The 3-11-2026 Edition of The Fort Bend Star

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

In a workshop meeting on Monday, Fort Bend ISD trustees on Monday voted in separate items to approve a controversial administration plan to rezone the district's attendance boundaries that would result in the closure of seven community elementary schools.

The schools the board voted to close, often by thin majoritiesare Dulles, Glover, and Ridgegate elementaries in the southwest/central part of the district; and Arizona Fleming, Mission West, and Sugar Mill Elementary in the northwest/ central zone. In a separate item, the board unanimously approved a boundary plan for the new Amy Coleman Middle School.

Monday’s vote was the culmination of a year-long process by which the FBISD administration and the district’s School Boundary Advisory Committee comprised of community members worked to address what Superintendent Marc Smith has called a “structural problem” – that is, a district that was built out to serve 100,000 students has seen declining enrollment in recent years, following the peak of 80,000 it saw just three years ago.

The administration, based on data and recommendations from outside consultants, maintains that the closings and related consolidations are necessary to rebalance the district’s enrollment and resources, as many campuses are operating over their capacities while others are operating below capacity.

As in previous meetings since the rezoning issue came to the fore in December, about 45 people – mostly parents and students of the targeted schools – spoke out against the closures, either individually or as a package. And as before, many of them wore brightly colored Tshirts with their respective schools’ names, with large contingents representing Austin Parkway and Sugar Mill Elementary, Many of the speakers, including students, spoke about how they feared they would lose a sense of community if their respective schools were closed and they had to move to other schools. Several speakers demanded that the board vote on each proposed closure separately, not as part of a package.

Before voting on the items began, Smith gave remarks repeating much of what he has said in previous meetings, stating that the district faces a host of enrollment challenges, including declining birthrates within its boundaries and mounting competition from charter schools and the voucher program enacted last year by the Texas Legislature.

Board President Kristin Tassin, in later remarks, referenced a recent Houston Chronicle story that said Fort Bend ISD had in recent years seen the sharpest enrollment drop among all Houston-area school districts.

Even so, most trustees were visibly emotional about the

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Jury selection began Tuesday morning in the felony money-laundering trial of beleaguered Fort Bend County Judge KP George, who last week lost his bid for the nomination

in the Republican primary for his seat in November’s election.

The trial began after a three-judge panel of the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston on Monday rejected a virtually last-minute appeal by George’s defense attorneys that would have indefinitely postponed the trial.

In the two felony charges, George is accused of tampering with campaign finance reports during his 2018 campaign while moving money between his campaign and personal bank accounts. Prosecutors have said in court filings that they also plan to introduce evidence of other

“extraneous offenses” allegedly committed by George during the trial. In a so-called “writ of mandamus” filed last Friday afternoon, Jared Woodfill, George’s lead attorney,

By Ken Foutain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

One thing was clear from last week’s primary elections in Fort Bend County: voters are eager to be rid of County Judge KP George, who was trounced in a five-candidate race in the Republican primary. But what the overall results in both parties’ elections portend for the county in the November 3 election is still very much up in the air.

The beleaguered George – who was running for the first time as a Republican after switching his party affiliation – would have faced strong headwinds under even the best circumstances. First elected as a Democrat in 2018 and again in 2022, George switched parties last June – after his first indictment on a misdemeanor charge. He maintained that he was making the switch because the Democratic Party no longer matched his own conservative values.

But Fort Bend County Republican had long considered George their primary nemesis, especially during the contentious culture-war and spending issues which arose during the COVID-19 pandemic and the controversial 2022 redistricting of county precinct maps pushed through by a then-new Democratic majority on Commissioners Court.

Once on the GOP side, George joined his two new Republican colleagues on the Court – Andy Meyers and Vincent Morales – to reverse the 2022 redistricting in a rare, mid-decade effort that embroiled the Court for months before finally being approved - along party lines –last November. George was also the lone vote against last year’s county budget – which was voted for even by Meyers, the self-described “taxpayer’s best friend” – citing his own fiscal conservatism.

In the end, those maneuvers were to no avail. In the March 3 Republican primary, George garnered just 8.42% of the 50,860 votes cast, according to still-unofficial results. Former Sugar Land City

Council member Daniel Wong easily took the majority in the fiveperson race, at 54.06%, followed by attorney Daryl Aaron (12.75%), certified public accountant Kenneth Omoruyi (12.52%), and attorney Melissa M. Wilson (12.25%).

