WTAW - Interviews

This podcast contains comments from the May 6, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting.

In November 2023, Brazos County commissioners approved the $850,000 dollar purchase of land in Bryan off Finfeather Road west of Midtown Park for the future construction of a warehouse storage building. 

At the last commission meeting (May 6), four members, including two new members who were not part of the land purchase...agreed to table action towards designing and construction of the building at the end of Ashford Hills Drive. 

One of the new members, Fred Brown, initiated the discussion by opposing a $715,000 dollar architect's contract before knowing if they will have the required money for construction. The county's purchasing director, Charles Wendt, said the reason for hiring an architect now was after failed attempts to reach a construction cost without an architect's design.

Brown received support from county judge Duane Peters and commissioners Bentley Nettles and Chuck Konderla to first hold a workshop.

The county's construction project manager, Trevor Lansdown, said he did not see an issue in the very short term of continuing to store election records in temporary climate-controlled spaces.

WTAW's Chelsea Reber visits with Peggi Ondrasek, President/CEO of United Way of the Brazos Valley, and Tanner Williams from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas.

This podcast is a visit with the executive director of RED-C Apostolate, Dennis Macha, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Friday (May 9) right before noon, an 18 foot box trailer that was double locked was stolen from the parking lot at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in College Station. 

The trailer belongs to RED-C Apostolate, where executive director Dennis Macha said they were preparing to play soccer games when the trailer was left unattended for a brief period.
Surveillance video shows a SUV driving into the parking lot and leaving with the trailer.

Macha said the thieves attached the trailer after breaking two locks.

The trailer has signage that includes what RED-C stands for...Religious Education for the Domestic Church.

Macha says the theft won't slow them down in their mission to serve families and their faith.

The trailer contained about $6,000 dollars of equipment, including a riding mower.

More information, including photos of the trailer and contact information if you see the trailer, is on the Victory Sports Facebook page.

This podcast is a visit with L.R. Heffernan of the city of Bryan's parks and recreation department and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

For the eighth time, College Station, Bryan, and Texas A&M is hosting the Texas Amateur Athletic Foundation's (TAAF) summer games.

From July 31st through August 3rd, an estimated 20,000 visitors will watch as many as 8,000 athletes.

L.R. Heffernan with the city of Bryan's parks and recreation department says local residents, from children to seniors, are invited to register to participate in a variety of events.

And anyone 16 and older are invited to be a volunteer at any of 12 venues.

News release from the city of Bryan:

The 2025 Summer Games of Texas will return to premier venues across Bryan and College Station for the eighth time in its history, from July 31 to Aug. 3.

The annual athletic festival is managed by the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) and will be hosted by the cities of Bryan and College Station, along with Texas A&M University, for the next two summers. 

Previous host years include 1988, 1994, 2000, 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2019.Thousands of athletes, coaches, and spectators will be in town for the Olympic-style festival; providing a significant economic boost and strengthening the community’s reputation as a top destination for sports tourism.

Since its founding in San Antonio in 1986, the Games of Texas has steadily expanded, attracting more than 20,000 visitors, making it the largest amateur sporting event in Texas. 

TAAF has been recognized as an Official State Games Program participant by the U.S. Olympic Committee since 1991.Texans of all ages and skill levels can compete in this Olympic-style festival. 

This summer’s schedule will feature the Opening Ceremonies at Wolf Pen Creek Park and the following competitions:

* Archery · Live Oak Archery
* Boxing · Hilton College Station Hotel & Conference Center
* Esports · Legends Event Center
* Golf · The City Course at Phillips Event Center
* Judo · Texas A&M Physical Education Activity Program (PEAP) Building
* Pickleball · Legends Event Center
* Sand Volleyball · Legends Event Center
* Soccer · Veterans Park and Athletic Complex
* Swimming · Bryan Aquatic Center
* Tennis · George P. Mitchell Tennis Center at Texas A&M University
* Track & Field · E.B. Cushing Stadium at Texas A&M University
* Ultimate Frisbee · Bryan Regional Athletic Complex

Compete: Visit taaf.com/GamesOfTexas to register as a competitor. Some eligibility restrictions apply and registration deadlines vary by sport.

Volunteer: Help is needed to assist with track and field events. Those interested must be at least 16 years old and can sign up for one slot per day. Volunteers will receive free food, refreshments, and an official Games of Texas shirt. To sign up, fill out this form by Friday, July 18.

Taitelyn Morris-Wise, Neighborhood and Community Services Coordinator, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about her role, education citizens on the role of local government, citizen programs, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

State Representative Trey Wharton of Huntsville (R-TX) visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the home stretch of the legislative sessions, bills he is working on, voting yes to legislation that will allow some election workers to carry concealed guns, public school funding, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the May 8, 2025 public hearing of the Texas House land and resource management committee.

Members of a Texas House committee heard Thursday (May 8) from opposing members of the College Station city council about proposed legislation to put a moratorium on new impact fees. That is what cities charge developers for a portion of the cost of new streets and other infrastructure.

Click HERE to read and download House Bill 5489 as of May 8, 2025.

The author of House Bill 5489, Paul Dyson of Bryan, told members of the land and resource management committee that his proposed moratorium would represent an active study to see if housing prices will drop. Dyson did not say how cities would make up the lost revenue.

Speakers who supported HB 5489 included College Station councilman Bob Yancy.

Speakers who opposed HB 5489 included College Station mayor John Nichols and councilwoman Melissa McIlhaney.

No action was taken by the House land and resource management committee. 

Committee chairman Gary Gates, a Fort Bend County real estate businessowner, said impact fees are a tax which "is done in a different way that really circumvents all the work the legislature has done to try to limit rising local property taxes." Gates also said "what they (cities) should do is equally be raising and going to the voters for a tax increase if they feel the need for city services".

Hunter Van Etten, Recreation Coordinator, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about Camp HERO, Neal Recreation Center Summer Camp, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

State Representative Paul Dyson of Bryan (R-TX) visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the remainder of the legislative session, hearing the nuclear verdict bill, his bill about impact fees, public school funding, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the May 5, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Bryan ISD school board members continue discussing inaction by state lawmakers regarding public school funding.

Monday's discussion (May 5) about state funding as part of attempting to develop a budget for the 2025-26 school year came two days after the governor signed legislation giving state money to private schools.

That led BISD board member Ruthie Waller to say "Our devoted teachers and staff, everybody that works in the district, we're one of the only careers that signs a contract and has no idea what they're going to be making."

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the May 5, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Assistant superintendent Kevin Beesaw said the state senate is talking about not giving as much money compared to what passed the house.Beesaw said Senate Bill 26 does not give state money to teachers with zero to two years experience, and does not give state money to staff members such as instructional aides, bus drivers, custodians, and food service employees..."all of those kinds of things that are necessary to run schools."

Superintendent Ginger Carrabine says "we have begged the lawmakers" to consider base state funding on enrollment instead of average daily attendance. Carrabine says with BISD's current average daily attendance rate at 94 percent, providing state funding based on enrollment would give the district an additional $7 million dollars. By comparison, Beesaw said state funding of charter schools is based on enrollment and he does not expect state funding of private schools to be based on average daily attendance.

Administrators also told BISD board members that due to no action at the state level, and in consultation with the Texas Association of School Boards, there is not enough information at this time to make any recommendations regarding compensation or possible retention stipends for the 2025-2026 school year.