WTAW - Interviews

Caden Jones of the Destination Bryan tourism office visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver about December's First Friday, the upcoming downtown Bryan lighted Christmas parade, and a setting a record in October for hotel revenue.

This podcast contains comments from the November 30, 2023 special meeting of the Texas A&M system board of regents.

Texas A&M and new head football coach Mike Elko now have an official contract.

That follows approval by the board of regents during a special meeting Thursday (November 30) morning.

The regents first met in private for 25 minutes with interim president Mark Welsh and athletics director Ross Bjork.

Following the executive session, Welsh said the contract is in "alignment with the terms of the memorandum of understanding previously signed by myself, the athletic director, and coach Elko last weekend."

Bjork said "we believe it's a very fair contract given the current landscape of college football, incentive based on the new college football playoff format".

The only board comment before their eight to nothing vote was chairman Bill Mahomes of Dallas offering his congratulations.

Absent from the meeting was regent John Bellinger of San Antonio.

This podcast is a recording of Texas A&M interim president Mark Welsh's state of the university address on November 29, 2023. This was recorded from the website president.tamu.edu.



Texas A&M's interim president giving his first state of the university address combined what has happened after four months on the job and what lies ahead.

Wednesday's remarks were the first since Mark Welsh was named sole finalist as permanent president.

Click HERE to read and download the presentation materials that were used during the state of the university address on November 29, 2023.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about Amazon drone delivery service, a convention center study, the former Macy's store building, Representative Kyle Kacal's announcement that he is not running for re-election, this weekend's Christmas parade, hotel occupancy tax, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is the recording of the groundbreaking of the CertainTeed roofing plant and distribution center in north Bryan on Novembere 28, 2023.

Construction is officially underway in north Bryan on a new roofing plant and distribution center.

Groundbreaking took place Tuesday afternoon (November 28) at the CertainTeed facility on Mumford Road, north of the Bryan ISD career and technical education (CTE) center.

A state official says the value is $148 million dollars. Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez says the final valuation may go higher "because we've already talked about other divisions of this company maybe potentially coming in or other companies that might look to locate here".

CertainTeed was given 211 acres of land, along with railroad access valued at $7 million dollars, new infrastructure valued at $3 million, ten years of property tax breaks, and $546,000 dollars from the Texas Enterprise Fund.

When fully operational, CertainTeed will employ 130 at a wage that is ten percent above the Brazos County average.

The groundbreaking program included CertainTeed presenting a $20,000 dollar check to the Bryan ISD education foundation for the district's CTE center.

This podcast contains comments from the November 20, 2023 College Station city council meeting.

College Station city staff continues to work on the specifications to hire a consultant to study what should go into a future convention center.

For the second time in three months, the city council has given staff direction.

Councilwoman Linda Harvell was the first to say that the consultant should study a convention center without the city owning a connected hotel.

Multiple council members also said the city should not own a hotel since that would put the city in competition with the private sector.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Cunha called for a needs assessment and brought up paying for a convention center in College Station with money from hotel occupancy tax revenue.

Councilman Dennis Maloney was among members who also wanted the study to include possible sites, specifically mentioning the former Macy's building that the city owns.

This podcast is a visit with Texas House District 12 Republican candidate Trey Wharton, visiting with WTAW's Bill Oliver on November 28, 2023.

After next year's elections, Brazos County will have two new state representatives.

Changing his mind about running for re-election in House District 12 was Kyle Kacal of College Station.

Shortly after Kacal's announcement, the governor endorsed the remaining Republican candidate.

The reaction Trey Wharton of Huntsville to Kacal's announcement and the governor's endorsement was "Yeah, all of that was unexpected that fast."

Wharton says Kacal's decision is not going to change his plans of continuing to visit all five counties. HD 12 also includes Robertson, Walker, Grimes, and Washington counties.

Wharton has operated an insurance agency in Huntsville for 32 years and is starting his ninth year on the Huntsville ISD school board.

In August, representative John Raney of Bryan announced he was retiring after next year's election.

This podcast is a visit with United Way of the Brazos Valley president Peggi Goss, representatives of UWBV partner agency Save Our Streets (SOS) Ministries J.J. Ramirez and Kyle Salmon, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Dr. Susan Ballabina, Chief of Staff, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about Texas A&M's new football coach, community engagement, an event in Downtown Bryan, President Welsh's state of the university address, upcoming holiday events, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is Mike Elko's first news conference as Texas A&M head football coach, November 27, 2023.