Even though he was defeated in the primary, George by law will remain in his role as the county’s chief executive officer and presiding officer of Commissioners Court until January. But that is contingent on the outcome of his criminal case. If found guilty of the the third-degree felony of moneylaundering, George faces automatic removal from office as well as potential imprisonment and a fine.

Wong, in a telephone interview. told the Fort Bend Star that he believes his long career as CEO of his own engineering firm as well as his record in public service on both the Sugar Land City Council and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board put in in good stead for the November election. Since announcing his candidacy last spring, he has run on a platform of eliminating waste in county government and improving efficiency.

George declined to comment for this story.

The Democratic side of the ledger in the race of County Judge is less certain, at least until the May 26 runoff. On March 3, Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy – who was the last of five candidates to file – finished first with 40.42% of the 72,461 votes cast, followed by attorney Rachelle Carter with 18.93%. They were followed by 434th District Judge J. Christian Becerra (17.09%), Houston City College Trustee Cynthia Lenton Gray (15.97%), and political consultant Eddie Sajjad (7.59%).

McCoy, a young, progressive Democrat, has gained a reputation as something of a lightning rod since defeating his Precinct 4 predecessor, Ken DeMerchant, in the Democratic primary in 2022, winning election that November. True to his progressive roots, in his time in office and in his campaign

he has stressed affordability and equal access to services among the county’s residents. He was instrumental in the creation of the new African-American Memorial and the future Black Cowboys Museum in Kendleton, a predominantly Black community.

McCoy was also the most vocal opponent on Commissioners Court on last year’s Republicanled redistricting effort, a fight he ultimately lost.

But McCoy has also faced harsh criticism from some of his Precinct 4 constituents who say he not paid enough attention to critical infrastructure and other issues in his own precinct.

Still, McCoy, who was the last among the five Democrats to file for for the race (which he told the Star in an interview was because of legally mandated dates involving when he would leave his present office), ran perhaps the most aggressive campaign, with splashy online videos and other messaging. Becerra, who was the first to file early in 2025, acknowledged to the Star that McCoy’s campaign operation was highly professional, while he had to step in his own campaign because of some family and health issues.

McCoy told the Star that the much-higher turnout of Democratic voters over Republican voters in the primary, which was seen both in Fort Bend County and statewide, signaled that residents are eager to see a change from what he called the “status quo.” He noted that whether he or Carter wins the Democratic nomination in May, the next Fort Bend County Judge

will be of a background different from anyone who previously served in that that office. (Carter, his runoff opponent, like McCoy is Black, while Wong, the Republican nominee, is Chinese-American. George, who is Indian-American, is the first member of a minority group ever to serve as County Judge.)

An effort by the Star to reach Carter for comment was unsuccessful.

Chase Wilson, Fort Bend County’s newly installed elections administrator, told the Star that this year’s primary voting turnout was the county’s largest in history, surpassing even the highly charged election year of 2020, which included a Presidential election. Wilson said there were likely many reasons for that, including the high-profile primaries in both parties of U.S. Senator and national issues such as continuing economic uncertainty and perhaps even the recently launched war on Iran. Wilson said that while turnout was extremely high, there were very few reported instances of problems at the county’s polls. He said he expected that would be true also during the May runoff, in which all of the polling will be open to voters across the county, regardless of precinct.

After that, it’s a long way to November. With turbulence both at home and abroad, as well as the traditional challenges of a ruling party in an off-year election, many political pundits see the 2026 midterms as as potential “Blue wave” election, which could have downstream effects at the local level. Only time will tell.

GHP: Regional economy growing faster than peer metros

Staff Reports

Editor’s note: In its

“Economy at a Glance” report for March, the Greater Houston Partnership – the regional chamber of commerce – takes an in-depth look at Houston’s Gross Domestic Product – its broadest measure of economic output. Using newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Partnership examines the forces that have made Houston one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation. This issue also highlights the growing number of business announcements in 2025, as companies invest and expand across the region.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) typically releases Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates each December detailing the total dollar value of goods and services produced by U.S. metro areas in the prior year. While BEA discontinued its metrolevel estimates in 2025, it continues to publish countylevel data. Using those county figures, the Partnership has produced GDP estimates for the broader Houston metro area in 2024. Although calculation methods have changed, analysis should not be materially affected.

