HTX-KTY: Impact 9/22/2025

Fulshear officials took the first step toward becoming a certified film-friendly city.

What residents need know: At a Sept. 16 meeting, City Council unanimously approved commercial filming guidelines as the city officials work to join approximately 200 other cities as a Texas Film Friendly Certified Community through the Texas Film Commission.

Zooming in: Fulshear officials said they will enforce safeguards to preserve quality of life for residents including: 

• Limiting filming hours
• Requiring advance production notices 
• Requiring productions to carry a minimum of $1 million in liability coverage
• Warranting productions to restore any public or private property used to its original or better condition 
• Allowing the city manager or designee the right to deny, modify or stop filming at any time to protect public health, safety and welfare

Lamar CISD launched a new pilot program Sept. 10 called Bring Your Own Laptop designed to support high school students enrolled in advanced coursework.

Who’s eligible: Monica Baines, director of advanced academics and college and career readiness, said the BYOL initiative is currently limited to students who are:

• Enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement, dual-credit or dual-enrollment course
• In grades 9-12
• Maintain a 90% attendance rate or higher
• Complete an Acceptable Use Agreement, co-signed by parent or guardian

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 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.

More than $7.9 million of Funds for Veterans’ Assistance, or FVA, grants have been awarded to 38 organizations in the Greater Houston area, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sept. 12.

The gist: Abbott said the grants are part of the Texas Veterans Commission Grants Across Texas Tour. The grants support a wide range of services, from emergency financial assistance to transportation and home modification, according to a news release.

Quote of note:  “This over $7.9 million in grants will provide crucial services and financial support for our veterans and their families in the Gulf Coast and Houston so they can lead successful lives in our great state,” Abbott said.

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.”

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.”

• Building and renovating campuses around the district
• Replacing and updating Traylor Stadium 
• Refreshing technology equipment 
• Providing a 1:1 student device ratio for grades 3-12