WTAW - Interviews

Bryan City Councilman Jared Salvato visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the decision to not implement impact fees, widening streets, concerns about the legislature, Midtown Park, a possible new operator for Travis Field, upcoming city events, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

State Representative Paul Dyson of Bryan (R-TX) visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about school voucher legislation, government overstep, the upcoming agenda after Easter, President Trump's call, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from Brazos County commissioner Wanda Watson during the April 15, 2025 commission meeting.

Brazos County commissioner Wanda Watson disclosed at the end of Tuesday's meeting (April 15) that there was a private gathering last Friday of stakeholders in the county's new office complex that will be built across Texas Avenue from the courthouse. 

The complex includes what Watson calls "The 101 (one-oh-one) Building", a skywalk over Texas Avenue connecting that building to the courthouse, and an employee parking garage.

The new office building would become home to the precinct four justice of the peace and constable offices, adult probation, and the public defender’s office.

Watson, who said she attended the meeting because the complex is in her precinct, was joined by the county's construction project manager, representatives of the future occupants, the county's I-T, budget, and other departments that will be involved in servicing the office building, "the contractors, the geological folks, the engineering folks, (and) the design folks".

Watson said the meeting provided the opportunity to share what everyone wanted "in terms of a building so that everybody was on the same page."

In March, commissioners awarded a $50 million dollar construction contract and a $4.5 million dollar architect’s contract.

This podcast contains comments from the April 15, 2025 College Station ISD school board meeting.

The photo with this podcast is Rock Prairie elementary school principal Jeff Durand addressing the board.

College Station ISD (CSISD) school board members at Tuesday's meeting (April 15) without discussion, unanimously approved the superintendent's recommendations for administrator contracts for the next two years.

That was after ten public speakers asked the board to reconsider the decision to reassign the principal at Rock Prairie elementary.

Also speaking was the principal who will be removed, Jeff Durand, and one of his children.

Durand said among other things that "I'd like to hope that a small outcome from all of this is that everybody begins to understand just how difficult the role of a campus administrator is." He also said "I sincerely hope that this interest in the well being of our campus and district continues long after this evening." He also said "it's time to focus all this energy and concern away from my future and towards the future of all of our schools in this district, moving forward as best as we can." He concluded by saying "We have just about five weeks left in this year and I would like to be able guide my campus through those weeks with as much joy as I can muster and as much support as I have witnessed recently. The students and the staff deserves no less."

Board president Jeff Horak said after the public speakers that "I'd like to acknowledge the community's interest and concern regarding the recent leadership decisions within the district. We feel it is important to provide the clarity about the expectations of our campus leaders and (the) process by which these kinds of decisions are made. While the board of trustees does not take action on these kinds of personnel decisions, we are made aware of the personnel matters including any concerns or actions being taken by district administration to support, coach and evaluate campus leaders. Throughout the support process campus leaders are made aware of expectations and potential outcomes. The intent of this process is to provide ample opportunity to continue in their role to be successful in leading their school community. As a district we hold our leaders to a high standard. And when the standards are not met we have a responsibility to take action that prioritizes success of students, staff, and campuses."

There was a total of 16 public speakers. Five others criticized CSISD central office administrators of making changes that added to the workload of teachers and accused the central office administrators of retaliating against teachers who spoke out.

The public speakers received cheers and applause from a standing room only crowd. The remarks were watched by more than 400 viewers on CSISD's YouTube channel.

The only board comments came from the president. There was no response from CSISD employees.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about SB 1567, See-Click-Fix, code enforcement, testifying in Austin, impact fees, upcoming city events, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Brazos County State Senator Charles Schwertner visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about voting against SB 1567, the budget, getting rid of the Texas Lottery, school vouchers, pulling funding from the bullet train, impact fees, e-verify, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast includes comments from the April 8, 2025 Blinn College trustees meeting.

Almost three months after Blinn College opened their new Bryan campus administration and support services building, trustees move forward with another $100 million dollars in construction projects.

Trustees voted 4-3 to approve selected the administration's recommendation for construction manager at risk (CMAR) for a nearly $30 million dollar sports complex on the Brenham campus, consisting of a fieldhouse, a soccer field, a softball field, a football practice field, space for intramurals, and parking.

The trustee's newest member, retired Blinn facilities director Richard O'Malley, failed in his attempt to delay a vote until getting more information about the process of reviewing nine proposals.

Joining O'Malley were retired Blinn vice president Dennis Crowson and Diane Kettler.

Voting for the administration's recommendation were chairman Jim Kolkhorst, vice chair Allison Bentke, secretary Randy Wells, and Rebecca Ehlert.

The location of the sports complex is south of the Brenham campus, behind car dealerships on the north side of Highway 290. Crowson questioned why public access is through a Blinn apartment complex instead of entering off of 290. Blinn's current facilities director Mark Feldhake said that could be part of a traffic impact analysis that has yet to be done.

Click HERE to read and download background information about Blinn's future athletic complex in Brenham.

And a unanimous vote to select the construction manager at risk for a $68 million dollar building near Waller came after administrators fielded questions about why the first building at their newest branch campus was about academics instead of focusing on workforce training. Executive vice chancellor Leighton Schubert said Blinn is experiencing a high demand for workforce training at employer's sites.

Click HERE to read and download background information about Blinn's academic building project near Waller.

This podcast is a visit from Bryan police officer Seth Waller and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

A shoutout is given to Bryan ISD security and Bryan police for handling a suspicious situation outside Bonham elementary school.

BPD officer Seth Waller said last Thursday (April 10), the BISD security employee noticed a car circling around Bonham's parking lot several times while school was in session.

Waller said the security employee approached the driver, got him to stop, and got the keys from the driver.

Suspecting the driver was under the influence, Waller said the security employee notified Bonham administrators, who in turn contacted two BPD school resource officers who responded from neighboring Sadberry Intermediate.

Waller said the driver "didn't have anybody at the school (Bonham), really didn't know where he was at this time, kind of disoriented (and) agitated, kinda all those things that we (police) see coming with an impaired driver at 8:45 in the morning."

Waller praised the security officer "from observing the vehicle (and) knowing something wasn't right, protecting the kids, (and) protecting the building from an impaired driver (from) driving into the building (and/or) trying to escape or flee police".

The driver, a 52 year old man from Houston, was arrested for DWI.

Waller says if anyone sees erratic behavior from a driver to call 9-1-1.

WTAW's Chelsea Reber visits with Peggi Ondrasek, President/CEO of United Way of the Brazos Valley, and Lynn Yeager from The Prenatal Clinic.

This podcast is a visit with the director of the Bryan/College Station metropolitan planning organization, Dan Rudge, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Brazos County has a new source of money for alternative transportation projects.

The director of the Bryan/College Station metropolitan planning organization (MPO), Dan Rudge, says non-profits and others who don't normally apply for grants can also apply for a piece of $2.8 million dollars for transportation projects that don't involve building roads.

The application period begins April 17. 

Recipients would be responsible for paying for their project, then receive a reimbursement for 80 percent of the cost.

Rudge says the list of possible projects includes educational items, sidewalks, and shared use paths.

Click HERE to be directed to the B/CS MPO website for more information.