This podcast is a visit with the city of College Station's fiscal services director Mary Ellen Leonard and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Starting Friday (January 26) at noon, utility customers with the city of College Station will not be able to pay utility bills for several days.

That's because the city is replacing its 30 year old utility billing system.

Fiscal services director Mary Ellen Leonard says during the replacement, no customers will be charged late fees and there will be no disconnections.

Leonard says the computer system that is being replaced used "green screens", which predates the Windows operating system.

She says the most notable change is all College Station utility customers will get a new, ten digit account number. Customers doing business online must create a new online login after receiving the new account number. And Leonard says customers who pay at third party kiosks will need the new account number.

Click HERE to be directed to Mary Ellen Leonard's blog post about the project.

Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about his recent trip to the border, changing the optics, the public park in Eagle Pass, the war in Ukraine, Houthi rebels, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Councilman Mark Smith visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the Greens Prairie rezoning, a design contract for fire station No. 7, city boards and committees, the upcoming city council retreat, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is the recording of the featured speaker at the 2024 Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce economic outlook conference, Texas Real Estate Center research economist Dr. Jim Gaines.

The podcast begins with an introduction by Ben Downs, who introduces Doug French, who introduces Dr. Gaines.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials.

Councilman Ray Arrington visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about his takeaways from the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Conference, excessive rain this week, infrastructure and growth in District 2, a recap of his first year on council, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

United Way of the Brazos Valley president Peggi Goss and Chase Johnson of the new Texas A&M student organization "Farmers Fight Night" visit with WTAW's Bill Oliver about an amateur boxing event featuring students on April 4 at Reed Arena where proceeds benefit United Way.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about Thursday's council meeting agenda, planned development district, middle housing, the Amazon drone delivery service update, a possible future recreation center, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

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

Brazos County voters are invited to attend a meeting Tuesday night (January 23) where elections administrator Trudy Hancock says the focus is on security heading into the March primary election.

Hancock says the meeting was the result of public comments during recent county commission meetings.

The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the elections office in downtown Bryan.

Following a presentation by elections office staff, then they will field questions.

Hancock says now is the time to ask if you want to vote by mail in the March primary.

And last week, voting equipment was tested without experiencing any complications.

This podcast is a visit with DPS Sgt. Justin Ruiz and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Monday's rain was deadly on highways around the Brazos Valley.

Department of public safety Sgt. Justin Ruiz said Monday evening he was still compiling details on the number of crashes and the number of lives that were lost.

Ruiz says a contributing factor to the deadly crashes is hydroplaning due to worn out tires and speed on rain covered highways.

Other suggestions includes putting more distance around other vehicles, adjust your headlights so that they stay on all the time, don't use cruise control, don't drive through flooded highways, stay informed on roadway and weather conditions, and follow local news and authorities for updates.

This podcast is a visit with Bryan city councilman James Edge and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

A Bryan city councilman says the governing body "doesn't have any stomach" for more center medians on city streets.

James Edge was responding to last week's WTAW News story that the council earlier this month, approved applying for a federal grant to pay for more than half of the cost of rebuilding South College between Carson and the downtown area.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the January 9, 2024 Bryan council agenda stating the project would include a center median.

Edge says the decision to not consider medians follows the impact of the center median that was built on Texas Avenue.

Edge also says the current council wants removed, plans to build a center median along the section of South College between Villa Maria and Carson.