Katy ISD students outscored state averages in every subject in the 2026 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exams administered this spring to grades third through eighth and STAAR end-of-course assessments administered to high schoolers.

Some context: The Texas Education Agency released statewide and district-specific test scores for the STAAR math, reading and social studies exams June 16, and the STAAR EOC Algebra I, English I, English II, biology and U.S. History exams June 10. STAAR science scores will be released July 31.

Diving in deeper: Data shows Katy ISD students performed above state average in 18 subjects. Meanwhile, district students saw equal or improved performance year-over-year in all exams except:

• Third grade math
• Fourth grade math
• Seventh grade math
• Third grade reading
• Fourth grade reading
• Sixth grade reading
• Eighth grade social studies
• English II
• U.S. History

Iced tea franchise HTeaO will hold a July 11 grand opening for its third Katy location, officials announced in a July 6 news release.

The details: The menu features more than 20 flavors of sweetened and unsweetened tea including sweet pineapple crush, lemon lavender matcha and dirty cherry poppi, according to its website.

Guests can also enjoy various coffee options, such as macchiatos, lattes and mochas.

Zooming out: The beverage franchise has over 150 locations nationwide including Katy-area locations at 1935 Ave. D and 21810 Kingsland Blvd., Community Impact previously reported.

• 19832 W. Little York Road, Katy

Harris County commissioners are seeking to appoint Harris County Toll Road Authority Executive Director Robert Trevino to lead a new countywide infrastructure committee aimed at moving county projects forward July 9, as the county also prepares to bring five new civil district courts online.

The breakdown: According to meeting documents, Harris County commissioners will finally review the creation of a countywide infrastructure committee to keep track and create standardized reports for multiple infrastructure initiatives that have been operating under their own committees. Following two rounds of discussions, Carter will bring the recommendation to court for a third time July 9, with Trevino poised to lead the new committee.

Also on the agenda: Commissioners will also hear an update regarding bringing five new civil district courts online as Management and Budget Executive Director Daniel Ramos presents the cost for hiring necessary personnel, such as deputies and court staff. through the end of 2026.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas operates the state power grid, overseeing the flow of electricity to over 27 million customers. Yet ERCOT does not directly participate in Texas’ electric market or own any of the facilities that deliver power across the state.

The big picture: Power generation plants, transmission facilities and distribution lines are owned by outside companies, meaning that local power outages are typically isolated and handled by individual companies, rather than ERCOT.

How it works: In 1999, Texas legislators passed a law deregulating the state’s retail electric market. The law was designed to “introduce competition in Texas’ electric market by allowing consumers to choose their retail electric provider,” according to ERCOT.

Previously, most Texas utility companies owned all aspects of the electric supply chain, including generation, transmission and the delivery of power to customers.

Today, approximately 85% of electric customers in Texas can choose their retail electric provider, including those across the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth regions. Customers in Austin and San Antonio get their electricity from municipally owned utilities.