Metro Houston’s GDP reached $758.3 billion in 2024, surpassing three-quarters of a trillion dollars in real (inflation-adjusted) terms for the first time on record. That milestone caps off several years of exceptional growth, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expansion was modest coming out of the fracking bust a decade ago, with real GDP averaging a 1.5 percent annual growth rate in the back half of the 2010s. Growth accelerated sharply after the pandemic, av-

eraging 5.1 percent annually during the past four years. While expansion has cooled a bit, GDP still rose 4.1 percent in 2024, well above the national rate of 2.8 percent. Houston’s economy is not just growing faster than the nation on average; it is also growing faster than nearly all its peer metros. Over the previous two years of available data, Houston’s real GDP grew by 10.6 percent from a baseline of $685.6 billion in 2022. That ranks second among the top 20 largest metro economies, just behind Seattle’s 10.7 percent gain. In absolute terms, Houston added $72.6 billion in output during that time, also second, trailing only New York’s $77.7 billion increase.

That rapid pace of growth has lifted Houston to become the sixth-largest metro economy in the nation. Houston moved ahead of Washington, D.C. in 2024, producing $9.1 billion more in economic output than the nation’s capital.

Houston is now one of only six U.S. metros with annual output exceeding three-quarters of a trillion dollars. Of the five ranked higher, four (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas) benefit from larger populations, while one (San Francisco) is boosted by the nation’s largest concentration of tech firms.

GDP by industry

Five sectors – manufacturing, professional services, real estate, government, and health care/education – were leading economic engines. Together, they generated over half of the region’s economic output in 2024. The BEA withheld regional wholesale trade data for the year, but past trends indicate it was also likely a major contributor.

Manufacturing and professional services are clear areas of competitive strength. Each generated more than $100 billion in output in 2024, making them Houston’s two largest sectors. Both command a larger share of the local economy than they do nationally. Manufacturing stands out in particular, representing 16.7 percent of Houston’s total output compared to 9.8 percent for the nation. Real estate, government, and health care/ education remain essential pillars of the regional economy, but they comprise smaller shares of output relative to the national averages.

While Houston remains the energy capital of the world, its economy has greatly diversified since the Fracking Bust of 2014. But measuring that shift is difficult since industry categories used by BEA don’t neatly align with the broad “energy” sector. Energy activity is spread across many industries, including manufacturing (e.g., petroleum refining), transportation/ warehousing (e.g., pipelines), and professional services (e.g., engineering services).

The closest proxy available is oil and gas extraction (also called “mining” in the BEA data), which reflects only the narrow slice of firms directly involved in pulling resources from the ground. That narrow sector’s share of GDP has fallen by more than half, from 7.7 percent in ’2014 to 3.8 percent in 2024, even while its output has grown, underscoring Houston’s diversification and the faster pace of growth in non-energy sectors. Find the full “Economy at a Glance” report at houston. org/houston-data/economyat-a-glance-march-2026.

Liam and Olivia. I have known several Olivias over the years, but I’ve never met a Liam, yet they are the two top names for new girl and boy babies in Texas. Liam was the most popular baby name for the seventh year in a row last year and Olivia reclaimed the top spot after being surpassed by Emma the year before. For girls the next most popular names in Texas are the runner-up Emma, Mia and Camila. For boys the next most popular are Noah, Mateo and Santiago. We have a lot of pretty names for our new Texans: Maeve, Aurelia and Lainey. For boys: Sebastian, Maverick (number 61) and Thiago.

Texas has approximately 373,000 annual births and – surprise – we don’t always follow the national trend. (The most popular babies’ names in both Washington State and Oregon are Olivia and Oliver, for some reason.) Probably in few other states do you find newborns named Travis, Houston or Austin. (Jasmine Crockett doesn’t

EDITORIAL Name that change

count.) The old expression is “Every Tom, Dick and Harry is named John.” Not in Texas. It ranks 25 th in new babies’ names. A lot of folks around here are called Tex, but I dealt with a man whose first name was Texas. He was from the Czech Republic and said others found his first name unpronounceable. He loved this place so he had his name legally changed to Texas. We also like double names: Emma Sue, Joe Bob. My sister is Nancy Jane. From the South, Texans sometimes give a baby boy his mother’s maiden name. I knew a boy called Smitty. His mother was a Smith. In my own family we had Confederate Gen. Turner Ashby. His mother was a Turner. Unfortunately

Turner was shot dead by a Yankee probably named Olaf or Ivan.

