WTAW - Interviews

This podcast is a visit with College Station assistant city manager Jennifer Prochazka and WTAW's Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs May 8, 2026. They review the recent appearance of the Savannah Bananas baseball game, what happens after the city council voted against extending Pebble Creek Parkway, the proposed Space X project at Gibbons Creek lake, abandoned housing, and upcoming city events.

This podcast contains comments from mayor Bobby Gutierrez during his visit May 6, 2026 with WTAW's Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs.

The city of Bryan has ordered the remaining occupants of an apartment complex plagued by serious health and safety violations to vacate by June 8th.

The notice comes after the city issued an order on February 23rd to "vacate, secure and shut off utilities" at Canyon Village apartments on Finfeather Road. That's after the city considered "the property unsafe and in violation of minimum housing standards.

The eviction, which involves occupants of 18 of the 145 units...

This podcast contains comments from the May 5, 2026 Bryan city council workshop meeting.

Starting in June, BTU residential customers will be paying another $4.00 dollars a month for their electricity.

That's after the city council this unanimously adopted recommendations by the BTU board at the council's May 5th meeting.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the May 5, 2026 Bryan city council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download background information from the May 5, 2026 Bryan council meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the ordinance that was approved at the May 5, 2026...

This podcast contains comments from the May 5, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

In August 2025, Brazos County commissioners on a three to two vote approved spending $435,000 dollars on a consultant to review employee pay and job descriptions.

The consultant's first report was presented at the commission's May 5th meeting.

According to the consultant's presentation, they have four objectives. They are "to ensure that (1) Staff are appropriately classified into the correct job title and job descriptions are reflective of the work being performed by County employees (2) Relationships among jobs are consistent and objective (3) Total compensation offerings are...

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County county attorney Earl Gray and WTAW's Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs May 7, 2026.

Topics included the basic operations of the office, an overview of specialty programs for first offenders, veterans, those with mental health issues, and assisting with the training of police officers.

This podcast is a visit on The Infomaniacs May 7, 2026 with city of Bryan recreation supervisor Matt Minahan and WTAW's Will Welch. Topics includes the renovation of Travis Field baseball stadium, the status of city pools, and other parks and recreation programs.

This podcast contains comments from the May 6, 2026 Grimes County commission meeting.

Grimes County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing to consider giving tax breaks to Elon Musk's Space X for a proposed project at the former Gibbons Creek Lake property.

The cost of the proposed semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing fabrication facility could reach $174 billion dollars according to the public hearing notice.

Click HERE to read and download the public hearing notice from the Grimes County government website.

Before the June 3rd public hearing, commissioners at their May 6th meeting heard public...

This podcast contains comments from the May 6, 2026 Texas A&M system board of regents meeting, followed by an interview with regents chairman Bob Albritton and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The Texas A&M system board of regents Wednesday (May 6) unanimously named Susan Ballabina president of the flagship campus.

Ballabina, whose first official day is May 11, returns to the university after serving as the system's executive vice chancellor since June 2025.

Before that, Ballabina served as chief of staff to former president Mark Welsh for one year and eight months.

Ballabina has 32 years experience between...

This podcast is a visit with city of Bryan deputy city manager Hugh Walker and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The city of Bryan's Travis Field stadium, which has had a $700,000 dollar renovation, will be ready for the May 21st opener for the first season of the new Yard Dogs collegiate baseball team.

Bryan deputy city manager Hugh Walker says the stadium's third base party deck has been replaced, the first base party deck has been removed to allow for more seating, and there is a new sound system.

On the field, there is a new...

Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with Scott DeLucia on WTAW's The Infomaniacs May 6, 2026 about economic development activity, the development of new energy projects, and the status of the condition of an apartment complex.

This podcast contains comments from the May 5, 2026 Bryan city council meeting.

Less than a month after the city of Bryan announced city manager Andrew Nelson went on medical leave where he would undergo brain surgery, he is back at work.

And his return was noted by city council members at the end of the May 5th regular meeting.

Leading off was Kevin Boriskie, followed by Marca Ewers-Shurtleff, James Edge, and mayor Bobby Gutierrez.

Nelson said he is feeling stronger every day following his surgery.

This podcast contains comments from the May 4, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Bryan ISD school board members decide to offer online classes starting in the next school year.

Unanimous approval was given at Monday night's meeting (May 4) to hire an outside company to teach third through 12th grade students in what administrators are calling a "virtual academy".

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials shown at the May 4, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the agreement with the private company that will be teaching online classes...

This podcast contains comments from the April 23, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

The College Station city council receives its annual update on street maintenance done by the public works department.

At the April 23rd meeting, public works director Emily Fisher reminded the council that street maintenance reflects what they find from visual inspections done by city staff.

This year, some of the $6.5 million dollars in the maintenance budget is going towards streets in the McCulloch, Shenandoah, and Bridal Gate neighborhoods.

The update also included projects through the 2029 fiscal year.

Click...

