Read the most popular Houston-area stories from the past week.

Cy-Fair ISD officials respond to teacher concerns at Aug. 6 board meeting

Several Cy-Fair ISD educators spoke before the board of trustees Aug. 6—nearly a month before the 2020-21 school year is slated to begin—to express their concerns with the district’s reopening plan in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

July COVID-19 case surge sparks local response from The Woodlands area hospitals, Montgomery County officials

Following more than four months of rising coronavirus cases, area hospitals collaborated to handle a surge in cases in July, while Montgomery County officials did not call for more stringent restrictions to enforce statewide public health orders.

Units begin opening at Alys Crossing off Fry Road in Cypress

The first residents began moving into Alys Crossing, a new multifamily project off Fry Road in Cypress, on Aug. 7, according to officials with Willowick Residential, the development company behind the project.

Harris County judge: Opening local schools will not be safe ‘anytime in the near future’

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said no in-person instruction should be taking place at local schools when the county’s COVID-19 threat level system is set at red, or “severe.” This is the highest level possible in the system, where it has been since June 26.

Pearland, Friendswood brace for hurricane season amid COVID-19

As Pearland and Friendswood residents find themselves in the midst of a busy hurricane season, the coronavirus pandemic has affirmed the importance of individual preparedness, city officials said.

Danica Lloyd, Andrew Christman, Ben Thompson, Shawn Arrajj and Haley Morrison contributed to this report.