WTAW - Interviews

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.

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

In August 2025, Brazos County commissioners on a three to two vote approved spending $435,000 dollars on a consultant to review employee pay and job descriptions.

The consultant's first report was presented at the commission's May 5th meeting.

According to the consultant's presentation, they have four objectives. They are "to ensure that (1) Staff are appropriately classified into the correct job title and job descriptions are reflective of the work being performed by County employees (2) Relationships among jobs are consistent and objective (3) Total compensation offerings are market competitive and (4) The County’s performance management strategy and tool is positioned".

Click HERE to read and download the consultant's presentation.

Click HERE to read and download a summary of the consultant's presentation.

Commissioners Bentley Nettles and Wanda Watson said they want to change the county's current practice of paying new employees the same wage as the person they replaced.

Still to come from the consultant and the county's human resources office, are specific recommendations about a new pay schedule and changes in job descriptions. Commissioners were told to expect those recommendations in time to be considered for next year's budget.

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County county attorney Earl Gray and WTAW's Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs May 7, 2026.

Topics included the basic operations of the office, an overview of specialty programs for first offenders, veterans, those with mental health issues, and assisting with the training of police officers.

This podcast is a visit on The Infomaniacs May 7, 2026 with city of Bryan recreation supervisor Matt Minahan and WTAW's Will Welch. Topics includes the renovation of Travis Field baseball stadium, the status of city pools, and other parks and recreation programs.

This podcast contains comments from the May 6, 2026 Grimes County commission meeting.

Grimes County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing to consider giving tax breaks to Elon Musk's Space X for a proposed project at the former Gibbons Creek Lake property.

The cost of the proposed semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing fabrication facility could reach $174 billion dollars according to the public hearing notice.

Click HERE to read and download the public hearing notice from the Grimes County government website.

Before the June 3rd public hearing, commissioners at their May 6th meeting heard public comments about semiconductor plants in general and/or specifically the Space X proposal.

Commissioners also heard more comments from opponents to another company proposing a data center and battery energy storage system between Roans Prairie and Singleton east of Highway 90.

After the public comments, commissioners made no statements.

Commissioners then met in executive session. After returning from a private discussion with their lawyer there were no motions.

After executive session, county judge Joe Fauth announced a postponement in naming a committee that will be involved in dealing with tax abatements and economic development grants.

This podcast contains comments from the May 6, 2026 Texas A&M system board of regents meeting, followed by an interview with regents chairman Bob Albritton and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The Texas A&M system board of regents Wednesday (May 6) unanimously named Susan Ballabina president of the flagship campus.

Ballabina, whose first official day is May 11, returns to the university after serving as the system's executive vice chancellor since June 2025.

Before that, Ballabina served as chief of staff to former president Mark Welsh for one year and eight months.

Ballabina has 32 years experience between Texas A&M university, the system office, and other system agencies.

News release from the Texas A&M system:

The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System today voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Susan Ballabina as 28th president of Texas A&M University. Dr. Ballabina will assume her new role on May 11.

The vote follows the state’s required 21-day waiting period after which Dr. Ballabina was named sole finalist and marks the selection of a leader with more than three decades of service to Texas A&M and the State of Texas.

“Our unanimous vote reflects a clear sense of direction for Texas A&M,” said Board Chairman Robert L. Albritton. “There is strong momentum already building behind Dr. Ballabina across the university and among those who care deeply about its future, and we are confident she will carry that forward.”

Dr. Ballabina currently serves as Executive Vice Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, where she has helped lead systemwide operations, advance strategic initiatives and support the work of the A&M System’s universities and agencies across Texas.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ballabina has held senior leadership roles spanning the university and the A&M System, including Chief of Staff to the president, Senior Vice President for Academic and Strategic Collaborations, and Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer for Texas A&M AgriLife. Her work has included strengthening statewide programs, building partnerships, supporting research and educational initiatives, and coordinating large-scale efforts such as the Healthy South Texas initiative and the disaster recovery following Hurricane Harvey.

“Texas A&M has always been defined by its mission and the people who serve it,” said Chancellor Glenn Hegar. “Leading this university requires an understanding of that responsibility and a willingness to keep the focus on what matters most. Dr. Ballabina has shown throughout her career that she understands that, and that is a big part of why she is the right choice to lead Texas A&M forward.”

The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of the institution and her ability to lead at scale.

Dr. Ballabina said she is honored by the Board’s decision and focused on the work ahead.

“Texas A&M has a strong foundation, a clear mission, and passionate faculty, staff, students, and former students who care deeply about its future,” Ballabina said. “I’m grateful for the trust placed in me by the regents and Chancellor Hegar, and I look forward to working alongside the Aggie community to build on that strength and move the university forward.” 

The leaders of the Texas A&M System also expressed their appreciation to Interim President Tommy Williams for his leadership during the transition.

“Chairman Albritton, the other regents and I are grateful to Tommy Williams for his steady leadership and continued service to Texas A&M during this important time,” Hegar said. “He has provided continuity for the university, and we appreciate his commitment to the institution.”