HTX-KTY: Impact 7/30/2026

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Katy ISD attendance incentive initiative sees 3 years of growth

Katy ISD's attendance incentive initiative has seen a third consecutive year of growth, officials said.

The overview: The Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow Attendance Incentive Initiative update, which was shared with the Katy ISD board of trustees at a July 27 meeting, showed a nearly one percentage-point increase from 94.2% in 2021-22 to 95.2% in 2025-26.

The initiative launched in 2023-24 following a roughly 2% post-pandemic decline in student attendance, said Emily Craig, assistant superintendent of school leadership and campus support. The decline negatively impacted the district due to state funding being tied to attendance, which predicts student outcomes.

The impact: Based on the $6,215 basic student allotment given by the state, Assistant Superintendent of Finance Jamey Hynds said the district has seen over 800 additional students in class, bringing in over $5 million annually for Katy ISD.

Going forward: Since the initiative has experienced three straight years of progress, Craig said the goal for 2026-27 is to focus on holiday and year-end stretches of time where families are more likely to go on vacation.

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Now Open

16 Handles now serving frozen yogurt in the Fulshear area

Frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles has opened a new location in the Fulshear area, officials announced in a July 14 news release.

For dessert: The shop—which is owned by local husband-and-wife duo Min Lee and Chris So—offers 16 rotating flavors including classics like vanilla and chocolate as well as others such as french fry or cookies and cream, per the release. Patrons can also choose from 50 toppings and sauces to pair with their flavor of choice.

The business also offers cakes, take-home pints and edible cookie dough, according to its website.

Zooming out: The New-York based business has three other Greater Houston locations including Montgomery, Missouri City and Richmond with another slated to open in Magnolia, per its website.

4906 FM 1463, Ste. 400, Katy

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Metro News

Houston saw 1.08 million participants at FIFA World Cup 2026 events

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee released statistics July 22 on how the city performed during the tournament and its associated events.

The breakdown: The report included specific metrics related to attendance, transportation, public safety and operational data throughout the seven match days, 39-day fan festival and other related events such as the Houston Dynamo Soccer Celebration.

1,086,499 participants attended FIFA World Cup 2026 events in Houston
480,186 fans attended matches at Houston Stadium (68,598 per match)
81% of all ticket buyers traveled from outside the Houston area, with 44% of buyers being international

Zooming in: The report also highlighted economic and community impact metrics, including visitor traffic, transportation and airport operations.

During the tournament timeline, Houston saw nearly 1 million visitors to East Downtown and 1.47 million to downtown, with dining options surrounding the fan festival experiencing year-over-year traffic growth between 33% and 1,600%.

Learn more.