The 3-18-2026 Edition of The Fort Bend Star

Community Reports

Justine Carranza’s path to Texas State Technical College began in the horse stalls of Wharton.

As a child, Carranza spent time with her sister repairing fences and training horses for show competitions. That led her to think about building her own custom horse trailers.

“My sister and I immersed ourselves in the ranching lifestyle,” she said in a TSTC news release. “As I grew older, I realized I needed to learn how to weld in order to customize my own horse trailers.”

Before the welding torch became her primary tool, Carranza honed her craft through other forms of fabrication.

“After I became a wife and mother of three, I did woodwork and made my own tables,” she said. “I customized, refurbished and varnished them.”

When Carranza and her family moved to Rosenberg, her goal of pursuing welding came full circle. She discovered that TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus offered an associate degree in welding.

“The timing was right,” she said. “My children reached an age where they became self-sufficient. It was time to do something for myself. I was driven by a goal to master the fabrication skills necessary to build and repair my own trailers.”

Now in her second semester, Carranza has already learned the proper techniques of a challenging weld.

“Overhead welding can be difficult because it involves working against gravity,” she said.

“Gravity pulls the molten weld pool downward and causes it to drop. I had to learn different techniques to make sure it penetrates every few millimeters.” Russell Bradshaw, a TSTC Welding instructor, said Carranza’s

Staff Reports

The regional housing market is gaining momentum as we approach the spring homebuying season. In February, there was a slight dip in home sales while inventory and buyer activity increased in the region.

According to the Houston Association of Realtors' February 2026 Housing Market Update, single-family home sales declined 2.2% year over year, with 5,918 homes sold compared to 6,050 last year. Despite the slight dip in closings, pending sales rose 13.0%, signaling continued buyer interest enhanced by falling interest rates now for eight consecutive months.

Home prices hit their lowest level in two years. The average home price

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A certified fraud investigator with the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office spent the entire day Monday laying out the prosecution’s case against County Judge KP George, testifying that she uncovered a “pattern” of transactions showing that he consistently moved money from his campaign bank account to personal accounts over a period of years, particularly when he seemed to be under financial pressure. In his cross-examination, however, George’s lead de-

fense attorney pounced on investigator Betty Chi’s testimony that she began looking into George’s finances on her own initiative after she heard news reports about George’s legal troubles. She brought what she called her “concerns” to her then-supervisor, who then asked her to conduct a full, official investigation.

Chi was the sixth prosecution witness to testify in George’s felony money-laundering trial, which began last week with two days of jury selection before going into testimony on Thursday and Friday. By the end of Monday,

the Fort Bend Star’s print deadline, it was unknown when prosecutors might rest their case, although they indicated they would be calling at least one more witness.

Also unknown Monday was how long the defense might take to present its case, or if George would take the stand. Under the U.S. Constitution, George has no obligation to testify on his own behalf.

One person who is expected to testify, under subpoena from the defense,

rose 2.0% to $415,091, while the median price declined 0.9% to $322,078.

At the same time, 30-year residential

mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in more than 40 months, with the two combining for lower year-over-year mortgage payments in 16 of the past 19 months, resulting in improved affordability. Compared to a year ago, Houston single-family homebuyers in February 2026 had a monthly principal and interest payment that was $149 less than February 2025 – an annual savings of $1,786 assuming a 20% down payment on the median-priced home.

Homes also spent more time on the market. The average Days on Market reached 69 days, which is the highest level since March 2013 when it was 74 days. Sales slowed in the $250,000 to

$499,999 price range, which accounted for more than half of all homes sold in February. All other price segments posted sales growth.

“ The Houston market continues to show signs of balance,” said HAR Chair Theresa Hill with Compass RE Texas, LLC - Houston. “ Buyer interest remains strong, and the increase in showings and pending sales tells us the spring market is already beginning to take shape.”

Housing Market Overview

Sales of all property types across the Greater Houston area declined 3.3% year over year in February, with 7,024 properties sold. Total dollar volume was $2.8

billion, which is 1.7% below last year’s level.The number of active listings of all properties rose 14.3%, with 55,710 available properties.

