The city of Pearland has been recognized as a Music Friendly Texas certified community by the Texas Music Office, according to an April 20 news release from the Office of the Governor.

Pearland is the 94th certified community, and the 10th in the Greater Houston and Galveston area, according to the TMO website.

Some context: Launched by the Texas Music Office in 2016, the goal of the Music Friendly Texas program is to support economic development and employment tied to the music industry in communities across the state, according to the news release.

“We are excited to earn the Music Friendly Texas Certified Community designation in our partnership with the Texas Music Office,” Pearland Mayor Kevin Cole said in the release. 

Hidden Treasures & Co., a woman-owned consignment shop operating in Pearland for 25 years, will celebrate its rebranding with a grand opening event on May 1, manager Angie Shem said.

The details: While the shop has historically offered consignment shopping, the rebrand opens the store's space to local small business owners, artisans and boutique sellers, Shem said. Ahead of the grand opening, Shem said there will be at least 20 new vendors selling handmade items like jewelry, art, bird houses and custom spice blends. 

Also of note: Every Wednesday, the shop offers a "wiser Wednesday" discount of 30% off home decor for seniors over 50, excluding furniture, according to the shop's website. 

• 3218 E. Broadway St., Pearland

The Associated Credit Union, or ACU, of Texas has changed its name to Openland Credit Union as of late March.

What you need to know: While ownership and services hasn't changed, the credit union felt it was time to give the brand an update, according to the credit union's website.

"We’ve evolved into a sophisticated, digitally-savvy financial institution with a bar-none banking experience that rivals even the biggest banks and fintechs," the website noted. "It became clear that our identity did not fully capture that spirit of innovation, nor the scale of our community impact."

What they offer: Openland Credit Union offers online banking, remote deposits, credit cards, auto and personal loans, home buying and refinancing support and college saving planning, among other services.

• Locations vary

Catfish and rainbow trout are now making their way to several community lakes in the Greater Houston area and across the state.

How it works: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is stocking 18 lakes in nine cities around Texas, including Austin, Houston and Bryan-College Station.

The Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes program is aimed at encouraging family fishing at 18 locations around the state that provide parking and are close to neighborhoods.

Quote of note: “Catfish are fun and easy to catch for anglers of all ages and experience levels. If you’ve never fished before, these are the perfect places to get started,” said Marcos DeJesus, East Texas regional director for TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division, in a news release. “If you are an experienced angler, these are the perfect places to introduce fishing to a friend or family member.”

Demand on the Texas power grid could more than quadruple in the next six years, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced April 15.

The details: The state grid operator projected that peak electric demand could hit 367,790 megawatts by 2032—more than four times the current demand record of 85,508 megawatts, which was set during an August 2023 heat wave. Much of this forecasted growth is due to data centers, according to ERCOT documents.

However, ERCOT leaders warned that the growth forecast is “preliminary” and needs adjustments.

What's happening: During an April 17 meeting, ERCOT officials told the Public Utility Commission of Texas that they plan to work with utility providers to issue a revised forecast in the coming weeks.

“I think it's clear we need to engage in the process and look at ways to refine this number to something that's more usable,” PUC Chair Thomas Gleeson said.

Stay tuned: ERCOT said it expects peak electric demand on the grid this summer will hit between 90,500-98,000 megawatts, which would shatter the current demand record.