Photo of Kevin Cormier courtesy of Brazos County’s Judicial Records Search at: http://justiceweb.co.brazos.tx.us

A Caldwell man working as a satellite TV installer is accused of residential thefts in Brazos and Burleson counties.

27 year old Kevin Cormier was arrested Friday afternoon at his apartment.

Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk says on Wednesday, deputies responded to a theft call south of Wellborn at a home in the Duck Haven Estates development. The homeowner reported jewelry was missing and the only person in the home was Cormier.

Deputies arrived before Cormier left, and during questioning he admitted to the theft and showed where he had hidden the jewelry in the service vehicle.  43 pieces of jewelry was recovered, with an estimated value of $12,678.50.

Kirk says investigators also found other items in the vehicle that were not claimed by the homeowner. One of the items was marked with a name that matched a name Cormier’s service log for a home in Burleson County.

Investigators contacted the other home owner who advised that they had recently reported a theft to the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office and that they had recently had a satellite TV installer at their home. That led Brazos County investigators to contact the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office to confirm the theft had been reported and began collaborating in the investigation.

Kirk says Cormier was arrested at his apartment, where investigators recovered other items from the Burleson County theft.

Chris Kirk visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.

The post Satellite TV Installer Accused of Residential Thefts appeared first on WTAW.

Photo of Gloria Rodriguez courtesy of CSPD.

The College Station Police Department is investigating the welfare of Gloria Rodriguez, who was last seen at a residence in the 3900 block of Latinne Lane at approximately 8:00 AM on Tuesday, May 14th.

She is believed to be driving her car which is described as a black 2004 Toyota Camry bearing the license plate 013-SGN.

Rodriguez is a Hispanic female, 5’1”, 110 pounds, approximately 59 years of age and has some health issues.

Anyone with information regarding Rodriguez is asked to contact the College Station Police Department immediately at 979-764-3600.

Foul play is not suspected.

The post Have You Seen This Woman? appeared first on WTAW.

Lawmakers used voice votes Friday to alter the beer industry’s pricing structure and overhaul regulations that apply only to craft breweries. That drew applause from brewers watching in the gallery.

Current laws prohibit pubs like Freetail of San Antonio from packaging their beer for retail stores. They also prevent breweries like Houston’s St. Arnold’s from selling beer to tour visitors.

The proposals split the state’s distributors.

In a compromise, brewpubs and small breweries would pay $250 for a license to sell only their own beer directly to consumers. Brewpubs would be limited to selling 1,000 barrels annually.

The bills passed the Senate in March. They must clear a final House vote before heading to Gov. Rick Perry’s desk.
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ A move to legalize switchblade knives is nearing success in Texas.

In a unanimous vote on Friday, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee advanced the bill. It has already cleared the House.

The automatic knives were outlawed across the country as an anti-gang measure in the 1950s. Several states have legalized them in the last few years at the urging of collectors and outdoorsmen.

The measure’s author, Houston Democrat Harold Dutton, had originally said he wanted to use the knife bill to open a debate on weapons laws, including gun control. But conservative Republicans embraced the measure, and it has produced few opportunities for debate.

After a quick vote as his desk, Committee Chairman John Whitmire shrugged. He said, “I figure everybody’s got a switchblade if they want one anyway.”

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The Texas Senate has voted to extend the life of the state lottery in a vote that was much less contentious than in the House, where some
lawmakers tried to kill it off.

In a unanimous vote with little discussion, the Senate voted Friday to continue the Texas Lottery for another 12 years. Last month, conservatives in the House led a charge to kill the lottery as an immoral tax on the poor.

House members ultimately defeated that effort, but will get another crack at the bill next week. The Senate changed the bill to require an audit of charitable bingo halls to make sure they are giving money to charity. That means the bill still needs House approval.

State lawmakers use about $2 billion from the lottery for education.

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Gov. Rick Perry’s deal-closing Texas Enterprise Fund would receive a state audit under a bill close to clearing the state Legislature.

The House on Friday used a simple voice vote to approve the measure that would require closer financial scrutiny of the decade-old program.

The fund has awarded more than $485 million to private companies looking to expand or relocate in Texas. But critics have targeted it, and Perry’s similar Emerging Technology Fund, over accountability and impact.

The bill mandates an audit report no later than January 2015. It passed the Senate last month, but the House made some modifications.

The measure must pass a final, procedural House vote. It then heads to conference committee to reconcile the latest version with what the Senate previously approved.