Single-Family Homes Update

The Houston housing market recorded fewer closings in February compared to last year, with sales down 2.2%. Buyers purchased 5,918 homes during the month versus 6,050 in 2025.

While the U.S. housing sales market struggles to return to pre-pandemic levels, the number of single-family sales in Houston has returned to normal. U.S. existing home sales have plunged 24.8% for the 12 months ending January 2026 compared to January 2020. Home sales, however, are back to pre-pandemic levels in the 12 months ending February 2026.

“ If you are waiting for the Houston housing market to bottom, it already did several years ago and is back to normal levels,” said HAR Chief Economist Dr. Ted C. Jones.

The median price declined 0.9% to $322,078, while the average price increased 2.0% to $415,091. The average price per square foot was down slightly to $170, the lowest level since January 2024, when it was $169.

Active listings of singlefamily homes rose 15.2% from a year earlier to 35,128 available properties. Housing

supply grew to 4.8 months of inventory, up from 4.3 months last February. The National Association of Realtors reports a national average of 3.7 months.

Broken out by housing segments, single-family home sales performed as follows:

• $1 - $99,999: increased 36.6% (97 transactions)

• $100,000 - $149,999: increased 23.6% (183 transactions)

• $150,000 - $249,999: increased 12.2% (1,263 transactions)

• $250,000 - $499,999: decreased 9.9% (3,192 transactions)

• $500,000 - $999,999: statistically flat (938 transactions)

• $1M and above: increased 9.5% (241 transactions)

HAR also breaks out sales figures for existing singlefamily homes. In February, sales rose 5.0% year-over-year, with 4,019 closings compared to 3,826 a year ago. The average price edged up by 0.6% to $421,772, while the median price declined 1.5% to $320,000.

Townhome/ Condominium Update

Example B

average price declined 3.5% to $276,835.

Inventory levels continued to expand, reaching an 8.1-months supply compared to 6.1 months a year earlier.

Houston Real Estate Highlights in February

• Single-family home sales declined 2.2% year-over-year.

• Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes went from 60 to 69 days.

• The single-family median price declined 0.9% to $322,078.

• The single-family average price rose 2.0% to $415,091.

• Single-family home months of inventory expanded to a 4.8-months supply, up from 4.3 months a year ago.

• Townhome and condominium sales were down 7.4% with 299 units sold. The median price declined 3.4% to $240,500, and the average price was down 3.5% to $276,835.

• Total property sales declined 3.3% with 7,024 units sold.

• Total dollar volume was down 1.7% to $2.8 billion.

Publication Elsewhere in the Newspaper:

The townhome and condominium market also experienced a slowdown in February. Sales declined 7.4% year-over-year, with 299 units sold compared to 323 during the same time last year. Pricing softened, with the median price down 3.4% to $240,500, while the

Editor's note: The HAR report, lightly edited, is used by permission. Find the full report at har.com/ content/department/ mls?y=2026&m=03.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:

PowerSecure, Inc., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for renewal of Air Quality Permit No. 130515, which would authorize continued operation of a Oakbend Medical Center Williams Way Campus located at 22003 Southwest Freeway, Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas 77469. Additional information concerning this application is contained in the public notice section of this newspaper.

From diagnosis to treatment to recovery, your dedicated Houston Methodist cancer center team uses leading research, cutting-edge technology and the latest treatments to create a personalized care plan for you. At eight cancer center locations throughout the Greater Houston area, you’ll find the cancer expertise to help you feel whole again.

That’s the difference between

and

Keep voting, and voting, and etc.

HE VOTING

TSTAND

– That’s me on Election Day. I didn’t plan on being there because I had applied for Early Voting due to the fact that I was still suffering from an old war wound (not really). My application was rejected because, the County Voting Czar said, I had not signed the form. Of course I had signed it. I sign autographs all the time. But the Czar sent me a new form which had to be filled out and returned by February 20. I received it on – one guess – February 20. Do you ever get the idea that some officials really don’t want us to vote? So here I am, making my way through the barbed wire, the watch towers and tip-toeing over the land mines to vote.

