Convenience Big Store: Man accused in hit-and-run death of Fort Bend County deputy had been drinking, police say

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Could AI data centers come to Fort Bend? What to know about Texas' data center boom

Data centers are, in my opinion, a lot like Claude Monet paintings: they look simple enough from a distance, but up close they're really quite complicated.

Texas has emerged as the epicenter of an unprecedented data center boom, with the fastest-growing market in the country, our energy reporters tell us. That could make Texas the world's largest data center hub in a couple of years.

The centers are a bit of a mixed bag. They boost local economies, but they also strain local resources like water and electricity. The centers use about 1,000 megawatts of electricity, roughly the output of a nuclear reactor.

The Chronicle has been tracking the planned data centers, and so far, Fort Bend County isn't on the list. That being said, I'd bet my bottom dollar that the expansion is headed our way. We've got oodles of undeveloped land, and the county is becoming one of the most sought-after development sites.

What do you think about these data centers? Are they good for local economies? Do you think Fort Bend will see one in the near future? Let's chat about it.

Claire Goodman, Katy reporter

claire.goodman@houstonchronicle.com

Latest Developments

Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office deputy Kenneth Lewis, pictured in an undated photo, was killed Feb. 21, 2026, while assisting people in a crash while off duty.

Photo by: Fort Bend County Sheriff's Off

Man accused in Fort Bend deputy's crash death had been drinking in Baytown

A man accused of killing a Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office deputy in a hit-and-run crash had been drinking hours earlier at bars in Baytown, Harris County prosecutors said.

Your Schools

A mural of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez on East Cesar Chavez Street in Austin on Monday, March 23, 2026.

Photo by: Jay Janner, Austin American-Statesman

Texas schools should remove references to Cesar Chavez from curriculum, TEA says

Several districts have already cancelled or renamed days celebrating Chavez. Should Katy and Fort Bend follow?

What Else is Happening

An interactive map of operating and planned data centers in Texas, with data from Cleanview, a company that tracks data center projects

Photo by: Adriana Rezal/Houston Chronicle

Texas data center tracker: See where data centers are planned near you

This first-of-its-kind map displays hundreds of data centers that are either currently operating or in development as Texas becomes a world-wide hotspot.

We've nominated 10 exceptional high school sports stars to be the Houston Chronicle's Athlete of the Week, including Katy-area soccer athletes Jenesis Riley from Freeman High and Tripp Roach from Jordan High.

Tell us which athlete you think deserves the title this week.

🗳 Vote in the Girls Poll

🗳 Vote in the Boys Poll

Town Square

Marble Slab Creamery will be opening a new spot in Katy at 29807 Jordan Crossing Boulevard in the spring of 2027.

Stay in the Know

Cheers to Katy ISD Chief Financial Officer Christopher J. Smith for being elected Vice President of the Texas Association of School Business Officials Board of Directors. Smith will be utilizing his expertise from his time in Katy ISD to lead professional organizations for school finance and operations.