Since Tejanos are now the largest single ethnic bloc of Texans, some of our most popular names reflect this. So among our most popular boys names in Texas include Luis, Juan, Carlos, Jesus, Diego, and Emiliano. Our top girls’ names include Isabella, Luna and Maria. Texas parents especially love longer girls’ names ending in -a, including Catalina, Ximena, Valeria, Regina, Aitana and Natalia. I don’t know if Genesis (number 24) is male or female, but we will not get into which bathroom Genesis uses The Blacks have some quite beautiful names. Among the most popular are Kehlani, Aaliyah and Nevaeh for girls. For boys: Kairo, Amare and Jaxon.

Incidentally, how do we know which and how many newborns are named what? Oddly enough we get this info from the Social Security Administration which releases the popular baby names each year, based on statistics from the previous calendar year. This year’s list may be a little late since Elon Musk

and DOGE fired most of its staff, but Thiago and Ximena are doing the best they can. Celebrities give their kids some different names: Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost named their son Cosmo. Sonny Bono and Cher named their child Chaz, short for Chasity. Elon Musk has children named X Æ A-12 and Exa Dark Sideræl. Here’s one to consider: Circleville, Ohio, is a town built by Hitlers. (No kin.) They have had several residents name Hitler -- men like George Washington Hitler and his son, Dr. Gay Hitler. I would think they might have changed their name to something less foreboding like Mussolini or ICE. Where did you get your name? Maybe from your father or mother. I was named Lynn for my uncle and his father, my grandfather, who was, in turn, etc, etc. In the South it is a male name, not so up north. I have been called Lenny, Leonard and some I can’t mention. It can cause confusion, but in high school I was assigned a Hi Lite Big Sister. I didn’t correct the mistake.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any

other name would smell as sweet.” The phrase originates from William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet,” where Juliet states her love for Romeo despite the feud between their families. Juliet is saying that Romeo’s family name, Montague, does not define who he is or diminish her love for him. Shakespeare used this line to out that names are arbitrary labels and do not change the qualities of a person or a rose. Today we don’t put much thought into what a name actually means. Liam. for instance, is an Irish version for William. Olivia symbolizing peace, wisdom, and fertility and derives from the Latin word oliva, meaning “olive” or “olive tree.” Try expressing your feelings with, “I do love you, Olive Tree.” Kennedy means “misshapen head”, while Cameron means “crooked nose” and Calvin means “bald.” Elon does not mean “arrogant jerk.” It means oak tree. Maverick was named for unbranded cattle.

Years ago a lot of Americans were named for Biblical personages, mainly because the Bible was the only book in the cabin. So among my ancestors

there were Isaac, Obediah and Hezekiah. For generations we had lots and lots of Nimrods and one Ulysses Ottawa. This last one was my other grandfather. OK, Ulysses Ottawa is a perfectly good name for a graying old man, but can you imagine saddling a brand-new baby with that handle? “Go to sleep, hush-aby, little Ulysses Ottawa.” He was called Ott. We were a very poor family so when a newborn male came along we could only afford one name. One of my brothers was named Christopher for an ancestor, Christopher Columbus Ashby. At the time my brother was the only one in the family named Christopher. I named my first son for my brother. Then he named his son Christopher. This is going to cause some future family researcher all sorts of problems. One day my mother, wife and sister-in-law were all standing in our kitchen when the phone rang. “May I speak to Mrs. Ashby?” the caller asked. “Which one?” The caller replied, “Christopher’s mother.” They all were.

Ashby means brilliant at ashby2@comcast.net

Picture this. At the end of an exhausting day of work, your eyes scan the kitchen and lock on the leftover donuts from breakfast. You’re supposed to be on a diet, but at this point, it doesn’t matter -- you need something pleasant to relieve the day’s stress. Sound familiar? Many consider eating healthy a matter of discipline, but the numerous decisions we make each day can fatigue our resolve, leading to more impulsive and potentially unhealthy eating choices. When willpower weakens, our food environment can unconsciously influence the eating decisions we make. By creating spaces that “nudge” you towards healthy decision-making, you can set yourself up for success when “mind over matter” fails.

ing options while increasing the effort required to eat something less-healthy can promote better eating decisions.