On my way out I see two sheets of paper taped to the front doors listing how many voters had cast their ballots in the two party primaries. It was the Dems over the GOPers two to one. Odd. This is elephant land. George and Barbara

Lynn Ashby Columnist

ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET

Bush lived only a few blocks away. Then there is our annual Running of the Democrats. “Trump for Sainthood” bumper stickers. Only later do I discover that my precinct is not alone. Statewide the Democrat primaries had 2,252,511 to the Republicans’ 2,141,992. So almost 4.5 million votes were cast in the two primaries combined, topping any previous primary in a midterm election in Texas history. For the Dems it was not exactly a landslide, but for the first time in a generation it appears they have outpaced Republicans in turnout for a midterm primary. We did see a few results that made the primaries interesting. Some polls put Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton over Sen. John

Cornyn for the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, but Big John came out ahead. State Rep. and aspiring Presbyterian preacher James Talarico beat U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the Dems nominee for the U.S. Senate. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, the guy with the eyepatch, lost to Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, preacher and pool cleaning company owner, for the GOP nominee for Congress in a hard-core right-wing Congressional district which covers north Harris County, The Woodlands and parts of Montgomery County. There were a few other upsets around the state that we really don’t care about.

Some patterns showed up. The GOP candidates who won did so by claiming they were more Tumpier than their opponents. Did you notice all the TV ads making this point? It was like they wanted to undergo a sex-change operation and have Trump’s child. Speaking of TV ads, these were the most expensive primaries in the nation’s history. Alas, all those millions are going out of state. I can’t find a single TV station in Texas that is owned

TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

EXAMPLE A AMENDED NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION AND INTENT TO OBTAIN AIR PERMIT (NORI) RENEWAL

PERMIT NUMBER 130515

APPLICATION. PowerSecure, Inc., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for renewal of Air Quality Permit Number 130515, which would authorize continued operation of a Oakbend Medical Center Williams Way Campus located at 22003 Southwest Freeway, Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas 77469. AVISO DE IDIOMA ALTERNATIVO. El aviso de idioma alternativo en espanol está disponible en https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/air/newsourcereview/airpermits-pendingpermit-apps. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. https://gisweb.tceq.texas.gov/ LocationMapper/?marker=-95.4148,29.3333&level=13. The existing facility and/or related facilities are authorized to emit the following air contaminants: carbon monoxide, hazardous air pollutants, nitrogen oxides, organic compounds, particulate matter including particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less and 2.5 microns or less and sulfur dioxide.

This application was submitted to the TCEQ on November 20, 2025. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, TCEQ Houston regional office, and the Fort Bend County Courthouse, 401 Jackson Street, Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The facility’s compliance file, if any exists, is available for public review in the Houston regional office of the TCEQ. The application, including any updates, is available electronically at the following webpage: https://www.tceq. texas.gov/permitting/air/airpermitapplications- notices

The executive director has determined the application is administratively complete and will conduct a technical review of the application. In addition to the renewal, this permitting action includes the incorporation of changes in emission factors related to this permit. The reasons for any changes or incorporations, to the extent they are included in the renewed permit, may include the enhancement of operational control at the plant or enforceability of the permit. The TCEQ may act on this application without seeking further public comment or providing an opportunity for a contested case hearing if certain criteria are met.

PUBLIC COMMENT. You may submit public comments to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application and the executive director will prepare a response to those comments. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the TCEQ’s jurisdiction to address in the permit process.

OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED CASE HEARING. You may request a contested case hearing if you are a person who may be affected by emissions of air contaminants from the facility. If requesting a contested case hearing, you must submit the following: (1) your name (or for a group or association, an official representative), mailing address, daytime phone number; (2) applicant’s name and permit number; (3) the statement “[I/we] request a contested case hearing;” (4) a specific description of how you would be adversely affected by the application and air emissions from the facility in a way not common to the general public; (5) the location and distance of your property relative to the facility; (6) a description of how you use the property which may be impacted by the facility; and (7) a list of all disputed issues of fact that you submit during the comment period. If the request is made by a group or association, one or more members who have standing to request a hearing must be identified by name and physical address. The interests the group or association seeks to protect must also be identified. You may also submit your proposed adjustments to the application/permit which would satisfy your concerns.

The deadline to submit a request for a contested case hearing is 15 days after newspaper notice is published. If a request is timely filed, the deadline for requesting a contested case hearing will be extended to 30 days after mailing of the response to comments.

