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Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out these trending stories across the southern portion of the Greater Houston area from Aug. 10-14.
Simply South opens Katy location
Simply South opened its new location in Katy, according to the restaurant’s website.
The restaurant features vegetarian dishes from throughout India, including soups, curries, biryani, as well as desserts and chai, according to its website. Breakfast options are also available.
Read more from Reporter Sarah Knowlton.
Thousands of Fort Bend ISD families apply for new education accounts
As Fort Bend ISD prepares for a new school year, district officials are waiting to see how the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts affect enrollment.
State lawmakers created the TEFA program in 2025, and accepted students will receive some funding for education opportunities that include private school tuition and fees; tutoring and therapy; homeschooling; and other services.
Funding is capped at $1 billion for the first year of the program, and about 122,000 students of the over 274,000 who applied have been accepted, including 85,344 participants who have received funding.
Dive deeper with Reporter Bradley Dountz.
New pizza, Mediterranean spot opens in Pearland
Ahlan Pizza and Mediterranean opened in Pearland this July, an employee with the restaurant confirmed.
The restaurant offers specialty pizzas, including garlic chicken and Hawaiian, along with a variety of sandwiches, burgers and pasta dishes, according to its website.
It also serves halal Mediterranean dishes such as shawarma, mandi and falafel.
Get the full story from Reporter Catherine White.
Schafer's Coastal Kitchen to open in October
Schafer’s Coastal Kitchen, a new seafood concept from John and Janae Schafer, the creators of Schafer’s Coastal Bar & Grille and Lil Outriggers Hula Bar & Grill, will open in the Clear Lake area in October, staff said.
According to a social media post from Schafer’s Coastal Bar & Grille, the new restaurant will offer Gulf Coast seafood favorites, craft cocktails and a curated selection of wine, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
Get more details from Reporter Rachel Leland.
Popular late-night Katy pizzeria to bring two new locations to Houston's inner loop
Officials with Zio Als Pizza & Pasta have filed two project listings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in recent months to open new locations in the Greater Heights and Montrose areas.
Zio Als Pizza & Pasta is a pizzeria in Katy that stays open until 3 a.m., serving specialty pizzas, wings, pasta and appetizers, as well as sandwiches, salads and desserts.
Customers can order pizzas in small, medium, or large sizes and can also build their own pizza, choosing the size, crust, cheese and toppings. Additional menu items include cheese manicotti, shrimp fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, stuffed jalapeños, halal wings and chocolate mousse cake.
Jewish Fertility Foundation opens first-of-its-kind branch in Greater Houston
The Jewish Fertility Foundation, a non-profit organization geared toward providing financial assistance and personalized programming to Jewish individuals and couples pursuing parenthood, officially began servicing across Greater Houston on July 6, officials confirmed.
Founder and CEO Elana Frank announced the opening of JFF-Houston in an Aug. 4 news release. This expansion marks the foundation’s 11th community nationwide and its first venture into Houston, which is home to approximately 60,000 Jewish residents, according to the release.
Officials told Community Impact that JFF’s mission is rooted in helping community residents navigate their fertility journey by providing a range of in-person and virtual services.
