WTAW - Interviews

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County Judge Duane Peters and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Brazos County judge Duane Peters is back at work following a six month medical leave.

Peters thanked his family, his medical team, those who prayed and encouraged him during and after his hospitalization, and county staff.

Peters spent Wednesday afternoon (January 7) signing the paperwork where he officially returned to office and terminating the appointment of Kyle Kacal, who Peters thanked for serving as acting county judge.

Time was also spent meeting with county staff, where part of the message to Peters was to pace himself.

While Peters was on leave, he announced he would not run for re-election this year for a fifth term for county judge. 

Peters was first elected to county office as a constable in 1993 and joined the commissioner's court in 2002.

News release from Brazos County:

Brazos County Judge Duane Peters officially returned to work today following a six month absence.
On June 29, 2025, Peters authorized the appointment of former State Representative Kyle Kacal to serve as acting County Judge until the time he could return.  Today, Peters executed the order terminating that appointment, signaling his full return to office.

“I am grateful to Representative Kacal for his willingness to step back into serving this community at a critical time for the County,” said Peters. “It was always my intention to return when I could, and I am pleased that now is that time.”

Kacal remarked, “Our prayers have been with Judge Peters and his family these past months, so it is wonderful to see that he is in good health, ready to work on behalf of the citizens of Brazos County once again. It has been my honor to answer the call to serve, and I appreciate the trust he has continued to show me since June.” 

Peters began serving Brazos County as a constable in 1993, was elected commissioner in 2002, and was elected to his first term as County Judge in 2010. His current term ends December 31, 2026.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia to discuss the agenda for tomorrow night’s city council meeting, the College Station Police Department’s expanded mental health response through grant funding and lease updates, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. 

This podcast contains comments from the January 6, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

The multi-week citizen prosecutor's academy hosted by the Brazos County district attorney's office, for the first time, is being condensed into a one day event.

At the January 6th county commission meeting, Jarvis Parsons gave the invitation to register for attending "D-A In A Day".

The event is the last Saturday of January (January 31) at the North Bryan community center. Contact the D-A's office to register.

This podcast contains comments from the January 6, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

Fire chiefs in the Brazos County districts outside of Bryan and College Station are talking about reinstating a burn ban. 

Emergency management coordinator Jason Ware's report to county commissioners at the end of 
Tuesday's meeting (January 6) included a request to landowners who are considering outdoor burning to pay attention to the weather.

Ware said outdoor fires become an issue when cold fronts come through, combining increased wind speeds and lower humidity with drier grass from recent freezes.

The Brazos County discussion follows burn bans returning in Robertson, Limestone, and Austin counties.

This podcast contains comments from a city of College Station blog post with police officer David Simmons and the city's marketing coordinator Grace Hallowell.

The College Station police department's online crime map showed seven burglaries during December.

An end of the year message on the city's blog from officer David Simmons says vehicle burglaries have been on the rise.

And Simmons suggestions to avoid being a victim of a vehicle burglary included removing valuables and locking vehicles.Of particular concern to Simmons, are leaving key fobs in vehicles...which leads to vehicle thefts...and leaving guns...some which can be converted to fire as automatic weapons.

Click HERE to be directed to the complete CSPD podcast with officer David Simmons and the city of College Station's marketing coordinator Grace Hallowell.

United Way of the Brazos Valley (UWBV) president Lizett Hawkins visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver about the resumption of the workplace campaign following the holiday break, promoting a January 17th chili cookoff at Yesterday's Bar and Grill in Bryan where UWBV is a beneficiary, and announcing a UWBV "Sneaker Soiree" fundraiser will be held February 28th at The Kimbell cultural event center in downtown Bryan.

This podcast contains comments from the December 4, 2025 Blinn College board of trustees meeting.

January marks another milestone as Blinn College builds a new campus in Waller.

Blinn trustees at their December meeting, awarded a $68 million dollar contract to begin construction of the first academic building.

The academic building is planned as an approximately 82,000-square-foot, three-story structure that will include classrooms, laboratories, student support areas, and administrative spaces that will form the foundation for future campus development.

Click HERE to read and download background information from Blinn College.

The trustees vote on the academic building was five to two. Voting no, were two trustees who are retired Blinn administrators.

Former senior vice president for student services Dennis Crowson wanted the building to host more than academic courses. Blinn's dean of humanities April Kincaid confirmed the Waller academic building will be used by students in the college's workforce programs.

