WTAW - Interviews

This podcast is a recording of the 2026 Bryan/College Station Memorial Day program.

For the first time, seven Bryan/College Station area veterans organizations team up to present a Memorial Day program.The Bryan VFW post hosted the program, which included the following speakers:Submariners Brazos Valley Base USSV1 representative Brady DrennanBryan American Legion post 159 commander Gary BantaBrazos Valley Marine Corps League detachment 1391 commandant Roger MartinezCollege Station VFW post 12221 vice commander Gary BeattyBryan VFW post 4692 commander Dennis VelasquezCollege Station American Legion post 1938 commander Roy MayVietnam Veterans of America chapter 937 commander Mike SoutherlandAlso speaking was Gold Star Mother Marykay...

This podcast contains comments from College Station ISD superintendent Tim Harkrider during the May 19, 2026 CSISD school board meeting.

While graduates and family members of College Station ISD's Consolidated and College Station High Schools gathered at Reed Arena, the Consol auditorium was the setting of commencement Friday morning (May 22) for softball players at Pearland High School.

CSISD superintendent Tim Harkrider told school board members Tuesday night (May 19) that Pearland ISD made the request because the softball team was state semifinal games at Consol.

Harkrider said Consol principal Gwen Elder took care of the request, which...

This podcast is a visit with College Station fire marshal Cameron Giordano and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Anyone who was around College Station's Bachmann Park on Wednesday (May 20) or last Sunday (May 17) is asked to contact the College Station police or fire departments. 

A CSFD news release says that is because someone set multiple fires during park hours.

Fire Marshal Cameron Giordano says fires were set in a bathroom of one of the new baseball concession buildings, the bathroom building between the skate park and tennis courts, and a trash can between the pool building a...

This podcast contains comments from former College Station mayor Karl Mooney at the May 18, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

A former College Station mayor pitches the city council on the new Brazos Valley YMCA operating a future city owned recreation center.

Karl Mooney was among the public speakers during the council's May 18th update on a recreation center feasibility study.

In addition to sharing the benefits for YMCA members, Mooney also updated the council on current operations without a permanent home.

Mooney brought up the YMCA hosting 11 weeks of summer camps at...

This podcast contains comments from the May 18, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Bryan ISD school board members learn that two weeks after approving a new online learning option starting with the 2026-27 school year, it has drawn the interest of almost 150 students.

BISD's director of advanced academics Christina Richardson reported at Monday's meeting (May 18) that most of the applications are from secondary students and that 40 of the applications are from outside the district.

Richardson also says BISD has partnered with Blinn College to offer an online dual credit option.

Click HERE to r...

City of College Station Assistant Director of Public Communications Bobbie Lehrmann visits with WTAW’s The Infomaniacs on Friday, May 22, 2026, to talk about upcoming events, summer schedules, and more.

This podcast contains comments from the May 21, 2026 meeting of the Texas A&M system board of regents committee on academics and student affairs.

The Texas A&M system board of regents wants more money put into student mental health services.Three regents made statements to that affect during a meeting of their committee on academics and student affairs (CASA) Thursday (May 21) in Kingsville.

Three of the system universities vice president of student affairs made presentations to the regents.

One of the three was Texas A&M's Bill Kibler.

Among his remarks, was...

This podcast contains comments from the May 20, 2026 Grimes County commission meeting.

Wednesday's (May 20) regular meeting of the Grimes County commission included another executive session that continued discussing economic incentives for the proposed SpaceX complex at Gibbons Creek lake.

After returning to open session, county judge Joe Fauth said they directed their outside lawyer to resume talking with SpaceX.

Then Fauth said announced they will hold a special meeting next Wednesday (May 27). 

Click HERE to read and download agenda for the May 27, 2026 special meeting of the Grimes County commission.

The ongoing S...

Bryan city councilman Paul Torres visits with WTAW’s The Infomaniacs on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Topics include Midtown Park, the season opener for the new Bryan Yard Dogs collegiate baseball team playing at Travis Field Stadium, and economic development efforts.

Brazos County commissioner Wanda Watson visits with WTAW’s The Infomaniacs on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Topics included participating in a commissioner court leadership academy trip to Washington, D.C.

This podcast contains comments from the May 19, 2026 College Station ISD board meeting.

The May meeting of the College Station ISD school board included an update on construction projects around the district funded by bond issues passed by voters in 2023 and 2024.

The report from CSISD assistant superintendent Josh Symank included responding to complaints about the mismatched color of brick at multiple campuses. Symank said the same color of brick from the same manufacturer was ordered for projects at Consolidated and College Station High Schools and at Rock Prairie elementary. Symank says the new brick will receive an...

