In a Feb. 25 news release, officials with Aristoi Classical Academy announced demolition and construction work on a new, permanent facility in Cy-Fair has begun.

The big picture: Aristoi Classical Academy is a tuition-free charter school serving the Cypress-Fairbanks area and focuses on providing a classical approach to learning. The new 59,538-square-foot building will house all grade levels in the new facility at 13631 Ardfield Drive in Houston.

The impact: Aristoi Classical Academy was founded in 2020 serving kindergarten through fourth grade and since then has grown to serve students through 10th grade. The new campus is expected to be open for the start of the fall 2026 school year and will begin offering classes through 12th grade.

“It was such a gift to walk the space of future halls and dream of what the days to come will be. Classical writer Jane Austen said, ‘There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.’ This new building will be a permanent home for Aristoi Cypress,” Cypress-area parent Sarah Hopkins said.

A number of transportation projects are underway and scheduled to begin soon in the Cypress-Fairbanks region. Here are some of the projects set to impact the area.

Cypress North Houston Road
This project will widen Cypress North Houston Road from a two- to four-lane concrete boulevard with raised medians and underground storm sewer system. The project also includes new or upgraded traffic signals at Autumn Mills Road, Misty Moss Lane and Perry Road.

• Timeline: design finalized by early 2026
• Cost: $16 million
• Funding source: Harris County

• Timeline: February 2026-December 2030
• Cost: $81 million
• Funding sources: Harris County Precinct 3, Harris County MUD 500, Harris County Toll Road Authority, Houston-Galveston Area Council, Texas Department of Transportation

Celebrate Ramadan at one of the multiple community events—from pop-up markets to a Quran recital competition—being held across the Greater Houston area.

This list is not comprehensive. Events are subject to change.

GenerAction Jam Iftar
A film showcase, live poetry and spoken word will be the highlights of this event, which is hosted by Houston Muslim Filmmakers and IslamInSpanish. The showcase’s theme is “Reflection Before Reaction.” An Iftar dinner will follow the performances. This event is recommended for attendees 18 years and older. Advanced registration is required.

• Feb. 26, 6:30-8 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
• Free (attendance)
• IslamInSpanish Centro Islamico, 12703 Brant Rock Drive, Houston

• Feb. 28, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; March 8, 2-10 p.m.
• Call 832-907-9981 for pricing information
• Hilton Garden Inn, 722 Bon Aventure Way, Sugar Land

With a few days left to vote early in the March primaries, more Texans have turned out to the polls this year than in recent primary elections.

The gist: The increase is particularly pronounced among Democratic primary voters, state data shows, with more than twice as many Democratic votes cast by Feb. 24 than in Texas’ last gubernatorial primary.

Zooming in: Statewide, nearly 1.3 million Texans, or about 7% of the state’s 18.7 million registered voters, cast early ballots through Feb. 24, the eighth day of the 11-day early voting period. This is up from about 6% turnout at the same point in 2024 and about 4% turnout in 2022.

In interviews with Community Impact, election analysts attributed Texas’ rising primary voter turnout in part to a slate of competitive, high-profile races on each party’s primary ballot.

At the polls: Early voting in Texas’ Republican and Democratic primaries runs through Feb. 27, and primary election day is March 3. During early voting, registered voters can visit any polling location within their county of residence.