Also voting no, former assistant vice chancellor of facilities Richard O'Malley was concerned about issuing debt. Responding to O'Malley's comments, trustee Randy Wells, who is a pastor who leads Brenham's Faith Mission, quoted the portion of Proverbs 29:18 that says "where's there's no vision, the people perish" in supporting the construction contract.

In addition to starting construction on the first academic building, Blinn chancellor Mary Hensley gave an update on building a workforce training complex in Waller.

Hensley says the workforce complex will start holding courses next June, and the academic building is scheduled to open for the fall semester in 2027.

News release from Blinn College:

The Blinn College District Board of Trustees approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $68 million for the development of a new academic building on the Blinn-Waller Campus during its Thursday, Dec. 4, meeting. 

The facility, which will be the first building constructed on the new campus, represents a significant milestone in the College District’s long-range expansion in Waller and the surrounding region.

The academic building is planned as an approximately 82,000-square-foot, three-story structure that will include classrooms, laboratories, student support areas, and administrative spaces that will form the foundation for future campus development.

The new facility will help meet rapidly growing regional demand for higher education and workforce training. The population within a 20-mile radius of the campus is projected to increase from 851,109 residents in 2024 to 1,024,349 by 2034, positioning Blinn to serve an expanding student population and support the region’s workforce needs.

In a related action, the board authorized the College District to proceed with the issuance and sale of $55.5 million in Series 2026 revenue bonds. Bond proceeds will support the construction of the Waller Campus academic building. The College District will fund the remaining project costs from its cash reserves. Blinn also will utilize its reserves to establish the bond reserve fund and to pay the cost of issuing the bonds.

The new academic building is part of Blinn’s significant investment in Waller and northwest Houston. 

In addition to the courses Blinn currently offers at Waller ISD facilities, construction is underway on a 17,000-square-foot Waller Workforce and Technical Education Complex that will begin offering classes this summer.

To assist students with applications, payments, academic advising, and financial aid, Blinn recently opened a new administration office at 31406 FM 2920, Suite B203, in Waller. Open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Blinn staff are available at the administration office to assist students with enrollment.

Blinn will host a dedicated Registration Day event at the administration office from 9 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, Jan. 7. At that event, students can get one-on-one assistance with admissions, advising, and registration. To sign up, students can visit www.blinn.edu/waller/registration-days.html.

This podcast contains comments from the December 16, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting.

2026 means two new members to the board of the Brazos Central Appraisal District (BCAD). 

A new selection process enacted by state lawmakers was explained to county commissioners at their December 16th meeting by BCAD's chief appraiser.

Horton said this was the first time that state lawmakers did not let local taxing units choose their own representatives.

Instead, a new state law meant nominations were submitted by county commissions, school boards, and city councils.

That resulted in three people running for two BCAD board positions.

County commissioners asked for biographies of the three candidates, something Horton did not have but will request in future elections. 

WTAW News has asked the chief appraiser who are the two new members.

This podcast contains comments from the December 18, 2025 Bryan planning and zoning commission.

The December 18th meeting of the Bryan planning and zoning commission was the last for two longtime members.

Michael Beckendorf served two terms, from 2006 through 2014 and 2018 through 2025.

Jody Rodriguez served from 2017 through 2025.

Beckendorf and Rodriguez made comments, as did P&Z vice chairman Clayton Watson and member Leo Gonzalez.

This podcast is a visit with Unlimited Potential of the Brazos Valley executive director Amanda Cross and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The non profit agency Unlimited Potential of the Brazos Valley (UPBV) announces receiving a $160,000 dollar challenge grant to help pay for transitional housing for those aging out of the foster care system.

UPBV executive director Amanda Cross says the local match included Stylecraft Builders, which donated one of the three cottages that was built on land which was a former nursing home complex in College Station. Cross also said Stylecraft built the two other cottages at cost and subcontractors also participated.

The land on Anderson Street between Anderson and Lemon Tree parks was cleared with the financial assistance of the College Station city council in December 2022. The council then approved rezoning the property in October 2023. 

UPBV's transitional living program will offer up to two years of housing along with mentorship, career readiness, financial literacy, counseling, and educational support. 

A UPBV news release says the facility is anticipated to serve 10 young adults annually, providing them with the tools to achieve long-term self-sufficiency and community connection.