Houston ISD administrators and campus leaders were granted authority to consider cutting or reorganizing teacher and other employee positions for the 2026-27 school year during the district’s board of managers’ regular April 9 meeting.

What’s happening: On April 9, HISD’s board of managers unanimously approved two “Reduction In Force” initiatives. The initiatives allow district and campus leaders to work toward a budget reduction via multiple staffing avenues.

The “Reduction In Force” initiatives:

• Do not require teacher or employee positions or campus programs be changed, but allow them to be
• Could impact elementary and secondary school teachers, other campus employees and some central office positions

After many late nights hanging out after their shift at Uchi Houston, Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee began talking about what it would be like if they opened their own restaurant. 

The approach: Coming from a chef's background, Pham and Lee said they were serious about the quality of the ingredients they used. 

For example, the handrolls are made with seaweed from the Ariake Sea in Japan, and one of the fish imported is Tasmanian Ocean Trout. Pham said the restaurant spends six times the amount of normal seaweed to have that specific texture and flavor.  

On the menu: Additionally, Pham said Handies Douzo hasn’t changed the menu items or prices since the restaurant opened seven years ago. 

His favorite dishes are the Hamachi handroll and the Spicy Tuna handroll, and he said the Spicy Tuna handroll is done a little differently than other places. 

• 3510 White Oak Drive, Houston

Houston City Council approved an additional $1.1 million to go toward homelessness services for over 700 individuals.

Funding will support SEARCH Homeless Services, a nonprofit that provides interventions, assessments and referrals to services for unhoused individuals. It also includes the Engagement Center, a day shelter that serves individuals with access to other services.

What it means: Through funding, approximately 770 individuals will receive services, including housing case management, navigation and engagement services through the center.

Why it matters: City officials said this supports Mayor John Whitmire’s broader strategy to end street homelessness and aligns with the region’s broader Homeless Response Strategy.

Quote of note: “Safe, clean spaces with food, a bed and supportive services that allow an unhoused person a place to go that is not the street or other place not meant for human habitation are the most in-demand items,” a spokesperson for the city’s Housing and Community Development Department said.

The additional funding will extend the program through January 2027.

The luxury motor coach service Vonlane announced April 8 that its newest route will connect the Houston metro to Austin with a departure point in The Woodlands starting May 4. The route is the 12th for the company.

Vonlane launched a route between The Woodlands and Dallas last year. 

What to expect: Vonlane will offer services between The Woodlands and Austin seven days a week at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, and DoubleTree by Hilton Austin-University Area, 1617 N. I-35, Austin.

More details: The introductory rate through Aug. 31 will be $99. The motor coach provides amenities such as Starlink Wi-Fi, meals, snacks, beverages and no baggage or change fees, according to the news release.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from April 6-10.

Houston's District C moves forward with drainage projects, study for new trail

Harris County, Houston officials green light $56.9M flood project in Kingwood

Coastal Prairie Conservancy preserves final 221 acres of Three Oaks Farm

H-GAC officials launch new transportation website ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Vonlane adds new luxury motor coach route in The Woodlands, connecting Houston metro and Austin

Texas education officials are currently overhauling the state’s social studies curriculum standards, with policymakers, teachers, parents and historians clashing over how students should be taught about the history of Texas, the U.S. and the world.

The overview: The State Board of Education reviews standards for all curriculum areas every 15-20 years, dictating what Texas' 5.5 million public school students should learn at each grade level.

As written, the plan would reduce how much time students spend learning about world history and cultures in favor of more Texas-focused subjects. Critics of the proposal have pushed to include a more diverse set of perspectives to ensure all students feel represented in the curriculum, while those who support it said students’ education should be centered around American exceptionalism, state history and Christianity.

Next steps: The SBOE, which has the final say on the curriculum changes, was taking an initial vote on the plan as of press time and is scheduled to adopt the final standards in June. The new requirements would be rolled out to classrooms in 2030.