Residents are invited to take part in public meetings hosted by the Texas Department of Transportation to learn more about potential routes for the southern portion of the Hwy. 36A project.

The proposed highway aims to provide a road for large trucks to travel from Port Freeport to reach major highways and distribute freight in North Texas, Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers previously said.

What residents need to know: The public meetings will present three reasonable alternatives—down from the eight presented last August—for the project segment from FM 1994 south of Needville to I-10 west of Katy, officials said in a July 29 news release.

Public meeting dates include:

• Aug. 18 from 5-7 p.m. at The Katy Gardens
• Aug. 20 from 5-7 p.m. at the Fort Bend Epicenter

Big Air, an indoor trampoline and adventure park, will open its doors in Missouri City this August, officials confirmed.

What they offer: The 30,000-square-foot adventure park offers various attractions including trampolines, dual slides, dodgeball arena and a two-story obstacle course, according to its website. A trampoline area and mini obstacle course are also available for younger children.

Also of note: The Missouri City location will also offer specialized programs for younger children and high-energy events for older kids, officials said.

Zooming out: The adventure park operates 23 locations nationwide including a north Houston location at 3040 FM 1960 Road E., Ste. 300, per its website. 

• 4799 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City

The Houston-Galveston Area Council will host a public meeting Aug. 5 for its Safety Action Plans—an effort to improve transportation safety and reduce serious roadway injuries and fatalities, according to a July 27 news release from H-GAC.

Why it matters: The Houston-Galveston region accounts for nearly 20% of traffic deaths in Texas, and every day an average of two people are killed and 10 people are seriously injured in traffic crashes across the region, according to H-GAC’s website.

A closer look: H-GAC is working with local governments, transportation agencies and community partners to identify critical issues and help lead future safety improvements, per the release.

Across Texas, public school districts have approved at least 150 campus closures in the last three years as they grapple with declining enrollment, state accountability issues and hefty budget shortfalls.

What's happening: Among the closures are 56 schools in Community Impact’s coverage areas. Some districts have said that additional closures are not off the table.

Roughly 76,000 fewer students were enrolled in Texas public schools during the 2025-26 school year than the year prior. This marks the first non-pandemic enrollment drop in recorded history, according to Texas Education Agency data collected annually since 1987.

Analysts warn that this year’s enrollment decline is not a one-off, with demographics expert Bob Templeton predicting that enrollment could “drop over 100,000 kids” next year.

What they're saying: “This was a decision that I made, even knowing some of the challenges our students are going to face, because I think the alternative is untenable,” Fort Bend ISD board President Kristin Tassin said as the district voted to close seven elementary schools ahead of the 2026-27 school year.