• Prepare portioned, cut fruit for snacking.

• Place unhealthy treats on a high shelf that would require additional steps, such as using a stepstool, to access.

• Increase the inaccessibility of less-healthy options, such as blending your own juice instead of purchasing it from the supermarket.

• Place a pitcher of water in the middle of the meal table to promote hydration.

• Plan weekday meals over the weekend to avoid decision fatigue during the busy work week.

Food Ambiance

nomenon the next time you’re with family or friends.

• Release comforting, nonfood fragrances, such as pine tree scents, between meals to decrease appetite.

• Move screens away from your eating environment. Looking at your food while eating forces you to slow down, promoting feelings of satiety.

Food Visual Cues Humans are visual creatures, yet our visual judgments are often flawed. A study by Wansink & van Ittersum (2005) found that experienced bartenders poured 20% more alcohol into short, wide glasses compared to slender ones. Below are visual tricks you can try to ensure your environment works against, rather than for, unhealthy cravings.

Community Reports

The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra invites audiences to experience the fire and soul of Argentina at its "Tango!" concert on Sunday, March 15 at 2 p.m. at the Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Rd, Stafford. The program showcases the rich musical heritage of Latin America, from sweeping orchestral works to the unforgettable passion of the tango.

Leading the orchestra is celebrated guest conductor Martín García León, the first orchestra conductor from Patagonia, Argentina. Born in General Roca, Río Negro, García León began his piano studies at age 14 before moving to Buenos Aires to study orchestral conducting. He went on to make history as the first Argentine conductor of the Saint Petersburg Symphony under the mentorship of Alexander Polyanichko. His international career has taken him to stages in Vietnam, the Czech Republic, and across South America, and he currently holds a Master's degree from the University of Houston. García León brings an authentic and deeply per-

• Store unhealthy snacks in opaque storage containers and keep them in inconspicuous areas.

sonal connection to the Latin American repertoire on this program.

The concert also marks a milestone for Carl Rubly, the recipient of this year's Marielle Ogletree Young Artist Concerto Award. The 14-year-old Houston pianist will perform Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 – a technically demanding and inventive work that showcases both the soloist's virtuosity and the orchestra's dramatic power. Rubly, a student of John and Nancy Weems, has earned top honors at prestigious competitions including the 2025 Texas Music Teachers' Association competition, the Baylor/Waco Piano Competition, and has performed at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall.

• Store vegetables and fruits at eye level.

• Switching to smaller tableware containers and plates may decrease overeating.

• Plates with wide, colored rims that contrast against food may trick your brain into thinking it’s eating larger portions than it actually is.

• Tidy up your kitchen and family eating areas to encour-

age home cooking.

• Store away leftovers immediately after meals to avoid more eating cues.

Food Accessibility

The effort required to access foods in your environment can shape the unconscious decision-making that drives eating behavior. Improving the accessibility of healthy snack-

The experience of eating extends far beyond just the palatability of food. The presence or absence of odors, people, sounds, and lighting can also impact eating behavior. Consider these ways to modify your eating ambiance.

• Eating with larger groups of people may lead to more consumption compared to eating alone. Be mindful of this phe-

• Maintain a peaceful auditory environment, as loud sounds and any kind of music may increase eating. While the above strategies are individually useful, combining these approaches with other lifestyle changes and medically recommended interventions multiplies their effectiveness. No matter which strategies you adopt, we applaud you for taking steps to seek better health and a better you.

Editor’s note: The authors are students at the Baylor College of Medicine in the Texas Medical Center. Dr. Arindam Sarkar served as the senior author for this article. This column is for informational purposes only. Always consult a physician for medical advice.

The program opens with a new arrangement of the folk song "Dona Ubensa", and Moncayo's beloved "Huapango", a festive showpiece that has become a Latin American concert hall favorite. Gianneo's lively "Obertura para una comedia infantil" follows, setting the stage with the wit and energy of Argentine orchestral writing. The first half culminates in the "Suite del Ballet Estancia by Ginastera" – a pulsating, rhythmically fierce work rooted in Argentine folk tradition. The second half turns to the unmistakable sound of the tango. Audiences will hear Troilo's "Barrio de Tango", Canaro's "Se dice de mi", Gardel's "Adios Muchachos", and Sebastian Piana's "Milonga Sentimental". The program closes with two works by the

renowned Astor Piazzolla –"La Soledad de Maria" and the iconic "Canto de Octubre" – rounding out an evening that celebrates the full emotional spectrum of Argentine music.

