Houston City Council member Edward Pollard has requested a temporary suspension of the acceptance and approval of applications to construct gas stations near residential property.

The details: On July 2, Pollard wrote a letter to the mayor’s office requesting a 90-day moratorium on applications that would construct gas stations within 200 feet of residential property lines. The letter was posted on his social media pages.

He said he had met with neighborhood leaders, civic organizations and community stakeholders who expressed concern about a concentration of gas stations in proximity to residential neighborhoods.

“The concentration of multiple gas stations within the same area can create conditions that attract higher levels of public safety concerns,” he said in the letter. “However, having a diverse mix of commercial offerings can create more vibrant neighborhoods.”

Pollard added that the request is not to halt current applicants, but to allow the city time to evaluate available data and hear from residents about safeguards and appropriate policy changes.

Molina’s Cantina, a third-generation legacy that started in 1941 by Raul and Mary Molina, has served the Houston area for 85 years and is now carried on by their grandsons Raul III, Ricardo and Roberto Molina. Ricardo Molina said that as the years go by, he has grown up with the eatery's staff and served generations of customers.

Through the years, while the restaurant industry has evolved, what remains the same is the consistency in its scratch-made Tex-Mex and the warmth of its hospitality.

Quote of note: “A lot of these people I've known my whole life, which is really neat. Growing up as a kid coming in with Dad on the weekends, there were some waiters and some of these old cooks I thought were aunts or uncles,” Ricardo Molina said.

The backstory: Formerly known as Mexico City Restaurant, Raul and Mary Molina established the restaurant at 3916 South Main St., Houston. Ricardo Molina said at the time it was just one of a handful of Mexican restaurants located in Houston.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport will receive more than $62.26 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants to reconstruct runways, according to a July 2 news release from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The details: The IAH investment is part of a $1.776 billion total investment in U.S. airports by the Federal Aviation Administration intended to support runway rehabilitations, family-friendly enhancements and safety upgrades.

Harris County commissioners are seeking to appoint Harris County Toll Road Authority Executive Director Robert Trevino to lead a new countywide infrastructure committee aimed at moving county projects forward July 9, as the county also prepares to bring five new civil district courts online.

The breakdown: According to meeting documents, Harris County commissioners will finally review the creation of a countywide infrastructure committee to keep track and create standardized reports for multiple infrastructure initiatives that have been operating under their own committees. Following two rounds of discussions, Carter will bring the recommendation to court for a third time July 9, with Trevino poised to lead the new committee.

Also on the agenda: Commissioners will also hear an update regarding bringing five new civil district courts online as Management and Budget Executive Director Daniel Ramos presents the cost for hiring necessary personnel, such as deputies and court staff. through the end of 2026.