If any requests for a contested case hearing are timely filed, the Executive Director will forward the application and any requests for a contested case hearing to the Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled Commission meeting. Unless the application is directly referred to a contested case hearing, the executive director will mail the response to comments along with notification of Commission meeting to everyone who submitted comments or is on the mailing list for this application. The Commission may only grant a request for a contested case hearing on issues the requestor submitted in their timely comments that were not subsequently withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the subject of a hearing will be limited to disputed issues of fact or mixed questions of fact and law relating to relevant and material air quality concerns submitted during the comment period. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the Commission’s jurisdiction to address in this proceeding.

MAILING LIST. In addition to submitting public comments, you may ask to be placed on a mailing list for this application by sending a request to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. Those on the mailing list will receive copies of future public notices (if any) mailed by the Office of the Chief Clerk for this application.

AGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION. All public comments and requests must be submitted either electronically at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record. For more information about the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Public Education Program, Toll Free, at 1-800-687-4040 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040. You can also view our website for public participation opportunities at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/participation

Further information may also be obtained from PowerSecure, Inc., 4068 Stirrup Creek Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27703-9000 or by calling Mr. Caleb Vickery, Air Permitting Specialist at (919) 420-9359. Amended Notice Issuance Date: February 26, 2026

by Texans. Jeff Bezos owns KPRC. Disney owns KTRK and KHOU is currently owned by Tegna, Inc. They need the money. So do the candidates. As we have noted before, if you want to run for a statewide office in Texas, you need a lot of campaign funds. There are, depending on how you’re counting, 20 media markets in Texas. Since the Metroplex is a bigger (fifth) media market than Houston (10th) it costs more to buy TV ads in Dallas than in Houston. We got a lot of national attention in these races, mainly because we had the most interesting ones. The TV networks daily focused on the Texas primaries. So did major newspapers. Texans don’t seem to hold seedy pasts against our candidates. Ken Paxton springs to mind. But Tony Gonzales, who was seeking a fourth term representing a San Antonio congressional district, faced a House ethics investigations after admitting to having an affair with a staffer, who later died by suicide. He made it to a run-off but then dropped out. Fort Bend County Judge KP George, under legal problems,

finished last in the GOP nominee race. This brings us to run-offs. This last election cycle was only the quarter finals. Next we have the semi-finals: the run-offs, lots and lots of them. Early voting for those contests begins May 18 and ends May 22. Voters who cast a ballot in the GOP primary can only vote in the Republican runoff, and the same is true for Democrats. I already have election fatigue. Who is Taylor Rehmet? He is a Democrat who recently won a special election in the Fort Worth area for the state Senate, flipping a reliably Republican district that President Trump won by 17 points in 2024. Big deal. Who is your state senator? We don’t know because we don’t care. But with all the hoop-la you would have thought the Dems were sweeping the state, or at least that’s the thought. With the huge Dem statewide turnout and Rehmet’s upset, here come the hopeful headlines: “Could this be the year that Texas turns blue?” “Is Texas actually a blue state?” Even The New York Times: “The Perennial Question in Texas:

Is This the Year It Goes Blue?” Texas Monthly brought this “campagne” party back to Earth: “Will Texas turn blue this year? The answer, once the election results are tallied, is always: nope. The list of dashed-hopes candidates continues to grow: Wendy Davis, M. J. Hegar, Beto O’Rourke (twice).”

We need a vibrant, competitive two-party state, but the sad fact is the Texas Democrat Party is leaderless, out-spent, out-promised and out of power. Texas Democrats last won statewide races in 1994. So we have eligible voters who have never lived with a Democratic state office holder. How the mighty have fallen. Not so long ago LBJ ran the U.S. Senate and Sam Rayburn ran the House. Here in Texas, for 120 years Democrats controlled the Texas House – longer than the Communists held power in the Soviet Union or the PRI ran Mexico. James Talarico said in a statement after winning his primary, “We’re about to take back Texas.” Now go tell Texas. Ashby is waiting at ashby2@ comcast.net

Of college applications and student personas

Having committed to my dream university, the whirlwind college application season feels already a world away, though it was not even a month ago that I submitted my last application. The stakes – which I had thought were very high then, 18 applications deep – have mostly mellowed. I remember clearly, however, the strangely dystopian atmosphere that I and many others had found ourselves initially. It was a lot like being stranded on a remote island with only a basic survival manual.

