WTAW - Interviews

Councilman Dennis Maloney visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about his council career, the Texas Public Utility Commission judgment, interlocal agreements with Bryan, the possibility of a recreation center and a convention center, Post Oak Mall, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Bryan Councilman Paul Torres visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about issues in his district, redevelopment, Downtown Bryan, getting his constituents more involved, the boards he serves on, the reopening of the LaSalle Hotel, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit with Bob Colwell of the TxDOT Bryan district office and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Seven and a half years of road construction on Harvey Mitchell Parkway in College Station is coming to an end.

The TxDOT Bryan district office announces Thursday (September 19) after the morning commute, left turn lanes at several intersections will be opened.

Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., there will be intermittent traffic stoppages on Harvey Mitchell to allow construction workers to move traffic devices to open left turn lanes at George Bush, Luther, and Holleman.

The TxDOT news release says this is the final configuration of the $47.6 million dollar highway project between Raymond Stotzer Parkway and Wellborn Road, which began in March 2017.

News release from the TxDOT Bryan district office:

The ongoing Harvey Mitchell Parkway (FM 2818) improvement project has reached another construction milestone which will result in a change to traffic patterns.

Thursday, September 19th, the intersections will undergo a change in operations where the left turn lanes that were previously under construction will be opened at George Bush, Luther and Holleman. The necessary changes will be accomplished after morning peak starting around 9 am and completing by 3 pm.

This is the final configuration of the FM 2818 project.Drivers should avoid travel in this area, if possible, during these time periods. 

Those who must travel through the work zone should expect delays and intermittent traffic stoppages as crews adjust traffic devices and make certain the route is ready to be opened to traffic.

TxDOT appreciates everyone’s cooperation and patience throughout this traffic change and the duration of the project. 

This effort is part of the overall 3.2-mile project being constructed by TxDOT’s contractor, Knife River Corporation, at a total construction cost of $47.6 million.

This podcast contains comments from the September 17, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

The Bryan city council approves going to condemnation to acquire easements to build a sewer line and lift station covering areas south and east of the RELLIS campus.

That action was taken during a special council meeting on Tuesday (September 17), along with awarding a $5.6 million dollar construction contract.

The project is time sensitive, according to city documents, because in order to use federal pandemic grant money there has to be a construction contract by the end of 2024.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of Bryan related to starting condemnation.

Click HERE to read and download the condemnation resolution that was approved at the September 17, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of Bryan about the sewer lift station construction contract that was approved by the council.

Before the council's unanimous votes, one of the property owners affected by the condemnation action tells the council that city staff is "dysfunctional".

Alfred Smith, who said he is in the land business and deals with easements, says he has attempted for four years to reach an agreement with the city.

The council or city staff did not respond to Smith saying that the city is not going to take care of controlling sewage odor and that the city plans to remove three oak trees that are 200 years old.Councilmembers had other questions. 

Councilwoman Marca Ewers-Shurtleff asked public works director Jayson Barfknecht "Has your office made every good faith attempt that they can make to reach some kind of compromise in this case?" Barfknecht told Shurtleff "I think we've done a really good effort to try and meet with the property owners and meet with their attorneys to try to reach an agreement."

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

The Bryan police department reminds residents to register for National Night Out (NNO) block parties.

Officer Seth Waller says the purpose of the annual event is for officers to meet neighborhood residents, and for the neighborhood residents to meet each other.

The city wide event is October 1st. 

The registration deadline is September 23rd.

Click HERE to be directed to the Bryan police department's NNO registration website.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the Unlimited Potential groundbreaking, the upcoming election, the Brazos Transit District, the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a recording of the Unlimited Potential groundbreaking on September 17, 2024, followed by visits with UP board president Jacque Flagg and College Station mayor John Nichols, interviewed by WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Three years in development and fundraising, the local non profit assisting those who are aging out of the foster care system breaks ground on their first building.

In December 2021, Unlimited Potential (UP) bought the site of a former nursing home complex in College Station on Anderson Street near Lemontree Park. A year later, the decision was made to clear the site instead of remodeling existing buildings.

At Tuesday's groundbreaking (September 17), UP board president Jacque Flagg said Doug French of Stylecraft Builders "magnanimously donated one of the buildings and is offering other buildings at cost." 

Flagg also thanked the College Station city council for providing funding to demolish the nursing home buildings in the spring of 2023, Jim Singleton of SZS Architecture for donating a floor plan, Joe Schultz of Schultz Engineering for developing the campus infrastructure, and South Construction for building the infrastructure.

After the groundbreaking, Flagg told WTAW News fundraising continues. That includes a $10,000 dollar matching grant opportunity during the Brazos Valley Gives event.

She also says there are volunteer opportunities to assist the young men and women with transportation to and from appointments and helping move the young adults into new residences.

Click HERE to be directed to the Unlimited Potential website for more information.

College Station mayor John Nichols told WTAW News after the groundbreaking that he was "really impressed with the fact they found a building model that allows them to do this in phases." "For a non profit, it's not easy to raise money. And for them to be able get started with the donations from Stylecraft to start the first building and the build the second one. And then they can start having programming here. Once they have programming here, there will be more people interested and we'll see more funds flow."

This podcast contains some of the comments from Texas A&M president Mark Welsh's appearance at the A&M faculty senate meeting on September 9, 2024.

September's meeting of the Texas A&M faculty senate included an appearance from president Mark Welsh.

The 50 minute session opened with Welsh providing updates on committee work and upcoming initiatives that includes A&M's Vision 2040 plan, engaging new employees and students in what he called "Reembracing the Spirit of Aggieland", and launching a new student leadership program where students could get academic credit.

Welsh then answered faculty questions on topics ranging from paying student athletes to the university continuing to study employee pay, academic freedom, and transportation issues between the main campus, the west campus, and the health science center.

WTAW's Chelsea Reber visits with Kat Gammon from United Way of the Brazos Valley and J.J. Ramirez and Kyle Salmon from S.O.S. Ministries.

This podcast is a visit with Kathleen Sanderson of the Bryan/College Station Salvation Army and WTAW's Scott DeLucia.

The Bryan/College Station Salvation Army continues to prepare for holiday activities.

Spokeswoman Kathleen Sanderson says they continue to recruit businesses and individuals who can hold toy drives for their Angel Tree gift distribution and register as bell ringers for the holiday season.

Click HERE to be directed to the B/CS Salvation Army website for additional information about holiday activities.

Sanderson says registration continues for families who want to apply for Angel Tree assistance. The first round of registration continues until September 22nd. The second round of registration is from September 30th through October 13th.

Click HERE to be directed to the Angel Tree application website.

Residents can also send an email to [email protected] or call 979-361-0618.

Additional information from the B/CS Salvation Army for those applying for Angel Tree assistance:

Documents you will need:

• Photo ID of the applicant

• Only parents or legal guardian are allow to apply (proof documents)

• Birth certificate for all the kids 12 years old and younger

• CURRENT Benefit Award Letter (i.e.: Food Stamps Award letter (must be the page that shows income)/Social Security Award Letter/Disability Award Letter/TANF paperwork)

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR CURRENT BENEFIT AWARD LETTER YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING:

• Proof of rent/mortgage (i.e.: Rent receipt/Lease agreement/Mortgage statement) Only one is needed.

• Proof of income for everyone in the household (i.e.: Current Paycheck Stub/SSI/Child Support/etc.)

PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL WHICH WILL GIVE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS AND FOLLOW UP INFORMATION AFTER YOU HAVE STARTED THE APPLICATION PROCESS