After months of discussion, the Bryan ISD school board unanimously approved designs for the new 43,000-square-foot Merrill Green Field House and scoreboard during the Oct. 19 meeting.

The gist: As previously reported by Community Impact, talks about the new field house design date back to March, when Bryan ISD approved a contract with PBK Architects for the $35.8 million project. Bryan ISD Deputy Superintendent Brian Merrell continued to share details on the schedule and design, with the firm advancing final design options in September.

The new field house is expected to include:

• Locker rooms for high school athletes

• Weight rooms and training areas

• Multipurpose space

• Coaches’ offices

• Circulation and support areas

• An access tunnel

• A new video board and distributed sound system

What the board is saying: After a series of questions and discussion with the board, Bryan ISD Board President Joel Bryan said the project looked “incredible.”

Going forward: The board unanimously approved the designs of the new field house and scoreboard, with board members Felicia Benford and Julie Harlin-Wolf absent.

Candidates for Bryan and College Station city councils addressed housing affordability, aging infrastructure, public safety, city spending and development during The BCS Chamber’s second candidate forum Oct. 20 at the Brazos Center.

The highlights:

• College Station Special Election City Council Place 5-Unexpired Term: Candidates Tre Watson, Padon Holt and Valen Cepak discussed zoning, parking, city spending, public safety and the future of the vacant city-owned Macy's building.

• Bryan Single Member District 2: Incumbent Ray Arrington and challenger Chrissy Ransome identified aging infrastructure and housing affordability as major concerns.

• College Station City Council Place 1: Incumbent Mark Smith and challengers Howard Mayne and Roy May debated the city's budget, a proposed public works facility, housing costs and license-plate reader cameras.

• Bryan Single Member District 1: Incumbent Paul Torres and challenger Chris Scotti agreed aging infrastructure remains a priority in Bryan’s District 1, but differed on how the city should address it and evaluate past decisions.

• College Station City Council Place 2: Candidates Chandler Arden and Michael Kidd emphasized affordability, responsible budgeting and public safety.

A new sports bar and grill has opened in the heart of Historic Downtown Bryan, taking over the former location of Mexican restaurant Casa Rodriguez, according to Destination Bryan. 

The overview: Carp’s 24 is a sports bar and grill serving alcoholic beverages such as mixed drinks and beer with specials during game nights. As stated by Destination Bryan, the bar is named after owner Steve Carpio, a Bryan-College Station local.

According to the Carp’s 24 social media, the restaurant offers specials for a variety of games, including in-season professional football and baseball. The bar also offers specials for college and Texas A&M University sports.

The bottom line: As previously reported by Community Impact, several new bars have opened in downtown Bryan, including Final Score Sports Bar & Arcade, expansion of The Owl and the changing ownership of The 101.

• Opened Oct. 7

• 300 N. Bryan Ave., Bryan

Texas environmental regulators have continued processing certain data center permits in the month since Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a permitting pause, according to a new report from FracTracker, an oil and gas watchdog group.

The details: Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality last month to "halt all permits sought by data centers" while the Electric Reliability Council of Texas audits proposed projects.

Yet as of Oct. 16, the TCEQ had moved at least 35 data center-related applications forward, per an analysis of TCEQ records.

Zooming in: The agency has issued public notices for three data center projects since Abbott ordered the pause Sept. 21. It also approved stormwater coverage, certified air emissions limits or assigned engineers to other projects.

"No permits have been approved," Andrew Mahaleris, the governor's press secretary, said Oct. 20. "In line with the governor’s directive, TCEQ has not taken and will not take any proactive actions related to the approval of data center permits."

"These actions do not signal an agency trying to pause," FracTracker said in the report.