At first glance, the application seemed very practical. I was to submit a 650-word essay, a list of my extracurriculars, some recommendation letters, and a few supplemental essays (the number and prompt varied depending on the college). My mom found me a college consultant to guide me through the process. She had gleaming white teeth, like polished breastplates, and rattled on and on about the long line of students she had gotten admitted into various Ivies. In the beginning, just starting out, I liked the consultant, considered her to be a sort of safety net. Someone to tell me what to do, step-by-step, to guide me out of the hedge maze without me having to think for myself But the longer I listened to her, with her lean toward extremities, the madder the process felt. I got cold feet sliding slowly down the rabbit hole. Besides, how was I to sum up my entire life, my every feat and adolescent decision, in a few measly pages? How could the rest of my life hinge on this? My consultant told me it had to be like this, that the only thing I could do was adapt. That there was in fact an “ideal applicant” that I could stretch and mold myself into. It was not too late, she said, as long as I turned my momentum around and diversified my interests. I had only two months until my first application was due. I did not make my first deadline, opting instead to apply Regular Decision rather than Early Action. It did not matter much, because the only difference was the date

you got back your decision. I still liked my advisor well enough then and enjoyed our practical talks, though I felt we did not see face-to-face at all. It was a lot like having a personal stylist that did your makeup and hair blind, not really knowing the layout of your features, only their own ideal. There is, of course, not really a one-size-fits-all when it comes to the students that colleges are looking for, but I did not realize that then. It’s not too late to reinvent yourself, she said often, but you’ve got to start by creating a nonprofit. I broke with her soon after putting off the nonprofit several times. I did not really want to start one – didn’t find it worth my limited time, though I got as far as advertising with my school district—or pick up a new hobby that made my interests appear more “diverse.” It was during a meeting with some high-up official from my district to propose implementing my nonprofit that I decided things weren’t really working out. I didn’t feel fulfilled, discussing a nonprofit I should have wanted to build but never truly put my heart into, so I hit the brakes. I wanted to do what I was passionate about, to form my own picture of myself without someone (who didn’t really know me at all) hovering over my shoulder, crossing out undeveloped ideas or feeding into a false self image. I was going to be true to myself, because even if my consultant didn’t see it, I knew I had something real and good to offer, and I spent furious nights trying to dig up my own core. I developed and rejected about 50 drafts before I settled down on one personal essay. The same applied to my supplementals, only on a larger scale. Except I don’t think everybody has the luxury of staying true to themselves, much less high school students. The root of the problem, of all these

false personas that students (like myself) take up to appeal to admissions officers, lies a lack of direction. In other words, passion. Students don’t know what they want to do or be, so they go with the next best option: a sustainable career or self-image that they believe colleges like to see. They want the same guarantee that I did, but colleges won’t pick a student trying to stand out the same way the rest of the applicants are. Thousands of nonprofits are started, because community service is an obvious way to signal “excellence” and “leadership” to a college, without a real drive toward longevity or improving the community. There are hundreds of thousands of finance guys saying they want to help the underprivileged and even more computer science majors that try their hand at coding to make the world a better place. It’s hard to stand out. Many students don’t have the time or space to find what they truly love, because sometimes it does take years – years that high school students do not have. So what they do instead is that they create a new self that is more put together, more closely aligned with the “ideal applicant.” So many students do this that the ideal applicant has become a myth. I was only able to crawl out of the fast-moving river, halfregurgitated, because I had my passion to look toward. Most don’t have a north star to guide them. In the end, I don’t think there is a clear solution to the problem, besides to follow your heart and look deep within yourself. There is something inside yourself that you can follow to stand out, but what you do needs to come from inside you. It can’t be solely external, because sincerity does shine through –and it did for me, after six long months of applying to colleges.

Hu is a Clements High School student, class of 2026, and an aspiring journalist and author.

If you are a Fort Bend County high-school-age student (public, private, charter, or homeschool) who might be interested in becoming a Youth Columnist, please send an email to editor@fortbendstar. com.

