Several Pearland streets will undergo drainage and roadway improvements in 2027 following City Council’s approval of an engineering services contract at its Aug. 24 meeting.

What residents need to know: The contract with Houston-based engineering firm Consor North America will cover design and construction-phase services for two drainage and roadway projects with a combined budget of nearly $879,000, city documents show.

Looking ahead: Consor is expected to complete the design phase within nine months, with construction slated to begin in September 2027.

San Diego-based Mexican restaurant Aliberto’s Jr. opened its Pearland location in early August, an employee confirmed.

On the menu: The restaurant serves a variety of Mexican dishes, including fajitas, tacos, burritos and enchiladas, as well as drinks such as horchata and Mexican soda, according to its website.

📍1810 Pearland Parkway, Pearland

Precinct 1 is investing nearly $9.6 million in infrastructure and recreation projects to improve community connectivity and safety across south and west Houston.

The gist: Commissioner Rodney Ellis, alongside community leaders, announced funding for 16 projects across the precinct during a press conference Aug. 26. The grant money is part of Ellis’ Plan Together Partnership Program, which invests in community-identified projects. The projects are designed to enhance safety, resiliency and community connectivity, according to a news release.

The impact: The $9.6 million will partially fund all the projects, which are estimated to cost about $60.5 million in total. The projects will focus on planning, constructing and improving neighborhood sidewalks, trails, drainage and parks.

Since late May, all autonomous vehicle companies have been required to receive authorization from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to operate on Texas roads. During an Aug. 25 hearing, state senators heard the first testimony on autonomous vehicle safety since the new regulations took effect.

The overview: To date, the DMV has received 42 complaints about driverless vehicles, officials said.

No complaints have led the agency to suspend or revoke an autonomous vehicle operator's authorization. That occurs "when the operation has resulted in or is likely to result in serious bodily injury," according to Corrie Thompson, who leads the DMV’s enforcement division.

Zooming in: Lawmakers said they wanted to ensure driverless vehicles were not rolling out too quickly, adding that they hoped the vehicles would help address Texas' high rate of fatal crashes.

Lt. William White, who leads the Austin Police Department’s highway enforcement division, said first responders have seen consistent issues with AVs, including when a Waymo blocked an ambulance for about 28 seconds following the deadly March 1 Sixth Street shooting.