Katy ISD’s board of trustees discussed potential attendance boundary modifications ahead of the opening of Elementary School 49 in the district’s northwest quadrant at its June 22 meeting.

The new school, located at 6435 Pitts Road, comes as the district’s northwest quadrant is “growing like crazy” despite the district as a whole not experiencing substantial growth, Katy ISD Chief Operations Officer Ted Vierling said.

Zooming in: Kris Pool, PASA’s director of planning and chief data analyst, said Elementary School 49 is expected to ease enrollment at Youngblood Elementary as several areas shift from Youngblood to Elementary 49, including:

• Northwest Katy
• Jasek Farms
• Winward
• Katy Prairie Estates and potential additional single-family developments
• North Sunterra and Summerwell at Sunterra
• North Sunterra, numerous individually owned parcels and potential additional single-family developments

Tikka Bowls and Tacos is set to open the brand’s first Greater Houston location in Katy, owner Sagar Patel confirmed.

What’s on the menu: Patel describes Tikka as a “Chipotle concept with Indian fusion” offering items including naan tacos, butter chicken bowls and tikka masala wings. The restaurant will also offer Indian beverages, fresh lemonades and draft beer.

Zooming out: Founded in Florida, Tikka Bowls and Tacos has another Texas location in Arlington, per its website.

• 3325 W. Grand Pkwy. N. Ste. 300, Katy

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, local officials are encouraging residents to know how to safely use and dispose of fireworks after the festivities end.

What residents need to know: However, residents are allowed to use fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. As part of the Fourth of July holiday, first responders are encouraging the safe use of any fireworks by following several safety tips, including:

• Only light one firework at a time
• Have ready access to a water source
• Never relight fireworks after use

• Sound of fireworks
• Firework restriction information
• Abandoned firework debris

Former state Sen. Don Huffines was appointed as the Texas comptroller of public accounts, Gov. Greg Abbott announced July 2.

Huffines, a Dallas-area native with a bachelor's degree in business administration in finance from The University of Texas at Austin, will take over as the state's finance and budgeting officer from acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock. Huffines will officially begin his service Aug. 1.

Huffines defeated Hancock, who became acting comptroller one year ago, in the March Republican primary. He'll now face former state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt in the November general election for a four-year term.