Texas A&M University leaders and state officials gathered at the university’s RELLIS campus on April 9 to break ground on the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute. It’s a project worth more than $200 million, designed to expand training, manufacturing and domestic research on computer chips.

The big picture: Speakers at the groundbreaking all agreed that the institute, referred to as TSI, would help position Texas to reduce reliance on overseas semiconductor production while strengthening economic growth and national security.

The details: The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved construction of TSI in February as part of a $205.5 million infrastructure and equipment project.

Located behind RELLIS’s Research Integration Center in Bryan, the roughly 80,000-square-foot facility will include advanced clean rooms, fabrication space and labs designed to mirror real-world semiconductor production environments.

What leaders are saying: Headlining the groundbreaking, Texas Governor Greg Abbott framed semiconductor production as a global race tied to artificial intelligence, defense technology and future economic growth.

Next steps: Construction is expected to continue through 2028.

C&J Barbeque began within a gas station on Harvey Road in College Station in October 1981, Director Reagan Manning said.

Her parents, Chip and Jo Manning, purchased the gas station and convenience store with the goal of having more space for their catering food truck business.

How we got here: In 1997, Chip and Jo converted the convenience store to a barbecue restaurant and took out the gas pumps, Reagan said. In 2002, the couple expanded to Bryan, and in 2006, C&J Barbeque’s Southwest Parkway location opened in College Station.

On the menu: C&J Barbeque, which is open daily, has grown from its single barbecue pit to seven pits capable of holding up to about 200 briskets, Reagan said.

Quote of note: “We care to always be learning. We know that we don’t know everything about barbecue and that we can always be better, and so we’re constantly looking at what we’re doing, looking at how we can be better, while trying to also be somewhat affordable,” she said.

Bryan ISD is preparing for a couple of state-level shifts in student evaluation, including the replacement of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam and a potential standardized GPA calculation process.

What's happening? The Student Success Tool is expected to replace STAAR by the 2027-28 school year.

While still under development by the TEA, SST will use shorter assessments given multiple times throughout the year to measure academic growth and allow for earlier intervention. The final assessment will still factor into accountability ratings, and the English II end-of-course exam is expected to be removed under this model.

Also of note: Lawmakers are considering a proposal for standardized GPA weighting statewide, which could affect class rankings and college admissions. This standard would give equal weight to advanced placement, international baccalaureate, and dual-credit courses, with some district flexibility for honors coursework.

If approved, the changes would begin with incoming seventh-graders in the 2027-28 school year. Bryan ISD has not adopted the policy but is tracking developments and seeking a “hold harmless” year to adjust.

Tickets for the 2026 Texas Renaissance Festival will go on sale April 15, according to an April 2 news release. There will be a 20% discount from April 15-30.

Quote of note: “April 15 marks the beginning of the journey towards this year’s festival, and we’re excited to offer this special discount to our guests to celebrate the season ahead,” TRF Marketing Director Tyler Moyer said via news release. “We can’t wait to open the gates of the Texas Renaissance Festival once again and create magical memories for every visitor.”

More details: The Texas Renaissance Festival’s 52nd season is scheduled to take place from Oct. 10 through Nov. 29, and will feature over 70 acres of activities, entertainment and markets for attendees, according to the news release.