Here’s what’s up in SETX, 

Beaumont just released the full project list for that $58.2M infrastructure bond you voted on and yes, specific streets are named. This week we've also got three SETX basketball teams who made history reaching the state championships, a public health alert you need to know about, and Lamar University's new head coach who once pulled off the greatest single-season turnaround in NCAA history. Plus: Mural Fest is this weekend in downtown Beaumont, and the South Texas State Fair is 10 days out.

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

Let's get into it. 👇

Beaumont's $58.2M Bond Has a Project List - Here's Exactly Where the Money Goes

When voters approved Beaumont's $58.2M infrastructure bond on March 4, they were betting on a better city. Now the city has put its cards on the table: $28.2M for drainage improvements in flood-prone areas, $20M for street repairs on named corridors including Lucas Drive and Gladys Avenue, and $10M to build out a new citywide sidewalk master plan. City Council has also committed to full public transparency meaning every contract will go through a public review process before construction begins.

This is rare because a civic bond that was approved by residents is now, within two weeks, attached to a specific project list with real street names and real dollar amounts.

For neighborhoods that have flooded repeatedly or watched their street surfaces crumble, this is the moment to pay attention and stay engaged. The transparency pledge means residents will have a window to weigh in before contracts are awarded.

💡 The bottom line: Your vote funded this! So now bookmark the city's project list and hold Beaumont's leadership accountable for delivering every project on it.

🏀 Three SETX Teams Made State History — West Brook Bruins, Beaumont United Timberwolves, and Orangefield Bobcats all competed at the Alamodome in San Antonio last weekend, making it the first time three SETX teams have appeared at the state basketball championships simultaneously. All three fell in the final round, but reaching state from the same region at the same time is the kind of thing people talk about for a generation. This community showed up. Read more →

🦇 Beaumont Rabies Alert — Two Positive Bats Confirmed in the City — Beaumont Animal Care issued a public alert after two bats tested positive for rabies: one found at the 600 block of 21st Street, another at the 6000 block of College Street. About 11% of bats submitted for testing in Texas come back positive, which is why the rule is simple — never touch a bat with bare hands. If a bat is found indoors or has contact with a person or pet, call Beaumont Animal Care immediately. Rabies is preventable if treated promptly; it is fatal once symptoms appear. Read more →

⚖️ Beaumont Municipal Court Amnesty: Warrant Fees Waived March 23–April 10 — If you or someone you know has an outstanding Class C misdemeanor warrant in Beaumont, this is the window to clear it without paying warrant fees. The amnesty program runs from March 23 through April 10 — that's a limited stretch where residents can settle their record and move on. This kind of program directly benefits working people who've had a warrant hanging over them; don't let the deadline pass. Read more →

🏀 Lamar University Has a New Men's Basketball Head Coach — Jordan Fee was named the 13th head coach in Lamar men's basketball history on March 14, coming over from Florida Atlantic University where he served as associate head coach. His origin story: at Division II Gannon University, Fee took a program that went 3-32 the year before he arrived and turned it into a 32-3 national champion in a single season — the greatest single-season turnaround in NCAA history. LU fans have reason to be curious. Read more →

🏛️ BISD's TEA Takeover — Board of Managers Is Being Assembled Now — The Texas Education Agency received 79 applications for Beaumont ISD's new Board of Managers, 71 of them from within BISD boundaries. TEA Conservator Andrew Kim is already in place overseeing the district at $250/hour. The full board is expected to be announced and governing before the August 2026 school year begins. For Beaumont families, this is an actively developing story with real implications for how the district is led. 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. 🎉

Sometimes you just want real Italian. The kind with thick portions, a proper wine list, and a room that feels like it belongs in a neighborhood that actually knows how to eat. Frankie's has been holding it down on I-10 in Beaumont with a menu that runs from chicken parm subs and shrimp scampi to salmon piccata, calzones, and homemade cannoli and tiramisu. Catering is available too, which makes them a solid pick if you've got an event coming up and want something beyond the usual spread.

📍 105 I-10, Beaumont, TX 77707 | ⏰ Tue–Sat 11 AM–10 PM | Sun 11 AM–9 PM | Closed Monday

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

Lamar University engineering researcher Dr. Maryam Hamidi just secured an $800,000 award from TxDOT to develop an AI-powered monitoring system for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway — one of the most active commercial shipping corridors in the country. The project will use artificial intelligence to track vessel movement and freight activity in real time, which has direct implications for safety, logistics efficiency, and regional infrastructure planning. It's the kind of research that doesn't just sit in a lab; waterway commerce is the lifeblood of Southeast Texas's industrial economy, and better monitoring means smarter decisions at every level.

Beaumont is home to a world-class research university, and Dr. Hamidi's work is a reminder of that $800K from TxDOT doesn't go to just anybody.

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

March is arguably the best month to get outside in SETX. Temperatures are mild, wildflowers are starting to push through, and the humidity hasn't arrived yet to ruin everything. Tyrrell Park is the place to be this week: 900+ acres of trails, a disc golf course, picnic areas, and a botanical garden (Crosby Arboretum-adjacent) right inside Beaumont city limits. This Saturday, the Walk to End Lupus kicks off there at 9 AM, which means you've got a built-in reason to show up. But even outside of the event, it's worth a standalone visit — the birding along the wooded trails is legitimately good right now, and the park rarely feels crowded during weekday mornings.

📍 6088 Babe Zaharias Dr, Beaumont, TX 77706

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

The What's Up SETX Team is on the hunt for amateur photographers based in the Golden Triangle to partner with us for our social media and newsletter so we can reach and help more people stay in the know.

If you're already out there capturing community moments, local businesses, or everyday life around here, we'd love to start a conversation about working together.

Or if someone came to mind while you were reading this, send it their way.

Interested? Email us at [email protected] with your portfolio or Instagram handle.

Port Arthur students can earn $10 to $17/hr this summer through the city's Youth Employment Program offering real work experience that connects classroom learning to career pathways.

Deadline: March 31, 2026 | Apply at paedc.org.

Looking for outdoor work this spring? Tailored Lawn Care is hiring for local routes. Good steady gig with a local company.

Call or text Frederick: (409) 365-4887

📋 Workforce Solutions SETX Job Fairs

One last job fair coming up this month connecting SETX workers with local employers. Free to attend! Just bring your resume and your questions.

Visit: setworks.org

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

What's your go-to outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle when the March weather cooperates? Tyrrell Park, Big Thicket, somewhere else? Tell us and you might end up in a future edition.

See you in a few days neighbor 📍,

The What’s Up SETX Team