ever for guests to enjoy reliable quality, speed and value close to home.”

Stay tuned: A grand opening celebration will be held in the coming weeks featuring giveaways, free entertainment and a variety of activities, per the release.

• 9830 Hwy. 6, Missouri City

Texas State Technical College is set to launch an electrical construction program in Rosenberg this fall.

The program will introduce students to residential, commercial and industrial wiring—initially launching as a certification—with plans to expand to a full associate degree, Community Impact reported.

Shawn McNeil, the program’s team lead, shared more the program and its upcoming launch.

What opportunities does TSTC’s partnership with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation create for students entering this program?
We are currently the only college with a partnership that allows students of our certificate of completion program to have the 4,000-hour requirement waived so that they can take the Residential Wireman’s license exam with TDLR.

How did you design the labs to ensure students have an authentic and hands-on learning experience?
In our residential lab, students will work with wood-framed structures that resemble a typical home and practice skills such as rough-in, trim-out, panel installation and testing. In the commercial lab, students will use steel-framed structures where students focus on skills such as metal-clad cable installation and conduit bending.

Chili's To Go is now open at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston Airport System officials announced in an Aug. 25 news release. 

Check it out: Per the release, the 924-square-foot concept restores hot meal and bar service to Terminal E's pre-security space for the first time in more than a decade. The eatery is located on the arrivals level near Starbucks beneath the Oculus. 

Some context: Officials noted the Chili's To Go opening marks the completion of a four-year food and beverage rollout tied to the $1.458 billion IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program. Among the 16 food and beverage options that have opened through the program include The Annie Cafe & Bar, Velvet Taco, Chick-fil-A, Einstein Bros. and a full-service Chili's, as previously reported by Community Impact. 

• 2800 N. Terminal Road, Houston

For the first time in over a decade, there is no incumbent in the Texas attorney general's race as Republican Ken Paxton runs for U.S. Senate.

Democrat Nathan Johnson, a state senator from Dallas; Republican Mayes Middleton, a state senator from Galveston; and Libertarian Tom Oxford, an attorney from Nederland, are running to replace him this November. Community Impact asked the candidates for their perspectives on Texas' open records laws, state litigation and other topics.

How we got here: Johnson and Middleton each won their primary runoff elections in May, Community Impact reported, while Oxford was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

Looking ahead: Early voting in eight statewide races and dozens of local elections runs from Oct. 19-30. Election Day is Nov. 3.