WTAW - Interviews

This podcast contains comments from the June 2, 2026 Grimes County commission meeting.

Grimes County commissioners do not make a decision whether to offer SpaceX economic incentives for their proposed facility at Gibbons Creek lake.

After a 90 minute executive session at the end of Tuesday's special meeting (June 2), county judge Joe Fauth said they directed their county attorney to continue negotiations, that there is no agreement, then he adjourned the meeting.

Before going into executive session, the four commissioners who were present listened to about 30 minutes of comments from public speakers. 

That was followed by Fauth thanking the speakers, adding "We do listen to what you have to say, whether that sinks in or not, we do hear what you say and we take it to heart."

Precinct two commissioner David Tullos was absent from Tuesday's meeting.

This podcast is a visit with Chuck Martinez of the Bryan/College Sister Cities Association and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

In February, the Bryan city council approved grant funding to help pay the cost of a mural that is a project of the Bryan/College Station sister cities organization.

The dedication of the mural, on the west side of the Clara B. Mounce library that faces the railroad tracks, is Wednesday (June 3) at 5:30.

The organization's board secretary, Chuck Martinez, says among those attending the program includes representatives of all four sister cities.

That includes the mayor of Salamanca Mexico and officials from the U.S. consulates representing Bastogne Belgium, Greifswald Germany, and Torun Poland.

The mural's artist comes from the sister city in Germany. Martinez says the artist's concept uses animals representing Bryan and each sister city.

The mural also incorporates phrases representing each city...the American phrase Learn Together, the Spanish phrase for curiosity and connection, the French phrase representing Belgium for inspire each other, the German phrase for discovering together, and the Polish phrase for exploring new paths.

A sister cities news release says the mural "is a visual symbol for citizen diplomacy, celebrating Bryan-College Station’s international friendships and promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation — one individual, one community at a time."Additional funding for the mural comes from a state grant and community corporate sponsors.

This podcast contains comments from the May 18, 2026 meeting of the Brazos County intergovernmental committee.

What was founded in 1989 as Brazos County's economic development agency now covers five counties.

For the last five months, the president of what is now called the Greater Brazos Partnership (GBP) shared his plans at the May meeting of the Brazos County intergovernmental committee (IGC).

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials used by Tom Johnson at the May 18, 2026 Brazos County IGC meeting.

Tom Johnson shared a five year plan for the GBP that includes Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Robertson, and Washington counties.

Those goals includes creating 30,000 new jobs, increasing wages by 30 percent, and adding and/or expanding 30 businesses.

Johnson says the GBP's one year performance goals includes at least ten qualified visits to prospective new and expanding businesses, getting at last six wins, starting a minimum of 20 new businesses, and increasing the pool of people in the early stages of their careers by at least two percent.

This podcast is a visit with HealthPoint CEO Mary Wauters and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The College Station based regional non profit provider of health care services...HealthPoint...has a permanent chief executive.

Mary Wauters is in her fifth year with the organization as part of a more than 20 year career in health care.

Wauters was originally hired as a regional operations director and more recently was chief operating officer and interim CEO.

HealthPoint, which was founded in 1972, has 11 clinics in eight counties.

In 2025, HealthPoint served more than 47,000 patients across more than 150,000 visits.

Patients make up more than 51 percent of the board that governs the provider.

News release from HealthPoint:

The HealthPoint Board of Directors has appointed Mary Wauters as Chief Executive Officer of HealthPoint, effective immediately.Wauters previously served as Interim CEO following the departure of former CEO Terri Sabella, RN, JD, PhD. 

During the leadership transition, Wauters provided steady guidance and continued operational oversight while maintaining HealthPoint’s commitment to high quality, patient-centered care throughout the communities it serves.

“The Board has been extremely pleased with Mary’s leadership and the stability she has brought to the organization during this transition,” said Mike Sutherland, Chair of the
HealthPoint Board of Directors. “Mary has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to our mission, our employees and our patients. Her experience, leadership and vision make her the right person to lead HealthPoint into the future.

”Wauters has been a key member of HealthPoint’s executive leadership team for several years, serving as Chief Operating Officer prior to assuming the interim CEO role.

Throughout her tenure, she has helped lead operational growth, quality improvement initiatives and expanded access to comprehensive, patient-centered care across HealthPoint’s service area.

“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as CEO of HealthPoint,” Wauters said. “HealthPoint has an incredible team of dedicated professionals who work every day to improve the health and well-being of our communities. I look forward to continuing our mission together and building on the strong foundation that already exists.”

“HealthPoint’s mission has always been rooted in service to the community,” Sutherland added. “The Board is confident that Mary will continue advancing that mission while guiding the organization through its next phase of growth and impact.”

