WTAW - Interviews

This podcast contains comments from the July 15, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting.

Brazos County commissioners did not have a business meeting this week.

The July 22nd meeting was cancelled to allow members to attend a meeting in Waco with their colleagues from north and east Texas.

Last week (July 15), the business included commissioners extending a contract with an outside company that hires temporary employees.

Commissioners did not respond to two challenges to the contract made by a regular public speaker.

Cynde Wiley questioned if there was a less expensive alternative to spending 32 percent above the wage to recruit temporary employees for the expo complex and the elections office.

Wiley also questioned in the recruitment of temporary election workers if those applicants were vetted.

Brazos County purchasing agent Charles Wendt said the original contract was the winning bid, which is done to get the market conditions possible, and more information is available on the website where the county solicits bids.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the July 15, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting.

Click HERE To read and download the contract that was approved at the July 15, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting.

Rachael Altman and Suellen Dunn from the Carnegie History Center visit with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about how the history center was established, genealogy services offered, tours, and more during their appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit recorded July 23, 2025 with Dr. Sean Collins of Texas A&M's veterinary medicine college, who performed surgery on Reveille X, the first lady of Aggieland and A&M's official mascot. 

The official mascot of Texas A&M is out of the public spotlight until this fall.

Reveille X is recovering from successful surgery. Her right eye was removed due to glaucoma with signs of abnormal tissue.

Her surgeon, Dr. Sean Collins at A&M's veterinary medical college, said the benefit to Miss Rev is not being in pain because she did not have functional vision in that eye before it was removed.

President Mark Welsh posted on his website that Reveille X will return to all her favorite activities, which includes cheering on the Aggies and keeping campus squirrels in line.

Reveille X has been serving A and M since April of 2021.

Statement issued by Texas A&M president Mark Welsh on July 23, 2025:

I need to update the Aggie Family on our beloved mascot and First Lady of Aggieland, Reveille X. Under the watchful eye of her Mascot Corporals, it came to our attention that Miss Rev has been experiencing some discomfort and cloudiness in her right eye. Sadly, the issue has progressed and during a recent check-up, she was diagnosed with glaucoma. At the recommendation of our world-class veterinarians at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Miss Rev underwent surgery earlier today to relieve any discomfort. During surgery, the veterinary team discovered signs of abnormal tissue, and out of an abundance of caution, removed her eye. The tissue was sent to an ocular pathologist for evaluation, which is standard practice.

I’m grateful to report that Miss Rev has come through the surgery successfully, has been discharged and is resting comfortably. Our priority is her health and well-being, and we are blessed to have access to the remarkably talented and caring Texas A&M veterinary team who will continue to monitor Miss Rev on her road to recovery. She will take a brief hiatus from engagements as she fully recovers. According to her veterinary team, we can expect Miss Rev to be back to enjoying all her favorite activities — cruising on Rev Force One, attending classes, cheering on the Aggies and keeping our campus squirrels in line — this fall.

This podcast is an edited visit with Brazos Valley Bombers co-owner Uri Geva's visit on The Zone's Louie Belina Show that aired July 22, 2025.

Thursday night (July 24) begins the final regular season home stand for the Brazos Valley Bombers baseball team in Bryan.

Team co-owner Uri Geva shared on The Zone's Louie Belina Show that this year's operations could not have gone any smoother.

Geva also said the Bombers have at least one home game in the TCL playoffs, which is next Wednesday (July 30).

The final homestand includes a "Striking Out Cancer" promotion on Thursday, while Friday continues a 19 year tradition of fireworks along with a bobblehead giveaway for the first 200 through the gate, and the chance to own a Bombers custom jersey for Saturday's "Miracle Night" and for Sunday's "Princess Night" supporting Scotty's House child advocacy center.

Another event taking place at Saturday's Bombers game is recognizing the second anniversary of the death of a former Bombers pitcher from cancer. The family of College Station native Casey Whitmer set up a foundation to collect money for family members needing assistance with non medical expenses. Click HERE to be directed to the Full Count Casey Whitmer Foundation Facebook page for more information.

As the Bombers start their final homestand in Bryan, Thursday night's College Station city council agenda includes a letter of intent between the Bombers and the city that spells out the negotiation process to reach an agreement for the team to start playing home games at Veterans Park in 2027.

Click HERE to read and download the letter of intent to be considered at the July 24, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

This podcast contains comments from Brazos County congressman Michael McCaul at the beginning of the first hearing on July 22, 2025 of a homeland security committee task force on security issues facing future national special events.

Congress launches a new task force to increase security for upcoming special events around the country.

The chairman of the task force that is part of the homeland security committee is Brazos County congressman Michael McCaul.During the first task force hearing on Tuesday (July 22), 

McCaul brought up next year's soccer World Cup in multiple cities, the 2026 celebration of the United States 250th birthday, and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

McCaul said one clear lesson from past attacks, is the need for strong intelligence sharing from federal agencies to local and state law enforcement. He added that intelligence sharing will be aided by money that was part of federal legislation that was recently signed by the president.

McCaul said the task force will review lessons learned from past security failures, citing what he described as vehicular terrorism on New Year's Day in New Orleans and gunfire at last year's Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade.

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County commissioner Chuck Konderla and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Further development of a proposed highway to the east of Bryan and College Station might be coming to an end.

County commissioner Chuck Konderla, who represents most of the route of the proposed east loop, has placed on next Tuesday's agenda (July 29), terminating the contract with the design firm for the project.

Konderla told WTAW News that he has enough information that shows the loop...which was part of a bond issue approved by voters in 2022, would not make a significant impact on reducing traffic on other highways.

