By CLIFF BRUNT
The University of Texas has rejected calls by its athletes to change a school song that they believe has racist undertones. “The Eyes of Texas” has long been criticized for its connection to minstrel shows with characters in blackface in the early 1900s. The school says the song will remain. Texas interim president Jim Hartzell says the Texas community has the power to determine “what the `Eyes of Texas’ expect of us, what they demand of us.”
Multiple headstones were damaged Tuesday night at Reliance cemetery east of Bryan. The Texas department of public safety (DPS) reports a SUV drove off of FM 1179 and overturned after hitting the headstones. The driver was arrested for DWI with an open container, striking what DPS described as highway landscaping, and not having a driver’s license. The driver told the trooper according to the arrest report that he had drank four beers prior to driving and two more while driving. Results of breath alcohol tests were almost one and a half times the legal limit at .115 and .114. Jail records show 29 year old Joel Garcia-Garcia of Bryan is also being held for immigration authorities.
The Wickson Creek special utility district (SUD) announces lifting stage one water restrictions. A notice given to the SUD’s 9,200 customers, including some in Bryan, that this was due to recent cooler temperatures and rainfall. The notice thanked customers for their cooperation which made it possible for the district to impose stage two restrictions. Customers were also asked to continue to practice water conservation due to moderate drought conditions.
In August of 2023, the Bryan city council agreed to partner with Texas A&M to build an indoor tennis center at Midtown Park. Construction was supposed to be completed by August 2025. Proposals to extend the construction deadline and enter a design contract were pulled from the agenda of the council’s November 12th business meeting. City manager Kean Register made that announcement after councilman Ray Arrington asked to discuss the item during the council’s November 12th workshop meeting. Register said the council could consider a proposed amended contract at their December business meeting. Click below to hear comments from Ray Arrington and Kean Register: The proposal that was not considered called for extending the construction deadline to June of 2026, based on construction starting by February 2025. The amended contract would have also increased the project cost from $17 million to $18.25 million dollars. The increase in the construction cost is due in part to adding 145 parking spaces, which will also be used by visitors to Midtown Park’s Legends Events Center. A&M’s share of the cost did not change. And the project budget does not include the cost of furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Click HERE to read and download the proposed amended Midtown Park tennis center contract that was NOT considered at the November 12, 2024 Bryan council meeting. Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of Bryan. Click HERE to read and download a document showing images and schematics related to the Midtown Park tennis center, produced by PBK Sports and SpawGlass Construction and provided by the city of Bryan.
Bryan Broadcasting Corporation