Read about some of the latest updates on transportation projects in the Katy-Fulshear area.

Nelson Road bridge extension: The 1,000-foot extension will include a four-lane bridge over the Cane Island Branch of Buffalo Bayou as well as concrete sidewalks along both sides and storm sewers.

• Timeline: February 2026-January 2027
• Cost: $4.46 million
• Funding source: Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County funds

Greenbusch Road reconstruction: The project will reconstruct the road between Gaston Road and Westheimer Parkway, and add left-turn lanes at all public road intersections.

• Timeline: March 2022-February 2027
• Cost: $8.4 million
• Funding source: Fort Bend County mobility bond

Pederson Road emergency repairs: The Pederson Road bridge over I-10 underwent emergency repairs. Those included addressing potholes and exposed rebar.

• Timeline: July 21-27
• Cost: $435,000 for repairs with additional $200,000 for preventative maintenance
• Funding source: TxDOT

Babin’s Seafood House is celebrating its 25th anniversary in September with a special three-course menu, officials announced in a Sept. 1 news release.

What they offer: The South Louisiana-inspired eatery serves a variety of seafood, fish, gumbo and bisque options as well as blackened chicken and po-boys, according to its website.

Zooming out: Founded in 2001, the restaurant has another location in Shenandoah, per the release.

• 21851 Katy Freeway, Katy

Texas State Technical College is set to launch an electrical construction program in Rosenberg this fall.

The program will introduce students to residential, commercial and industrial wiring—initially launching as a certification—with plans to expand to a full associate degree, Community Impact reported.

Shawn McNeil, the program’s team lead, shared more the program and its upcoming launch.

What opportunities does TSTC’s partnership with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation create for students entering this program?
We are currently the only college with a partnership that allows students of our certificate of completion program to have the 4,000-hour requirement waived so that they can take the Residential Wireman’s license exam with TDLR.

How did you design the labs to ensure students have an authentic and hands-on learning experience?
In our residential lab, students will work with wood-framed structures that resemble a typical home and practice skills such as rough-in, trim-out, panel installation and testing. In the commercial lab, students will use steel-framed structures where students focus on skills such as metal-clad cable installation and conduit bending.

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.

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.

Democrat Nathan Johnson, a state senator from Dallas; Republican Mayes Middleton, a state senator from Galveston; and Libertarian Tom Oxford, an attorney from Nederland, are running to replace him this November. Community Impact asked the candidates for their perspectives on Texas' open records laws, state litigation and other topics.

How we got here: Johnson and Middleton each won their primary runoff elections in May, Community Impact reported, while Oxford was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

Looking ahead: Early voting in eight statewide races and dozens of local elections runs from Oct. 19-30. Election Day is Nov. 3.