WTAW - Interviews

Lina Adams of the Destination Bryan tourism office visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver about downtown Bryan's First Friday activities being rescheduled to July 11th due to the July 4th holiday.

She also previews the July 4th fireworks and drone show on the RELLIS campus where the agency and WTAW are co-sponsors.

Meagan Brown, Division Manager of Customer Solutions at BTU, visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia about Lake Bryan, power consumption numbers, takeaways from the legislative session, power sources, future challenges, BTU's 2026 budget, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the June 26, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

The College Station city council approves rezoning land at Old Wellborn Road and Graham Road North for the future construction of an outdoor entertainment venue.

Documents provided by the developer shows what is nicknamed "The Range" will have a driving range, eight pickleball courts and a courtyard with 12 cornhole stations.

Mayor John Nichols, who was part of the council's unanimous vote, said "We wish them good luck on the project and we're excited about you bringing another experiential opportunity to the city".

No information was presented as to when construction might begin.

Staff planner Bekha Blasingame said one opponent to the project was concerned about lighting and drainage. Blasingame said those issues will be addressed as the developer submits their preliminary plan, the final plat, and the site plan.

Click HERE to read and download the developer's conceptual drawings for "The Range".

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials provided by the city of College Station.

Click HERE to read and download the rezoning information that was approved at the June 26, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

This podcast contains comments from the June 17, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting.



Brazos County commissioners have entered a dispute among property owners in a subdivision west of Easterwood Airport.

Twice during June, homeowners in Oak Hills were able to stop the owner of an adjacent RV park from replatting property that he owns in the subdivision.

During the commission's June 17th meeting, general counsel Bruce Erratt said the RV park owner met the county's subdivision requirements for the replatting.

Erratt said opposition from the homeowners was a private matter between the Oak Hills homeowners association and the RV park owner that could be addressed in district court.

Multiple homeowners disagreed with Erratt's opinion and said if the replatting was approved, this would allow the park owner to proceed.

Commissioner Chuck Konderla received support from Wanda Watson and Fred Brown to delay action until after a meeting between the RV park owner and the Oak Hills HOA. County judge Duane Peters and commissioner Bentley Nettles did not attend the June 17th meeting.

This was the second attempt by the RV park owner to replat the property. His first request was denied during the commission's June 3rd meeting by commissioners Konderla, Watson, and Brown. 

The owner was not present at either commission meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the map of the proposed replatting that was part of the June 17, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting.

Click HERE to read and download minutes of the June 17, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting on this subject.

Click HERE to read and download minutes of the June 3, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting on this subject.

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the recent legislative session, water rights, using local companies, Texas A&M's new chancellor, upcoming events, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the June 26, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

The process of drilling more water wells continues in Bryan and College Station.

The College Station city council at its last meeting (June 26) awarded a $3.5 million dollar contract for the next phase of drilling three more water wells.

This portion of an overall $69 million dollar project involves clearing land and building internal access roads and the concrete pads where the wells will be built.

Assistant water services director Steven Maldonado said the wells, which will be running before August of 2028, will provide water on high demand days.

Click HERE to read and download background information related to the College Station city council awarding a contract at its June 26, 2025 meeting.

The process in Bryan is slower. That's after the city council at a special meeting last week (June 24) without public comment rejected three bids for drilling two more wells. Background information with the agenda item did not say why staff recommended rejecting bids. 

Another round of bidding is underway with a deadline of July 10th. If the council awards a bid, construction is scheduled to start at the end of August with a targeted completion of October of 2026.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the Bryan city council's June 24, 2025 meeting.

This podcast contains comments from the June 26, 2025 Texas board of criminal justice meeting in Bryan.

June's meeting of the state prison board in Bryan included a presentation from the parole division of the Texas department of criminal justice.

Bryan district parole officer Shawn Noorlun introduced parolee Matthew Kelley of Caldwell.

The chairman of the state prison board, Eric Nichols of Austin, thanked Kelley "for having the courage to come forward and tell your very important story".

The photo from this podcast shows (L-R) Matthew Kelley and Shawn Noorlun.

This podcast is a visit with the organizer of the Kurten fireworks show and community fundraiser Shane Savage and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The 22nd annual Kurten fourth of July fireworks show and fundraiser is the second year a Bryan area businessowner is in charge of the event.

Shane Savage says this year, they invested in higher grade fireworks and more activities that precede the fireworks show.

Last year, Savage said he distributed around $15,000 dollars to non profit agencies that was collected from a portion of food and vendor sales. He expects to generate more money this year to a different group of non profits.

There is no admission for Friday's event, which starts at 5 p.m. next to the Kurten community center.

This podcast contains comments from the June 26, 2025 Texas board of criminal justice meeting that was held in Bryan.

The board controlling the state prison system held its June meeting in Bryan.

Action items included moving ahead with adding air conditioning 12,000 inmate beds at ten prisons.

The list includes $8.4 million dollars for air conditioning inmate cells at the Luther Unit in Grimes County. 

Board members were told that when those additions are done, that will bring air conditioning to more than 62,000 beds, or 43 percent of the state's inmate population.

$90 million dollars of air conditioning that was approved by the board comes from the 2023 legislative session. 

Board members were told lawmakers appropriated more money during the recently completed session that will air condition another 18,000 beds.

This podcast contains comments from the June 26, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

College Station city council members are told that state law does not allow pet ashes in city cemetery columbariums.

The update during the council's June 26th meeting came two weeks after a woman asked the council to reinterpret the city ordinance.

On June 14th, Lisa Burton wanted to place in her mother's columbarium, the ashes of her late mother's cat.

City attorney Adam Falco said state law restricts municipal cemeteries to human remains.

Mayor John Nichols turned down councilman David White's request to revisit the request, citing the city attorney's opinion.

Nichols also said he hoped city staff will work with Burton "to encourage her to find an appropriate way to honor her mother. And I think that will be possible."

The mayor also said staff had contacted Burton with the legal opinion. Burton told WTAW News her only contact with city staff was the day after she made the request. Burton said she learned of the legal opinion last Friday (June 27) when she contacted councilman White.