Bryan City Council voted July 14 to approve designs for the continued construction of yearslong sewer projects around the city.

What you need to know: According to Jayson Barfknecht, director of public works, the city is experiencing growth, particularly on the north side of town. The site of the project is a proposed sewer crossing under Hwy. 6, which would also divert sewer from Burton Creek to the Brushy Creek wastewater treatment plant. The existing line in the area would still serve as overflow in the case of heavy rainfall.

Zooming in: Mayor Bobby Gutierrez said investing in the future now is better than waiting until it’s too late.

“Infrastructure investments are long-term investments, and we’re able to buy stuff at today’s rates so we’ll be able to realize the benefits of those rates in the decades to come,” Gutierrez said. “It provides growth, economic development, businesses, households, and those will go on way into the future.”

The impact: The council voted unanimously to approve the motion.

Popular recreational sport pickleball is getting a new premier complex in Bryan, adding to the numerous pickleball offerings in Aggieland.

The overview: Pickleball is a paddle sport similar to tennis and badminton, but it sees a lot of recreational play in Bryan-College Station.

There are 26 pickleball courts scattered across Bryan and open to the public and other open play opportunities with the Brazos Valley Pickleball Association.

About the project: Pickleball Junction is an 18-court facility with a restaurant and bar, featuring handcrafted dishes and artisan cocktails. The courts will also feature PodPlay, which is software allowing match replays and live scoreboards.

State filings show construction is ongoing at a 1.28-acre lot with a price tag of $3.5 million. This is not a city-affiliated project.

What’s next: Pickleball Junction broke ground at its new site on July 3 and is projected to open in early 2027.

• Opening in Jan/Feb 2027
• 3175 Wildflower Drive, Bryan

A new wellness studio is coming to Aggieland.

Brazos Emerge will begin offering in-person classes, featuring pilates, myofascial release therapy and leadership programs at its first physical location in downtown Bryan this summer.

What's happening: The business had originally planned to open earlier this year, but construction delays pushed the timeline back. Owner Christine Bergeron Ballew said she expects to move into the space Aug. 1, with services beginning in mid-August.

Before opening a brick-and-mortar location, Brazos Emerge operated through leadership programs in local schools and educational workshops for dance instructors since 2025.

The impact: According to Bergeron, Brazos Emerge aims to serve as a community resource throughout the Brazos Valley.

• To open mid-August
• 210 W. 26th St., Bryan

Houston Airport System welcomed an estimated 4.5 million passengers during the period in which the Houston area hosted 2026 FIFA World Cup games, according to a July 9 news release.

The details: Officials noted nearly 1.8 million departing passengers were screened by Transportation Security Administration officials at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport during the 25-day travel period. Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials processed more than 439,000 international passengers at IAH and Hobby from June 12-July 3.

Also of note: IAH handled 60 charter flights related to FIFA World Cup 2026, including 30 team charters serving 13 national teams, per the release. Royal Air Maroc and Corendon operated 30 additional charter flights carrying more than 5,800 passengers.

What they’re saying: "We understood from the beginning that for many visitors, the airport would be their first and last impression of Houston," said Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports. "Our employees, volunteers, airlines, federal partners, concessionaires and regional partners worked together to make sure Houston was ready. They delivered."