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The Texas House has approved a dramatic overhaul of the state’s troubled $3 billion cancer-fighting agency, including replacing its entire, 11-member board.

The lower chamber used a simple voice vote Friday to give preliminary approval to one of the most-watched bills in the Texas Legislature. It mandates sweeping changes to the embattled Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

The bill has already cleared the Senate, but the House modified it to include that CPRIT’s board has to go, among other changes.

The once-celebrated agency has since become the target of rebuke and remains under criminal investigation following several lucrative grants that were improperly awarded.

After a final, procedural House vote, the proposal will go to conference committee to reconcile the versions passed by the House and Senate.

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ It’s Christmas in May in the Texas Legislature.

The Texas Senate on Friday approved a bipartisan bill that aims to remove legal risks of saying “Merry Christmas” in Texas public schools. Traditional holiday symbols, such as a menorah or nativity scene, would also win a nod of state support so long as more than one religion and a secular symbol are also reflected.

State Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, says teachers have been reluctant to say “Merry Christmas” under fear of facing what he calls “frivolous” lawsuits.

“Merry Christmas to you all,” Nichols said when the bill passed.

The bill now goes to Gov. Rick Perry for his consideration.

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The Legislature has approved opening a medical school in South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.

The House on Friday passed a constitutional amendment already approved by the Senate which seeks to open, as early as 2016, a medical school along the underserved Texas border with Mexico.

Lawmakers also passed a funding bill for the new school. But that measure included two modifications to the previously approved Senate proposal, meaning both versions will have to be reconciled in conference committee.

The effort has been backed by Gov. Rick Perry and enjoyed widespread, bipartisan support in both chambers.

The new university is projected to enroll 28,000 students, employ 7,000 people and generate $11 million in research expenditures.

The University of Texas System already has pledged $100 million for the project.

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The post Friday Recap from the Texas Legislature appeared first on WTAW.

The deal reached Friday afternoon also clears the way for taking $2 billion from the state’s rainy day fund for water projects.

Republicans needed Democratic votes to set up the State Water Infrastructure Fund and they wanted to boost spending on public education by $4 billion. The Republican-controlled Legislature cut $5.4 billion from schools in 2011.

The deal is similar to one announced by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst late Thursday night. Conservative Republicans have complained the deal spends too much on schools, while Democrats wanted more.

Both chambers must still vote on the measure and Gov. Rick Perry must not veto it.

The post Texas Lawmakers Reach Budget Compromise appeared first on WTAW.

A spokeswoman for Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen says 76-year-old Tiburcio Ramirez of San Benito was in good condition Friday.

The victim’s daughter, Claina Gonzalez, told the Valley Morning Star  that Ramirez was attacked Thursday morning. Officials estimate the man was stung at least 220 times. Emergency personnel used soapy water on Ramirez to help get rid of the bees before transporting him to a hospital.

Gonzalez says her mother was stung dozens of times trying to help. She declined treatment. Gonzalez says the family dog died of bee stings in the same attack.

The daughter lives in another house on the property where the bee attacks happened.

The post South Texas Couple Survives Multiple Bee Stings appeared first on WTAW.

The Austin American-Statesman reported Thursday that the lawsuit filed in Austin names the Texas Department of Public Safety and the state attorney general’s office.

Travis pleaded guilty in January to driving while intoxicated. A judge sentenced him to two years’ probation and ordered a 180-day suspended jail term.

The judge also granted a defense motion asking that the arrest video not be made public.

Media groups have requested the video from DPS. The AG’s office ruled May 3 that the judge doesn’t have discretion to bar the video’s release.

DPS and the AG’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment early Friday.

The post Randy Travis Doesn’t Want His DWI Arrest Video Released appeared first on WTAW.

That’s two weeks earlier than usual.

The reason, according to Associate Vice President Charley Clark, is a major upgrade in hardware and software.

That will allow Code Maroon to operate in a virtual environment and sets the foundation for new features in the future.

Now in development is a Code Maroon smartphone application that where alerts will be received faster than text messages.

Also down the road, the upgrades will also allow an expansion of the number of desktop computer popup alerts from 10,000 to 50,000.

Code Maroon has enrollment of more than 52,000 A&M students and faculty, and there are more than 18,000 Twitter followers.

WTAW’s Bill Oliver visits with Charley Clark.

The post Special Test of Code Maroon Friday appeared first on WTAW.

