Houston ISD advanced plans for a $100M, 215,000‑sq‑ft Southside Launchpad at the former Grimes Elementary to expand biotechnology, cybersecurity and construction training.

WalletHub's national ranking places McAllen‑Edinburg‑Mission (149th) and Brownsville‑Harlingen (148th) near the bottom of 150 U.S. metros, even as the region hosts multiple colleges.

SFA will phase out its Early Childhood Laboratory, cutting 72 high-quality child-care seats in East Texas. The move affects families and hands-on training for future educators.