DREAM FROM PAGE 1

attention to detail is evident in the lab.

“Justine listens to our feedback and applies it,” he said.

“(She) definitely found her spark in stick welding and will have a great future in the industry.”

Carranza views every spark made in the lab, and the prac-

tice she does at home, as a lesson in discipline for her children.

“I know my journey at TSTC will inspire my kids to master their own skills and never give up on their dreams,” she said. “The more they learn, the better.”

For more information about Texas State Technical College, visit tstc.edu.

University Branch Library to host Puzzle Swap on Saturday

Community Reports

Fort Bend County Libraries’ University Branch Library (14010 University Blvd, on the UH campus in Sugar Land) will host Puzzle Fest – including a Puzzle & Game Swap and a Speed-Puzzling Competition -- on Saturday, March 21, from 1-4 p.m., in Meeting Rooms 1 and 2.

The Speed-Puzzling Competition at the Puzzle Fest will take place from 1:30 -3:30 pm. Teams of up to four people will have 2 hours to complete a 500-piece puzzle. The winning team receives a prize. Registration is required for this competition, which is open to all ages. Teams can bring sorting trays and magnifiers for the event if they wish; none will be provided.

is Taral Patel, George’s former chief of staff who purportedly worked with the county judge on a “fake hate” social media scheme during George’s 2022 reelection campaign. Patel, who was himself charged with several felony and misdemeanor crimes, accepted a plea deal last year and is working with prosecutors. Prosecution witnesses Chi and John Bohannon, a financial crimes investigator with the prosecutor’s office, assiduously avoided mentioning the connection between Patel’s case and George’s. The Patel case was the original impetus for the investigation of George. Patel, accompanied by another man, could be seen leaving the Fort Bend County Criminal Justice Center after Monday’s proceedings.

Under direct examination by Assistant District Attorney Charann Thompson, Chi testified that when she began looking at publicly available records in her own investigation of George’s finances, she found that he owned four houses, three of them rental properties and one his family residence. She said she found it unlikely that George, on his public servant’s salary, and his wife, a teacher, could have mustered up the funds to pay the down payments on the properties, including two that were purchased on the same day.

When she brought these concerns to her then supervisor, John Brewer, he told her to begin an active investigation of George’s finances, Chi testified. Bohannon, the other investigator, later initiated a phone interview with James Tinley of the Texas Ethics Commission, in which Chi participated, and asked for his guidance on election law, particularly as it rated to campaign finance reports.

Using copies of campaign finance reports submitted by George in his 2018 and 2022 campaigns, bank records from his campaign checking account and two personal accounts (one a joint checking account and one a personal savings account), and credit and debit account records, Chi pieced together for the 12-man, twowomen jury a picture of George engaging in a continuing process of transferring funds from his campaign account to his personal accounts. George allegedly then used these funds to pay personal expenses, including buying a car, paying property taxes, covering the down payments for houses he had already signed contracts for, and others.

Chi testified that in filling out his campaign finance reports, over a a period of six years, George used a “rollforward transaction” method to disguise the fact that these transfers were being made, which she said appeared to an intentional effort to keep the public from seeing what he was doing.

All the while, Chi testified, George transferred funds that

draw down the amount that George claimed had been the debt his campaign owed him for his own personal loans to the campaign. While there could conceivably be innocent explanations for these transfers, Chi testified, the evidence suggested it was done for fraudulent purposes.

All told, prosecutors allege, George made two transfers totaling $67,500 from his campaign account in 2019 that were used for personal expenses and were not legitimate repayments to himself.

In his often testy crossexamination, lead defense attorney Jared Woodfill immediately keyed on Chi’s testimony that she took it upon herself to begin looking into George’s finances after seeing negative coverage about him in the news media.

He asked her repeatedly why neither she or her colleague had ever looked into the campaign finance reports from George’s earlier campaignsfor County Treasurer, the U.S. House of Representatives (both of which he lost), or his two winning campaigns for the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees. Woodfill asked her if looking at those records would have painted a broader picture of George’s “pattern” of making personal loans to his campaign which he would later repay.