United Way of the Brazos Valley (UWBV) president Lizette Hawkins and UWBV board member Rob Mwandia, known professionally as "DJ Rob", visit with WTAW's Bill Oliver about UWBV's crawfish boil fundraiser that is taking place May 5, 2026 at Yesterday's Bar and Grill in Bryan.

This podcast contains comments from the April 14, 2026 Bryan city council meeting.

The Bryan city council at its April meeting unanimously approved six rezoning requests.

One of three that was not initiated by city staff, gives permission for the owners of the Made Well Ministries non profit agency to continue operating on property just inside the Eastside historical district. 

Homeowners in the historic district who spoke in opposition included the district's president, Tamara Garza, who also serves on the city's historical preservation commission. She said it appeared Made Well sidestepped the process by asking for f...

This podcast is a visit with the chairman of the Brazos County historical commission, Henry Mayo, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The Brazos County historical commission has had a committee working the last five years on the local recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence.

Historical commission chairman Henry Mayo says what he remembers at the time of the nation's bicentennial drives his passion for celebrating what is the nation's semiquincentennial.

The Brazos Valley African American Museum's website is hosting a calendar listing and is still accepting local events...

City of College Station code enforcement supervisor Tommy Shilling visited with Scott DeLucia on WTAW's The Infomaniacs May 1, 2026. Topics includes the spring move out by Texas A&M students and how to report violations.

This podcast contains comments from the April 28, 2026 Texas A&M system board of regents budget meeting.

The formal appointment of Texas A&M's next president is scheduled to take place the day after the state mandated 21 day waiting period.

Next Wednesday (May 5) is when the board of regents has scheduled a special meeting to authorize the chancellor to negotiate a contract with Susan Ballabina.

Her selection was endorsed at this week's regents budget meetings by interim president Tommy Williams.

Williams was thanked for his service as interim by the regents vice chairman...

Lina Adams of the Destination Bryan tourism office previews May 2026 events with WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Retired Texas A&M head football coach and athletic director Jackie Sherill visits with Scott DeLucia on WTAW's The Infomaniacs April 30, 2026 about the start of the Bryan Youth Sports Association's first football camp for fourth through sixth graders and the future of division one college athletics.

College Station mayor John Nichols visits with Scott DeLucia on WTAW's The Infomaniacs April 29, 2026. Topics includes the upcoming appearance of the Savannah Bananas baseball team at Kyle Field and the city council's future review of license plate reading cameras.

This podcast contains comments from the April 28, 2026 Texas A&M system board of regents meeting from Texas A&M interim president Tommy Williams and regents Jay Graham of Bryan and David Baggett of Houston.

The Texas A&M system board of regents hear from the presidents of the system's 12 universities about their proposals for the 2027 fiscal year.

No action was taken after the presentations that were made in College Station on Tuesday (April 28).

Texas A&M interim president Tommy Williams spent nearly 40 minutes with the regents. More than one-third of the time was about...

This podcast contains comments from the April 23, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

The College Station city council agrees to pursue the second year of grant money to renew the contract with the provider of license plate reading cameras at various locations around the city.

Click HERE to read and download background information about the grant application that was approved at the April 23, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

The unanimous vote at the council's April 23rd meeting followed the council hearing from opponents. 

And after the vote, a council majority agreed to hold a...

This podcast contains comments from College Station ISD facilities director Paul Buckner at the April 21, 2026 CSISD board meeting.

There are still unfinished projects in College Station ISD funded by voter approved bond issues in 2021 and 2023.

At the April CSISD board meeting, approval was given to rankings recommended by facilities director Paul Buckner that will eventually lead to replacing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment around the district.

Buckner says there are six firms who are interested in among other things, adding LED lighting, replacing equipment used in heating and air conditioning systems, and adding equipment...

This podcast contains comments from Bryan city councilman Jared Salvato during his April 16, 2026 visit on WTAW's The Infomaniacs.

Bryan residents are invited to participate in the development of the city's next comprehensive, or long range plan.An open house is taking place Tuesday, April 28th, from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at Phillips Events Center.

According to the city of Bryan's website, the come and go event allows residents to provide opinions on key topics that includes:Land Use & Development: How Bryan reinvests in existing parts of town and grows wiselyMobility: Making it safer and easier to get...

This podcast contains comments from the April 21, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

Brazos County's elections administrator reviews the March primary election at the last county commission meeting (April 21).

Click HERE to read and download statistics from the March 2026 primary election that were given at the April 21, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

Among other things, Trudy Hancock said 45 voters walked away from voting without placing their ballots in the machine which counts ballots. She suspects those voters were women who placed ballots in their large purses. She also told commissioners election workers will increase their effort in...

This podcast contains comments from the April 23, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

The College Station city council plans to discuss a request made by a local political action committee in an attempt to improve conditions in residential neighborhoods.

Charles Barr of the College Station Association of Neighborhoods (CSAN) said during the public comment period of the last city council meeting that they want to require owners of traditional rental homes and short term rentals to post city ordinances related to parking, noise, and trash violations among other things.

