Nearly 80% of Houston residents who participated in a budget survey said they would like to see more spending on infrastructure.

What happened: During the June 2 Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research presented the findings of the city’s Your Two Cents budget survey.

The survey, which was live from April 14 to May 27, received around 920 responses, which many council members found disappointing, and said they would like to have more participation next year.

By the numbers: Infrastructure—categorized as roads, better drainage and pipes and electric grids—was a category that most residents wanted to see more funding for, Simburger said. Only 10% said they would be okay with less spending on infrastructure due to budget constraints.

The survey also found that nearly 58% of respondents want the city to spend more on Solid Waste Management and programs addressing homelessness.

Platypus Brewing poured its final pints May 31.

The Australian-inspired brewery, bar and restaurant at 1902 Washington Ave., Houston, closed after nearly ten years in business, according to the business and its owners. Owners cited the end of the brewery’s lease as the reason for the closure.

The details: Platypus Brewing had been open for nearly 10 years, according to the brewery's Facebook post announcing the closure. 

The brewery was known for its craft beer, full bar, restaurant menu and Australian-influenced dishes. The brewery’s website describes the business as “brewed with Texan heart and Australian soul.”

Before closing, the brewery hosted several final events, including its last steak night, happy hour specials, fish and chips, a final Saturday DJ night and closing day Beer Olympics, according to its website.

• 1902 Washington Ave., Houston

As extreme weather events become more frequent, CenterPoint Energy announced June 1 that it is expanding its storm preparedness efforts through a partnership with Technosylva, a provider of weather, wildfire and flood modeling software.

Quote of note: “Preparing for extreme weather today requires earlier insight and better coordination than ever before,” said Jason Wells, chair, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. “Our goal is to build the most resilient coastal grid in the nation to benefit our customers and communities.”

The overview: Technosylva's platform combines outage forecasting, storm modeling, flood risk analysis and wildfire monitoring into a single system. According to a news release from CenterPoint, the platform helps teams track weather conditions several days in advance, position crews and equipment before storms arrive and improve restoration planning. The National Weather Service forecasts eight to 14 named storms in the Atlantic basin this season, including three to six hurricanes, according to CenterPoint.

Nearly $8.4 billion in new state funding was not enough to save Texas public school districts from budget shortfalls and campus closures, school administrators said June 1.

What happened: During a 10-hour public hearing at the state Capitol, school district leaders spoke of efforts to stretch their budgets amid high inflationary costs as teachers explained their decisions to leave the classroom due to pay cuts and large class sizes.

The big picture: Last year, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 2, a $8.4 billion school finance bill designed to increase educator salaries, create a new pot of money for fixed costs, provide more training for teachers and boost special education resources.

Roughly one year later, districts across Community Impact’s coverage areas are cutting staff and closing campuses, citing enrollment declines and budget shortfalls. 

Quote of note: "This funding deficit is the final straw for me, and it will be for countless other educators across the state who must leave or who lose their jobs," Austin ISD French teacher Rachel Preston told lawmakers June 1.