HTX-KTY: Impact 10/28/2025

Due to a shortage of certified bilingual teachers in languages such as Arabic, Mandarin, Urdu and Yoruba, Katy ISD will request a bilingual certification exception for instructors meeting the needs during the 2025-26 school year.

The gist: State rules require districts to offer bilingual or special language programs when 20 or more students in a grade share a language—a threshold Katy ISD meets in 18 languages. If certified teachers in that language are unavailable, the district may apply for the exemption through the Texas Education Agency. 

As of Oct. 1, the district supports more than 22,000 emergent bilingual students, Pratt said. Dating 24 years ago, the district first applied its exemption for a Mandarin bilingual program 24 years ago and most recently in 2023, an Igbo program. 

The bigger picture: Last year, nearly 3,000 students met the language proficiency criteria to exit ESL programs, Pratt said. Once students leave the program, they are monitored for two years through Language Proficiency Assessment Committee meetings, which evaluate grades, attendance and overall progress.

Supreme Dumplings has opened its first Texas location in Katy Asian Town.

On the menu: The Washington-based dumpling chain's menu is centered around Xiao Long Bao, or soup dumplings, available in various flavors, according to its website.

The restaurant also serves pan-fried buns, spicy wontons, fried rice and noodles.

• 23119 Colonial Parkway, Ste. A12, Katy

More than 11,000 voters in Fort Bend County have already cast their ballots in person during the first week of early voting, county data shows.

At the polls: Fort Bend County data shows 11,078 in-person ballots have been cast as of Oct. 26 for the Nov. 4 election, which accounts for over 1.97% of the county’s 560,979 registered voters. Additional ballots have been cast by mail.

A total of 79,647 in-person and mail ballot votes have been cast in Harris County halfway through the 12-day early voting period ahead of the Nov. 4 general and special elections, according to the county clerk’s office.

By the numbers: That’s nearly 607,000 less votes compared to the 2024 general election early voting numbers, where Harris County voters cast more than 686,500 ballot votes. The county’s voter registration department found that more than 2.5 million people are registered voters in the county.

At the polls: Early in-person voting runs from Oct. 20-31, and Election Day is Nov. 4. For more information about what’s on the ballot and what to bring to the polls, visit www.communityimpact.com/election.

Quote of note: Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said in an October news release the county will have 70 early voting locations and 600 voting locations on Election Day.

“This election provides Harris County voters an opportunity to shape the future of their communities and impact leadership at both the local and state levels,” Hudspeth said.

Texas is home to about 3.5 million small businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Estimates show that the average Texas small-business owner could save about $2,500 per year if voters approve an expanded business tax exemption on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: State Proposition 9 would exempt up to $125,000 of a business’s personal property, such as equipment, furniture and vehicles, from taxation. Texas business owners currently receive a tax exemption on property worth $2,500 or less.

“At $2,500, virtually everyone's paying this tax,” NFIB Texas Director Jeff Burdett said in an Oct. 24 interview. “If you have a desk, a computer and a chair, you're probably over $2,500 [in inventory]. … It makes no difference for almost any business.”

At the polls: Early voting in the Nov. 4 election began Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.