Chi said that while she would have liked to have seen such records, most of them were unavailable because of the record-retention policies of various banks and other financial institutions. She said that if the defense provided those records to her, she would happily look at them.

“Do you mean he (George) has the burden of proof, not the State?” Woodfill exclaimed in one of the afternoon’s most heated exchanges, harkening to another cornerstone tenet of the U.S. judicial system. The defense team has maintained that the prosecution of George is politically motivated.

Woodfill also grilled Chi on whether she knew if a candidate can roll over debt from one campaign to later ones without documenting them on all subsequent campaign finance reports. Chi said she believed candidates are so obligated, as did her colleague Bohannon last week. Tinley, who is now the executive director of the Texas Ethics Commission, testified last week there is no such obligation. If convicted, George faces two to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Before the trial began, George elected to have Perez-Jaramillo, rather than the jury, assess punishment. He would also be eligible for probation. If convicted of the third-degree felony, he would also be subject to immediate removal from office.

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. The trial in the misdemeanor case is scheduled to begin May 5.

PARKING INSTRUCTIONS:

Visitors to the University Branch Library must park inside the gated lot (VISITOR LOT 4). Bring your parking ticket with you inside the

Fort Bend County Libraries recognizes the educational, social, and mental-health benefits of play for all ages and offers a variety of opportunities throughout the library system for individuals to come together to play on a regular basis. Check FBCL’s online calendar for other activities, events, and opportunities for play, from chess to videogaming. Materials for these activities are made possible by the Friends of the University Branch Library. These programs are free and open to the public. For more information, or to register for the Speed-Puzzling Competition, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (fortbendlibraries.gov) or call the University Branch Library (281-633-5100).Fort Bend.

Sheriff’s office investigates crash that

Staff Reports

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office's investigation of a fatal crash that occurred Sunday morning on U.S. Route 90 between Harlem Road and Pitts Road is continuing.

At approximately 9:20 a.m. on Sunday, March 15, deputies responded to reports of a major two-vehicle crash, according to a news release from the office. Upon arrival, three individuals were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of a truck involved in the crash and two passengers from the other vehicle were transported to a local hospital with injuries. As of the Fort Bend Star's print deadline on Monday, the driver of the truck was listed in serious

but stable condition. A deputy is stationed at the hospital while investigators continue working with the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, and charges are expected to be filed. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash, according to the release. There were five occupants in the second vehicle. The deceased victims include:

• An 18-year-old female driver

• A 22-year-old male passenger

• A 44-year-old female passenger

Two additional passengers were transported to the hospital and remain in serious but stable condition:

• A 14-year-old female

• A 4-year-old male

At press time, the identities of the

Eye on Fort Bend Eye on Fort Bend

Hundreds of folks from across Fort Bend County came out on Saturday to Oyster Creek Trail to enjoy spectacular weather and take part in the annual Edible Earth Fest hosted by the City of Missouri Cit and Missouri City Green. Attendees were able to take home fruits and plants while exploring interactive environmental learning stations. The event featured fruit-themed activities and ambassador birds from the

Local Culture Local Culture

the

By Ken Fountain

Some of the best classical music programs are ones that take you completely out of your own world and transport you to another one entirely. That was the case Sunday with the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra presented "Tango!" at the Stafford Centre.

I've long been a fan of Latin American music, so the opportunity to hear a full concert of it in my own backyard was vey welcome. The Fort Bend Symphony, which I've gotten to know only the last few years, has been getting better and better at curating themed programs that make them more than just the usual fare of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.

Sunday's concert featured a range of musical styles hailing from Mexico to South America, with a particular emphasis in the second half on Argentina,

home of the dance form and associated music called tango. The program was so complex, it took three conductors.

Julie Sorenson, the Fort Bend Symphony's new principal conductor making her professional Houston debut, led off the program with "Dona Ubensa" by composer Chaco Echeenrique, which drew from a mixture of folk tunes from Peru, Argentina and Bolivia. I couldn't quite put my finger on why, but the tune to me hardened to the Western-themed music of American composer Aaron Copeland of "Rodeo" fame. Where, there is a lot of ranching in that part of the world. Next up was "Huapango," by José Pablo García, which blended the melodies of three folks songs he encountered in Veracruz, Mexico, said Dominqe Røyem, the ensemble's longtime artistic director, who conducted the piece.

