Texas A&M University broke ground May 4 on a new Meat Science and Technology Center designed to modernize agricultural research and teaching.

About the project: The $133.36 million project will bring an 85,600-square-foot facility to 3844 Finfeather Road on West Campus in Bryan, where it is expected to host a future agriculture district. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2028.

The center will include laboratories, classrooms and processing spaces for beef, swine, poultry, sheep and goats. The university said the facility will incorporate emerging technology—including robotics and artificial intelligence—aimed toward improving food safety, production efficiency and workforce training.

Programs from the university's animal science and poultry science departments, along with AgriLife research and extension efforts, will all operate from the new building.

How we got here: The board of regents approved the new center in March. Director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research G. Cliff Lamb said the May 4 groundbreaking was years in the making, pointing to ongoing efforts of growth within the Texas A&M University System.

Nearly 5 million people visited Bryan in 2025, and city officials say those visitors play a major role in supporting local jobs, businesses and city services.

Destination Bryan said an estimated 4.9 million visitors traveled to Bryan last year and spent about $190.1 million in the local economy.

The local impact: Visitor spending helps support restaurants, hotels, retail stores and entertainment venues across the city. The report estimates tourism activity supported roughly 2,300 jobs in Bryan in 2025.

Without visitor spending, each Bryan household would need to spend an additional $5,600 per year, according to the report, to generate the same level of economic activity.

The takeaway: Visitors are drawn to Bryan for sporting events, festivals, conferences and activities connected to Texas A&M University.

Destination Bryan says it works to attract those travelers through marketing campaigns, recruiting events and partnering with local businesses to improve the visitor experience.

For the first time in over a decade, there is no incumbent in the Texas attorney general's race as Republican Ken Paxton runs for U.S. Senate. Candidates on both sides of the aisle will compete in runoff elections May 26 after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primaries.

State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are vying for the Democratic nomination.

The overview: In a three-way primary race, Johnson secured 48% of the vote while Jaworski received 26% of the vote. The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face the Republican nominee and potential third-party candidates in November.

The context: The attorney general serves as Texas' top lawyer, defending the state in court, filing consumer protection lawsuits and issuing opinions interpreting state law. The agency also enforces Texas' child support laws, investigates human trafficking cases and manages access to public records.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22 and runoff election day is May 26.

For the first time in over a decade, there is no incumbent in the Texas attorney general's race as Republican Ken Paxton runs for U.S. Senate. Candidates on both sides of the aisle will compete in runoff elections May 26 after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primaries.

State Sen. Mayes Middleton of Galveston and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Austin are each seeking the Republican nomination for the seat.

The overview: Middleton and Roy were the two highest-performing candidates in a four-person primary race. The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face the Democratic nominee and potential third-party candidates in November.

The context: The attorney general serves as Texas' top lawyer, defending the state in court, filing consumer protection lawsuits and issuing opinions interpreting state law. The agency also enforces Texas' child support laws, investigates human trafficking cases and manages access to public records.

At the polls: Texans can vote early May 18-22 and runoff election day is May 26.