Bryan City Council approved a contract with an architectural firm at its April 14 meeting, clearing the way to start the process of building an all-new city animal shelter.

In a nutshell: The council unanimously approved the $525,000 agreement with Jackson & Ryan Architects to design the new city of Bryan Animal Shelter. This project carries a price tag of about $7.4 million to replace the existing aging facility and improve the quality of life for its furry residents.

How we got here: Bryan has operated animal services in its current facility along Finfeather Road since taking over operations from the county in 2011. The building was built in 1981. 

The details: The city wants the new shelter to be built on 2 acres at 2101 E. Martin Luther King Jr. St. Plans show a modern facility expected to improve animal care, staff operations and adoption services.

Before you go: Bryan city staff said design work is expected to begin in May, with construction management proposals anticipated within two months.

Bryan ISD’s board of trustees is set to meet April 20 to discuss instructional materials, campus renovations tied to the 2025 bond and hear reports on ongoing budgetary information.

What’s happening: Administrators are seeking approval of multiple design and construction contracts tied to interior renovations, including new multipurpose learning spaces, floor finish upgrades, wall improvements and restroom renovations across district campuses.

Trustees will also consider:

• Replacing a boiler at Neal Elementary School, which will cost more than $50,000
• Approving new high school math instructional materials
• Reviewing certification of the district’s instructional materials compliance survey for the 2026-27 school year

Check out the latest real estate data for the Bryan-College Station area for March and how it compares to the same month in 2025.

The overview: Overall, more homes were sold across the area in March compared to the same month in 2025.

Texas is home to the nation’s fastest-growing data center market, with one January report projecting that the state will see a 142% increase in its share of the data center industry by the end of 2028.

During a wide-ranging Texas House hearing April 9, lawmakers questioned data center developers, energy companies and state grid officials about the amount of water the large facilities use; how they impact noise levels and air quality; and whether residents can expect higher costs when data centers come to their communities.

What they're saying: “Water is a really scarce resource in this state, and so we have to have a clear picture of what these facilities use on the water side,” said Thomas Gleeson, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

More details: Data centers use water to cool their computer servers and prevent overheating. The facilities have historically used a water-intensive process known as "evaporative cooling," but data center executives said April 9 that they have transitioned to “closed-loop” systems where water is continuously reused.