Sorenson returned to the rostrum to conduct "Obertura para una comedia infantil," by Luis Gianneo, which she explained was an overture for a children's comedic piece. Featuring the symphony's percussion, brass and woodwind sections, the piece was lighthearted and fun.

The first half ended with "Suite del Ballet Estancia," by Alberto Ginastera, again conducted by Sorenson. The suite is comprised of three parts which tell the story of a gaucho, or ranch hand, courting a young woman in a rural area and finally winning her in a dancing competition with his colleagues. I'd heard the piece before, perhaps performed by the Houston Symphony, and our own community orchestra did it proud.

After intermission, 14-yeard-old pianist Carl Rubly of Houston took the stage to perform Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev's

Piano Concerto No. 14 with the orchestra backing him. Rubly, who is very tall, is the winner of the 2026 Marielle Ogletree Young Artist Concerto Competition, and it was easy to see why. I must confess when I see young prodigies perform, I feel more than a little pang of envy. When I was 14, the most exposure I'd had to classical music was watching "Loony Tunes" on Saturday morning television.

For the final part of the program, guest composer Martín García León, an Argentinian native, took up the baton to perform a selection of songs all drawn from the tango tradition. As the very charming Leon explained, Argentina is a highly cosmopolitan nation that drew immigrants from many parts of the world, and tango is a musical form comprised of many of those countries' musical traditions.

As León told the audience,

tango interweaves rhythm and melody, with some pieces emphasizing the dance tradition while others are more pure songs. The first piece, "Barrio de Tango" was composed by Anibal Troilo, a woman composer who came from an underprivileged background and helped break the gender barrier in a maledominated form.

The next piece was "Se Dice De Mi," translated as "Farewell, My Friend." León told the audience that one famous singer (I didn't catch the name) performed this song as the last one before getting on a plane that crashed, killing him. León and the symphony ended with two selections from Astor Piazzolla, the composer most associated with tango who was instrumental in bringing the traditional folk tradition into the realm of high art. I've heard a lot of Piazzolla, but didn't know

the two pieces. I always enjoy hearing pieces I've never heard before, so this was a treat. The audience rewarded the musicians and conductors with a very warm ovation. But this leads me to my one quibble with the concert, one which has nothing to do with the music. I would estimate that the Stafford Centre was about half-filled, which is a shame. The symphony's "Deck the Halls" and Fourth of July concerts always draw very large audiences, but others often don't. The Fort Bend community really should do more to embrace its own wonderful community orchestra. The next scheduled performance of the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with the theme "A Joyful Chorus," will be on Sunday, April 18 at First United Methodist Church Missouri City. Learn more at fbso.

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.

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 a new evening club also. Contact me for more info.

Community Reports

As an Official Houston Host City Supporter of FIFA World Cup 2026™, the City of Sugar Land is preparing for its biggest International Art & Kite Festival on Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Crown Festival Park, 183555 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land. This year, the unveiling of the Official Sugar Land 26 Poster will take place.

Residents are encouraged to bring their family and friends to enjoy a day of community kite flying, live art demonstrations, soccer activities, including fun giveaways from the Official FIFA World Cup 26™ Houston Host City tent, as well as cultural booths representing countries from around the world and a diverse lineup of food trucks and vendors.

Throughout the festival, attendees can also engage in hands-on activities, meet artists and watch them create live works, and ex -

perience performances that highlight the diverse cultures of our community.

Adults can unwind in the Beer Garden with Brush & Brew, a space to socialize and get creative, combining art, music and local beer. Guests 21 and over can enjoy guided painting sessions while sipping brew sponsored by Saint Arnold Brewing Company. The event is free and open to the public. Free shuttle service will be available from University of Houston-Sugar Land, with additional public parking at Brazos River Park and Crown Festival Park. Limited parking will be available on-site. Guests are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time for traffic. Road closures will occur along the Highway 59 northbound frontage road, and guests must use the connector road to enter the festival through the Sugar

Land Memorial entrance at 15300 University Blvd. 77479.

For more information, visit sugarlandtx.gov/1719/ International-Art-KiteFestival.

FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB

Meets

DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class