Former board President Addie Heyliger makes return as Fort Bend ISD trustee
The Fort Bend ISD board of trustees officially appointed former trustee Addie Heyliger to Position 5 at the Sept. 15 board meeting following the May resignation of Sonya Jones.
The appointment comes after board President Kristin Tassin said the board was unable to reach a consensus to fill a vacant seat at a July 28 meeting, despite soliciting applications from candidates to represent the district’s East Division. Previously, the board said the seat would remain vacant until the May 2026 elections.
About the appointee: First elected to the FBISD board in 2015 and reelected in 2018, Heyliger served as board president from November 2020 to May 2021.
In her first words as newly sworn-in trustee, Heyliger said she saw her return as “coming home to a mission, a community and a calling that has always been close to my heart.”
Looking ahead: District officials confirmed that Heylinger will serve until the end of Jones’ term in May 2026.
Lamar Educational Awards Foundation celebrates 25 years of growth
For over 25 years, Lamar Educational Awards Foundation has served as a bridge between the Lamar Consolidated ISD and its surrounding communities, championing public education and empowering teachers and students through innovation and community engagement.
The bigger picture: Executive Director Kameela Lewis said she hopes the organization's presence will grow into the recent enrollment increase in the Katy-Fulshear area, which has contributed to the district’s “hypergrowth” status that is expected to reach over 2,000 in the next decade.
Lewis said community members can support LEAF by:
Volunteering to help with events, join committees or assist with grant application reading
Donating directly through LEAF’s website or sponsor specific initiatives, such as named scholarships or classroom grants
Applying for grants or scholarships by visiting the foundation’s site or contacting LEAF directly
Quote of note: "There’s a place for everyone in this foundation,” Lewis said. "We’ve accomplished so much in our first 25 years, but our work is far from done."
Salad and Go officials confirmed via email the salad chain is closing all of its Houston locations by the end of the day Sept. 19 and will continue to operate stores in the Dallas area.
Quote of note: “We're deeply grateful for our team's contributions and commitment to serving our guests. They've played an impactful role in building Salad and Go, and we're working to provide support to those affected by the closures as we move through this transition,” Salad and Go CEO Mike Tattersfield said.
The details: According to the website, Salad and Go is a drive-thru fast food chain offering affordable salads and wraps. Per the email release, the closures will allow Salad and Go to focus on strengthening the brand while improving quality.
Entergy Texas receives approval for 2 new power plants in southeast Texas
Entergy Texas will build two new power plants to support the growing southeast Texas region following approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, officials announced in a Sept. 11 news release.
Two-minute impact: Per the release, the two natural gas power plants will be able to provide "enough reliable electricity capable of powering more than 300,000 homes." Combined, the two power plants will add more than 1,200 megawatts of energy to the southeast Texas power grid, while generating $2.8 billion in economic activity and creating over 9,000 construction jobs.
Officials noted the power plants are expected to allow Entergy Texas to meet new customer demand, increase reliability and lower costs for all customers.
Quote of note: "We've heard directly from our customers and communities about the need for more power to support our rapidly growing region, and these facilities will deliver just that," Entergy Texas CEO Eliecer Viamontes said in a statement.
The timeline: Both facilities are planned to be in service by mid-2028, per the release.
Eligible K-12 students receive free school meals after legislature approves funding
This school year, students who are eligible for reduced-price meals can receive free breakfast and lunch at public schools across Texas.
The overview: During the recent legislative session, state lawmakers approved $19.8 million to cover the cost of reduced-price meals for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.
What parents should know: Eligibility for free school meals is determined based on a family’s income through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
Families can contact their school district to fill out an application for free or reduced-price meals at any time during the school year. Students who are deemed eligible for reduced-price meals will receive them at no cost through the 2026-27 school year.
What they're saying: “Kids who would have paid a small fee for meals will now receive them at no cost,” said Stacie Sanchez Hare, director of No Kid Hungry Texas. “[School] is where we know so many kids get their meals—it is a guaranteed place for kids to have access to free and nutritional meals.”
