WTAW - Interviews

This podcast contains remarks from the president of the Brazos Valley economic development corporation, Susan Davenport, at the August 21, 2024 Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce economic outlook briefing.

This podcast is a recording of Senator Ted Cruz's remarks at the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce economic outlook briefing on August 21, 2024.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the 1207 venue, the return of Texas A&M students, Amazon drones, housing issues on the next agenda, feral hog damage, watering fields at Veterans Park, the city budget, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

United Way of the Brazos Valley president Peggi Ondrasek and the director of UWBV partner agency Sexual Assault Resource Center of the Brazos Valley Lindsey LeBlanc visit with WTAW's Bill Oliver.

College Station city councilman William Wright visits with Scott DeLucia on WTAW's The Infomaniacs August 16, 2024.

Topics includes reviewing the work of the city's housing action plan committee, other housing issues in College Station, the council's progress in considering the city's proposed fiscal year 2025 budget, the council's consideration of the Brazos Transit District first time budget request and associated public transit questions, a review of recent council discussion items, and the status of the city owned former Macy's store at Post Oak Mall.

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County assistant district attorney Kevin Capps and WTAW's Bill Oliver, recorded August 14, 2024.

October 2024 marks three years since two visitors from Florida were struck by a vehicle while crossing Texas Avenue north of University at two in the morning.

One of the visitors died and the other sustained severe injuries.

While the driver was arrested for intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury, he was indicted for DWI with a child in the vehicle.

And on Tuesday (August 13), 45 year old Jay Griffin III of Bryan pleaded guilty to that felony and to violating probation for a prior conviction of possessing a controlled substance.

In a plea agreement with the Brazos County district attorney's office, Griffin received a two year prison sentence.

The prosecutor in that case, assistant district attorney Kevin Capps says there was no evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that intoxication manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide took place.

Capps says Griffin's blood alcohol level three hours after hitting the pedestrians was just over the legal limit at point .090.

And the prosecutor said Bryan police estimated the speed of Griffin's vehicle was between 34 and 53 miles per hour in the 40 mile per hour zone.

WTAW News story published October 14, 2021:

Bryan police report one of two pedestrians struck by an accused drunk driver last weekend has died.

BPD identified the man who died is 20 year old Pedro Lopez Jr. of Miami, Florida.

The second man who was struck remains hospitalized and is in stable condition.

The men were struck by a SUV Sunday just before 2 a.m. while crossing South Texas near the Fairfield Inn hotel.

The driver who was arrested, 42 year old Jay Griffin III of Bryan, is out of jail after posting bonds totaling $60,000 dollars following his arrest for intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury.

Original story published October 10, 2021:

Two pedestrians are hospitalized with life threatening injuries after they were struck by a SUV in Bryan Sunday shortly before 2 a.m.

The driver was arrested on charges of intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury.

According to the Bryan police arrest report, the SUV struck two men who were crossing South Texas across the street from the Fairfield Inn hotel near the College Station city limits.

Injuries to both pedestrians include fractured skills. 

As of the time of a BPD news release Sunday just before 10 a.m. both men were in critical condition.

42 year old Jay Griffin III of Bryan is out of jail after posting bonds totaling $60,000 dollars following his arrest for intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury.

Texas Avenue between Hensel and Cooner was closed for more than four hours.

Bryan police officer Seth Waller visited with Scott DeLucia on WTAW's The Infomaniacs August 15, 2024 about start of the school year traffic issues, registration for National Night Out, and officer recruitment efforts.

This podcast contains comments from the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.

A majority of Bryan city council members express no opposition to rezoning land north of the Premiere movie complex to build 150 luxury apartments.

But final action was delayed.

That followed more than one hour of discussion involving council members, the landowner, and opponents who included neighboring homeowners and the presidents of the Austin's Colony and Greenbriar homeowners associations.

The opponents favored keeping current zoning for retail development.

The landowner, Wayne Courreges III, said he wants to buy additional land surrounding his proposed apartment complex to develop what he calls "top retail".

Courreges said he preferred building three story apartment buildings containing one and two bedroom units versus a four story hotel, which he is allowed to do with current zoning.

Councilman James Edge said he was "intrigued" about building a hotel.

Mayor Bobby Gutierrez, who supported the apartments, said that would have less impact on the homeowners than the hotel or other structures allowed under current zoning.

The council unanimously approved Jared Salvato's motion to delay action one month. 

Salvato wanted to give the landowner and city staff time to study how to minimize safety risks associated with extending Sam Rayburn Drive to Austin's Colony Parkway. That intersection is near what is described as a blind curve on Austin's Colony Parkway. The intersection is also close to three Bryan ISD schools.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from landowner Wayne Courreges III.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the city of Bryan.

This podcast contains comments from the August 13, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

Brazos County commissioners move another $1.5 million dollars in federal pandemic grant money to the construction of the medical examiner's office. 

There was no public discussion before Tuesday's (August 13) unanimous vote to increase the amount of money county received from ARPA...the american rescue plan act...to $21 million dollars.

After the vote, commissioners were asked by a citizen why $1 million was transferred from what was originally set aside for broadband expansion in rural areas.

County judge Duane Peters said after the original decision was made to reserve grant money for broadband, the federal government issued rules that said ARPA funds could not be used on something where another federal funding source was available.

In the case of broadband, the commission's general counsel, Bruce Erratt, said the state received federal money that is being given to broadband providers to expand service in rural areas.

Commissioners Chuck Konderla, Wanda Watson, and Steve Aldrich also spoke about efforts by the state's broadband commission.

This podcast is Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez's visit with Scott DeLucia on WTAW's The infomanaics August 14, 2024.