The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1992, and the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra Chorus, founded in 2016, enrich the lives of Fort Bend residents and the

surrounding areas with live symphonic and vocal music presented by its volunteer members, ranging in ages from high school students to senior adults.

The full-size orchestra, complete with brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion, and the accompanying chorus, represent an abundant crosssection of local talent, most of who reside in the Fort Bend area. FBSO also fosters local musicians through sponsorship of an annual Concerto Competition and opportunities to perform with the Orchestra. More details about the concert are available at fbso.org. Tickets are available at the box office and online at tinyurl. com/FBSOTango26.

same families.

While the administration packed the boundary changes including closures into two broad items, Position 1Trustee Angie Hanan – after some back-and-forth with Tassin and the board attorney – made amendments to pull each of the seven schools out as separate items to be voted on individually. All but two of those motions – those for Austin Parkway and Sugar Mill elementaries, both in Sugar Land - failed to achieve a second.

The later vote to keep Austin Parkway open failed 4-3, with Hanan, Position 2 Trustee Adam Schoof, and Position 7 Trustee Angie Wierzbicki voting for. (Schoof, who is

one of two candidates vying in the Republican primary runoff for Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner, arrived at the meeting about an hour after it began, missing the vote on the Coleman Middle School boundary plan.)

The later vote to close Sugar Mill Elementary passed 43, with Hanan, Wierzbicki, and Position 3 Trustee Afshi Charania voting against. When the votes came on the closures of the remaining schools in both packages, both passed narrowly. Initially, the vote on the northwest/central school closures seemed to have failed. That caused a brief stir of relief among many in the audience until Charania siad she did not vote as she intended. A motion to reconsider the vote passed 6-1 (with Schoof

Fort

GEORGE FROM PAGE 1 sought for the higher court to overrule 458th District Judge Maggie Perez-Jaramillo’s earlier ruling denying the defense’s request for an evidentiary hearing on their allegations that District Attorney Brian Middleton had engaged in prosecutorial misconduct in the George investigation and was himself the subject of a “criminal investigation.”

The lengthy writ largely reiterated arguments the defense team has made in previous motions and hearings alleging that Middleton, a Democrat, initiated the prosecution of George, who was a Democrat but last June switched his affiliation to Republican, out of personal and political animus.

The attorneys also alleged that Middleton was aware and and even a beneficiary of the purported “fake hate” social media scheme allegedly conducted by Taral Patel, George’s former chief of staff, during his 2018 campaign.

Perez-Jaramillo twice rejected the defense team’s motions to disqualify Middleton and his office from the case.

In his own response, also filed Friday, special prosecutor Brian Wice - hired last fall by the district attorney’s office to lead the prosecution - said thoe writ was frivolous and even potentially unethical in its allegations against Middleton.

In his own response, also filed Friday, special prosecutor Brian Wice - hired last fall by the district attorney’s office to lead the prosecution - said thoe writ was frivolous and even potentially unethical in its allegations against Middleton.

In the “per curium” ruling (that is, by the full court), the panel wrote: “Relator Kyle Prasad George filed a petition for writ of mandamus, asking this court to compel the trial court to conduct an evidentiary hearing on relator’s motion to disqualify the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office. Relator has not demonstrated entitlement to mandamus relief. As such, we deny relator’s petition for writ of mandamus.”

In his own response, also

dissenting), with the measure passing on a second vote. In a long discourse before the last vote, Hanan said she realized that everyone involved in the decision - including ad-

ministration staff, members of the School Board Advisory Committee, and trustees themselves - had worked hard wrestling with a very weighty, emotional issue. But she said

she would hold Smith and his administration accountable for making sure that all of students impacted by the closures and consolidations, many of whom have special

needs, feel welcomed in their new schools. Information on the boundary changes can be viewed at fortbendisd.com/ attendanceboundaries.

