HTX-SLM: Impact 7/30/2026

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Sugar Land updates green waste collection requirements

Sugar Land residents must begin using new green waste collection bags ahead of the start of 2027.

What residents need to know: At a July 21 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved an amendment to its solid waste contract with Republic Services to update its residential green waste collection requirements.

The details: Residents will now be required to use certified compostable bags for services rather than using clear bags as the city moves to a more local composting facility, Environmental Manager Christian Eubanks said. Residents will still be able to use reusable containers.

Also of note: City Council also approved the first reading of an ordinance amendment to grant Republic Services exclusive rights to solid waste collection including temporary projects throughout the city in a 6-1 vote.

Looking ahead: City officials will begin outreach in August with a 90-day grace period from October to December, Eubanks said. Non-compliant bags will still be collected during the grace period. Full roll-out and enforcement will begin Jan. 1.

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Fort Bend ISD approves 4 new potential cell towers on district property

Fort Bend ISD will enter into a lease agreement with Diamond Communications for four new potential cell towers on district property.

The item, which was approved at a July 27 meeting, was approved in a 4-3 vote with board members Addie Heyliger, Adam Schoof and Afshi Charania dissenting.

How it works: Diamond Communications, which serves as a consultant to market district-owned sites to wireless carriers, has identified four new potential sites for cell towers, according to agenda documents.

The new potential tower locations include:

Old Kempner Stadium
Garcia Middle School
Sartartia Middle School
Patterson Elementary School

What they’re saying: Several board members and residents, including Schoof, raised concerns about health, safety, communication from the city and return on investment for the project.

However, Richard Gay, executive director of business services for Fort Bend ISD, said the project would improve connectivity for schools and that the nine existing cell towers on district campuses have not had any safety issues.

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Houston saw 1.08 million participants at FIFA World Cup 2026 events

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee released statistics July 22 on how the city performed during the tournament and its associated events.

The breakdown: The report included specific metrics related to attendance, transportation, public safety and operational data throughout the seven match days, 39-day fan festival and other related events such as the Houston Dynamo Soccer Celebration.

1,086,499 participants attended FIFA World Cup 2026 events in Houston
480,186 fans attended matches at Houston Stadium (68,598 per match)
81% of all ticket buyers traveled from outside the Houston area, with 44% of buyers being international

Zooming in: The report also highlighted economic and community impact metrics, including visitor traffic, transportation and airport operations.

During the tournament timeline, Houston saw nearly 1 million visitors to East Downtown and 1.47 million to downtown, with dining options surrounding the fan festival experiencing year-over-year traffic growth between 33% and 1,600%.

Find out more.