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HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland is slated to undergo $60 million in an expansion project to “enhance the hospital’s capacity and infrastructure to meet growing needs of the community,” according to a December news release from the hospital.

What you need to know: The expansion will double the size of the hospital, increasing patient rooms to provide more beds, expanding the emergency room to improve access and reduce wait times, according to the news release.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the median ER visit time is over 160 minutes long, while HCA Pearland’s is 141 minutes from arrival to discharge or admission.

Also of note: While the new expansion will tackle lower wait times, it’s also to provide more resources for the nurses and care teams, Chief Nursing Officer Jenn Bowman said in an email May 13.

Roadside ditch and storm sewer improvements at various locations throughout Friendswood were among the top priorities outlined by Richardson-based consulting firm Halff Associates at a Friendswood City Council meeting June 1.

The presentation was based on an initial study evaluating a master drainage plan that the city pursued in response to historic flooding concerns.

The details: The report identified five top-priority projects out of 53 initial concepts based on a criterion that heavily weighted reducing flooding of structures and roadways, according to the presentation.

Next steps: The city will schedule a workshop with Halff Associates to review the data and conduct a cost-benefit analysis for the recommended projects.

One more thing: The city is currently considering putting a $50.9 million bond to voters in November and currently, the largest portion of the bond proposal, $20.34 million, is allocated to drainage improvements, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.

Playdate Cafe, an indoor kids play space and coffee shop, is set to open in Friendswood this fall, according to a social media post from the business.

What you need to know: Currently under construction, the pay-to-play indoor venue will feature a mini town designed for children ages 7 and under, along with a designated baby area and a selection of coffee and treats for guests.

📍116 Hunters Lane, Friendswood

Restrooms have begun to reopen at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport as part of a $30 million project, according to a news release from Houston Airports.

The openings are a part of the multiyear initiative—which sparked from a challenge by Houston Mayor John Whitmire in 2024—to modernize the approximately 20-year-old restroom facilities of both of Houston’s airports, per the release.

What's changed: In the first five months of this year, restrooms near IAH gates A12, A25 and D7 as well as Hobby gates 28-32, per the release. Renovated restrooms in Terminal A baggage claim at IAH are expected to open before the summer.

Restroom renovations include:

• Expanded stalls to accommodate carry-on luggage
• Improved Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility
• New flooring, wall finishes and modern lighting
• Upgraded fixtures for durability and cleanliness
• Smart technology to alert staff of bathroom needs

Texans are on track to use more electricity this summer than ever before, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced during a board meeting this week.

The details: ERCOT, which operates the power grid for the majority of Texas, is forecasting high temperatures and moderate rainfall this summer. Coupled with the proliferation of data centers and other large projects, demand on the grid could surpass 92 gigawatts, officials estimated June 2.

This would break ERCOT’s current demand record of 85.5 gigawatts, which was set during an August 2023 heat wave.

What it means: However, ERCOT officials said a grid emergency or blackout is unlikely this summer. State officials have said this is due to:

• The addition of nearly 11 gigawatts of power capacity to the grid in the last few months
• A state law authorizing ERCOT to require large facilities to reduce their energy use in tight times