Fire Marshal Chris Connealy says undetermined means “the cause cannot be proven to an acceptable level of certainity due to insufficient information or if multiple causes could not be eliminated.”

Connealy says undetermined is one of four categories of causes. The others are natural, accidential, and incendiary.

Special Agent Robert Champion of the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) agency says the following causes were eliminated: rekindling from a fire earlier that day…which Champion said did not occur…spontaneous ignition, the plant’s 480 volt electrical system, anhydrous ammonia, ammonium nitrate, smoking, and the weather. Champion says causes that could not be eliminated were the plant’s 120 volt electrical system, a battery operated golf cart, and someone intentionally setting the fire.

Assistant State Fire Marshal Kelly Kistner says ammonium nitrate caused two explosions, involving an estimated 24 to 34 tons of the product. Kistner says another 20 to 30 tons of ammonium nitrate in the same building did not explode, nor did 100 tons in a nearby railcar.

Kistner also says water used in the firefighting effort did not contribute to the explosion and the city of West’s water system was not compromised.

Connealy says family members of the 15 who died were briefed before authorities met with reporters.

Champion says authorities will not speculate if former West EMT Bryce Reed, who faces federal charges of possessing an unregistered destructive device, is connected with the fire and explosions.

News Conference West Fertilizer Plant Fire & Explosions, May 16 2013

The post Cause of West Fertilizer Fire & Explosion “Undetermined” appeared first on WTAW.

Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds says emergency responders are searching parts of Granbury that were left devastated. Deeds says authorities are working to identify the six adults who died in last night’s twister in Granbury, about 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

Deeds earlier said 14 people were missing but half were later found with family or friends. Deeds says he hopes that will be the case for the other seven missing people.

He says 37 people were treated at a Granbury hospital and of those, 15 were transported to Fort Worth-area hospitals and 19 were treated and released.

The powerful storm crushed buildings as it tore through the area, leaving some as just piles of planks and rubble. Trees and debris were scattered across yards, and fences were flattened.

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Granbury was not the only north Texas community hit. KRLD Radio in Dallas reports likely tornadoes also did extensive damage in Cleburne and Ennis, officials in both cities said. The Cleburne Independent School District canceled classes on Thursday because of widespread damage and power outages. Two school buildings were also damaged. Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain said that rescue teams would resume their search through ravaged neighborhoods at first light to check for more injured residents.

Steve Howerton, the city manager in Ennis, said that roughly 25 homes and 40 other buildings were damaged, including some in the city’s historic downtown area. This number is expected to grow as daylight breaks. Most of the damage was from high winds and fallen trees. There was also one minor injury.

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Locall rainfall from Thursday morning storms, measured at Easterwood Airport, was .61 of an inch.

Picture from the @HOTRedCross Heart of Texas Red Cross Twitter feed of hail from Granbury.

The post Assessment Continues from North Texas Severe Weather appeared first on WTAW.

Back in March, Senator Charles Schwertner was part of a 27 to 4 vote approving the proposal.

On Wednesday, Representatives Kyle Kacal and John Raney were part of the 88 to 61 House vote defeating the measure.

It would not have applied to either state senators or representatives.

And supporters said it was not a referendum on Rick Perry, who has not announced if he will run for a fourth full term as governor next year.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Click HERE to follow the history of the proposal, SJR 13.

The post State Lawmakers Divided on Term Limit Proposal appeared first on WTAW.

Photo of Felipe Tello Jr. courtesy of Brazos County’s Judicial Records Search at: http://justiceweb.co.brazos.tx.us

Bryan police say a Facebook post that led to an altercation resulted in a drive by shooting.

Officer Lori Berndt says no one was hurt and there was an arrest following the gunfire Tuesday night on Broadmoor just off Texas.

No one was hit by the gunfire. Investigators learned four shots were fired, two hitting the front passenger side door.

About two hours later, police arrested 23 year old Felipe Tello Jr. for aggravated assault.

Berndt says Tello witnessed a physical disturbance over the Facebook post in the parking lot of Bryan Municipal Court that preceded the gunfire.

Lori Berndt visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.

The post Facebook Post to Fight to Drive By Shooting appeared first on WTAW.

Dallas-based Heritage Auctions says the bill will be offered up Tuesday. The April 17 explosion killed 14 people.

Heritage says that, beginning in 1865, banks could place bonds and other securities on deposit with the U.S. Treasury. Those banks receive notes bearing their names for circulation in their areas. Such banks were known as national banks, and West had three between 1900 and 1934.

