Fort Bend ISD officials said the district is expected to face less of a shortfall than projected.

What you need to know: At a March 30 board of trustees meeting, Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn said the district is now expected to face a $38.5 million shortfall for the 2026-27 school year, down from the $56.4 million figure predicted at the board’s February meeting.

However, the number is still up 46.95% from the district’s initial $26.2 million projection shared last summer, Community Impact reported.

The details: Guinn said the decrease comes after an expected $7 million in increased revenues and a $10.9 million in strategic staffing reductions made at the central administration level.

Next steps: Two additional updates are scheduled before the public hearing and final vote on the budget in June, Guinn said. The board is also set to vote on the tax rate in September.

Empowered Plastic Surgery has temporarily relocated to a different floor of its current office building.

What you need to know: The business is known for its medspa services, including Botox and dermal fillers, as well as procedures such as breast augmentations and liposuction. While undergoing renovations, Empowerment Plastic Surgery is seeing clients in Suite 220, instead of Suite 130. 

• 7616 Branford Place, Ste. 130, Sugar Land

Despite counties nationwide seeing a slowing growth rate, the Greater Houston area is experiencing the opposite, per recent data from the US Census Bureau.

The gist: The data examines population changes within the timeframe of July 2024 to July 2025. According to the Census Bureau, the most populous counties saw more births than deaths and more people moving out than moving in from other areas of the country.

However, the Greater Houston area is still experiencing population growth, particularly in suburban areas.

Digging deeper: From 2024 to 2025, the counties saw the following population increase:

• Harris County: 48,695
• Montgomery County: 30,011
• Fort Bend County: 24,163

Missed any Community Impact articles from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from March 30-April 2.

• Harris County Precinct 3 pilots new approach to street repair with recycled tires
• Buttermilk Cafe opening in Willis
• Big Air slated to open Missouri City location this summer
• Booked and busy: 31 stores to visit during the Houston Independent Bookstore Crawl
• New modern, retail, dining space coming to League City

Three medical cannabis businesses have been conditionally approved to participate in the Texas Compassionate Use Program, state officials announced April 1.

The big picture: The companies received conditional licenses from the Texas Department of Public Safety in an effort to expand access to medical cannabis products. Under the compassionate use program, physicians can prescribe medical-grade, low-THC products to eligible patients in partnership with licensed dispensaries.

Zooming in: Two of the three businesses given conditional licenses April 1 are affiliated with existing medical cannabis dispensaries that work in several other states. The new licensees are:

• GTI Texas, LLC (doing business as RISE Dispensaries) in West Texas
• Cresco Labs Texas, LLC in East Texas
• Texas Medica Collective, LLC in Northeast Texas