Konderla also said not knowing when or if the highway would be built was not fair to affected property owners.

Konderla says the design firm has been paid $4 million dollars out of an $11 million dollar contract. He wants to spend the remaining $7 million dollars from that contract on other road bond projects.

A Brazos County news release says acting county judge Kyle Kacal also supports terminating the design contract.

Click HERE to read and download a May 27, 2025 update on the Brazos County road bond projects that voters approved in November 2022.

News release from Brazos County:

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Brazos County commissioners court will consider the possible termination of a contract with Quiddity Engineering LLC to study and design a loop on the eastern side of the county.

Following months of listening to constituents and pouring over materials and information presented by Quiddity, Precinct 2 Commissioner Chuck Konderla submitted a written request to have this item placed on the agenda.

“I remain uneasy about how few residents understood the Inner East Loop was part of the bond the previous court included on Prop A in the November 2022 election. It has weighed heavy on my heart this study has caused so much pain for so many people worried about their homes and their land,” Konderla said. “As there is conflicting data on when or if an Inner East Loop would be needed, I cannot, in good conscience, continue a project that could tie up taxpayers’ property.”

Acting County Judge Kyle Kacal also has a long history with the eastern side of Brazos County and has spent quite a bit of time in his newly appointed role studying this project.“

I am in a unique position of approaching this with a fresh perspective, and the information we have gained from Quiddity has been critical,” he said. “I want to be very clear, Quiddity has performed every assignment and executed this contract with the utmost professionalism. This possible action is in no way a reflection on the Quiddity team and the great work they have done.”

Kacal continued, “None of the current commissioners were in office when the previous court voted to include an Inner East Loop study on the TRIP 22 bond proposition, but it was the responsibility of this court to carry out the process. It has since become clear that there is not a current purpose for the County to continue a study for a road the County would neither construct nor maintain.”

Commissioners will discuss and consider this matter during their regular meeting next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about last week's budget workshop, new fire engines, this week's council meeting agenda, the convention and recreation center feasibility studies, the Texas legislature's special session, students returning, the Brazos Valley Bombers, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the July 10, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

For the first time since 2019, the College Station city council approves a future voluntary annexation agreement.

The agreement that was approved at the council's July 10th meeting is with the developer of more than 90 single family homes on 50 acres in an area generally bordered by Arrington Road, Nantucket Drive, and Midsommer Lane.

The annexation will allow the developer to connect the homes to College Station's wastewater system. The neighborhood will also receive other city services.

There were no comments by the developer prior to the council's unanimous vote.

The only council comment came from mayor John Nichols, who said "I think this has been well discussed" and "between staff and your (the developer's) organization I think you very well worked out all the details so I think we're (the council is) comfortable."

Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of College Station.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the July 10, 2025 College Station council meeting.

This podcast contains comments from the July 15, 2025 College Station ISD school board meeting.

College Station ISD administrators get school board approval to create four more advisory committees.

Unanimous votes were made at July's board meeting to form a community advisory committee, a committee that works with CSISD bilingual students and their families, another to work with parents of CSISD special education students, and formalize a committee which began last spring that involves parents of students in CSISD's gifted and talented program.

Click HERE to read and download the memo associated with the committees.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials shown at the July 15, 2025 College Station ISD board meeting.

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County district attorney Jarvis Parsons and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

A Brazos County district court jury has sentenced Larry Bollin to a life prison term for murdering a co-worker in April 2021.

Monday's decision (July 21) concluded a six day trial.The 31 year old Iola man is scheduled to be tried in Grimes County next month on a charge of wounding a DPS trooper following the workplace shooting.

News release from the Brazos County district attorney's office:

On July 21, 2025, a Brazos County jury sentenced Larry Bollin to Life in prison and a $10,000 fine for the murder of Timothy Smith. The jury previously found Bollin guilty of murder on Friday, July 18th.

On April 8, 2021, Bollin went to work at Kent Moore Cabinets with a handgun concealed in his lunch cooler. After the afternoon work break, Bollin pulled his handgun from his cooler and fired multiple shots directly at Smith without provocation or warning. He then fired at least 20 shots in various directions. During the continuation of the violence, Bollin shot Walter Vega, Juan Ordonez, Isidoro Leal, and Juan Uribe. Nathan Whited then attempted to bravely intervene to stop the shooting, asking Bollin why he shot the individuals in the warehouse. The defendant responded to Whited “I’ll show you why”. Bollin then reloaded his firearm and shot Whited multiple times, sending Whited to the hospital. Bollin then fled the scene and shot Whited in the back as he lay on the floor defenseless.

After fleeing from Kent Moore cabinets, Bollin returned to his home in Iola. While at his home, Trooper (now Sgt.) Juan Tovar approached Bollin’s home in an effort to apprehend him. Bollin then took aim and shot Trooper Tovar with a rifle as Trooper Tovar retreated in his patrol vehicle. Sgt. Tovar was shot in the left eye and lost his eye as a result.

The jury also heard from the mothers of Nathan Whited and Juan Ordonez, as well as the wife of Juan Uribe concerning how their relatives have suffered physically since the shooting.

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank all of the victims in this case and their families for their patience and support throughout this trial process. The District Attorney’s Office would also like to thank Bryan PD, DPS, and the many other agencies that responded and worked to apprehend Bollin for their bravery and dedication.

Statement from district attorney Jarvis Parsons and assistant district attorney Jennifer Hebert: “Brazos County was changed forever by this Defendant’s actions. The jury protected us all today, when they sentenced Larry Bollin to life.”