WTAW - Interviews

Ross Brady, Chief of Staff, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about his role, impact fees, other legislation in Austin that they are monitoring, extraterritorial jurisdiction regulations, a new College Station history book, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

State Representative Paul Dyson of Bryan (R-TX) visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about his preparation for budget day, impact fees, the timeline for legislation, next week's agenda, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Zyreshia Jackson, Community & Economic Development Specialist, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the city's upcoming open house, summer programs, job opportunities, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

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

Blinn College trustees agree to freeze tuition and fee rates for the 2025 fall semester.

The unanimous vote at Tuesday's meeting (April 8) follows the recommendation of executive vice chancellor and former state representative Leighton Schubert.

Schubert brought up following the governor's order that four year universities freeze their tuition rates.

Blinn trustees will decide on tuition and fees for the remainder of the 2025-26 academic year after the end of the current legislative session. 

The trustees vote also took into account, Blinn taking in $5.3 million dollars in unexpected revenue this fiscal year and proposed revenue for the next fiscal year based on this year's enrollment.

News release from Blinn College:

The Blinn College District Board of Trustees maintained tuition and general fee rates for the fall 2025 semester and authorized key facility improvements across multiple campuses during its regular meeting on Tuesday.

Fall 2025 tuition and fee rates will remain unchanged from the current academic year. Tuition was set at $64 per semester credit hour for in-district students from Blinn’s taxing district, which includes only Washington County residents. Out-of-district Texas residents will pay $123 per credit hour, and out-of-state students will pay $279 per credit hour. 

Additionally, trustees held the general fee steady at $80 per credit hour. 

Trustees also approved maintaining the current rates for student housing, food services, and all course, lab, and auxiliary fees.

Brazos County State Senator Charles Schwertner visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about legislation regarding personal injury attorneys and claims, CenterPoint Energy, the House budget, the Senate's upcoming agenda, Ken Paxton running against John Cornyn, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County assistant district attorney Jessica Escue and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The Brazos County district attorney's office took action to prevent a federal prison from releasing a convict before he started serving a 75 year sentence for shooting a Bryan man.

47 year old Justin Byrd of Plantersville was convicted by a Brazos County jury in 2020 of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that took place in 2017.

Assistant DA Jessica Escue said it was the first time she encountered federal prosecutors choosing to have Byrd complete his federal sentence before starting the sentence for the Brazos County aggravated assault.

Escue said the feds would not transfer Byrd to a state prison, nor would the state prison system pick up the federal inmate.

Escue said the judge in the Brazos County case agreed to issue a bench warrant that allowed county officials to pick up Byrd before the end of his federal sentence and transport him to the Brazos County jail. The bench warrant will also allow county officials to transport Byrd to a state prison.

This podcast contains comments from the April 7, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Bryan ISD school board members approve replacing the artificial turf at Merrill Green Stadium.

The unanimous vote at Monday's meeting (April 7) awarded a nearly $700,000 dollar contract that will be paid by remaining funds from the 2014 and 2019 bond issues.

BISD athletic director Derrick Rush said administrators are still pursuing naming rights to offset the cost of the project.

Rush said the project will start in June and will be completed in July.The new turf replaces what was installed in 2016. 

Rush says the life of the existing turf was shortened by the volume of games and events that are held at the stadium.

Rush also said the three companies that submitted proposals did tests that showed the current surface failed a "softness" factor that figures into the safety of football players.

Administrators also studied returning to a natural grass field. Rush said natural grass was too expensive to maintain and would limit use.

WTAW's Chelsea Reber visits with Peggi Ondrasek, President/CEO of United Way of the Brazos Valley, and Amy Faulkner from Voices for Children.

Brazos County Commissioner Bentley Nettles visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about increasing community engagement, understanding the county's relationship with the cities, projected growth, government efficiency, getting things done, key performance indicators, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.