Pearland approves $6.3M in intersection projects for Shadow Creek Ranch
Pearland approved a $6.3 million contract for intersection improvements around the Shadow Creek Ranch area.
The gist: The work will include improvements around roughly eight different intersections, including a stretch along Business Center Drive and several along Shadow Creek Parkway, according to city documents.
Officials said the work is meant to mitigate "growing traffic congestion," as the thoroughfares included in the plan are some of the busiest roads in Pearland.
Diving in deeper: The work, according to city documents, will include:
Traffic signals
New left- and right-turn lanes
Sidewalk work
Road work
Improving approaches and merges
What else: The contract will go to Jerdon Enterprise, which submitted a bid estimating the cost to be around $6.3 million, documents show. While that estimate came in higher than the city engineer’s estimate of $5.7 million, the city budgeted nearly $10.4 million for the project.
Looking ahead: Work is expected to begin in October and could wrap up next August, according to city documents.
Aki Sushi and Asian Fusion opened its doors in Manvel in September.
The location is the newest restaurant from the Aki brand, with locations already established in Mont Belvieu, League City and Sugar Land.
What they offer: Nestled in Manvel Town Center, the family-owned restaurant serves steak and sushi that is made fresh daily, as previously reported by Community Impact.
At the restaurant, customers can choose from a variety of sushi, including popular items such as spicy tuna rolls, shaggy dog rolls and California rolls. Additionally, Aki Sushi and Asain Fusion offers bento boxes, rice and noodle dishes, hibachi, nigiri and sashimi.
For dessert, customers can enjoy unique ice cream flavors like red bean ice cream or strawberry-flavored mochi as well as green tea cheesecake.
CI Foodie: 6 fresh additions to the Greater Houston dining scene
Check out several new restaurants that have recently opened across the Houston metro, as recently reported by Community Impact. Smash City Burgers: The new halal smash burger and hot dog eatery concept recently opened in the Galleria area, serving a variety of halal comfort food items, including milkshakes and loaded fries. Smash City first opened as a food truck location in Baton Rouge, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Opened Sept. 13
6377 Westheimer Road, Houston
Krua Thai & Sushi: What was once occupied by the popular Thai Gourmet restaurant is now a new establishment called Krua Thai & Sushi. Krua specializes in Thai cuisine, featuring noodle dishes and curries such as kaeng rawang, also known as green curry, and panang curry, also known as red curry. Customers can also order pineapple fried rice as well as kao soi, a curry noodle soup with chicken.
Texas to overhaul STAAR, launch 3 new exams in 2027
The Texas Education Agency will begin transitioning to a new standardized testing system after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law Sept. 17 to replace the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness with three shorter exams.
The overview: Through the 2026-27 school year, Texas public school students in third through 12th grade will continue taking the STAAR each spring. Beginning in fall 2027, students will take three tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year under House Bill 8, the new law.
Students’ results will be released within 48 hours after each new test is administered. STAAR scores are currently released about six weeks after a test ends, according to the TEA.
The debate: Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said the new system will reduce test-related anxiety; give students and teachers feedback throughout the school year; and increase legislative oversight of Texas’ assessment and accountability systems. Critics of the plan said it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the TEA.
