Houston approved $129.9 million for seven infrastructure projects at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

The overview: The projects include aircraft parking, employee parking, stormwater detention, utility improvements and pedestrian bridge repairs.

The city also authorized an agreement with United Airlines to deliver the work. The entire project will cost $229.9 million and Houston will reimburse United Airlines. The first payment of $129.9 million will be disbursed in fiscal year 2026-27. The remaining $100 million will be paid out in FY 2027-28. Funding will come from airport funds.

City officials said international travel at IAH has increased as the airport saw a record of 12.4 million international travelers in 2025. That international demand, along with an expanding route map, underscores the need for infrastructure.

Design and construction are expected over the next three years, officials said.

Also of note: Under the agreement, United will manage development and construction. Houston Airports will reimburse approved project costs from airport system funds and recover those costs through rates and charges paid by airlines and other airport users, including United.

Van Wart Dental will open a second location in the Bellaire area by spring 2027.

A family affair: Van Wart Dental is a family-owned dental practice that has been operating for over 50 years since opening in 1967.

The practice is now in its third generation of Van Wart family dentists, with Dr. Sherry Van Wart-Noblett and Dr. Tammy Van Wart-Hemann, and granddaughter Dr. Christina Noblett-Thomas, practicing there.

Its services include dental treatment such as fillings, dentures, root canals, gum disease treatment and dental crowns. It also offers cosmetic dentistry such as cleanings, veneers, whitening and closing spaces.

The details: According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, renovations for the commercial space will begin Oct. 1. The 1,903-square-foot space will be remodeled for dental office use. Renovations are expected to wrap up by April 2027.

• 4950 Bissonnet St., Ste. A, Bellaire

After nine years of serving as the president of UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Peter WT Pisters has announced his retirement from his role, according to an Aug. 26 news release.

Latest update: Effective immediately, the University of Texas System Board of Regents and Chancellor John M. Zerwas have selected Dr. Jeffrey E. Lee as interim president. Lee will work closely with Pisters in a transition period running through the end of September, per the release.

The context: Pisters’ career at the nation’s top-ranked cancer center began in 1994 when he joined faculty as an assistant professor of surgery. He was promoted to a full professor with tenure in 2004, by then already having focused his medical research on gastrointestinal cancers, soft tissue sarcomas and other malignancies, according to the center’s official website.

The UT System Board of Regents appointed Pisters as president in December 2017 following an international search and a unanimous sole finalist naming. His collective journey at UT MD Anderson spans more than 20 years, the website details.

Two candidates are running for Harris County District Clerk in the Nov. 3 election, including Chris Daniel and Darrell Jordan.

What you need to know: Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30, according to the Texas Secretary of State's website. Election day is Nov. 3 and polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Registered voters can cast their ballot at any polling location during early voting and on election day. Voters can visit www.harrisvotes.com more information.

On Sept. 1, the State Board of Education moved forward with an overhaul of what Texas high schoolers will learn in four social studies courses: U.S. History, U.S. Government, World History and World Geography.

What's happening: Roughly 100 Texans testified about the high school curriculum rewrite at an Aug. 31 meeting, with the debate revolving around how students would learn about the two largest world religions, Christianity and Islam.

Dozens of Muslim Texans asked that students learn about the religion’s core principles and how Muslims have contributed to advancements in math, science and medicine throughout history.

Some testifiers said the social studies curriculum should highlight the role of Christianity in the founding of Texas and the U.S., praising the board for prioritizing “American exceptionalism” and topics that they said would teach students to love the country.

The context: The discussion comes as the Republican-led board nears the finish line on its new K-12 social studies curriculum standards.

If approved, the new requirements will be rolled out to public school classrooms in the 2030-31 school year.