WTAW - Interviews

Henry Mayo with the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the bicentennial of the “Old 300” Land Grants in Texas.

United Way of the Brazos Valley update with partnery agency Twin City Mission.

This podcast contains comments from Texas A&M athletics director Trev Alberts, speaking at an A&M system board of regents workshop meeting on August 1, 2024.

Texas A&M athletics director Trev Alberts presented an update to the A&M system board of regents during a workshop meeting on Thursday (August 1).

Alberts, who was named AD on March 13, brought up the department's culture, student-athlete experience, business operations, and the department's challenges and opportunities.

Alberts said this is the first time since 2018 that A&M athletics is not on NCAA probation or in an active investigation.

June's Kyle Field soccer match and George Strait concert generated a profit of roughly $6.5 million dollars.

A reduction of about 18 employees in the athletic department's administration has saved $2 million dollars. Alberts then said there is probably additional room for more staff reductions.

Alberts also brought up how coaches budgets are impacted by the expected court decision where A&M athletes would receive 22 percent of the athletic department's revenue.

Academically, Alberts said the student-athlete cumulative grade point average is the highest ever at just under 3.1. 

And the graduation success rate is among the highest ever at 87 percent, something that Alberts wants to see raised to at least 90 percent.

This podcast contains comments from the July 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

For the second time in three months, the College Station city council discusses increasing fees for parks and recreation programs and services.

Dominating the more than one hour discussion during the council's July 25th meeting, was how much of the actual cost should be paid by users who don't live in College Station.

Currently, non-residents pay a 20 percent surcharge on most programs and services.

Mayor John Nichols believed there were four votes to have a rate structure for non residents that is 25 percent higher.

The discussion also included Bryan residents paying a surcharge similar to what Bryan charges for College Station residents, and a higher rate for non-residents who do not live in Bryan.

The council is also considering staff proposals to solicit sponsorship money from private businesses, have sports participants pay umpires and referees, and increasing marketing and promotional efforts to get more participants.

The College Station council will consider final action on a new fee schedule during its August 22nd meeting.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the July 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

This podcast is a visit with College Station fire chief Richard Mann and WTAW's Bill Oliver, recorded August 1, 2024 following CSFD's announcement that a co-owner of the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop was arrested on a charge of intentionally setting the fire that destroyed the building.

Caroline Ask, Solid Waste Division Manager, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about move in/move out season, placement of bulk items and brush piles, how to be a good neighbor, collection days, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the July 30, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

Brazos County's elections administrator makes a presentation to county commissioners the week after her office received criticism during public comments.

Trudy Hancock said public comments challenging voter registration records contained correct statistics. But the conclusions drawn by a citizen's group were wrong.

For example, Hancock said 22 voters with a date of birth of January 1, 1901 registered before dates of birth were required. When the requirement started, the state inserted a date of birth of January 1, 1901.

Hancock also said it was legal for voters to reside in RV parks and for voters to use their permanent home address when they are at college or when they are living in nursing homes.

Hancock says they have received more than six hundred challenges based on voter residency. So far, more than four hundred have been rejected due to lacking details.

For a challenge to be valid, Hancock said that document:

• 1.Must have an original signature.
• 2.Must be signed in front of a notary public or similar official.
• 3.Must establish that the requestor is a registered voter in Brazos County.
• 4.Must be based on personal knowledge and not hearsay.

Commissioner Wanda Watson brought up her prior experience as an election worker, an election judge, and chairwoman of the Brazos County Democratic Party in thanking Hancock and her staff.

Hancock and county judge Duane Peters stressed that anyone with a question to contact the elections office.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials that were shown during the July 30, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

Lina Adams from Destination Bryan visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about First Friday, the new Maroon and White Night, live music, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the July 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

The general manager of Twin Oaks landfill, which is co-owned by the cities of College Station and Bryan, presented an update during the last College Station city council meeting.

Bryan Griesbach said the budget approved by the landfill board of the Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency (BVSWMA) includes for the first time, the twin cities not being charged a tipping fee.

Additionally, the landfill will be paying the cities fees charged by the state and by Grimes County, where the landfill is located. That amounts to $1.58 a ton in savings to the cities. In College Station, that is a savings of $118,500 dollars and in Bryan a savings of $94,800 dollars.

Griesbach also reported that gas produced by the compacted trash and exported by a third party is resulting in the landfill receiving about $200,000 dollar a month.

The council was also told that the three to six year process has started of getting a state permit to build the landfill's next cell, which won't be needed for approximately 40 years.

Click HERE to read and download BVSWMA presentation materials shown during the July 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the BVSWMA fiscal year 2025 budget as provided by the city of College Station.

This podcast contains comments from the July 30, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

The Brazos County tax office will be closed to the public Thursday (August 1) to prepare for a leadership change.

Kristy Roe, who is retiring as tax assessor-collector, gave a reminder during Tuesday's (July 30) county commission meeting.

On Thursday, employees from the tax office and other county departments will be making what Roe says are "necessary software and inventory verifications that will enable the office to open on Friday August 2nd under the newly appointed County Tax Assessor/Collector."

Roe also shared with commissioners a recent inspection by the Texas department of motor vehicles that is required during a leadership transition.

News release from the Brazos County tax assessor-collector's office:

In preparation for the change in administration of the Brazos County Tax Office, the office will be closed to the public on August 1, 2024.  

Staff, along with various other County office personnel will be working to make necessary software modifications and inventory verifications that will enable the office to open on Friday August 2nd under the newly appointed County Tax Assessor/Collector.

Residents are encouraged to take care of urgent business before the end of July to avoid any delays.  

Simple vehicle registration renewals are available at all Kroger locations, and at the following HEB locations:

725 E Villa Maria Rd, Bryan
1609 N Texas Ave., Bryan
1900 Texas Ave S., College Station
11675 FM 2154, College Station