Bryan Texas Utilities and Texas-New Mexico Power are seeking public input on a proposed high-voltage transmission line that would connect Robertson County to the planned RELLIS Substation in Brazos County as electricity demand continues to grow across the region.

About the project: The proposed transmission line would run about 40 miles from an existing switching station in Robertson County to BTU’s planned RELLIS Substation.

The utilities hosted three come-and-go public meetings in early August, including two in Bryan, to gather feedback before submitting a routing application to state regulators.

Officials emphasized a final route has not been selected.

What's next: After the comment period closes, an official application will be submitted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Public comments are accepted through Aug. 21.

If approved, construction would begin in 2029.

Two proposed housing developments are headed to Bryan City Council after receiving unanimous recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Commission Aug. 6. One development is a student housing project near Texas A&M University and the other is a multi-family complex in Bryan.

The overview: The larger of the two proposals would bring a six-story boutique student housing development to the College Oaks Subdivision.

Developer Matt Nine, said the complex, which is branded "Langley," would include underground parking and is marketed to students looking for a quieter living environment.

The second proposal would develop just over an acre in the Siegert Subdivision with townhome-style units on a currently vacant property.

Zooming in: These two complexes are among the many new developments with dedicated communities in mind for Bryan-College Station. As previously reported by Community Impact, the expansion of Northgate and a luxury assisted living facility in College Station are contributing to the growth of jobs and living arrangements in the area.

What’s next: The Commission unanimously approved both projects for Bryan City Council in September.

Abu Omar Halal, a College Station restaurant known for shawarma and other halal-prepared foods, has announced it’s relocating to the Northgate District.

The gist: Abu Omar has two locations in College Station, one of them being on Texas A&M University’s campus.

Owner Amjad Mohammad told Community Impact the reason for the move was for a better location and to be closer to students on Northgate. Operating in College Station for almost a decade, the move from Texas Avenue to University Drive will have the business sit right across the street from the university.

What Abu Omar Halal offers: Abu Omar Halal boasts a variety of Halal street food and sandwiches and says it is best known for its signature chicken shawarma.

What’s next: Moving just before the start of the school year, Abu Omar is open to serve Halal foods to residents and the incoming wave of new students at the university.

• Relocated on July 29
• 303 University Drive, College Station

Need to catch up on news from the past week in the Bryan-College Station area? Check out these five stories.

1. Javi's opens College Station location in early August

2. Texas A&M partners with Buc-ee's to launch joint merchandise

3. 'We need to start making money': Brazos County commissioners debate expo staffing

4. Brazos County considers $10M 911 facility in FY 2027 capital plan

5. What to know before school starts for Bryan, College Station ISDs

Within the next year, Texans will likely see changes to when they can vote early in elections, including expanded weekend voting hours.

The overview: Last year, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2753, which shifts Texas’ early voting window closer to election day, cutting out a three-day gap between the two voting periods and adding more Saturday and Sunday voting.

While the changes did not take effect immediately and were designed to help boost voter turnout, local election administrators said the law will also significantly raise costs for municipalities and delay the release of election results.

Election officials said the current three-day break allows staff to set up polling places for election day and prepare submitted ballots so results from early and mail-in voting can be released quickly after the polls close on election night.

The impact: Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth estimated that the shift would raise the cost of administering a large election by 30% and increase costs for smaller elections by 9%, due to personnel, equipment and voter education needs.