WTAW - Interviews

This podcast has comments from College Station city councilman David White and the city's communications director Colin Killian, visiting with WTAW's Will Welch on The Infomaniacs March 20, 2026.

The city of College Station's tourism office is hosting a free concert following the Texas A&M spring football game across from Kyle Field at Aggie Park.

The announcement was made on WTAW's The Infomaniacs by city councilman David White and communications director Colin Killian.

The headline entertainer, which will be revealed the week before the April 18th event, along with the other performers, were promoted as all having a Texas A&M connection.

The lineup also includes Garrett Talamantes, Bleu Edmondson, Julianna Rankin and Austin Meade.

News release from a public relations firm representing the city of College Station:

Visit College Station, in partnership with Forefront Studios, will host a free live music event and televised taping of Texas Music Scene on Saturday, April 18, at Aggie Park.

Timed to follow Texas A&M University's annual Maroon & White Spring Game at Kyle Field (1 p.m. kickoff for the free intrasquad scrimmage), the concert extends the fan experience by seamlessly transitioning from football to live music in the heart of Aggieland.

Doors open 2 p.m., with performances beginning at 3:15 p.m., featuring an all-Aggie-affiliated lineup, including Garrett Talamantes, Bleu Edmondson, Julianna Rankin and Austin Meade, with a special guest to be announced the week of the event.

“This event is all about celebrating the spirit of Aggieland and bringing together our traditions, our people and our incredible music scene in one unforgettable day,” said Jeremiah Cook, Assistant Director of Tourism for Visit College Station. Our support of Texas Music Scene reflects our continued commitment to showcasing College Station as a vibrant destination where live music and community come together.”

The performances will be taped for Texas Music Scene, the nationally recognized television program dedicated to promoting Texas artists. The later broadcast will capture the spirit and energy of the event, underscoring College Station’s profile as a cultural and entertainment destination.

“Events like this are at the heart of Texas Music Scene, bringing fans and artists closer together,” said Tony Gates, producer of The Texas Music Scene. “Having so many Texas A&M alumni represented both on stage and on our show makes this collaboration a natural fit. We’re proud to showcase the best music makers in the Lone Star State while celebrating the diverse sounds and rich tradition of Texas music.

As a designated Music Friendly Texas Certified Community, College Station continues to build on its growing reputation as a destination for live music.

The free concert on April 18 underscores that commitment, creating an engaging experience for residents and visitors alike that blends Texas culture, community connection and Aggie pride.

This podcast contains comments from Brazos County sheriff Wayne Dicky during a March 19, 2026 visit on WTAW's The Infomaniacs with Will Welch.

The search for a missing Bryan area woman is now in its second month.

That's despite the department of public safety discontinuing its alert for Nikki Winder.

Brazos County sheriff Wayne Dicky says there is a time limit on how long DPS runs a CLEAR (Coordinated Law Enforcement Adult Rescue) alert.

Dicky asked during recent visit on WTAW's The Infomaniacs that anyone who had contact with Winder before she disappeared on February 25th to contact the sheriff's office or Brazos County Crime Stoppers..

This podcast contains comments from the March 24, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

Brazos County commissioners vote four to one to award a construction contract to build a four floor office building and a four floor parking garage that will be connected to the courthouse by a skywalk over Texas Avenue.

Click HERE to read and download architectural renderings of the annex project that were presented at the March 24, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the construction contract that was approved.

Among those voting to award the contract, commissioners Bentley Nettles, Chuck Konderla, and Wanda Watson told two public speakers who wanted more detailed costs that they were confident the construction company can complete the project within the guaranteed maximum price of $59 million dollars.

County judge Duane Peters also voted to award the contract, while commissioner Fred Brown voted no.

The county's construction project manager, Trevor Lansdown, said construction will start as soon as April 6 and completion is projected for May of 2028.

The first floor will be occupied by the precinct four constable and justice of the peace, the second floor will be the new home of adult probation, the third floor will remain unfinished for future offices, and the fourth floor will be the new public defender's office.

This podcast contains comments from the March 23, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

The Bryan ISD school board selects architects for three more major projects associated with last November's $397 million dollar bond issue.

One architect was selected for additions and renovations at Bryan and Rudder High schools.

Click HERE to read and download the architect contract for the combination Bryan and Rudder high project.

