Here’s what’s up in SETX, 

March is here, and SETX is already moving. The Rainbow Bridge is finishing its maintenance run six months early — meaning Orange County commuters finally get their bridge back this month. Meanwhile, Entergy is officially breaking ground on $2.4 billion worth of new power plants for the region, Port Arthur just handed renters a stronger safety net with a new property standards ordinance, and CHRISTUS opened a brand-new foot and ankle clinic in Beaumont. There's also a packed schedule of events this weekend and all month long — from a jambalaya cookoff in Orange to the Nederland Heritage Festival to the Beaumont Mural Festival. Big edition this week. Don't miss any of it.

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions and Tailored Lawn Care.

Let's get into it. 👇

Rainbow Bridge Returns to Normal Traffic This Month 🌉

After more than a year of maintenance, the Rainbow Bridge in Orange is wrapping up ahead of schedule — six months ahead, to be exact. Crews replaced 1,200 rivets and four structural steel pins, restored the concrete deck, and repaired steel railings across the iconic structure. Motorists can expect the transition back to normal traffic in March 2026. As part of the wind-down, concrete barriers will also be cleared from the Veterans Memorial Bridge, fully restoring normal flow on both crossings.

For Orange County commuters, contractors, and anyone who moves freight or family across that bridge regularly, this is the end of a long detour. The early completion reflects well on TxDOT and the contractor team — infrastructure projects finishing ahead of schedule in SETX are worth celebrating.

💡 The bottom line: Orange County gets its bridge back and six months ahead of plan. If the detour cost you time or money, the wait is nearly over.

⚡ Entergy Breaks Ground on $2.4B Worth of New Power for SETX

Two new gas power plants are moving into active construction in 2026: the $1.6 billion Legend Power Station (754 MW) in Port Arthur and the $799 million Lone Star Power Station (453 MW) near Cleveland, TX. Both are expected online by mid-2028, and a new 41-mile, 500 kV transmission line through Hardin and Jefferson counties was also approved. This is Entergy's direct response to the explosion in industrial energy demand from the region's petrochemical expansion — and it means thousands of construction jobs and a future-proofed grid for SETX. Read more →

🔥 Jefferson County Issues 90-Day Outdoor Burn Ban

Effective February 26, all outdoor burning is prohibited in unincorporated Jefferson County for 90 days. Fire risk and strained emergency resources are behind the order. Violations are a Class C misdemeanor — up to a $500 fine. If you're outside city limits in Jefferson County, hold off on burning brush, leaves, or debris until the ban lifts. Read more →

🏠 Port Arthur Renters Just Got a Stronger Safety Net

The Port Arthur City Council unanimously passed a new property standards ordinance setting plain-language minimum conditions for habitable housing — structural integrity, functioning utilities, plumbing, and pest control. Landlords who don't comply face fines of $250 to $2,000 per day per violation, with higher penalties for repeat offenders within 24 months. This came directly from residents who complained about apartments lacking basic safety features — and now the city has the enforcement teeth to back them up. Read more →

🏥 CHRISTUS Opens New Foot & Ankle Clinic in Beaumont

Dr. Frances LaGrone is now seeing patients at CHRISTUS's new podiatry clinic at 3650 Laurel Ave. in Beaumont. She treats diabetic foot complications, wound care, sports injuries, bunions, hammertoes, and fractures — services SETX residents often had to travel for. Hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–5 PM, Fri 8 AM–noon. A second podiatrist is planned. In a region with high rates of diabetes, keeping specialty foot care local matters. Read more →

📡 4,000+ Orange County Homes Just Got Fiber Internet

Spectrum has extended fiber broadband to more than 4,000 previously unserved or underserved homes and businesses in Orange and Vidor. For rural Orange County families stuck with unreliable connections for remote work, school, or streaming — that gap is now closed. Read more →

🏆 Beaumont's State of the City Is Going Hollywood — March 24

This year's annual State of the City address gets a creative twist: "The Beaumont Awards" brings an Academy Awards-style ceremony to the Jefferson Theatre on March 24 at 11 AM, recognizing city departments and employees. Live Q&A with city leadership included. Free admission, free concessions, food trucks on-site. Open to the public — mark it on your calendar. Read more →

📬 Which story caught your eye?

Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.

