Here is a list of the 10 most popular Community Impact Newspaper news stories in Cy-Fair from 2021 based on website traffic.
1. ‘This is no longer just an emergency’: Harris County residents should expect power, water issues to linger through weekend
February’s winter storm left millions of Texas without power as temperatures dropped below freezing levels. The event led to calls for an investigation of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
2. Texas Central signs $16B construction contract for high-speed rail project
Officials with Texas Central announced the signing of a $16 billion contract with a global engineering and construction company in June.
3. Cy-Fair ISD no longer planning to offer virtual school in 2021-22
School district officials confirmed in June just weeks after announcing plans to launch Cy-Fair ISD Virtual School that the virtual program would no longer be an option. However, in early August, the district announced plans for a temporary virtual learning program until a vaccine for children younger than 12 was available.
4. Harris County commissioners redraw precinct lines for the next decade
Harris County commissioners approved a new boundary map for the county’s four commissioner precincts with a split vote in late October.
5. Bars closed, businesses back to 50% capacity in Harris County as COVID-19 hospitalizations remain above 15% threshold
Harris County leaders announced in early January the level of COVID-19 hospitalizations triggered a rolling back of state reopening measures. This included closing bars and reducing business capacity.
6. Jersey Village native named next commander of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
Lt. Col. Justin Elliot, a Jersey Village native, was named as the next commander to lead the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds for the 2022-23 demonstration seasons.
7. Cy-Fair ISD proposes employee pay raises in FY 2021-22 budget
The Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees discussed a 3% pay raise for employees districtwide in June and ultimately voted to give employees a 5% salary increase as part of the district’s $1.09 billion budget for fiscal year 2021-22.
8. Cy-Fair health care system at a 'tipping point’ as COVID-19 burdens EMS teams, hospitals
COVID-19 cases trended up this summer, forcing local EMS teams and hospitals to adapt practices to treat an unprecedented number of patients. Justin Reed, assistant chief of EMS for the Cy-Fair Fire Department, spoke with Community Impact Newspaper about their strategies.
9. Newly-elected Cy-Fair ISD board members look forward to new roles after unseating incumbents
Three new Cy-Fair ISD board members were elected this November, unseating three incumbents who had served in their respective roles for more than 15 years each. Community Impact Newspaper spoke with the new board members following the election.
10. Flood mitigation project proposed at Longwood Golf Club in Cypress
Harris County Flood Control District worked with Longwood Golf Club officials on a potential flood mitigation project that would convert a portion of the golf course to a stormwater detention area and widen Little Cypress Creek to improve drainage. In a Dec. 9 message to club members, officials said negotiations with HCFCD were still ongoing, and a deal had not yet been finalized.