Another architect was selected for the replacement of Bryan Collegiate High School.

Click HERE to read and download the architect contract for Bryan Collegiate High School.

The total budget for the new Collegiate building is almost $49 million dollars and the budget for the combined Bryan/Rudder High project is $98 million.

Destination Bryan Communication Coordinator Lina Adams visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs March 26, 2026 to preview the Troubadour Festival and other upcoming activities.

This podcast is a visit with Randi Daniels and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Another large sports event is coming to College Station.

The regional Special Olympics competition this Friday and Saturday (March 27-28) brings 500 athletes along with their families and coaches to three venues.

College Station ISD teacher Randi Daniel, who has been a coordinator and/or a coach for ten years, says volunteer opportunities includes presenting awards to athletes ranging in age from six to the 60's.

Volunteers also assist those competing at the track and field site at Wellborn Middle School, tennis at Bee Creek Park, and cycling and fundamental activities at College Station Middle School.

There are also volunteer positions to prepare meals for athletes and to staff concession stands.

Spectators are also welcomed to cheer on the athletes.

Click HERE to be directed to directed to the website where you can volunteer and find more information.

You can also send an e-mail to [email protected].

This podcast contains comments from Brazos County commissioner Bentley Netlles during the March 24, 2026 commission meeting.

Brazos County commissioners follow action by the Bryan city council in agreeing to provide property tax breaks for the world's largest privately owned producer of industrial gases.

At Tuesday's commission meeting (March 24), unanimous approval was given to the agreement where German based Messer Corporation will build a $60 million dollar facility in northeast Bryan that will provide liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen to industries in Brazos County.

The county's agreement is over a five year period starting in 2028. Messer will receive a 50 percent property tax abatement.

Messer is required to have a minimum payroll in the first year of $750,000 dollars, increasing to $1.3 million per year for the remaining four years.

Click HERE to read and download the agreement approved at the March 24, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

Commissioner Bentley Nettles said Messer's products includes gases used in manufacturing semiconductors. 

Nettles says the agreement gives Brazos County a leg up on recruiting a semiconductor manufacturing plant and other industries.

This podcast is the report from the March 23, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting from board member Tim Pavlas of the board's March meeting of their safety and security committee.

Bryan ISD school board members during Monday night’s meeting (March 23) were scheduled to discuss in private an undisclosed failure in its latest inspection of protecting school buildings.

No details were provided in public before or after the board’s executive session regarding an intruder detection audit and a corrective action plan.

In public, board member Tim Pavlas summarized this month’s meeting of the safety and security committee that was led by BISD’s assistant security director Rich Himmel and was attended by 14 central office administrators.

City of Bryan mayor pro tem James Edge joined The Infomaniacs on Thursday, March 25, 2026, to talk about water resources, municipal utilities, Messer LLC, future infrastructure plans, the Troubadour Festival, and more.

This podcast contains comments from the March 23, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

The year after Bryan ISD school board members received voter approval for a $397 million dollar bond package, the board hears a presentation that could lead to voters being asked this November to approve a two cent increase in the property tax rate for maintenance and operations.

BISD's chief financial officer Norma Friddle explained what state law calls a voter approved tax rate election (also known as VATRE) at the board's March 23rd meeting as part of a monthly presentation about developing the budget for the 2026-2027 school year.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the March 23, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

State law allows school districts to ask voters to increase the property tax rate by up to eight cents without returning some of the money to the state. 

Bryan ISD has used six of the eight cents.The BISD board has until August 17th to decide whether to ask voters to approve raising the tax rate by the remaining two cents allowed by state law. That would generate $5.5 million dollars for BISD.

For the owner of a $350,000 dollar home, after subtracting the homestead exemption of $140,000, the property tax increase on a home with a taxable value of $210,000 would be $42 dollars a year.

Friddle and some board members brought up the funding shortfall that remains after state lawmakers last year increased the basic allotment by $55 per student. Because the amount had not been changed since 2019, board members were told the increase should have been $1,300 per student.

Board members were also told that unfunded mandates still exist, and costs are rising faster than funding, particularly with covering employee medical expenses.

Nothing was said about where Bryan ISD would spend VATRE money if board members decide to call an election and if the proposition passed.

Board members were told VATRE money could be spent on salaries, contracted services, utilities, programs, and other operating expenses.