Drybar officials announced the grand opening of the hair salon will be held on Aug. 20 featuring a private event and ribbon cutting with the Howard Hughes Corporation. Officials said the hair salon will be open to the public as of Aug. 21.

In case you missed it: Per previous Community Impact reporting, the Bridgeland salon marks the fifth Drybar location in the Greater Houston area, with three near Houston's inner loop and one in Sugar Land. Owned by Anne Evers, Drybar Bridgeland plans to offer professional blowouts in a welcoming environment, officials said.

Quote of note: “Bridgeland is such a special community and we could not be more excited to be part of it,” Evers said. “Drybar is more than just a blowout bar, it is a place where people come to feel confident, happy, and pampered. We cannot wait to bring that experience to our neighbors here in Bridgeland."

Six northwest Harris County neighborhoods are receiving drainage upgrades, Commissioner Lesley Briones announced Aug. 14 at a press conference in Windsong.

The overview: Harris County Precinct 4 is investing $11.35 million to improve drainage infrastructure in neighborhoods with histories of repetitive flooding:Northglen

• Sheffield

• Silvermill

• Westfield

• Westlake Forest

• Windsong

Each project will cost $1 million-3.5 million, said Syan Rhodes, director of content and media relations for Precinct 4. The upgraded drainage systems will have higher capacity stormwater pipes, which will reduce street flooding and protect homes and vehicles during heavy rainfall, according to a news release.

Quote of note: “As a result of these investments, there will be faster rainwater runoff, reduced street flooding, improved access in and out of the neighborhood — because when you’re trapped and your car cannot safely move, that is a problem, as many Harris County residents have experienced,” Briones said.

The Harris County Office of Budget and Management rolled out its proposed budget to county commissioners Aug. 17, with priorities for pay parity, bolstering the justice system and maintaining existing services outlined amid a $181 million shortfall.

The gist: OMB Executive Director Daniel Ramos presented the $3.096 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. However, the proposal also comes with a recommendation for a 3.5% tax rate increase, according to budget documents. 

The budget was created amid financial pressures from “rising healthcare costs, jail outsourcing, increased indigent defense expenses, state-mandated spending requirements, continued jail outsourcing and diminishing federal aid,” per a news release.

Also of note: The county also has to grapple with losing federal funding it received during the pandemic, with money from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, ending at the end of the year.

Many Texas students began returning to the classroom for the 2026-27 school year in mid-August.

Here are five things Texans should know as the 2026-27 school year kicks off.

The details:

• 2026 school accountability ratings issued
• New rule impacts accountability-related school closures
• 100K students using new Texas Education Freedom Accounts
• Public school closures deepen across Texas
• Check out recent public education laws