WTAW - Interviews

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County county attorney Earl Gray and WTAW's Bill Oliver that was recorded August 23, 2024.

Brazos County's district court clerk and a former girlfriend will not be prosecuted on misdemeanor assault charges.

The decision affecting district clerk Gabriel Garcia and Maria Ramirez was announced Friday (August 23) by Brazos County county attorney Earl Gray.

Gray told WTAW News that there was insufficient evidence to file formal charges of a class "A" misdemeanor of family violence assault causing bodily injury or a class "C" misdemeanor assault by offensive touching.

This week's United Way of the Brazos Valley update features Lised Roe from Project Unity.

Mason Taylor, Senior Redpot, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about this year's Cut Class and November's burn.

Tommy Schilling, Code Enforcement Supervisor, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about code violations, See-Click-Fix, working with other Texas cities, the new over occupancy ordinance, reporting violations, Aggie football game days, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Stacey Urbanczyk, Program Manager for the Area Agency on Aging Brazos Valley, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about an online survey to provide input on aging services to support older Texans.

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County elections administrator Trudy Hancock and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

A news release from Brazos County announces a mistake in the list of early voting locations for this November's general election will be corrected at the next county commission meeting.

Elections administrator Trudy Hancock says a student caught the omission of Texas A&M's memorial student center (MSC) as an early voting location.

Hancock says commissioners will amend the election order adding the MSC and deleting College Station city hall as an early voting location.

Voter registration for the November 5th election continues through October 7th.

Hancock says sample ballots won't be ready until the Texas secretary of state submits names of state and federal candidates. She says the state won't release that information until August 29th.

News release from Brazos County:

Brazos County elections officials have been made aware of a mistake in the Order for the November 5, 2024 General and Special Election and are correcting the oversight. 

The Order, which was adopted by Brazos County commissioners during the August 13, 2024 regular meeting, listed College Station City Hall as an early voting location, but did not list the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M campus.  This was simply a case of human error. 

The August 27, 2024 regular meeting of commissioners court will address this mistake and offer an amended order to remove College Station City Hall and replace it with the Memorial Student Center. 

“I am so thankful to the student who reached out to me for clarification on this issue, “ said Brazos County Elections Administrator Trudy Hancock.  “Even with all of the people who proof-read the order, no one caught the mistake.  He was professional and courteous in bringing it to our attention.  I encourage anyone with elections questions to always feel free to contact our office.”  

Hancock says this will not affect early voting in any way.

This podcast is a visit recorded August 22, 2024 with one of the first newly elected members to the board of the Brazos Central Appraisal District, Rafael Pena, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

In November 2023, Texas voters changed the state constitution by adding elected members to appraisal district boards. 

In May 2024, three people were elected to represent the Brazos Central Appraisal District (BCAD) board. 

Thursday (August 22) was the first meeting for the first elected members of the BCAD board.
Rafael Pena and Jane Sherman were sworn in, along with Brazos County's new tax assessor-collector Melissa Leonard.

Also elected but absent from Thursday's meeting was Jonna Schreiber.

Board members, elected and appointed, are not involved in setting property values or hearing appeals. 

Board members appoint the chief appraiser, adopt the annual budget and biennial reappraisal plan, approve litigation settlements, and approve contract services.

This podcast is a visit recorded August 22, 2024 with one of the first newly elected members to the board of the Brazos Central Appraisal District, Jane Sherman, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

In November 2023, Texas voters changed the state constitution by adding elected members to appraisal district boards. 

In May 2024, three people were elected to represent the Brazos Central Appraisal District (BCAD) board. 

Thursday (August 22) was the first meeting for the first elected members of the BCAD board.
Rafael Pena and Jane Sherman were sworn in, along with Brazos County's new tax assessor-collector Melissa Leonard.

Also elected but absent from Thursday's meeting was Jonna Schreiber.

Board members, elected and appointed, are not involved in setting property values or hearing appeals. 

Board members appoint the chief appraiser, adopt the annual budget and biennial reappraisal plan, approve litigation settlements, and approve contract services.

Bryan City Secretary Mary Lynne Stratta visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about her career as city secretary, her successor, her past accomplishments and achievements, changes the city has undergone during her time, her future plans, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the June 18, 2024 Bryan city council workshop meeting.

The Bryan city council adopts without public discussion at their August regular meeting, hiring an outside company that will prevent motor vehicle owners from renewing their registration online until municipal court traffic fines are paid.

An explanation of the "scofflaw" program was presented during a June 18th council workshop by the administrator of Bryan's municipal court.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the June 18, 2024 Bryan city council workshop meeting.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the contract that was approved at the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the memorandum of understanding that was approved at the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

Chad Eixmann this is targeted to more than 10,000 people who have been issued warrants for failing to pay more than $5 million dollars in fines.

Eixmann said the scofflaw program, which has the support of the city's new municipal court presiding judge, permits their contractor to flag vehicles through the Texas department of motor vehicles.

Eixmann also said tax assessor-collectors have the option of blocking renewals, but he said they prefer doing the renewals.

The city's contractor does not charge the city or vehicle owner.

There is not a scofflaw program in College Station. 

A statement sent to WTAW News by College Station municipal judge Ed Spillane says "We have considered it through the years, but under the law, the county tax assessor “may” hold the registration. Up to this time, the county assessor had decided not to participate and put a hold on registering vehicles, so we did not spend money on the scofflaw program. We do participate in the omnibase program, which puts a hold on defendants who do not pay or show up to court from renewing their driver’s license upon expiration until they have taken care of their cases."

The city of Bryan also blocks drivers license renewals for unpaid municipal court fines.