College Station ISD board members voted June 16 in favor of changing the employee health insurance benefits and plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield to Baylor Scott & White for the 2026-27 school year.

The overview: Data presented showed the overall rate of the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan increased nearly 30% from the previous year, with an overall increase of about 47% over the last three years. 

Breaking it down: The district calculated savings across the board with all plans on BS&W, with some as high as $455 per month. Along with those savings, College Station ISD found that BS&W was carried by at least 74.5% of all medical facilities.

What to expect: The board voted 6-1 on the measure, and it has been reflected in the recently approved 2026-27 budget.

A baby is born to a teen mother in Brazos County every three days, according to Healthy Futures of Texas. At the same time, the county’s overall teen birth rate is lower than both the Texas and national averages, and local health care systems continue to expand services and training programs.

The big picture: Maternal health challenges in the area are tied to provider shortages, delayed prenatal care, rural access barriers and persistent disparities.

Despite having insurance, women struggle to secure timely first-trimester appointments.

Reach out: To address these challenges, local programs, including Texas A&M’s Nurse-Family Partnership and Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach’s Ally’s Place connect expectant mothers with vital prenatal and postnatal support. 

As local organizations continue expanding programs and partnerships, health care leaders say improving maternal health will require sustained attention not only during pregnancy, but throughout the years that follow.

Brazos County Commissioners Court is set to approve the county's policy and guidelines for artificial intelligence use, along with various construction projects and repairs at its June 23 meeting.

What you need to know: According to the agenda material, the governance hopes to protect county data, reputation and maximize benefits of using AI. 

Other items worth mentioning:

• Forensic lab technician salary: As part of the county’s ongoing efforts to create and operate a local medical examiner's office, commissioners will consider setting the salary for a full-time lab technician at the rate of $28.26. The position was approved without discussion June 9.
• Interlocal agreement: Commissioners will review an interlocal agreement for Burleson County to buy 286 road and miscellaneous signs for $100. The county said these items are no longer needed by Brazos County.

The Lucky Goat Coffee Company is set to open a new location in Bryan later this summer, expanding its southeast footprint.

What they offer: The Florida-based coffee company sells a variety of caffeinated beverages, along with the sale of wholesale coffee beans and its signature “Luckycchino” drink.

What's new: The second Aggieland location will be locally owned and separate from the College Station Lucky Goat. It is set to be in Bryan, next to the Hudson Oaks Senior Community.

Before you go: The new Lucky Goat location is set to open in August, though an official opening date has not been released.

• Opening this August
• 3349 University Drive, #100, Bryan

Need to catch up on news from the past week in the Bryan-College Station area? Check out these five stories.

1. Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team deploy to help combat screwworm outbreak

2. College Station to consider upgrading areas to be more micromobility-friendly

3. Blinn approves $134.2M balanced 2026-27 budget despite projected state funding reduction

4. College Station ISD approves 2026-27 budget with $8.3M shortfall

5. Bryan ISD approves balanced 2026-27 budget amid enrollment, funding challenges