Sugar Land launches Innovation Fund to attract startups

Community Reports

The City of Sugar Land recently launched the Sugar Land Starts Innovation Fund, a new economic development initiative designed to attract and incentivize high-growth, revenue-generating startups to relocate to Sugar Land.

the

filed Friday, special prosecutor Brian Wice - hired last fall by the district attorney’s office to lead the prosecution - said thoe writ was frivolous and even potentially unethical in its allegations against Middleton.

“We’re gratified but not at all surprised by how quickly the court of appeals summarily rejected this defendant’s 11th hour ploy to avoid answering to a Fort Bend County jury. The defense’s nonsensical character assassination and predictable partisan bluster ends today. The State’s duty to seek justice has been unwavering. The trial starts tomorrow,” Wice said in written statement.

Efforts to reach Woodfill for comment by the Fort Bend Star’s print deadline on Monday were unsuccessful.

Last Tuesday, George - who switched his party afflation after being initially indicted on a misdemeanor charge of misappropriation of identity by an elected official - placed last among five candidates for county judge in the Republican primary for the November election. Businessman and former Sugar Land City Council member Daniel Wong won the nomination.

If convicted of the thirddegree felony, George faces two to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. He would also be eligible for probation. He would also be subject to immediate removal from his office. As things stand now, he would remain in office until January 1.

Separately, George is facing trial on a misdemeanor charge of misrepresentation of identity by a public official stemming from the purported “fake hate” social media scheme conducted with Patel. Patel is expected to be a key prosecution witness in both the felony and misdemeanor trials. The trial in the misdemeanor case is scheduled to begin May 5. From the start of the criminal charges, George has maintained that he is innocent of any wrongdoing, stating that he is the target of a wrongful prosecution. In an interview with KPRC-TV, George initially said he might be open to a plea deal, but later walked that back.

The performance-based, non-equity dilutive grant program targets startups operating within Sugar Land’s key industries, including life sciences, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and business and professional services. The fund aligns with the city’s Strategic Action Plan to stimulate growth for the local economy, create quality jobs, and position Sugar Land as a regional hub for innovation.

“The Sugar Land Starts Innovation Fund is designed to support companies that are ready to grow and make a meaningful, long-term commitment to our community,” Colby Millenbruch, business recruitment manager for the City of Sugar Land, said in a news releease. “By focusing on revenue-generating startups and performance-based incentives, we are creating

a clear pathway for innovative companies to scale while reenergizing existing office space.”

To qualify, companies must be revenue-generating and demonstrate at least $250,000 in generated revenue or $500,000 in institutional backing from a bank or venture capital firm. Participating startups must commit to relocating a minimum of three full-time employees to Sugar Land for at least three years and meet an average annual salary re-

quirement of $61,240. Salary compliance will be verified through Texas Workforce Commission reporting or other approved documentation.

The Sugar Land Starts Innovation Fund builds on Sugar Land’s momentum following the launch of the Plug and Play partnership. Since officially moving to Sugar Land in March 2025, Plug and Play Sugar Land has supported 22 startups through its inaugural accelerator program, raising $6.5 million in capital. The initia-

tive facilitated nearly 200 introductions with corporate partners, investors, and mentors and hosted 143 events both virtually and in Sugar Land. By the end of the first year, three startups secured investments, reinforcing Sugar Land’s growing role as a destination for innovation and entrepreneurial growth.

“This investment is about more than technology. It’s about creating an environment where innovation can take root, grow, and deliver lasting value for the Sugar Land community,” David Steele, Director of Texas at Plug and Play, said in the release. “Sugar Land is setting itself apart by taking a long-term view, investing in founders, partnerships, and technologies that will define the next chapter of growth. We’re proud to partner with the city in building an innovation ecosystem that benefits both entrepreneurs and the broader community.” For more information about the Sugar Land Starts Innovation Fund and detailed requirements for eligibility, visit https://sugarlandecodev.com/do-business/ innovation-and-startups.

Lunar New Year at the George

That’s

Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@fortbendstar.com FOR NON- PROFIT EVENTS

FORT BEND COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

VEGETABLE/HERB PLANT SALE

Fort Bend County Master Gardeners will host their spring Vegetable/Herb Plant Sale on Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to noon or sold out at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road in Rosenberg. Preparing for the sale in the greenhouse are Robyn Partridge of Richmond and interns Nina Williams and Judy Carley, both of Sugar Land. The sale will feature 15 varieties of tomatoes from large to cherry and 15 varieties of peppers from hot to bell and banana. Other vegetable plants include eggplant, moringa and Swiss chard. Herb plants include basil, cilantro, parsley and thyme.

