Pearland sold nearly $63 million in bonds to help fund city infrastructure improvement projects across the city.

The sale, authorized by City Council at its Aug. 24 meeting, includes about $59.5 million for water and sewer system projects and $3.6 million for other city projects, including drainage improvements, according to city documents.

What you need to know: The city's plan initially anticipated borrowing about $115 million for the projects, with the Aug. 24 bond sale reflecting a reduction of nearly $52 million from the original plan, according to city documents.

Diving in deeper: About $3.6 million of the bonds will go toward various infrastructure projects, including an extension of Reid Boulevard and traffic signal upgrades along Hwy. 35. The larger portion of the bond sale, about $59.5 million, will go toward water and sewer system projects, including several lift station improvements and water line replacements, documents show.

Brazoria County Emergency Services District No. 3, or BCESD3, and the Iowa Colony Volunteer Fire Department, or ICVFD, have partnered to launch a first responder organization, or FRO, program to strengthen emergency medical response for Iowa Colony residents and surrounding communities.

About the program: The program is operating under the leadership of BCESD3 Medical Director Dr. Scott Wiesenborn and EMS Chief Tim Welch, according to an Aug. 26 news release from BCESD3.

The program will "expand the ability of trained Iowa Colony firefighters to provide critical medical assistance during the first minutes of an emergency," the news release notes. Qualified members within ICVFD's personnel can begin patient assessment and appropriate medical interventions before an ambulance arrives.

Quote of note: “Every minute matters during a medical emergency,” Wiesenborn said in the news release. “The First Responder Organization program creates a more integrated approach to emergency response by ensuring that highly trained personnel can begin patient assessment and care as quickly as possible."

Missed something from Community Impact’s coverage last week? Check out six trending stories from the South Houston area from Aug. 24-28.

1. TxDOT proposes 3 reasonable alternatives for southern portion of Hwy. 36A
2. City of Katy enters stage 1 of drought contingency plan
3. New work club set to open third location in Bellaire
4. Houston delays vote on ending annexation option with The Woodlands
5. New virtual reality arcade opens in La Porte
6. New Latin American cuisine opens in Pearland

The Houston Audubon Society, founded in 1969, has renamed itself Birds Houston as part of a broader effort to clarify its mission and modernize its identity, according to a release from the organization. The organization also unveiled a new logo featuring the Yellow-throated Warbler, a longtime symbol tied to its conservation history.

What you need to know: The name change is intended to make the organization’s work more immediately clear, including protecting birds and their habitats, conserving critical land, providing education and nature experiences and advocating for conservation policies, the release states.

Also of note: The new name comes ahead of the eighth annual Houston Bird Week, scheduled for Sept. 19-26, with registration opening Sept. 1 for events across the Greater Houston area.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa, an Austin state representative, and Libertarian Pat Dixon, a professional engineer, are challenging Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in the Nov. 3 election. Abbott is seeking a fourth term in the governor's mansion.

The big picture: As Texas’ top elected official, the governor signs and vetoes legislation, serves as commander-in-chief of the state military and appoints members of state agencies or advisory boards. Community Impact asked the three gubernatorial candidates for their perspectives on data centers, education, the cost of living and other topics.

The background: Abbott beat 10 Republican challengers in the March primary election, while Hinojosa beat eight other Democratic candidates to advance to the November election. Dixon was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

Looking ahead: Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.