Bryan City Council voted July 14 to approve an amendment to the Bryan Texas Utilities solar compensation models, attempting to create more equitable energy prices for customers.

How it happened: According to the council discussion, BTU had been paying a fixed price for excess solar energy produced and then sold to BTU by homes and businesses with panels installed on their property prior to the amendment. The city estimated 815 total solar customers, approximately a little over 1% of all BTU customers.

The new ordinance is set to change the payment for solar kilowatt-hours from $0.1144 to $0.0376. BTU also estimates it had been overpaying customers for excess solar energy compared to the average ERCOT price, with as much as 5.3 times higher than the average during peak generation hours.

The impact: Council member Marca Ewers-Shurtleff proposed the ordinance possess language grandfathering in existing solar customers with the current contract, but it failed to advance. Council member Jared Salvato motioned to pass the current ordinance, which passed.

Destination Bryan announced it has launched two new tours for walking downtown and driving around the city, hoping to bring attention to the city’s history.

In a nutshell: The walking tour, which takes people through Historic Downtown, features 35 different stops and various facts about infrastructure and different areas of downtown. The entire tour can take up to an hour and a half, but Destination Bryan says patrons can “choose stops for a shorter walk.”

The driving tour features 18 stops throughout the city, with stops such as the Brazos Valley African American Museum, the Texas A&M University RELLIS campus and Boonville Heritage Park. Destination Bryan says the drive can be as short as an hour, but patrons are encouraged to take as long as they would like.

Dig deeper: Destination Bryan has created a digital passport for those who are interested in taking the tours. The tours are free, self-guided and can be completed at the leisure of those doing them.

Bryan brunch spot First Watch celebrated a decade in Aggieland July 15 after opening what was then the restaurant chain's first Texas location.

What's new: The restaurant marked its 10-year anniversary celebration with a ribbon cutting attended by loyal customers and the community. Attendees were greeted with refreshments and a DJ.

According to First Watch officials, the Bryan location paved the way for the chain's expansion across Texas, which now includes 76 locations.

Chief Operating Officer Dan Anfinson called expanding into a market as big as Texas as a risk for the chain.

"I'm elated to be here 10 years later and wish the best for the next 10 years," he said.

On the menu: First Watch serves made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch items, including sandwiches, tacos, bowls and its ever-popular avocado toast among others.

The full menu is available every day, 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

The impact: First Watch officials said the company plans to continue to expand in West Texas and Louisiana.

• Celebrating 10 years
• 4501 S Texas Ave, Bryan

Looking for plans this weekend? Several movie and swim events will be hosted the weekend of July 17.

This list is not comprehensive and events are subject to change.

'The Odyssey' at The Queen Theatre: "The Odyssey" follows Odysseus after the Trojan War and his trip back to Ithaca, where he meets the cyclops, sirens and Calypso. 

• July 16, 6-8:30 p.m.
• $11
• 110 South Main St., Bryan

• July 17, 5-7 p.m.
• $4 
• 1484 Rock Prairie Road, College Station

• July 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 730 Olsen Blvd., College Station

As heavy rain and flash flooding threatens large swaths of South and Central Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott spoke to reporters about the state's preparation for and response to the severe weather July 15.

The big picture: The heaviest rainfall is occurring in southwest Texas, according to the National Weather Service, with 10-15 inches of rain expected through July 16 along the U.S. 90 corridor west of San Antonio. As of 2:40 p.m. July 15, all or parts of 14 counties were under a flash flood warning, including Comal, Hays and Bexar counties.

The city of New Braunfels announced several road closures July 15, and the city closed recreational access to the Comal River due to continued rainfall and rising water levels, Community Impact reported.

The severe weather came just over a year after historic flooding killed more than 130 people in Central Texas on July 4-5, 2025.

More details: Dozens of other counties were under flood watches, advisories and warnings. Fifty-nine counties were also under a state disaster declaration as of July 14.