At the end of the council...

This podcast contains comments from the April 21, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

Brazos County commissioners reluctantly approve tripling the payment for transporting the deceased to medical examiners offices in Austin and San Antonio, from $500 to $1,500 for reach round trip.

The county's purchasing agent, Charles Wendt, says the local funeral home that has had the contract was the only one interested in continuing the service...but only if their price increased for the first time in several years.

Commissioners were told the purchasing office is rebidding the service and contacting providers again who are local as...

The NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Brazos Valley chapter serves Brazos, Robertson, Burleson, Grimes, Washington, Madison, and Leon counties.

NAMI-BV board president Lakshmi Mahadevan visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver about services provided by the agency, a preview of an April 30th gala fundraiser titled “Faces of Hope: Unmasking the Stigma”, and volunteer opportunities.

Click HERE to be directed to the NAMI-BV website for more information about the gala fundraiser.

This podcast contains comments from the April 23, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

The College Station city council joins the planning and zoning commission (P&Z) in unanimously approving rezoning land for a large housing development that drew vocal opposition from neighboring subdivisions.

Click HERE to read and download background information about the zoning change that was approved at the April 23, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

This was the second time a homebuilder had sought rezoning on land south of Greens Prairie Road, surrounded by Greens Prairie Reserve, Sweetwater, Sweetwater Forest, Castlegate, and Castlegate II...

City of College Station Solid Waste Division Manager Caroline Ask visits with WTAW’s Will Welch on The Infomaniacs on Friday, April 24, 2026, to talk about recycling day collection changes for some, and more.

OPAS Executive Director Anne Black visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs on Friday, April 24, 2026, to talk about upcoming shows, special events, and more.

This podcast contains comments from the April 21, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

As construction starts on the new Brazos County courthouse annex complex, commissioners are considering moving the district attorney's office out of the courthouse.

That led to a four to one vote at Tuesday's meeting (April 21) to spend almost $115,000 dollars to study what it would take for the DA's office to move to office space in the downtown Bryan parking garage after adult probation moves to the new annex.

Voting for the study was county judge Duane Peters and commissioners Bentley Nettles, Chuck Konderla...

City of Bryan parks and recreation supervisor Emberly Smith visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs on Thursday, April 23, 2026, to discuss the Family Campout before the city again cancelled the event due to recent rainfall. Other topics included summer hiring and other upcoming events.

This podcast contains comments from the April 20, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Three retired division one head football coaches...all with a connection to Texas A&M...attended this week's (April 20) Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Jackie Sherill, Darrell Dickey, and Phil Bennett were on hand to promote a tackle football camp for third through sixth graders that will take place next month.

Sherill said the camp will begin May 9th with the elementary and intermediate students experiencing an NFL-style combine.

That will be followed by what is described as a "technique...

This podcast is a visit with the executive director of the OPAS performing arts series at Texas A&M Anne Black and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Season 54 of the OPAS performing arts series at Texas A&M has the theme of "True Colors".

The season opens September 13th with a production honoring the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks titled "Behind The Lines: A 9/11 Story".

That is followed on September 18th with a concert by Aiden Ross, the Texas A&M student from College Station who won season 28 of The Voice.

Click HERE...

This podcast is a visit with Brooke Arellano of Keep Brazos Beautiful and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

National Arbor Day is Saturday. 

It is being celebrated by the local non-profit Keep Brazos Beautiful (KBB) with a family event in Bryan at Sue Haswell Park Saturday morning (April 25) starting at nine a.m.

KBB director Brooke Arellano says this is the first time in years KBB is observing the national event that takes place in the spring. The organization will continue observing Texas Arbor Day in the fall.

Saturday's event includes activity tables from m...

This podcast contains comments from the April 21, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

While rain cancelled Tuesday's (April 21) groundbreaking of the new Brazos County courthouse annex project, during the county commission meeting public comment period that would have followed the ceremony, district judge David Hilburn thanked those involved in the project.

Hilburn said "this building is the next hole poked in the justice system's belt which can allow and relieve that strain (for space), even just for a short time" and "is a great step in the planning for the needs of this growing county."

Hilburn...

This podcast contains comments from the April 14, 2026 Bryan city council meeting.

The Bryan city council selects an architect for the city's future animal center.

The council unanimously chose a Houston firm recommended by special projects director Frank Clark and animal center supervisor Ashley Bishop.

Click HERE to read and download background information about the architect that was provided by the city of Bryan.

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

Click HERE to read and download the architect's agreement.

The $525,000 architect's contract...

This podcast contains comments from the April 21, 2026 College Station ISD school board meeting.

April's meeting of the College Station ISD school board included two presentations related to developing the budget for the 2026-2027 school year.

The first presentation was from CSISD's budget committee.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from CSISD's budget committee.

The second presentation was from CSISD's chief financial officer.

Click HERE to read and download budget presentation materials from CSISD's chief financial officer.

Part of CFO Heather Wilson's report was about proposed staffing...