Fort Bend County is looking to build a new animal shelter in Rosenberg.

The details: At a Sept. 24 meeting, Fort Bend County commissioners heard a presentation on the county's proposed new animal shelter and adoption center to address poor conditions—including a lack of air conditioning—at the current shelter, located at 1210 Blume Road in Rosenberg.

The presentation comes after commissioners approved a $54,000 agreement with Shelter Planners of America in July 2025 to begin design on the project.

Zooming in: The proposed 42,375-square-foot shelter, located in Rosenberg off Cottonwood School Road, would feature housing for 170 dogs, 74 cats and six other animals, said Alan Escoto, a project manager at Shelter Planners of America.

Meanwhile, a 10,128-square-foot satellite adoption center, which would be located in Fulshear, would feature housing for 30 dogs and 22 cats, Escoto said.

Looking forward: County staff will continue finalizing the budget and financing plans before presenting the project to commissioners for approval.

A new splash pad has opened in Sugar Land Memorial Park. 

The details: The 8,300-square-foot splash pad features a 2,450-square-foot water spray zone with 11 interactive water play elements, including a toddler slide and a large overhead water bucket, according to a Sept. 23 Facebook post.

The gated area—which will be open Tuesdays through Sundays—also includes shaded seating areas, per the post. The splash pad will be closed for maintenance on Mondays.

The funding: The facility is funded by the Sugar Land 4B Corp., which uses sales tax dollars to create new facilities that encourage economic development.

Zooming out: Sugar Land Memorial Park stretches along the Brazos River and has 2.5 miles of walking and biking trails, a lake, pavilions, a playground and picnic areas, according to the city's website. 

• 15300 University Blvd., Sugar Land

Memorial Hermann Health System President and CEO David L. Callender is retiring at the end of 2026 after seven years with the organization. His final day in the role will be Dec. 31.

What we know: Callender will be replaced by Alec H. King, who serves as executive vice president and chief financial officer. King was selected to succeed Callender following a multi-year selection process.

The two are partnering through the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition. During his time at Memorial Hermann, King has been vital to the system's strategy, growth and transformation, hospital leaders said.

Quote of note: “It is an extraordinary honor to lead Memorial Hermann, which has been an essential part of Greater Houston for more than 119 years as a healthcare provider, employer and community partner,” King said. “Under Dr. Callender’s leadership, we have built tremendous momentum and I believe our greatest opportunities lie ahead.”

King will start his new role Jan. 1.

Last fall, Gov. Greg Abbott deemed Texas "the epicenter of AI development" during an event about Google's data center investments in the state.

Since making that remark, the Republican governor has issued several directives aimed at regulating AI-powered data centers. Meanwhile, state agencies are expanding their use of artificial intelligence in government services.

The overview: At the state level, one of the primary uses of artificial intelligence is to improve government efficiency, said Tony Sauerhoff, who leads the Texas Department of Information Resources.

Down the road, that will likely mean reducing the number of staff members at state agencies, Sauerhoff said, noting that agency leaders are being "intentional" about those changes.

Zooming in: When asked which state agencies will be most impacted by AI in the coming years, Sauerhoff pointed to the Texas Department of Transportation.

TxDOT uses artificial intelligence in a variety of forms, including to analyze transportation infrastructure, determine which construction projects should be prioritized, optimize road safety plans and manage the flow of traffic, according to its AI strategic plan.