This podcast is a visit with the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce's community liaison Royce Hickman and WTAW's Will Welch on The Infomaniacs May 12, 2026.

More than 30 local businesspeople and government officials are in Washington D.C. as part of annual trip organized by the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce.

The decades long tradition includes making contact with all members of the Texas congressional delegation, both U.S. Senators, and the chairs of key committees.

The chamber's community liaison, Royce Hickman, says this is an effective way to share local issues that includes transportation, health care, education, and economic development.

This podcast is the May 13, 2026 announcement that Bryan Broadcasting vice president and general manager Ben Downs will be the sixth recipient of the Texas Association of Broadcasters lifetime achievement award.

The sixth recipient of the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) lifetime achievement award in the 73 year history of the organization is Bryan Broadcasting vice president and general manager Ben Downs.

The surprise announcement came Wednesday morning (May 13) from TAB president Oscar Rodriguez during a Zoom call at a Bryan Broadcasting staff meeting.

The award will be presented in August during the TAB annual convention and trade show.

This podcast is a recording of the dedication program of a law enforcement memorial outside the Bryan police department on May 12, 2026.

National Police Week was the setting Tuesday morning (May 12) in front of the Bryan police department for the unveiling of a new memorial.

Police chief Dean Swartzlander thanked Eagle Scout candidate Roman Smith for his project that includes a statue remembering fallen officers.

Smith, a ninth grade student at Bryan High School, dedicated his project to his godfather. Bryan Heber was a Beaumont police officer who died in the line of duty in July of 2011.

In addition to the statue, there are three benches...one for Smith's godfather and benches remembering fallen Bryan police officers Mark Hiatt and Jim Do that are now at the local law enforcement training grounds.

And Smith raised enough money to complete the memorial to also present a check to the Mark Hiatt scholarship fund with the Bryan police officers association.

This podcast contains comments from the May 5, 2026 Bryan city council workshop meeting.

May's workshop meeting of the Bryan city council included discussing the city's ordinance on non-consent tows. That's when the Bryan police department calls on a towing company to move a vehicle in violation of a parking or another traffic regulation.

Councilman James Edge asked police chief Dean Swartzlander to consider increasing the tow charge which is regulated by the council. Swartzlander told Edge that a study had already been requested by towing companies and the council will consider an undisclosed increase at its June meeting.

The charge for non-consent tows followed the council allowing a tow company that missed the deadline to apply to be on the police department's rotation to do non-consent tows. 

City manager Andrew Nelson told the council that they will be considering proposed changes in the process of the annual application.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the May 5, 2026 Bryan city council meeting about allowing a towing company to apply after missing the deadline.

This podcast contains audio from the May 5, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

There will be another local event marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Brazos County commissioners at its May 5th meeting unanimously agreed to give permission to plant a tree at Boonville Heritage Park.

The request was made by the chairman of the county's historical commission, Henry Mayo.

Background information from the county says this is part of the Sons of the American Revolution's National Liberty Tree effort.

In addition to the tree, Mayo said in an e-mail to commissioners that there are plans to have a small plaque, probably a flat, granite stone engraved to explain the significance of the tree.

The tree planting will take place closer to July 4th. A specific date and time have not been set.

This podcast is a visit with the membership manager of the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce Carrie Archer and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce is asking businesspeople to participate in an online survey to benefit non-profit agencies.

Click HERE to be directed to the chamber's survey.

The chamber's membership manager, Carrie Archer, says data will be reviewed by a chamber steering committee composed of representatives from the more than 80 non-profit agencies who are chamber members.

The responses will help identify preferred methods of involvement, effective approaches to outreach, and opportunities for stronger collaboration between businesses, nonprofits, and the chamber.

The responses will not be used to target individual businesses for fundraising. Instead, the information will guide best practices to help nonprofits to work more thoughtfully and efficiently with the business community.

United Way of the Brazos Valley president Lizett Hawkins and J.J. Ramirez and Kyle Salmon of UWBV partner agency S.O.S. Ministries visit with WTAW's Bill Oliver May 11, 2026.

This podcast is a visit with College Station assistant city manager Jennifer Prochazka and WTAW's Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs May 8, 2026. They review the recent appearance of the Savannah Bananas baseball game, what happens after the city council voted against extending Pebble Creek Parkway, the proposed Space X project at Gibbons Creek lake, abandoned housing, and upcoming city events.

This podcast contains comments from mayor Bobby Gutierrez during his visit May 6, 2026 with WTAW's Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs.

The city of Bryan has ordered the remaining occupants of an apartment complex plagued by serious health and safety violations to vacate by June 8th.

The notice comes after the city issued an order on February 23rd to "vacate, secure and shut off utilities" at Canyon Village apartments on Finfeather Road. That's after the city considered "the property unsafe and in violation of minimum housing standards.

The eviction, which involves occupants of 18 of the 145 units on the property, came the day after mayor Bobby Gutierrez commented on WTAW's The Infomaniacs about the condition of the complex.

Canyon Village's Facebook page had no reference about the eviction as of Friday (May 8).

Click HERE to read and download the city of Bryan statement about Canyon Village apartments.

This podcast contains comments from the May 5, 2026 Bryan city council workshop meeting.

Starting in June, BTU residential customers will be paying another $4.00 dollars a month for their electricity.

That's after the city council this unanimously adopted recommendations by the BTU board at the council's May 5th meeting.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the May 5, 2026 Bryan city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the May 5, 2026 Bryan council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the ordinance that was approved at the May 5, 2026 Bryan council meeting.

Council members were told there are two contributing factors.

One is the rising cost of acquiring power and the second is the rising cost of getting power to customer's homes.

A third component that contributes to BTU electric bills is not changing for the time being. But councilmembers were told BTU staff and board members are keeping tabs on the rising administrative costs at the utility that are not associated with acquiring and the transmission of power.

Another change recommended by the BTU board that was approved by the council, eliminates different power prices during the winter and the summer. Starting this November, there will be one rate that is an average between the winter and summer prices.