A remodeling project for the Long John Silver's in Humble is set to begin in late April, according to a Feb. 19 TDLR filing. 

What to expect: The $1.2 million project will consist of the construction of a new roughly 2,200-square-foot facility for the restaurant at the same location, per the filing.

Restaurant management noted the business will be closed throughout the duration of the project.

On the menu: Long John Silver's offers a variety of seafood cuisine, including hand-battered Alaska pollock, cod, salmon and shrimp, as well as crispy clam strips and crab cakes, according to the company’s website.

The timeline: While an opening date was not included in the filing, construction of the project is expected to wrap up in September.

• 9950 FM 1960, Humble

Humble ISD trustees approved a deal to use OpenAI's artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT for K-12 educators in a special pilot program at the board’s Feb. 17 meeting.

The details: HISD Chief Financial Officer Billy Beattie said the AI program will be used to help teachers and staff with a variety of tasks, including:

• Creating discussion prompts
• Developing study guides
• Drafting emails
• Analyzing student data

Families making up to $100,000 are now eligible for Sam Houston State University’s Bearkat Promise program, after the university announced Feb. 24 that it was raising the family income eligibility threshold from $40,000.

In a nutshell: The Bearkat Promise program provides eligible students with the mandatory tuition and fees they need for up to 15 credit hours per semester, according to its website. The increased income threshold starts in fall 2026.

More details: According to the news release, to qualify for the program, students must:

• Be an entering freshman or transfer student
• Be a Texas resident with demonstrated financial need
• Be eligible for a federal Pell Grant
• Submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid by the priority deadline of March 1
• Enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester

Since 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has brought cowboys and cowgirls, country music performers, farmers and Texas youth together. Each year, the Rodeo hosts several diverse events, including auctions, cookoffs and concerts, all with the goal of promoting Western heritage. 

By the numbers: Here’s a glimpse of what the report stated:

• $326 million of direct economic impact was generated in the Greater Houston area
• $597 million of total economic activity was produced
• $630 million of total educational support has been given since 1932

Measuring the impact: Additionally, the Rodeo continues to be one of the largest scholarship and educational contributors in the country, per the report, with more than $14 million given in scholarships. 

Going forward: As for 2026 and the upcoming years, Pat Mann Phillips, chairman of the board of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, said she is focused on keeping the Rodeo grounded in its roots and in remembrance of the trailblazers who shaped it into what it is today.