Bryan ISD trustees approved a balanced $186.5 million operating budget for the 2026-27 school year during their June 15 meeting, despite ongoing challenges tied to declining enrollment, stagnant state funding and rising costs.

What readers should know: The district’s M&O budget projects $186.5 million in revenue and expenditures, allowing Bryan ISD to avoid a deficit while maintaining an estimated ending fund balance of roughly 2.7 months of operating expenses.

Breaking it down: The budget assumes a 1.75% decline in property values and is based on an average daily attendance of 14,189 students. The proposal also included a portion of one-time revenue from the anticipated sale of district property.

Payroll remains the district’s largest expense, accounting for more than 86% of the budget.

College Station City Council received a presentation on June 11, advocating to make the city a micromobility-friendly space through infrastructure upgrades and increased safety precautions throughout the city

What you need to know: Micromobility is defined as the use of personal transportation limited in speed and weight, typically with a maximum speed of around 20 mph. Common micromobility vehicles include:

• Electric scooters, skateboards and e-bikes

• Bicycles

• Hoverboards

Jesse DiMeolo, senior transportation planner for the city, presented the data and advocated for the city to look into increasing safety measures because of an increase in overall crashes over the last two years.

Breaking it down: According to data from the Texas Department of Transportation, the city had 120 crashes each in 2024 and 2025, including two fatal crashes.

The presentation noted 79% of the micromobility crashes were at intersections or close to Texas A&M’s campus, something DiMeolo said would be in the master plan.

What’s next: The council did not vote on any ordinance or measure, but expects to do so later this year.

Brightside Thrift, a new resale store in Historic Downtown Bryan, officially opened on June 3 with the mission of helping provide funds and care for the Acara Hospice Foundation.

What they offer: The store carries a large selection of donated items, including clothing, kitchenware and knick-knacks.

All money raised goes toward Acara's effort to build a local community hospice house.

Before you go: Brightside’s building is difficult to miss as it features a vibrant painting by local artist Beth Symons and other support.

The store is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and stays open late during First Friday events.

• 408 N Bryan Ave., Bryan

Harris County officials are urging caution as the National Weather Service has forecasted multiple days of heavy rainfall across the Greater Houston area.

What you need to know: Officials with the National Weather Service are maintaining a flood watch over a large swath of southeast Texas through June 18. The watch stems from a semi-stationary front moving across the region alongside a disturbance in the Gulf with a 60% chance of developing into a tropical storm before bringing additional rainfall to the region, NWS officials said. 

What’s being done? Gov. Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration for 101 counties in southeast Texas, including Brazoria, Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend and Galveston counties June 15. Harris County and the city of Houston have also activated emergency response initiatives, such as lowering Lake Houston levels ahead of additional rainfall.

Before you go: State and county officials are asking residents to remain aware of weather changes through the end of the week due to forecasted heavy rain and flash flooding.