Fort Bend ISD officials said the district is expecting a larger budget shortfall than what was projected in March.

Levant BBQ is planning to open a second location in Sugar Land Town Square, an employee with the business confirmed.

What they offer: The Houston halal barbecue restaurant is known for bringing together classic barbecue with the aromatic spices used in Levantine cuisine, according to its website. Featured menu items include smoked meats, including beef, turkey, chicken and lamb, as well as sandwiches, baked potatoes and loaded fries.

About the project: The new location is set to start construction at Sugar Land Town Square June 1 and be completed around the end of summer, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 

• 15903 City Walk, Sugar Land

Do you miss any of Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from April 13-17.

• Pearland authorizes eminent domain near Smith Ranch Road
• Enrollment erosion: HISD to close 12 schools in face of student loss, maintenance costs
• Trader Joe's announces plans to open Spring-area store
• Magnolia Mayor Matthew ‘Doc’ Dantzer arrested; council sets April 20 censure meeting
• See what's happening at The Grid development in Stafford

Texas is home to the nation’s fastest-growing data center market, with one January report projecting that the state will see a 142% increase in its share of the data center industry by the end of 2028.

During a wide-ranging Texas House hearing April 9, lawmakers questioned data center developers, energy companies and state grid officials about the amount of water the large facilities use; how they impact noise levels and air quality; and whether residents can expect higher costs when data centers come to their communities.

What they're saying: “Water is a really scarce resource in this state, and so we have to have a clear picture of what these facilities use on the water side,” said Thomas Gleeson, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

More details: Data centers use water to cool their computer servers and prevent overheating. The facilities have historically used a water-intensive process known as "evaporative cooling," but data center executives said April 9 that they have transitioned to “closed-loop” systems where water is continuously reused.