The College of the Mainland received a $96,000 grant from the Charles Butt Foundation after being invited to join the Houston Teacher Pathways Consortium, a joint initiative with Houston Endowment for supporting education, according to a March 18 news release from the college.

Combined with Texas Women’s University zero tuition guarantee and the Charles Butt Foundation grant, 10-25 students per cohort are able to complete the program almost free of charge.

Diving in deeper: The initiative aims to expand access to teaching careers for students across the Gulf Coast, with a new pathway in partnership with Texas Woman’s University set to launch in fall 2026, according to the press release.

Taztee Treatz Sweet Shop & Deli officially opened its doors in a grand opening ceremony in mid-March.

What they offer: The shop offers multiple sweets, including cheesecake, banana pudding, ice cream and milkshakes, among other items.

Other food items include soups and salads.

• 8111 Hwy. 6, Hitchcock

From water parks built for thrill-seekers to tranquil lagoons perfect for relaxing, there are several ways for Houston-area residents to cool off this summer.

Big Rivers Waterpark & Adventures: Located in New Caney, this water park also features amusement park rides, an inflatable course, zip lines, ax-throwing, a maze, a gator exhibit and a petting zoo.

• Open for Spring Adventure days in March; all water attractions open select days April 3-Sept. 30
• $19.99 (single-use day ticket March 7-29), $44.99 (single-use day ticket April 3-Sept. 30), $99.99 (season pass), free (age 2 and under)

• Open year-round
• $34-$55 (half-day pass), $49-$79 (full-day pass), $65-$269 (season pass)

• Open select days May 2-Sept. 7
• $42-$90 (daily admission), $89-$150 (season pass)

Texas families now have an additional two weeks to apply for the state’s new education savings account program, a Houston federal judge ruled March 17.

What's happening: U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett ordered the state comptroller’s office to extend the application deadline to March 31 over concerns that no Islamic private schools had been greenlit to accept state ESA funds. In two lawsuits filed in early March, four Muslim parents said they felt deterred from applying for education savings accounts because the Islamic schools they send their children to were not among the 2,200 schools authorized to participate in the program.

Parents previously had until 11:59 p.m. March 17 to apply for the program.

Latest update: In a March 17 news release, the comptroller’s office confirmed that applications would be accepted through March 31 in compliance with the judge’s order.

Over 229,000 students had applied for the $1 billion program as of March 17, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock said. The state will use a need- and income-based lottery system to determine who is accepted.