College Station ISD’s board of trustees approved a plan to retrofit nearly 20 school buses with three-point seat belts in compliance with a new state law.

The measure, which came with a $570,000 price tag, was unanimously approved at the board’s March 17 meeting.

What it means: The funding will go toward retrofitting 19 of the district’s existing buses with three-point seat belts, as required under Senate Bill 546. The retrofit cost is estimated at $30,000 per bus.

Breaking down the bill: SB 546, which was approved in 2025 during the 89th legislative session, requires all Texas school buses to be equipped with three-point seat belts before September 2029.

College Station ISD officials have previously noted that bond funds cannot be used for retrofitting older buses, meaning the expense will come from the district’s general budget.

Going forward: New buses purchased by the district will already include seat belts, reducing the number of older buses that will need upgrades over time.
 

In honor of Women’s History Month, here are 10 women-owned businesses across Bryan and College Station.

This list is not comprehensive.

6Whiskey
Blending Western style with modern retail, 6Whiskey offers a mix of clothing, shoes, accessories, and home goods, featuring brands such as Tecovas and Old Gringo.

• 1414 Lake Atlas Drive, Ste. 130, Bryan

• 505 University Drive E. Ste. 100, College Station

• 4001 East 29th St., Ste. 75, Bryan

A new student apartment community and mixed retail development is coming to Century Square, according to a March 17 news release from Century Square.

What you need to know: The Penny, a new student apartment community adjacent to Texas A&M University, is set to open in fall 2027, according to the release.

The apartment community selected Century Square as a prime location for its leasing office and showroom, occupying nearly 1,700 square feet between 4 Brothers NY Bagel and ShareTea.

What else: The new wave of retail development also includes the relocation of lifestyle brand Aerie in the summer, which will offer intimates, activewear, apparel and accessories. 

Quote of note: “We’re thrilled to welcome these exciting new brands and developments to Century Square,” Century Square Senior Asset Manager Mario Tacchi said in the release. “From Aerie’s relocation to the launch of The Penny’s leasing center, these additions showcase our commitment to creating a vibrant, convenient and engaging destination for the College Station community.”

More than 229,000 students have applied to receive state funds for private education or homeschooling under Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

By the numbers: State data indicates that the most applications have been submitted on behalf of students living in urban areas and the surrounding suburban communities. As of March 8, students living in Houston ISD’s boundaries led the pack with over 8,900 applications, followed by 6,700 applicants in Dallas ISD.

The data reflects how many students living in each district's boundaries have applied, including those not currently enrolled in a public school.

The background: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025.

Students accepted for the 2026-27 school year will receive $10,474 for private education or up to $2,000 for homeschool. Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000 each.

More details: Of the first 152,000 program applicants, nearly three-quarters were not enrolled in a public school during the 2025-26 school year, data obtained by the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency shows.