Heritage will also offer a poster featuring the note for $25, with those proceeds to be donated as well.

The fund was created by the West Volunteer Fire Department to benefit families.

The West Texas $10 bill being auctioned at http://currency.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=141321&lotNo=33634

The post Auction of Rare Paper Money for West appeared first on WTAW.

Recipients of the Hometown Hero Awards were recognized for their outstanding service in the Bryan-College Station community.

Here are the winners, as selected by the CVB, hospitality and tourism partners, and the general public:

Sports: Dr. Harold Nolte, Ted Raspiller, and Sylvia McMullen; representing the Brazos Valley Bowl.

Tourism: Albie Burch.

Media: Zack Morgan, KBTX and Jenny Law, 104.7 The Mix.

Conventions: Amanda Reynolds, Texas Color Guard Circuit and Frances Molitor, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Convention.

Outstanding Service Providers: Susan and Raymond Olson of The Nest Bed & Breakfast.

Exceptional Service Associate: Lonnie Cammack of Brazos County Expo.

Community Promotional Partner: Brazos County Expo.

The CVB hosts the Hospitality Celebration luncheon annually during May in participation of a national campaign, National Tourism Week. Localized events are promoted in cities, states, and travel businesses nationwide to further campaign the importance of travel. The annual Hospitality Celebration luncheon takes time to recognize the Hometown Heroes along with the impact of their hard work and tourism in our community.

The post CVB Announces Hometown Hero Awards appeared first on WTAW.

It was the first service since the death last August of Brazos County Constable Brian Bachmann. He was remembered in remarks from three speakers and with a memorial wreath. Also recognized was Bryan Police Officer Mark Hiatt, who was killed in the line of duty in December 2000, and Bryan Fire Lieutenants Greg Pickard and Eric Wallace, who died last February while fighting the Knights of Columbus Hall fire.

The featured speaker was Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk, who just returned from Washington D.C. and the national law enforcement memorial. Bryan Police Chief Eric Buske and College Station Police Chief Jeff Capps also spoke. Capps hosted the service, which you can hear by clicking the link below.

Law Enforcement Memorial Service, May 15 2013.

Members of Brazos County public safety agencies at beginning of service.

Representatives of public safety agencies on the stage.

Salute given while Taps was played.

Memorial wreath for Brazos County Constable Brian Bachmann.

The post Brazos County Law Enforcement Memorial Service appeared first on WTAW.

The south side of City Hall remains closed to the public, and Thursday’s Planning and Zoning meeting will be moved to the second floor conference room.

Director of Communications Jay Socol says crews have been working since Thursday, when flooding was caused by an outside atrium that could not drain properly due to tree roots blocking a drainage line nearby.

Socol says water reached a depth of about 18 inches in the atrium, then spilled over and filled the affected areas of city hall with about half an inch of water.

He says restoration work such as carpet testing and dehumidifying is being done by a contracted service, while the drywall work will be done by city facility crews.

Socol says crews continue to have fans and blowers on the south side of the building, and the next phase will be to replace drywall, floor molding, and other structural components.

Displaced staff from the city manager, secretary, and mayor’s offices should be able to return to their correct offices before the end of the week.

Jay Socol visits with WTAW’s Kat McMullen

The post City Hall Recovering From Flooding appeared first on WTAW.

City Council approval for rezoning along the northbound service road between Raintree and Horse Haven Estates followed an hour’s worth of debate.

Homeowners living in the Raintree subdivision off Southwest Parkway, including Mark Buxkemper, were opposed to removing the ban on building restaurants.

Comments from Max Buxkemper.

Laurie Sorrell has lived in Raintree 35 years.

Comments from Laurie Sorrell.

Councilwoman Julie Schultz says she was surprised the affected homeowners associations had not purchased the property in question.

Comments from Julie Schultz.

Councilman James Benham was asked to help define the new zoning category that now applies to this property.

Comments from James Benham.

There are no plans for the property according to the developer.

The new zoning applies to half the 14 acres. The remainder, along a flood plain and floodway, will remain undeveloped.

Below is the background information presented at the city council meeting:

The post CS Council Approves Rezoning Commercial Property Along Freeway appeared first on WTAW.

The Brazos County Health Department (BCHD) found a hazardous chemical at the B/CS Asian Market in College Station during a routine inspection. This inspection was completed in conjunction with a Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) inspector.