This podcast contains comments from the May 18, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

Construction could start before the end of this year on improvements at College Station's Thomas Park that were approved by voters in a November 2022 bond issue.

That's after the College Station city council on Monday (May 18) selected a company to assist with pre construction services.

Capital projects director Jennifer Cain said she hopes to return to the council in late summer or early fall with a construction contract.

The Thomas Park bond issue includes money for a new restroom building...

Bryan Deputy City Manager Joey Dunn visits with WTAW’s The Infomaniacs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, to discuss department changes, A.I. collaboration and security, comprehensive plans, and more.

This podcast contains comments from the president of the Greater Brazos Partnership, Tom Johnson, at the May 18, 2026 meeting of the Brazos County intergovernmental committee.

The Bryan based regional economic development agency that includes Grimes County has talked with officials at SpaceX for two months about the proposed semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing fabrication facility at Gibbons Creek lake. 

The president of the Greater Brazos Partnership (GBP), Tom Johnson, told officials from Bryan and College Station at the May 18 meeting of the Brazos County intergovernmental committee (IGC) that Grimes County is not a lock for what could b...

This podcast contains comments from the May 18, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

A city of College Station recreation center has been before the city council since 2023.

Monday night (May 18) at the end of one hour of discussion, there was a consensus to hold a bond election in 2027 to gauge voter interest.

Councilwoman Melissa McIlhaney initiated the idea after saying she did not want to pay anymore money to consultants and she does not want more staff time devoted to the project.

Councilmembers were told building a center could cost as much as $91...

This podcast contains comments from the May 18, 2026 College Station city council meeting.

Two items affecting College Station ISD were unanimously approved at Monday night's (May 18) College Station city council meeting.

The council is spending up to $316,000 dollars to build three raised crosswalks on Welsh Avenue near Consolidated High School. 

Design engineer Veronica Morgan, representing CSISD, thanked city staff for their part in ensuring construction will be completed before the start of the next school year.

Click HERE to read and download background information on the contract to build raised crosswalks on Welsh n...

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

More asphalt paving is coming in Bryan. That's after the city council approved two additions following a discussion at this month's (May 5) workshop meeting.

Public works director Jayson Barfknecht says 29th Street in front of St. Joseph's hospital need to be repaved.

And a gravel road at Coulter Field airport needed to be paved because the gravel was getting on the runway.

City manager Andrew Nelson and councilman Jared Salvato were part of the conversation before the unanimous vote.
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This podcast contains comments from the May 5, 2026 joint meeting of the Bryan city council and Bryan Business Council.

This is the fourth year that the Bryan Business Council (BBC) and the city council has been discussing a trolley service between downtown Bryan and the Northgate district.

Whitney Wright, who chairs the BBC's tourism subcommittee, included the project during this month's (May 5) annual joint meeting with the council.

Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez asked Wright to contact the chamber of commerce to take the lead on that project.

Those attending a Brazos Transit District...

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County elections administrator Trudy Hancock and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

This podcast is a recording of the ceremonial groundbreaking program at the site of the city of Bryan's Midtown Legacy Park on May 18, 2026.

The ceremonial groundbreaking has taken place inside Bryan's Midtown Park for what will be known at Midtown Legacy Park.

What was described as an "epic and destination" playground will have 119 play components.

Click HERE to read and download renderings of the Midtown Legacy Park equipment, provided by the city of Bryan.

Funding for the $4.5 million project comes from a $2 million dollar Darwood Foundation grant, represented by Doug and Kayla...

City of Bryan Travis Field General Manager Brady Bell and Marketing Intern Travis Triola visits with WTAW’s The Infomaniacs on Monday, May 18, 2026, to talk about the Yard Dogs, Travis Field, Travis Major Field, upcoming events, and more.

This podcast is a visit with the president of the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce Glen Brewer and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

For decades, a group of Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce members and local government leaders spend the better part of a week lobbying federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. 

More than 30 people made this week's trip to present the chamber's legislative action plan, which addresses local issues that includes transportation, health care, education, and economic development.

Chamber president Glen Brewer said the delegation received updates from lawmakers and the White House l...

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

Brazos County commissioners are questioned about nearly doubling the budget to maintain the downtown Bryan parking garage.

The county took over control from the Brazos Transit District in April of 2025.