ONGOING

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES AT GPBC

In conjunction with the Literacy Council of Fort Bend Bend County, Grand Parkway Baptist Church will offer ESL classes on Tuesday nights from mid-August 2025 through May 2026. We are located at 12000 FM 1464, Richmond, across from Austin High School. Our students speak several languages and encompass many faiths, all are welcome. For more information call 281-277-2200 and ask for ESL information. You may also email ESL@grandparkway.org

EMMY-NOMINATED FORT BEND BOYS CHOIR HOLDING AUDITIONS

The Fort Bend Boys Choir is seeking talented young boys who like music and singing. If know of one, encourage him to audition for our award-winning and Emmy-Nominated Fort Bend Boys Choir! No experience is necessary and boys should be around eight years of age or older with an unchanged voice.

Auditions are by special appointment at the First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City, TX. Visit the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s webpage at www.fbbctx.org or call (281) 240-3800 for more details about auditions. Benefits as a choir member include greater self-esteem and selfconfidence, better work ethic and a sense of belonging and community. A boy’s voice has an expiration date so it is important to audition when boys’ voices are still unchanged. Auditions are free!

AMERICAN

LEGION POST 942

311 Ulrich Street, Sugar Land meets the fourth Tuesday of each Month at 7:00 pm. All Veterans are welcome.

LOVING FRIENDS IS A GROUP OF WOMEN AND MEN WHO ARE WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS THAT MEET MONTHLY FOR LUNCH, FRIENDSHIP, AND SOCIALIZATION

Lunches. are planned for the fourth Tuesday of the month at various local restaurants. Please contact Bobbie Tomlin at {281} 967-0718

For more information about us and to learn about this month’s planned lunch. We hope to meet you soon.

QUAIL VALLEY GARDEN CLUB

The Quail Valley Garden Club is very busy, not only with meetings, but with some fun “stuff” for our members and the community. Please find our fall schedule of events that the QVGC will be involved with this fall leading up to the holidays.

FBJSL IS ACCEPTING CAF GRANT APPLICATIONS

We provide grants of up to $5,000.00 to charitable causes serving Fort Bend County with requests to fund a critical need, pilot a program, or expand a significant service to the community. If your agency or organization is interested in applying for a CAF grant, please visit the Request Support page of the FBJSL website (www.fbjsl.org/request-support). All applications should be submitted via e-mail to brccom@fbjsl.com.

THE SANCTUARY FOSTER CARE SERVICES

We are a child placing agency that provides wrap around care support for foster children and foster families. We provide free therapy services, 24 hr. crisis intervention, respite/alternative care services and community-based support. For more info, www.sanctuaryfostercare.org

ALIEF AARP CHAPTER 3264

Meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. at Salvation Army Church, 7920 Cook Road, Houston, TX 77072. Educational Program/Entertainment at each meeting. Bus Trips every month. Seniors 50 and above invited. Call 281785-7372 for more information.

SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB

Sugar Land Rotary Club, the nation’s oldest community service organization, wants you to be its guest at a meeting that could turn out to be the best fit for getting involved with a local, non-political, humanitarian service organization with a global presence to satisfy your passion. We’re on a quest for new members! Call or email Dean Clark, 832-987-4193, sugarlandrotaryclub5890@gmail.com We just started

Edible Earth Fest set for March 14

The City of Missouri City and Missouri City Green are hosting its annual Edible Earth Fest on Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m.-noon at Oyster Creek Trail. Attendees can pick up a free reusable grocery bag and fill it with fruits, plants and fun giveaways while exploring interactive environmental learning stations throughout the festival. The free event will fruit-themed activities and crafts for all ages, ambassador birds from the Houston SPCA Wildlife Center, and way for residents to care for the environment. Attendees can also enjoy the Edible Arbor Trail, where nature, education, and community come together in a truly unique experience. Free parking is available near the YMCA building, 4433 Cartwright Road. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Missouri City, HE-B, and Nature's Way Resources. For more information, visit missouricitygreen.org/upcoming-events.html.

FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB

Meets on the 4th Sunday of every month from 2:pm - 4:pm at:

GIVE