Houston City College received a $1 million grant from the Lowe’s Foundation to support high-demand skilled trade careers in the Greater Houston area, officials announced in a July 29 news release.

The gist: The grant—which is expected to prepare 400 new HCC students for high-demand trades—comes as the nation faces a growing shortage of skilled trade workers with an estimated 2.1 million vacant jobs by 2030, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The unfilled roles could result in an annual $1 trillion economic loss.

The program, which will be based at the HCC Southeast campus, will enhance the college’s training programs in electrical, carpentry, construction, HVAC and plumbing as well as student scholarships, per the release.

In their own words: “This investment removes barriers that too often stand between students and the workforce training they need to succeed,” HCC Southeast President Frances Villagran-Glover said. “It will also extend the reach of our Mobile Go Unit, allowing us to connect more residents with training opportunities that lead to in-demand careers.”

The award-winning smash burger concept from Houston rapper Bun B, known as Trill Burgers, will open a new location on the Rice University campus during student orientation week in August.

The details: Campus officials said the move to add Trill Burgers to the university's Rice Memorial Center is a "homecoming" for Bun B, who served as a distinguished lecturer a handful of times to co-teach the Religion and Hip-Hop Culture course at Rice.

“This is truly full circle for me,” Bun B said in a July 30 news release. “To bring this brand to Rice University where I once taught is a major moment for Trill Burgers and for myself.”

The restaurant will be open to students, faculty and the general public. For students, Trill Burgers will accept campus dining dollars.

On the menu: Trill Burgers features popular burger options such as the OG Trill Burger, which is made with two smashed all-beef patties, pickles, caramelized onions, Trill Sauce and American cheese on a Martin's potato roll.

• Rice University: 6100 Main St., Houston

For nearly 40 years, the Lake Houston Musical Arts Society has said it’s looking forward to continued growth and an upcoming season filled with collaboration with groups such as the Texas Medical Center Orchestra. Additionally, guest artists this season will include soprano Nancy Curtis and saxophonists Rick Condit and Eric Marienthal.

The framework: Originally founded in 1988, LHMAS serves as the sponsor organization for the Kingwood Chorale—also founded in 1988—and the Kingwood Jazz Orchestra, which was founded in 2004 as the Kingwood Big Band.

Made up of both community musicians and student musicians, the Kingwood Chorale has about 80-100 members, while the Kingwood Jazz Orchestra has 18 members. Behind the scenes, the LHMAS provides the funding and logistics needed for both groups to perform, while also fostering opportunities for local student musicians.

Quote of note: “Music is a gift to the world, and I think the mark of a good society is to have music around, not just in a church setting, but in our community and that’s really why the LHMAS exists ... for the betterment of the community,” said Todd Miller, Kingwood Chorale conductor and chair of the Music Department at LSC-Kingwood

Harris County commissioners are set to discuss the county's minority- and women-owned businesses equity program over a week after a federal court issued a decision that the city of Houston's version of the program was unconstitutional.

The big picture: Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey added the item to the agenda after U.S. District Judge David Hittner, the ruling judge on the case, said the city of Houston's program violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Run by the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity, the program was established in November 2020 by commissioners to provide equity among women- and minority-owned businesses for county contracts. 

Also on the agenda: Commissioners will receive an update on third-quarter projections for the Harris County fiscal year 2026-27 budget. During the presentation, the budget office will also look at identifying "high-value, underutilized county real estate assets to sell or lease to generate general fund revenue for the FY27 budget."