HTX-KTY: Impact 8/22/2025

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Generative artificial intelligence has been making its way into many sectors across the U.S., and education is no exception. Since its release in 2022, generative AI tools like ChatGPT have given students access to technology that can complete tasks and assignments with a simple prompt, blurring the lines of academic integrity and sparking discussions on AI’s place in the classroom.

Community Impact spoke with Meng Li, founder and director of the Bauer Human-Centered AI Institute and Endowed C.T. Bauer Chair of AI at C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, to discuss the role of AI in academia.

There is plenty to do during August and September in Katy and Fulshear, including attending farmers’ markets and concerts. This list is not comprehensive, and events are subject to change.

Katy Community Expo
The event will merge the expo and the Katy Home & Outdoor Living Show featuring over 175 vendors.

• Aug. 23-24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturday), 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sunday)
• 6301 S. Stadium Lane, Katy

• Aug. 31, 6:45 a.m.
• 24566 Kingsland Blvd., Katy

• Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• 5339 E. 3rd St., Katy

• Sept. 13, 7-10 p.m.
• 904 Ave. C, Katy

Elyson, a master-planned community in Katy, has announced plans for a new park geared for ages 2 to 7 near Katy Hockley Cut-Off Road.

The big picture: Speedway Park will feature a 400-foot racetrack for children, featuring a rubberized surface to reduce the Texas heat and prevent serious injuries, according to a news release from Elyson. 

According to its website, the park will also offer:

• Climbing areas
• Swing sets
• Green area

Notable quote: “We wanted Speedway Park to be a place where kids of all ages would be very excited to enjoy their free time,” said Heather Gustafson, marketing director for Brookfield Residential, Elyson’s developer.

• 7303 Prairie Lakeshore Lane, Katy

New data from Fort Bend County Health & Human Services announced as part of the county’s Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan found area families are struggling to meet healthcare needs, with disparities across demographic groups.

Zooming in: The research, conducted in partnership with UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and Rice University’s Kinder Institute, will “serve as a vital resource for Fort Bend County stakeholders, residents and cross sector community partners,” according to an Aug. 6 news release.

By the numbers: Residents self-reported generally positive physical and mental health, with only 11% and 13% rating it as “poor or fair,” respectively, data shows. However, 56% of residents reported having a chronic medical condition, with hypertension and high cholesterol being most common.

Only 12% of residents reported having no health insurance, data shows. Of those residents, young adults and Hispanics were most likely to be uncovered, at 22% and 23%, respectively.

Diving in deeper: Additionally, the study found that 73% of residents live in households with high or marginal food security, data shows.

What's happening: House lawmakers approved six bills Aug. 21, all of which were drafted in response to the July 4-5 floods that killed at least 137 people in Central and West Texas.

Lawmakers said the bills were designed to mitigate the damage of future floods by requiring youth summer camps to implement approved disaster plans, establishing licensing requirements for local emergency managers and facilitating the development of a statewide emergency communications plan.

What they're saying: “We have a chance now to right these wrongs, to say ‘Never again,’” Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, said on the House floor.

Also of note: The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country announced the organization will invest $40 million into a housing fund for victims of the July 4 flooding.

At an Aug. 21 press conference in Kerrville, Gov. Greg Abbott said the nonprofit’s housing fund will help affected Texans receive new housing within months.