Kevin O’Connor Kommentary April 8

Updates On New Construction And New Medical Providers In Baylor Scott & White Health’s College Station Region

Administrators at Baylor Scott & White Health provides updates on new construction and new medical providers in their College Station region. Region president Jason Jennings says construction has started on the expansion of the College Station hospital’s emergency room. This involves 11 new exam rooms, two new trauma bays, and a new private treatment room. Jennings says the first phase of the medical building that is nicknamed “The Plaza” is on track to being completed in time to start seeing patients in early 2025. This building will include spaces for clinic rooms, a sleep center, therapy services, lab and future growth, along with a day surgery center. The region’s chief medical officer, Dr. Seth Sullivan, says there is a net increase of 28 new medical providers so far this year. Sullivan also said in February, the team at Texas Brain & Spine Institute (TBSI) became part of the Baylor Scott & White family. TBSI was formed in 2005 to deliver neurosurgical solutions in patient care, education and research. Jennings says with the additional providers and support staff, Baylor Scott & White’s employment in the College Station region is more than 2,200. Click below to hear comments from Jason Jennings and Seth Sullivan, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver. Listen to “Updates on new construction and new medical providers In Baylor Scott & White Health's College Station region” on Spreaker.

DPS Announces A Second Death After A Stolen Semi Crashed Into The Brenham Driver’s License Office

The Texas department of public safety (DPS) and the Washington County district attorney’s office announced Monday (April 22) the death of a second person after a semi crashed into the Brenham driver’s license office. DPS social media identified the second fatality as 63 year old Cheryl Turner of Brenham. A DPS spokesman tells WTAW News that Turner was not an employee and she had been hospitalized in Houston following the crash. Washington County jail records have been updated to reflect the driver of the semi, Clenard Parker, is being held in lieu of bonds totaling $4,050,000 dollars. Parker is charged with murder, aggravated assault of a public servant, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, and criminal mischief totaling more than $300,000 dollars. Update April 18, 2024: The Washington County man arrested after crashing a stolen semi into the Brenham driver’s license office April 12th faces four more criminal charges. The Texas Rangers has notified the Washington County district attorney’s office that the new charges against Clenard Parker includes murder. In all, the Chappell Hill man is also jailed on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault of a public servant with a deadly weapon, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, criminal mischief, and unauthorized use of the semi. The department of public safety (DPS) has not provided an update since last Monday (April 15) on two victims who were hospitalized in critical but stable condition. 11 other people inside the building were treated for their injuries. DPS has not released how many of the casualties were employees and how many were not employees. As of the afternoon of April 18th, the Washington County jail website has not added the new charges. When Parker was booked, bonds on the original charges totaled $2 million dollars. Update, April 15, 2024: The Texas department of public safety (DPS) has released the identity of the person who died after a stolen semi crashed into the Brenham driver’s license office last Friday. 78 year old Bobby Huff, whose hometown was not released by DPS, was among 14 people and one of the undisclosed number of customers who were inside the building. Two others remain hospitalized in critical condition. DPS has not disclosed the number of employees and customers who were inside. The driver of the semi is in the Washington County jail in lieu of bonds totaling $2 million dollars. 42 year old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill was booked on charges of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. A DPS spokesman says the Brenham Driver License Office will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time. Alternative offices are Bryan, Hempstead, and Caldwell. Customers with scheduled appointments at the Brenham Office will be contacted by the DPS Driver License Division. Update, April 13, 2024: The Texas department of public safety (DPS) reports three of the five inside the Brenham driver’s license office who were taken to hospitals after a semi entered the building were treated and released. As of Saturday morning (April 13), DPS has not released the identify of the person who died or the number of the people inside the building who are customers and how many are employees. The driver of the stolen semi is jailed in lieu of bonds totaling $2 million dollars. Online records at the Washington County sheriff’s office say 42 year old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill was booked on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Original story: One person was killed and 13 were injured after a man in a stolen semi drove into the Brenham driver’s license office building Friday morning (April 12). Texas department of public safety Sgt. Justin Ruiz says five people were taken to hospitals in Houston, Bryan, and Brenham. Eight others were treated at the scene. Ruiz said no one inside the building escaped injury, and investigators were determining how many of the 15 people were customers and how many were employees. The name of the person who died will be released after family members are notified. The man driving the stolen semi was identified as 42 year old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill. He was removed from the semi and taken to the Washington County jail. Ruiz said a Washington County sheriff’s deputy spotted the stolen semi and started a pursuit that was joined by other law enforcement officers. The semi jumped the Highway 290 feeder road and entered the building through the door leading into the driver’s license waiting area. Ruiz said Parker on Thursday (April 11) had been denied a renewal of his commercial driver’s license. The reason was not disclosed. The Texas Rangers is the lead investigating agency. Click below to hear comments during the first news conference. Speakers are DPS regional director Gerald Brown, DPS Sgt. Justin Ruiz, state senator Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, and Brenham mayor Atwood Kenjura. Listen to “First DPS news conference after the Brenham driver’s license office is struck by a stolen semi driven by a Chappell Hill man” on Spreaker.

Early Voting Is Underway In Brazos County For The May 4th Election

Early voting is underway in Brazos County for the May 4th election. Elections administrator Trudy Hancock says there are 66,787 registered voters in College Station ISD that can vote on two bond propositions to pay for repairing high school athletic facilities. There are 984 registered voters in Navasota ISD who live in southern Brazos County who can vote on two bond propositions. There are 3,493 registered voters in northeastern Brazos County residing in emergency services district two who can vote whether to raise the property tax rate to build a new fire station. Voters in the CSISD, NISD, and ESD 2 elections can go to one of five early voting centers. Those locations are the College Station Utilities building on Graham Road, Texas A&M’s memorial student center, and Arena Hall, Galilee Baptist Church, and the elections administration office in Bryan. There is also a fourth election, involving the selection of three members to the board of the Wellborn special utility district (WSUD). The 14,847 registered voters in WSUD can do early voting at the district office. At all locations, early voting hours are Monday through Saturday (April 22-27) from eight until five and next Monday and Tuesday (April 29-30) from seven until seven. Click HERE to be directed to the Brazos County elections office website for sample ballots and more information.