Katy, Fulshear prioritize road projects as congestion worsens
As Katy and Fulshear experience increasing population growth—with Fulshear more than doubling its population since the 2020 census—several construction projects are planned to help alleviate congestion in the area, including a planned widening of I-10 from Snake Creek to Mason Road.
Anticipated to be bid in 2027, the project will widen the six-lane road to 10 lanes, according to project documents from Fort Bend County. This ties into city officials’ goals of funneling drivers to I-10 through expansion projects at Pin Oak Road and Pederson Road, City Administrator Byron Hebert said.
Zooming in: The Texas Department of Transportation is also set to begin a $157 million project in mid-2026 to widen Grand Parkway from I-10 West to Hwy. 290. The project aims to address growing congestion levels by adding one main lane in each direction.
Going forward: In addition to scheduled projects, Hebert said Katy officials are also looking to make improvements on other roads, including 10th Street, Avenue C, Franz Road and Second Boulevard.
Cabinet IQ, a cabinet and countertop company is opening a showroom in Katy.
Zooming in: Specializing in kitchen and bath remodels, the cabinet and countertop company opened its fourth location in the Houston area in November 2024.
Now, the company is working on opening a showroom with four full kitchen displays, two alternative area displays, a design studio and offices, owner Jimmy Miller said.
Notable quote: “We care deeply about all potential clients and want to make someone's ideas and inspirations come to reality and something they can’t wait to show off to their friends,” Miller said. “Until our showroom is open, we just bring the showroom to our clients and can give them a modified showroom experience in their home.”
National Youth Theatre brings faith-based stage magic to Fort Bend County
National Youth Theatre, a Chicago-based organization known for blending creativity and Christian values, has opened its doors in Richmond at Grand Parkway Baptist Church.
The organization will host auditions, theater practices and full shows for families in Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg and Katy areas, per a news release.
The gist: Founded in 2013 after two decades with Christian Youth Theater and Spotlight Theater in Chicago, National Youth Theatre was established to create a faith-centered, accessible theater program for youth communities across the country, per the website.
West Houston becomes the third official NYT location, aiming to serve local families who value a program rooted in faith, creativity and youth development.
Dates to know: After hosting the Summer Musical Theater Camp, NYT West Houston is preparing for its fall performance of "Frozen Jr." The show will brings the story of sisters Anna and Elsa to life on stage with songs from the Disney Pixar movie.
Annual survey finds there are more than 3,000 homeless people in the Houston region
The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County's annual point-in-time survey shows homelessness in the Houston area remains steady, but there has been a jump in chronic homelessness compared to last year.
Latest update: The coalition found that there were 3,325 homeless individuals in the region the night of Jan. 27, 2025, 45 more compared to last year, according to the report. Harris County was reported to have 3,000 homeless individuals, while Montgomery and Fort Bend counties were reported to have 247 and 78, respectively.
Compared to the national level, which has been climbing annually, Houston’s homeless population remains steady, due in part to a “consistent response system” to addressing homelessness, Kelly Young, the coalition’s president and CEO, told Community Impact in an interview.
Despite the stability, the region has seen a 16% increase in unsheltered homeless individuals. Young said the rise in unsheltered homelessness compared to last year is because of reduced shelter capacity in 2024.
Providing a 1:1 student device ratio for grades 3-12
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