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As the 2026-27 Magnolia ISD school year begins, the educational nonprofit Magnolia Education Foundation will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.

About the program: Originally founded in 2001, the foundation’s main purpose is to support the teachers and students of MISD through annual classroom grants, student scholarships and anything that falls outside the district's purview.

An example of the scholarships the foundation provides to students is the annual Impact Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to MISD students who have made a positive impact in the Magnolia community.

Since its initial founding during the 2022-23 school year, the foundation has awarded $17,000 to students across the district, according to their website. Annual teacher grants are another major part of the foundation's work.

Why it matters: The purpose of the grants is to support creative projects, resources and programs to enhance student learning. Individual teachers who apply can earn up to $5,000, a department/group can earn up to $7,500 and multicampus applicants can earn up to $10,000.

Texas Autism Academy marks its 10th year of operations as it begins the 2026-27 academic year.

The backstory: Originally located on Pruitt Road in Spring, the school opened a new building in 2023 on Tamina Road where it now operates, serving students in grades 4-12 this academic year, according to its website. 

What they offer: The idea for TAA was formed in 2015 by three public school educators looking for a better quality education for non-neurotypical children, according to information from the school.

Greater Houston-area officials are monitoring conditions as a tropical system could bring heavy rainfall and the potential for flash flooding to the area as early as the morning of Sept. 1, per the National Weather Service.

What’s happening: Per the NWS, Tropical Depression 5 is expected to become a tropical storm after press time Aug. 31 before making landfall along the upper Texas or southwest Louisiana coast Sept. 1.

Gov. Greg Abbott at an Aug. 31 press conference said the storm is anticipated to make landfall near Chambers and Jefferson counties in the afternoon of Sept. 1. The worst of the rain is expected to be concentrated in Harris County.

That forecast could include a storm surge of 2-4 feet in Chambers and Jefferson counties, as well as local rainfall getting as high as 10-15 inches, including in some areas getting 3-4 inches per hour, Abbott said.

While the rainfall is expected to affect the area’s rivers, it’s too early to tell if it will pose any imminent danger, Abbott said.

At an Aug. 27 regular meeting, the San Jacinto River Authority approved the operating budget for FY 2026-27, set to begin on Sept 1. Within the budget, the Groundwater Reduction Plan rates are expected to remain the same, while the raw water rate will rise.

The breakdown: Presented by SJRA Controller Jamye Lewis, the SJRA has nine divisions as a quasi-state agency. When creating the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Lewis said the focus was on making sure the divisions can provide high levels of service to customers rather than generating revenue.

The nine divisions and their total operating revenues for FY 2026-27 are:

• Groundwater Reduction Plan division: $70.4 million

• Woodlands division: $46.6 million

• Raw water supply division: $25.1 million

• Highlands division: $5,000

• Lake Conroe division: $6.2 million

• Flood management division: $160,705

• General and administrative division: (no operating revenues budget)

• Region H (Greater Houston area): $653,469

• Bear Branch: $582,618

Chili's To Go is now open at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston Airport System officials announced in an Aug. 25 news release. 

Check it out: Per the release, the 924-square-foot concept restores hot meal and bar service to Terminal E's pre-security space for the first time in more than a decade. The eatery is located on the arrivals level near Starbucks beneath the Oculus. 

Some context: Officials noted the Chili's To Go opening marks the completion of a four-year food and beverage rollout tied to the $1.458 billion IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program. Among the 16 food and beverage options that have opened through the program include The Annie Cafe & Bar, Velvet Taco, Chick-fil-A, Einstein Bros. and a full-service Chili's, as previously reported by Community Impact. 

• Opened Aug. 23 
• 2800 N. Terminal Road, Houston

The Texas Department of Transportation manages over 200,000 miles of state highways. Roughly 72% of all vehicle travel in the state occurs on TxDOT-maintained highways, TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said.

As Texas’ population continues to grow, so does “demand on our transportation systems, from busy urban corridors to rural communities,” Williams told lawmakers during an Aug. 17 hearing held by the Texas House Transportation Committee.

What's happening: More than 11,000 TxDOT projects are currently in the works, according to the agency’s website.

To keep motorists informed about road construction, TxDOT collects public input during the project planning process, then conducts outreach on social media, on project websites and through email notifications before and during closures, according to Eric Lykins, TxDOT’s senior director of district operations. The agency also places electronic message signs on roadways ahead of closures or detours, he said.

Some state lawmakers are encouraging transportation officials to improve outreach to motorists when roads, lanes and exits are closed or adjusted.