The Fort Bend County District Clerk's Office has announced Phase 2 of its modernized document certification system, officials announced in a June 22 news release.

What residents need to know: The new phase—which aims to provide faster and more convenient access to court documents—will allow users to obtain certified copies online without needing to visit the courthouse, per the release.

Key features include:

• Document preview capability to review case documents up to 50 pages before purchasing copies
• Same-day certified copies
• Secure access for attorneys and parties to purchase eligible unredacted documents

First Colony Mall has opened a new outdoor play area, officials confirmed.

The details: The candy-themed play area—which was a creative spin on the mall's location in Sugar Land—was designed to create a welcoming space where families can take a break, spend time together and enjoy the property in a new way, mall officials said.

The project was supported by the Sugar Land's Commercial Revitalization Grant which aims to revitalize some of the city's oldest commercial properties, Community Impact previously reported.

• 16535 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land

Travelers flying through George Bush Intercontinental Airport now have a few more comfortable places to sit, work and charge before boarding.

The details: Houston Airports recently added new seating near gates A14 and A15 in Terminal A, increasing seating in that area by 24%, according to a June 23 release. The update added 47 seats, along with workstations, group seating and built-in charging.

The new setup is meant to better fit how people actually use airport space, according to the release. 

What this means: In Terminal A, the seating includes tray tables, charging access, work areas and group seating. The area also has large windows looking out over the airfield.

The seating was previously used in Terminal D before being moved and installed in Terminal A in May, ahead of a busy summer travel season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup travel period, per the release.

State lawmakers are considering water use impacts tied to the spread of new data center developments across Texas, and recently heard input from industry representatives and residents as they plan for next year's legislative session.

The initial review may preview proposed state laws regarding data centers and their local impacts. Ahead of the hearing, Gov. Greg Abbott also stated his "bottom line" expectations for data centers going forward: providing their own power, reusing water and reducing electricity costs for their neighbors.

Testimony from regulators revealed that Texas lacks accurate information about the water use of most data centers now operating statewide, despite mandates to submit those details. Representatives suggested data centers' self-reporting on utility use could be one topic to address next year. Many impacted residents and elected officials also raised concerns with public notice and local regulatory authority in relation to the high-profile developments.