Katy ISD’s healthcare plan for 2027 is expected to face a $12.1 million shortfall. 

The big picture: The new health plan was approved by the board of trustees at an Aug. 24 meeting and includes a new option with Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.

The approval comes after representatives from the Texas American Federation of Teachers union shared a petition signed by 691 Katy ISD employees in July requesting the board look into the health plan, which they described as underperforming.

What’s changed : Chief Human Resources Officer Brian Schuss said the district offered its employees three plans for 2026, but staff recommended a fourth option from Kelsey-Seybold and co-pay plans for Kelsey Seybold and Memorial Hermann. 

The four available health plan options for Katy ISD employees in 2027 include:

• Memorial Hermann ACO

• High Deductible Health Plan 

• Choice POS

• Kelsey-Seybold

What’s next: Officials said they will gradually roll out communication regarding health plan details to employees from the end of September through the start of October.

Haraz Coffee House has opened its doors in Katy, owner Ibrahim Massoud confirmed.

What to expect: Massoud said he wants Haraz to be a place where customers can come to hang out, study and bring their families to enjoy coffee, tea, matcha and lattes.

For dining options, the business offers croissants and puff pastries.

Zooming out: Since opening its first location in Dearborn, Michigan, the coffee house has opened over 60 locations nationwide, according to its website.

• 1417 FM 1463, Ste. 110, Katy

Two candidates are running for Harris County Clerk in the upcoming election.

The details: The candidates are Mike Wolfe and incumbent Teneshia Hudspeth.

Key details for voters include:

• Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30.

• Election day is Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Registered voters are permitted to cast their ballot at any polling location during both early voting and on election day.

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare and Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin announced the launch of the Protective Order Extended Team, or POET, on Oct. 2.

The program is designed to expand access to domestic violence legal protections and support survivors countywide.

About the program: The nine-member POET team consists of trained social workers and administrators who will work at locations throughout the county. The program offers its services to survivors for free, regardless of background, immigration status or circumstance. To assist survivors, advocates will meet them at neutral locations to:

• Walk through the protective order process

• Create a safety plan

• Conduct a danger assessment

What else: Advocates and staff will file protective order paperwork and represent survivors in court for free. Survivors do not need to contact law enforcement to receive help. The program is funded through $7.5 million approved by the Harris County Commissioners Court in 2025, which funded four advocate positions. Kamin's office has agreed to fund five additional advocate positions.

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a law changing the amount of time students are required to spend in public schools from 180 days to 75,600 minutes per school year.

More than a decade later, some state senators are considering again mandating the number of days schools are open, citing concerns about student performance in districts that use condensed weekly schedules.

The details: At least 181 districts and 572 campuses used four-day school weeks in the 2024-25 school year, per Texas Education Agency data.

A TEA study found that during the 2022-23 school year, students attending school four days per week had lower performance in certain subjects on the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness than students at five-day schools.

"There is not a benefit that I see for a four-day school week for the child," Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said. "We know there's learning loss. What is the advantage of a four-day [week]? Because I see none except to please somebody who wants to be off more days."