Founded in 1972, HealthPoint has served the community for more than 50 years. Last year, HealthPoint cared for more than 47,000 patients across more than 150,000 visits. Today, HealthPoint serves patients across eight counties throughout the Greater Brazos Valley, providing comprehensive, high-quality primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy, pediatrics, women’s health, geriatric care, telehealth, care coordination and dental services. For more information, visit www.healthpoint-tx.com.

This podcast contains comments from the May 28, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

Before fall classes starts at Texas A&M, almost $1 million dollars in new equipment is scheduled to be installed at the city of College Station's parking garage in the Northgate district.

That follows the city council's unanimous vote supporting staff recommendations at its May 28th meeting.

Click HERE to read and download background information was approved at the May 28, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

45 percent of the cost is going towards overhead green and red lights to show if parking spaces are available...much like the lights in parking garages on the A&M campus.

Revenue from the city's Northgate parking fund will pay for the new equipment.

City manager Bryan Woods says this will help generate more motorists using the garage.

Woods also brought up that there has been talk about increasing parking fees, which he says in the past has resulted in pushback from unidentified sources.

The purchase replaces equipment that was installed in 2019.The new equipment also includes:

• Complete replacement of all access and exit components along with all associated mechanical equipment. This includes new entry and exit gates (2 entry, 2 exit, and one reversible), gate ticket dispensers, exit verifiers, gate control boxes, gate arms, walk-up credit/debit card only pay stations (4), and an upgraded call-forward capable intercom system with integrated security cameras to better insure patron safety and assist Northgate Parking staff in monitoring and preventing vandalization of all new system components.
• The supply and installation of protective aluminum canopies over selected equipment to provide weather protection and improve equipment longevity.
• Restriping and repainting of key parking garage markings and protective elements to improve safety and visibility.
• All related installation materials, peripherals, labor costs, system configuration and training are included in the contract, as is a 4-year extended preventive maintenance and support agreement.

This podcast contains comments from the May 19, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

For the second time in as many months, Brazos County commissioners switch funeral homes to transport the deceased to autopsies.

On April 21, commissioners reluctantly approve tripling the payment for transporting the deceased to medical examiners offices in Austin and San Antonio from $500 to $1,500 for reach round trip.

At the commission's May 19th meeting, unanimous approval was given to a two year contract where the price depends on the location of the transport and when it happens.

If the transport is to the Brazos County medical examiner's office, the cost is $700 dollars regardless of the day. 

If the transport is to Austin the cost is $1,100 dollars during the week and $1,300 on the weekend.

And the price to transport to San Antonio is $1,300 during the week and $1,500 on the weekend.

Click HERE to read and download the agreement that was approved at the May 19, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

This podcast contains comments from the May 19, 2026 Blinn College board of trustees meeting.

The May meeting of the Blinn College board of trustees included certifying for the first time that the college's core curriculum classes are in compliance with a new state law.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the May 19, 2026 Blinn College trustees meeting.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the May meeting of the Blinn trustees.

Meeting in Bryan, Blinn's background information and presentation materials did not say if a three member trustees committee and/or administrators removed any courses to comply with the new state law.

The work that was done by the board committee and administrators was recognized by chancellor Mary Hensley.

Addressing a trustee's question, executive vice chancellor Leighton Schubert said their action did not include considering elimination of low enrollment programs.

WTAW's Scott DeLucia visits on The Infomaniacs May 29, 2026 with the city of College Station's assistant tourism director Jeremiah Cook about recent and upcoming events and with the city's communications director Colin Killian about railroad maintenance will close the crossing on George Bush Drive on Sunday (5/31/26)...affecting traffic for NCAA regional baseball games at Olsen Field.

This podcast contains comments from the May 19, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

Brazos County commissioners approve at their May 19th meeting, borrowing $45 million dollars.

Seven million is part of the $100 million dollar bond issue approved by voters in November 2022 for road projects.

And $38 million in certificates of obligation (CO) that was not approved by voters is going towards renovations at the administration building and the new courthouse annex.

The commission's votes were 4-1.

Fred Brown voted no because he was under the impression that Brazos County was paying cash.County judge Duane Peters agreed he liked paying cash. But Peters pointed out the 20 year CO's are going towards financing construction projects that are expected to last 40 years. Peters also used an illustration of buying a home by borrowing the money.

The county's outside financial advisor Blake Roberts told commissioners that their high bond rating of AA+ reflects the commission's financial practices and policies.

Click HERE to read and download background information about the general obligation bond financing that was approved at the May 19, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

Click HERE to read and download background information about the certificates of obligation that was approved by county commissioners.

Brazos County precinct two commissioner-elect Kyle Greenwood visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver May 27, 2026.