Lamar Consolidated ISD students will soon go through a new testing process for international languages.

What’s happening: At an Oct. 20 meeting, the LCISD board of trustees approved adding Avant World Languages Assessments for Acceleration and Course Credit to the board-approved credit-by-examination options after receiving an in-depth presentation at its Sept. 15 meeting.

What’s new: Avant will expand the number of languages offered for credit by exam from 8 to 71, Anthony said. Its technology also adjusts question difficulty, which will prevent test fatigue while measuring novice, intermediate and advanced levels.

Notable quote: “Avant provides Lamar CISD with a modern, standards-aligned assessment system that accurately measures students’ proficiency in languages other than English, while creating a more efficient and student-centered experience,” Director of Multilingual Education Rosemary Anthony said.

On the horizon: LCISD will pilot Avant World Languages Assessment during the spring semester, with full implementation planned for the 2027–2028 school year, district officials said.

FS Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness is celebrating its 10th anniversary, business representatives confirmed. 

What they offer: The studio offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, mixed martial arts and kickboxing lessons for kids, teens and adults, according to its website.

Also of note: The business also recently relocated from 2020 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road to a new location on Highway Boulevard. 

• 5315 Hwy. Blvd., Katy

George Bush Intercontinental Airport welcomed travelers to its redeveloped Terminal B North Concourse on Oct. 22, following an official unveiling on Oct. 21.

The big picture: The three-level, 765,000-square-foot facility is part of United Airlines' $2.6 billion Terminal B Transformation Program. The project began in November 2023 and is expected to increase the number of customers who can fly on peak travel dates in 2026 by 40% compared to 2023.

Zooming in: The redeveloped terminal features the following amenities:

• A 54,000-square-foot United Club, which is the largest airline club in the Americas

• Seating for 800 travelers, two full-service bars and two buffet stations inside the club

• 22 mainline gates, giving United Airlines 48 gates in Terminal B

• 10 large-scale art installations and a dedicated sensory room

• 105,000 square feet of space for retail and concessions

• Climate-controlled jet bridges and a new baggage handling system

Looking ahead: The expansion will also allow United Airlines to add new international destinations, including service to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico; Cartagena, Colombia; and Caracas, Venezuela.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out six trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Oct. 16-23.

• Race Rock breaks ground on $100M expansion in Brookshire 

• League City approves nearly $50M construction contract for Pat Hallisey Park 

• Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen P. Turner indicted

• Pearland reviews Flock camera use, data-sharing safeguards 

• New 5-year strategic plan aims to position Houston as a premier film destination

• Ronald McDonald House unveils new look, logo as part of worldwide rebranding

In July, Texas' top elected officials directed most state agencies, appellate courts and public universities to cut spending by 3% in their base budget requests for the next two years.

The overview: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said those reductions will help Texas hold a "strong fiscal position" by expanding property tax relief and maintaining public education funding when the legislature returns to Austin next year.

The issue: Dozens of agency leaders have warned that the cuts, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, are not sustainable. They would cause Texas residents to lose "essential" services and lead to losses in state revenue, leaders said at the capitol and in budget documents.

Government institutions protesting the budget reductions include the comptroller's office, the attorney general, Texas' Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, state criminal justice agencies and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.