WTAW - Interviews

Bryan Mayor Pro Tem James Edge visits with WTAW's Chris Dusterhoff about annexing land near the RELLIS campus, the possibility of a new datacenter, power generation, the retirement of City Manager Kean Register, hiring a new city manager, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the September 16, 2025 College Station ISD school board meeting.

College Station ISD school board members learn the newly improved football and track at Consolidated Middle School has been closed to the public and coaches want the same to take place at the remaining middle schools.

Assistant superintendent Josh Symank told board members at their September regular meeting that there's been thousands of dollars in damage has occurred two weeks after the completion of millions of dollars of bond financed improvements.

Symank shared a video of a dirt bike on one of the middle school tracks and photos of damage on new artificial turf from golfers and those walking dogs and going to the bathroom without picking up what their pets leave behind.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials at the September 16, 2025 College Station ISD school board meeting.

This podcast contains comments from the Brazos County commission public hearing on September 19th, 2025 and the commission's September 23rd, 2025 business meeting.

The parent company of St. Joseph Health is planning to spend up to $20.6 million dollars on facilities in Brazos County.

That's according to a document from Common Spirit Health that was approved by county commissioners.

Click HERE to read and download what was approved at the September 23, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting.

According to IRS regulations, the county commission is required to approve tax exempt bonds even though the county is not exposed to any liability.

A public hearing was held September 19th with no public comments. 

The only public speaker before commissioners approved the request at its September 23rd business meeting was St. Joseph vice president of operations Erin Marietta.

At both meetings, commissioner Chuck Konderla asked Common Spirit to increase its local investment.

Commissioners had no questions for Saint Joseph vice president of operations Erin Marietta, who introduced herself.

Common Spirit, which is seeking new bond financing and refinancing existing bonds totaling nearly $1 billion dollars company, has three projects in Brazos County.

There is up to $11.5 million for St. Joseph's hospital in Bryan, up to $8.5 million for the emergency room at St. Joseph's hospital in College Station, and up to $650,000 dollars on St. Joseph's express care clinic in College Station.

This podcast is a visit with Bryan police officer Seth Waller and WTAW's Bill Oliver about registering for the annual National Night Out parties.

The first Tuesday night in October is the annual visit by local law enforcement to local neighborhoods.

Registration for National Night Out on October 7 is being promoted by the Bryan and College Station police departments and the Brazos County sheriff's office.

Click HERE to be directed to the Bryan police department's National Night Out registration website.

Click HERE to be directed to the College Station police department's National Night Out registration website.

Click HERE to be directed to the Brazos County sheriff's office National Night Out registration website.

This week's United Way of the Brazos Valley update features partner agency Catholic Charities of Central Texas.

This podcast contains comments from the September 9, 2025 Bryan city council meeting.

Downtown Bryan is getting new holiday lights and decorations. The new lighting replaces what was installed in the summer of 2018.

A unanimous Bryan city council supported the proposal presented by an outside consultant at September 9th's regular meeting.

The city's general fund will pay for the $69,000 dollar cost of the first phase of the project.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the September 9, 2025 Bryan city council workshop meeting.

Consultant Jessica Yakesch said the existing lighted Christmas tree at Sale Park will be moved to in front of city hall.

At Sale Park, there will be a 50 foot tall tree with a light and sound show.The exterior of Carnegie Library will get new decorations.

In front of the Palace Theater there will be a large boot that will have seasonal decorations. Inside the Palace, will be a portable bar called "Tinsel and Tap".

On the side of the Queen Theatre, there will be red, green, and gold uplights along with cascading snowflakes.

There will be string-lit trees lining Main Street along with garland-wrapped lamp posts and branded pole banners.

This podcast is the recording of the groundbreaking program of the new South Brazos County fire department fire station one west of Wellborn on Koppe Bridge Road, following by an interview with the president of the commission governing Brazos County emergency services district (ESD) one Rodger Stout and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Brazos County emergency services district (ESD) 1, which operates the South Brazos County fire department, held a groundbreaking Friday morning (September 19) at the site of the new station one located west of Wellborn on Koppe Bridge Road.

The commission governing ESD 1 purchased property that included a metal building. The president of the ESD 1 commission, Rodger Stout, said the won't be many modifications to the existing structure other than interior changes. A second building will be constructed to house four fire vehicles.

Stout said when construction is completed in the winter of 2026, the 15,638 square foot station will have nine dorm rooms, a kitchen, living quarters, a workout room, administrative offices, meeting and training rooms, and operational space and storage.

The new station will include an area to clean and store gear that will be separate from the living quarters and offices. Stout said that is to reduce the risk of cancer that he said is "a huge issue in the fire service."

Chief David Cooper said when opened, he wants residents living in ESD 1 to take advantage of meeting rooms. Cooper also promoted property owners to purchase reflecting address signs and sharing codes to open gates in an effort to reduce response time. 

Cooper said the new station 1 on Koppe Bridge Road will be joined by a new station 6 on Walnut Road in the northern part of the district that is scheduled to open this November, and another new ESD 1 station that will be built along Highway 6 near the Peach Creek Road exit. Along with an existing station in Millican, Cooper said this will result in response times in 90 percent of their calls dropping from 20 minutes to 10 minutes.

Stout said the current station one, which is off Wellborn Road inside the city of College Station, will be sold.

