WTAW - Interviews

This podcast contains comments from the December 13, 2024 meeting of the Texas board of criminal justice.

December's meeting of the board in charge of Texas prisons included a presentation on the production of license plates at the Wynne unit in Huntsville.

Inmates produce 10 million license plates a year from 850 designs.

Assistant manager of the license plate operation James Stewart says production will increase when they are notified by the department of motor vehicles to make plates that will replace paper tags to comply with legislative action. That could mean adding a second shift.

Prison director Bryan Collier brought up a special project that is underway. All Collier said was plates will be delivered in January to an undisclosed recipient in Washington D.C.

Texas license plates have been made in state prisons since 1935.

The chairman of the Texas board of criminal justice (TBCJ), Eric Nichols, said each day, inmates produce 80,000 general and 2,500 specialized license plates.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the December 13, 2024 TBCJ meeting.

This podcast contains comments from the December 31, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

Tuesday's meeting of the Brazos County commission (December 31) was the last for departing members Nancy Berry and Steve Aldrich.

Both took time at the end of the meeting saying thanks and sharing memories.

Berry and Aldrich not only spent eight years on the county commission, both served at the same time on the College Station city council.

Commissioners Wanda Watson and Chuck Konderla both thanked Berry and Aldrich.

County judge Duane Peters presented Berry and Aldrich with plaques recognizing their service.

This podcast contains comments from the December 17, 2024 College Station ISD school board meeting.

Everyone associated with College Station ISD is invited to participate in the district's annual survey of calendar options for the next school year.

Friday, January 3rd is deadline to participate in the online survey that has two options and an opportunity to submit comments.

Click HERE to be directed to the College Station ISD calendar survey for the 2025-2026 school year.

CSISD's director of instruction Jeff Mann reported during the school board's December 17th meeting that the recommendations were the result of collecting information from employees earlier than usual.

That was followed by feedback from the district's education improvement council (DEIC), which includes 21 teachers, four administrators, three parents, two community members, two businesspeople, and 21 administrators who are non-voting members.

After the survey closes, responses will be reviewed by administrators and the DEIC before returning to the board for final action.

Mann and superintendent Tim Harkrider explained composing a calendar that meets the minimum number of instructional minutes required by the state while meeting desired start and end dates.

Harkrider pointed out the calendar identifies staff days and work days and that the state is no longer granting waivers to not make up days lost to severe weather and incidents similar to the recent flooding at Pebble Creek elementary that resulted in cancelling classes for two days.

This podcast contains comments from the December 9, 2024 meeting of the Texas A&M faculty senate.

December's meeting of the Texas A&M faculty senate included discussing a draft proposal for a faculty code of conduct.

The draft of a code and a preamble to the code follows five years of work by three faculty committees.

Click HERE to read and download the draft preamble to the proposed Texas A&M faculty senate code of conduct discussed at the senate's December 9, 2024 meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the draft Texas A&M faculty senate code of conduct discussed at the senate's December 9, 2024 meeting.

This applies to what the draft says is unprofessional behavior of faculty members that does not violate rules, regulations or laws.

Quoting the draft, the code "is meant to promote and create an academic environment rich with a respect for sharing, critical examination, and the protection of academic freedom in the pursuit of knowledge, while reinforcing core values." The draft also says this does not apply to the personal lives of faculty members.

Opening the discussion, faculty senate speaker Angie Hill Price says this would give faculty members control over the definition of unprofessional behavior.

The more than one hour of discussion included members who expressed support, opposition, and being on the fence.

This podcast is a visit with Destination Bryan tourism office director John Friebele and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The city of Bryan's tourism office announces two months of record hotel revenue. 

Destination Bryan director John Friebele says October revenue was $4.28 million dollars, and in November was $4.42 million. 

The average daily rate for Bryan hotels also hit a record at $143 dollars a night. 

Friebele says the average rate for the Texas A&M-Texas football weekend was $410 dollars a night.
Year over year, hotel demand in Bryan rose almost 15%.

News release from the Destination Bryan tourism office:

Bryan, Texas, achieved record-breaking hotel revenues in November 2024 at $4.42 million, showcasing the area’s growing appeal as a prime destination for both leisure and business travelers. The hospitality sector in Bryan has witnessed a significant uptick in occupancy rates and average daily rates, reflecting the city's robust tourism and economic development efforts.

Demand was up 14.8% year over year and was the highest average daily rate on record in Bryan at $143.00 per night. Prior to November 2024, October 2024 was the highest month on record at $4.28 million and October 2023 was the next highest at $4.14 million in revenue. These figures only reflect Hotel revenue and do not reflect short-term rentals.

This podcast is a recording of comments from Texas A&M president Mark Welsh at the December 9, 2024 faculty senate meeting.

The subject of improving communication was the only subject initiated by the president during his visit. Welsh said the "university's greatest shortfall as an organization, is communication." He asked faculty members to assist him in that area.

This podcast contains comments from the December 12, 2024 College Station city council meeting and an interview during WTAW's The Infomaniacs on December 20, 2024.

The College Station police department (CSPD) is establishing a mental health crisis response team.

Officer David Simmons, speaking on WTAW's The Infomaniacs, says the new unit make sure people keep up with their medications and medical appointments among other things.

The College Station city council approved the unit at their last meeting, accepting the recommendation of police chief Billy Couch, who applied for a state grant that provides up to two years of funding.

Grant funding for the first year is more than $464,000 dollars, which covers the officer's salary, benefits, overtime, equipment, training, and one vehicle.

Click HERE to read and download the resolution that was approved at the December 12, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

David Simmons, CSPD PIO, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about this week's hostage situation, a new grant for mental health crisis officers, holiday shopping safety, travel safety, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the December 17, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting, followed by a visit with Brazos County 9-1-1 director Patrick Corley and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Brazos County commissioners approve buying a building that was last used as a call center to move 9-1-1 operations of the county and the city of Bryan.

The $2.2 million dollar building is located across Villa Maria from Bryan Collegiate High School.

County judge Duane Peters says this is a 90 day contract to further inspect the property.

9-1-1 director Patrick Corley says the building, which is twice the size of the space that has been leased since 1988, will take care of present and future demands.

Corley says there has had an increase in the number of employees from 27 to 48. Not only is there no more room for additional people, there is no more room for technology.

Corley says since 1992, the number of calls has increased from 69,000 a year to 168,000.

Corley also says the new location will provide a secure parking area for employees and will meet ADA requirements...two other things that are lacking at their present location in downtown Bryan.

Click HERE to read and download the sales contract that was approved at the December 17, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

Bryan Councilman Ray Arrington visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about a new animal center in his district, what he is hearing from his constituents, Midtown Park, economic development goals for 2025, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.