HTX-BAY: Impact 9/25/2025

After some debate, League City will cover the cost of putting in irrigation infrastructure in the Hidden Lakes neighborhood’s green space.

The details: League City City Council voted 5-2 to have the city’s general fund fully reimburse the $12,616 cost to install irrigation infrastructure in the Hidden Lakes neighborhood, which is located on the city’s east side.

What they’re saying: Council members Tom Crews and Tommy Cones voted against the motion to have the city shoulder the cost, arguing that it placed an undue burden on other taxpayers.

Priority repairs for the Technology Learning Center and Victory Lakes Intermediate School were among the projects passed by Clear Creek ISD’s board of trustees at its Sept. 22 meeting.

What you need to know: Priority repairs at the district’s Technology Learning Center will be funded through the 2023 bond. The bond project for the center includes replacing worn flooring throughout the building and adding accessibility upgrades, according to 2023 bond documents.

The board also approved priority repairs for Victory Lakes Intermediate School, which will also be paid for through the 2023 bond, board documents note.

Also of note: Trustees also approved a ground equipment replacement, which will include mowers, tractors, aerators and spraying equipment, according to board documents.

The Harris Health board of trustees unanimously approved a resolution Sept. 23 calling for the acquisition of a portion of Hermann Park to support the expansion of Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital, according to a news release.

Current situation: The board authorized the Harris Health legal team to take all necessary actions to purchase three parcels of land in Hermann Park—totaling about 8.9 acres, or 2% of the park—by eminent domain. The land currently belongs to the city of Houston, which oversees the park’s operations. 

How we got here: Harris County voters approved a $2.5 billion Harris Health hospital bond in 2023, which included plans for the Ben Taub expansion, according to past Community Impact reporting. The $410 million project would add approximately 100 patient rooms to the hospital, which has been consistently operating at and beyond its 402-bed capacity, according to the release. 

Check out several new restaurants that have recently opened across the Houston metro, as recently reported by Community Impact.

Smash City Burgers: The new halal smash burger and hot dog eatery concept recently opened in the Galleria area, serving a variety of halal comfort food items, including milkshakes and loaded fries.
Smash City first opened as a food truck location in Baton Rouge, as previously reported by Community Impact.

• Opened Sept. 13
• 6377 Westheimer Road, Houston

Krua Thai & Sushi: What was once occupied by the popular Thai Gourmet restaurant is now a new establishment called Krua Thai & Sushi.
Krua specializes in Thai cuisine, featuring noodle dishes and curries such as kaeng rawang, also known as green curry, and panang curry, also known as red curry. Customers can also order pineapple fried rice as well as kao soi, a curry noodle soup with chicken.

• Opened Aug. 28
• 6324 Richmond Ave., Houston

The Texas Education Agency will begin transitioning to a new standardized testing system after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law Sept. 17 to replace the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness with three shorter exams.

The overview: Through the 2026-27 school year, Texas public school students in third through 12th grade will continue taking the STAAR each spring. Beginning in fall 2027, students will take three tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year under House Bill 8, the new law.

Students’ results will be released within 48 hours after each new test is administered. STAAR scores are currently released about six weeks after a test ends, according to the TEA. 

The debate: Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said the new system will reduce test-related anxiety; give students and teachers feedback throughout the school year; and increase legislative oversight of Texas’ assessment and accountability systems. Critics of the plan said it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the TEA.