College Station Councilman David White visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the resignation of Texas A&M President Mark Welsh, the proposed datacenter, what he wants to see on that land, overoccupancy issues, parking restrictions, and more during his visit on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the September 18, 2025 special meeting of the Texas A&M system board of regents.

A special meeting of the Texas A&M system board of regents took place Thursday (September 18).

The agenda did not include a specific reference to the status of A&M president Mark Welsh. One state representative wants Welsh fired over the handling of a professor who was terminated and the removal of the head of the English department and the removal of the dean of the college of arts and sciences. Following multiple social media posts from Texas House member Brian Harrison of Waxahachie, A&M's student government association posted on their social media a letter supporting Welsh that was sent to the regents and the chancellor.

The meeting agenda did include discussing in private, "personnel matters relating to appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of an officer or employee, or to hear complaints or charges against an officer or employee" "including presidents and/or chief executive officers of A&M system institutions"; A&M system office executive level employees; employees reporting directly to the board; and all other employees of the A&M system offices and institutions".

After the regents first executive session, which lasted 28 minutes, approval was given to officially name the Aplin Center, where construction has just started. The building's namesake, Arch Aplin III, is also named for A&M's new department of hospitality, hotel management, and tourism in the college of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the department of marketing in the Mays Business School.

Regents also authorized leasing ground at the RELLIS campus to an unidentified party, the board finalized the appointment of Dr. Christopher Maynard as the next president of A&M International in Laredo and named as sole finalist for president at the system's new university in Victoria, Christian E. Hardigree, J.D.

Regents also approved changing the system's mission statement, which was read by chairman Bob Albritton of Ft. Worth: The Texas A&M university system, leading Texas serving the nation by building strong leaders of character and creating economic opportunities through world class education, cutting edge research, and impactful public service."

After taking action, where there were unanimous votes with no discussion, the regents entered a second executive session. Regents emerged from a 42 minute executive session by adjourning the meeting without further comment.

News release from the Texas A&M system naming a sole finalist for the A&M-Victoria campus:

Regents today named Christian E. Hardigree, J.D. as the sole finalist for president of Texas A&M University–Victoria.

“Victoria is an important part of our System’s future,” said Board Chairman Robert L. Albritton. “Christian Hardigree brings a builder’s mindset — growing programs, aligning with workforce needs, and delivering for students and communities. She’s exactly the kind of leader who can help Texas A&M-Victoria thrive along the Coastal Bend and Crossroads.”

Hardigree currently serves as Regional Chancellor of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, where she is a member of the OneUSF executive team overseeing academic programs, operations and a $130 million campus and capital improvement portfolio.A seasoned higher-education leader and attorney, she has previously served as founding dean of the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University of Denver and founding director of the Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability & Hospitality at Kennesaw State University. She holds a Juris Doctor from Mercer University and a B.S. (cum laude) from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and she is a Fulbright Scholar (2024).

“Christian has led complex organizations, raised resources and translated strategy into results. I’m confident she’ll partner with local employers and educators to deliver high-value degrees that open doors for Texas families,” said Chancellor Glenn Hegar.

In accordance with Texas law, the Board of Regents may consider final action on the appointment no sooner than 21 days after naming a sole finalist.

"I am deeply honored to be selected as the sole finalist for president of Texas A&M University–Victoria. This is a pivotal moment for the university, and I am inspired by its mission to advance academic excellence, foster student success and serve as a catalyst for opportunity and economic growth across South Texas,” Hardigree said. “I look forward to working with our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners to elevate the university's visibility, strengthen its impact, and build a vibrant future together.”

News release from the Texas A&M system finalizing the appointment of the next president at Texas A&M International University:

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents today voted to appoint Dr. Christopher Maynard as President of Texas A&M International University in Laredo.

“Dr. Maynard is ready to lead Texas A&M International University into a period of smart growth and greater impact,” Board Chairman Robert L. Albritton said. “Dr. Maynard’s track record of elevating student success and forging high-value partnerships will create new opportunities for both students and the region.”

Chancellor Glenn Hegar praised the appointment and the university’s momentum.“Texas A&M International University changes lives and strengthens Texas every day by educating first-generation students, fueling international commerce and serving a dynamic border economy,” Hegar said. “Dr. Maynard knows how to align strong academic programs with employer demand, grow research that matters locally and globally and build partnerships that open doors for students. I am grateful to Regents Mike Hernandez and John Bellinger and the search advisory committee for their work and to Interim President Juan Castillo for his steady leadership during this transition.”

Under Texas law, regents must name a sole finalist at least 21 days prior to taking final action. Dr. Maynard was named sole finalist on August 28, 2025.

Dr. Maynard currently serves as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Houston–Clear Lake, which enrolls more than 8,000 students. He previously served in academic leadership roles at Sam Houston State University and the University of North Alabama and is a past president of the Texas Council of Chief Academic Officers.

At UH–Clear Lake he led successful accreditation reaffirmation, helped more than double sponsored-research funding and launched collaborations such as the Houston Spaceport Consortium for Research, Education and Workforce.

A tenured professor of history, Dr. Maynard holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from Louisiana State University and a B.A., magna cum laude, from Lee University. His book, Out of the Shadow: George H.W. Bush and the End of the Cold War, was published by Texas A&M University Press.

Bryan Mayor Pro Tem James Edge visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about construction near the new H-E-B site, parking in Downtown Bryan, Amazon coming to Bryan, the retirement of City Manager Kean Register, upcoming events, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.