Before commissioners approved a budget amendment at its May 5th meeting, public speaker Cathie Viens questioned adding $20,000 dollars on top of the original maintenance budget of $23,000 dollars.County budget officer Nina Payne said repairs were needed that could not be delayed until the start of the next fiscal year.

Viens also...

College Station city councilman Scott Shafer visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia on The Infomaniacs on Friday, May 15, 2026. Topics include bicycling, parking issues south of the Texas A&M campus where Shafer lives, the selection of new A&M president Susan Ballabina (where Shafer works at A&M's executive director of campus and community enrichment), the city's involvement with a private developer in the city's new ballfield complex, and a preview in the next council meeting of updates on a new public works complex and a city owned recreation center.

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

Since January of 2025, Brazos County commissioners have regularly talked about and on occasion made changes to the county's credit card policy.

At the commission's May 5th business meeting, approval was given to several changes requested by the purchasing office.

Click HERE to read and download the amended credit card policy that was approved at the May 5, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting.

The amended policy says "To facilitate a more efficient credit card approval process, only credit cards requested by a department in...

Bryan police department officer Seth Waller visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia and Bill Oliver on The Infomaniacs on Wednesday, May 14, 2026. Topics include recruiting for BPD's Junior Citizen Police Academy, discussing body cameras and other technologies, and BPD's interaction with residents.

This podcast contains comments from the May 13, 2026 Grimes County commission meeting.

For the second consecutive week, Grimes County commissioners receive public comments about possible economic incentives related to the proposed Space X project at Gibbons Creek lake.

Some of the 20 speakers at a special meeting Wednesday morning (May 13) included supporters of what could be a $174 billion dollar semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing fabrication facility.

Other speakers who did not declare a position asked the commission to tie tax abatements to Space X meeting a variety of requirements.

Commissioners also heard from opponents.<...

This podcast is a visit with the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce's community liaison Royce Hickman and WTAW's Will Welch on The Infomaniacs May 12, 2026.

More than 30 local businesspeople and government officials are in Washington D.C. as part of annual trip organized by the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce.

The decades long tradition includes making contact with all members of the Texas congressional delegation, both U.S. Senators, and the chairs of key committees.

The chamber's community liaison, Royce Hickman, says this is an effective way to share local issues that includes...

This podcast is the May 13, 2026 announcement that Bryan Broadcasting vice president and general manager Ben Downs will be the sixth recipient of the Texas Association of Broadcasters lifetime achievement award.

The sixth recipient of the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) lifetime achievement award in the 73 year history of the organization is Bryan Broadcasting vice president and general manager Ben Downs.

The surprise announcement came Wednesday morning (May 13) from TAB president Oscar Rodriguez during a Zoom call at a Bryan Broadcasting staff meeting.

The award will be presented in August during the TAB annual convention...

This podcast is a recording of the dedication program of a law enforcement memorial outside the Bryan police department on May 12, 2026.

National Police Week was the setting Tuesday morning (May 12) in front of the Bryan police department for the unveiling of a new memorial.

Police chief Dean Swartzlander thanked Eagle Scout candidate Roman Smith for his project that includes a statue remembering fallen officers.

Smith, a ninth grade student at Bryan High School, dedicated his project to his godfather. Bryan Heber was a Beaumont police officer who died in the line of duty in...

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

May's workshop meeting of the Bryan city council included discussing the city's ordinance on non-consent tows. That's when the Bryan police department calls on a towing company to move a vehicle in violation of a parking or another traffic regulation.

Councilman James Edge asked police chief Dean Swartzlander to consider increasing the tow charge which is regulated by the council. Swartzlander told Edge that a study had already been requested by towing companies and the council will consider an undisclosed increase at its June...

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

There will be another local event marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Brazos County commissioners at its May 5th meeting unanimously agreed to give permission to plant a tree at Boonville Heritage Park.

The request was made by the chairman of the county's historical commission, Henry Mayo.

Background information from the county says this is part of the Sons of the American Revolution's National Liberty Tree effort.

In addition to the tree, Mayo said in an e...

This podcast is a visit with the membership manager of the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce Carrie Archer and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce is asking businesspeople to participate in an online survey to benefit non-profit agencies.

Click HERE to be directed to the chamber's survey.

The chamber's membership manager, Carrie Archer, says data will be reviewed by a chamber steering committee composed of representatives from the more than 80 non-profit agencies who are chamber members.

United Way of the Brazos Valley president Lizett Hawkins and J.J. Ramirez and Kyle Salmon of UWBV partner agency S.O.S. Ministries visit with WTAW's Bill Oliver May 11, 2026.

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.