THIS WEEK

MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON THEATRE

THIS WEEKEND

COMING UP

Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know! And if there's an event we missed, send it our way for next week's issue. 🎉

Lumberton has had a go-to for Mexican food since 1990, and Juan's has been earning that loyalty ever since. This family-owned-and-operated spot on South Main Street keeps it simple and keeps it good — no frills, just great food at prices that work for everyone. The menu goes beyond the usual Tex-Mex standards, with standouts like Queso Flameado, raspberry chimichangas, and the Migada keeping regulars coming back. Fresh chips, cold beer, generous portions, and staff that makes you feel like family. Rated #3 of 60 restaurants in Lumberton on TripAdvisor with a 4.8 out of 5 — the reviews basically speak for themselves.

📍 1109 S Main St, Lumberton, TX 77657
⏰ Mon–Sat 11 AM–8 PM | Closed Sunday
📞 (409) 751-6539
🌐 juansmexltx.com

📍 1109 S Main St, Lumberton, TX 77657 ⏰ Mon–Sat 11 AM–8 PM | Closed Sunday

🍕 Taverna — Coming Soon to Calder Avenue, Beaumont

A new pizza and gyro concept is on its way to Calder Avenue, and we're here for it. Taverna is the latest addition to Beaumont's growing dining scene on one of its busiest corridors. Details are still rolling out ahead of opening — we'll have the full scoop once the doors swing open.

📍 Calder Avenue, Beaumont

🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.

Good haircuts and good community don't have to be two different things — that's the philosophy behind Twin Blades Barbershop, the Dowlen Road shop founded in 2023 by Elia Bacchiocchi and Joshua Lynch. Three barbers work out of the space at 229 Dowlen Rd Ste 8A, offering men's haircuts, beard trims, and head shaves in a clean, welcoming shop that takes integrity seriously. The mission is simple: make everyone feel at home while delivering precision work every single visit. Whether you're a regular or walking in for the first time, you're going to leave looking right.

📍229 Dowlen Rd, Suite 8A, Beaumont, TX 77706
⏰ Tue–Fri 9 AM–6 PM | Sat 9 AM–2 PM
📞 409) 333-1055 | twinbladesbarbershop.com

A dedicated partner to local entrepreneurs and growing businesses making SETX a thriving community through accurate bookkeeping and CFO-level guidance. TFS empowers small businesses and visionaries through strategic decision support and clear financial management. 

📧 Want to learn more? Reach out to TFS via their website at tailoredfinsolutions.com and mention What's Up SETX for a complimentary consultation.

This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].

March marks the beginning of spring bird migration along the Texas Gulf Coast, and Southeast Texas sits right in the middle of one of the most active flyways in North America. Early warblers, vireos, and neotropical migrants are already moving through — and the numbers will peak through April. Two spots stand out:

Big Thicket National Preserve (Hardin County) is an internationally recognized birding destination with over 185 bird species documented. Walk the Kirby Nature Trail in the morning, when activity peaks. No entry fee. nps.gov/bith

Sabine Woods (near Sabine Pass, Jefferson County) is a small coastal woodland that acts as a first landfall for migrants crossing the Gulf. During a "fallout" — when birds drop in exhausted after overnight flights — you can see dozens of species in a single morning. Parking area off TX-87.

🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.

Entry-level civil service examination. Application deadline: March 20, 2026 by 5PM. Must be certified/enrolled in fire protection or EMT program. Veterans get 5 preference points. Contact: Shanetra Hinton at 409-983-8215.

Paid summer work for high school juniors and seniors. Earn $10-$17/hour. Program runs June 8 - July 31. Application deadline: March 31. Apply at paedc.org.

Looking for work this spring? Tailored Lawn Care is actively hiring. Outdoor work, local routes, steady gig.

How to apply: Call or text Frederick: (409) 365-4887

PAISD is hiring teachers, bus drivers, and support staff for the upcoming school year. Three career fairs coming up — virtual and in-person options available.

🌐 Register & browse openings: paisd.org/vacancies

💼 Hiring in SETX? Send us your job listing and we'll include it — free for local businesses. Just reply to this email.

Every week, we ask a few questions because this newsletter is a two-way street. Hit reply — we read every single one.

See you in a few days neighbor 📍,

The What’s Up SETX Team