The chemical is sold under the trade name of Fumitoxin and the active ingredient, aluminum phosphide, is very reactive when exposed to air and especially water.

The evacuated fire department personnel, along with officers from the College Station Police Department, blocked off Rio Grande from Harvey Mitchel Parkway to Hawktree as a precaution.

Fire department personnel placed the chemical in a container, covered it with an absorbent material, and then sealed the container, making it safe for transport. DSHS then took custody of the container and removed it for safe disposal.

The B/CS Asian Market scored below a 70 on its inspection. The business was closed and there will be a re-inspection Wednesday to determine if it will reopen.

Update from the College Station Fire Department:

A commercial pesticide confiscated from a local specialty grocery store by a Department of State Health Services (DSHS) inspector and brought to Fire Station 2, 2300 Rio Grande, caused the evacuation of fire department personnel for approximately one hour this afternoon.

The material is sold under the trade name of Fumitoxin and the active ingredient, aluminum phosphide, is very reactive when exposed to air and especially water.

The evacuated fire department personnel, along with officers from the College Station Police Department, blocked off Rio Grande from Harvey Mitchel Parkway to Hawktree as a precaution.

Fire department personnel placed the chemical in a container, covered it with an absorbent material, and then sealed the container, making it safe for transport. DSHS then took custody of the container and removed it for safe disposal.

All streets were reopened at 1400 hours. There were no injuries.

The College Station Fire Department recommends that if you find any substance that you believe may be harmful or dangerous; you evacuate the area and call 911. Qualified personnel will respond to your location and determine the safest way to render the substance harmless.

Original story:

College Station Fire Department (CSFD) station #2 was evacuated and streets were blocked Tuesday afternoon following the discovery of a hazardous material.

Rio Grande was blocked from Harvey Mitchell to and Hawk Tree.

CSFD spokesman Bart Humphreys says a health department inspector removed a suspicious item from a restaurant and took it to station #2.

Upon inspection it was determined the solid material in the shape of a hockey puck turned out to be aluminum phosphide.

Humphreys says the material is highly reactive to air and water.

Click HERE to read more about aluminum phosphide, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency.

That resulted in an evacuation of the station and calling in the fire department’s hazardous materials team based at station #6 on University.

Comments from Bart Humphreys.

The post CS Fire Station Evacuated From Hazardous Materials Incident appeared first on WTAW.

The bill was born out of a long-running dispute between lawmakers and University of Texas System regents who are considered hostile to Austin campus President Bill Powers, who is believed to be fighting to keep his job.

The bill would weaken the power of regents to fire school presidents by first requiring a recommendation from the system chancellor. It also would require regents to undergo training in ethics and federal student privacy laws.

Regents are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The bill still needs a final vote Tuesday before it goes back to the Senate.

The post Texas House Preliminary Approval Restricting Regents Authority appeared first on WTAW.

The Brazos County Health Department (BCHD), in conjunction with the Texas Department of State Health Services (Region 7), continues to actively investigate ten cases of diarrheal illness, possibly caused by Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC).

Five cases have been confirmed as E. coli 0157:H7. The five probable cases were investigated due to the criteria of symptoms. It is likely that these probable cases will not be listed as confirmed because only symptoms occurred during the investigation timeframe.

Based on the patients’ signs and symptoms and laboratory confirmation, the believed timeframe for this E. coli outbreak is April 15 through April 22, 2013. At this time, the investigation is on-going with no updates on a possible source.

BCHD recommends that any person who has signs or symptoms of STEC infection seek medical care. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, watery diarrhea (which contains blood mucous), and vomiting. Most people get better within 5-7 days, but children under 5 and people over 65 are at risk of further complications.

Click HERE for more information about E. coli

The post Source of Brazos County E.coli Outbreak Still Unknown appeared first on WTAW.

The last College Station City Council meeting included reminders of the unexpected death of new College Station City Manager Frank Simpson.

Mayor Nancy Berry opened the meeting by asking for a moment of silence.

Comments from Mayor Nancy Berry.

The meeting’s opening prayer, given by Fire Chief R.B. Alley, recognized Simpson and his family.

Comments from R.B. Alley.

The city manager’s seat remain empty in honor of Simpson.

And the city manager’s office placed a framed picture of Simpson surrounded by a bouquet of roses next to his nameplate.

Photo courtesy of the City of College Station.

The post CS Council Remembers Frank Simpson appeared first on WTAW.