Departing Brazos County Commissioners Say Thanks And Share Memories At Their Final Meeting

Texas A&M System Board Of Regents Changes The Location Of A&M’s New Meat Science Complex

In November of 2025, the Texas A&M system board of regents voted to build Texas A&M’s new meat science and technology center on the RELLIS campus. Five months later, the regents change their mind on the location. A system document shows construction began in February at the new location, on Finfeather Road north of F&B Road. The regents officially made the decision at a special meeting on March 27. In addition to changing the location, the regents added $19 million dollars, raising the project budget to $133 million dollars. The system document says the regents changed their mind after the college of agriculture worked with the university to adapt the previous design for the Finfeather property. The new complex is being promoted as the cornerstone of a new agriculture district. Click HERE to read and download background material of what was approved at the March 27, 2026 special meeting of the board of regents. News release from the Texas A&M system: The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has approved an expanded $133.36 million investment in a new Meat Sciences & Technology Center, keeping the facility on the main campus and positioning it as the anchor of a future agriculture district. The now $133.36 million investment adds $18.76 million to the previously approved project, and shifts its trajectory by moving it from a planned site at Texas A&M–RELLIS to West Campus, where it will be built along Finfeather Road and integrated into the university’s long-range plan for development. “This is exactly where this program belongs,” said Robert Albritton, Chairman of the Board of Regents. “At the center of campus, at the center of our mission, and at the center of an industry that matters to every Texan.” The Board’s action amends the A&M System’s capital plan, increases the project budget and approves additional construction scope tied to the new location and supporting infrastructure. “This isn’t just about a building,” said Glenn Hegar. “It’s about putting agriculture where it belongs, front and center, and making sure we’re preparing students to lead in an industry that feeds this state and this country.” Originally planned for the RELLIS campus, the facility will now serve as a cornerstone of a future agriculture district on West Campus, bringing one of Texas A&M’s most hands-on, industry-facing programs closer to students, faculty and partners. “Texas A&M AgriLife is already the nation’s most comprehensive agricultural program and home to the largest agricultural college,” said Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “This agriculture district ensures we use that scale to deliver solutions that matter—advancing agriculture not just in size or reputation, but in impact for Texas and the world.” Texas A&M’s meat science program dates back to 1926 and has long been a national leader in meat production, processing and food safety. The current facility, built in 1983, no longer meets the demands of modern research and instruction. The new center, approximately 85,600 square feet, will provide updated labs, classrooms, processing space and public-facing capabilities to support teaching, research, extension and industry engagement. “This facility allows us to reimagine meat science for the next generation,” said G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., director of AgriLife Research. “By integrating advanced technologies, we are expanding research capacity and advancing discovery to address critical challenges across animal agriculture and global food systems.” The project is supported through a mix of System financing, AgriLife Research-related revenue, private gifts and Available University Fund (AUF) resources backed by the Permanent University Fund (PUF), part of Texas’ long-standing commitment to higher education alongside the Permanent School Fund, which supports public education statewide. Construction is expected to be completed in 2028.

College Station ISD School Board Approves Paying For An Unfunded State Mandate To Add Seat Belts To School Buses

College Station ISD school board members at their March regular meeting approve paying for an unfunded state mandate to add seat belts to school buses. A memo that was part of the meeting agenda said this was to comply with Senate Bill 546, which lawmakers passed last year. SB 546 requires public schools to add three point seat belts to buses by September 1st of 2029. Board members were told compliance affects 19 existing buses. At a cost of $30,000 per bus, the board approved using general budget money for the expense. The memo also said administrators are monitoring if the Texas Education Agency comes through with grant money that could reimburse the district. At the same meeting, the board approved the purchase of 13 new buses using $2 million dollars in money from the November 2023 bond issue. A CSISD spokesman tells WTAW News those new buses will be equipped with seat belts. Click HERE to read and download the CSISD memo related to adding seat belts to CSISD school buses.

Brazos County Sheriff’s Arrests For Repeated Violations Of A Protection Order And Two Inmates Caught With K-2 In Their Jail Cell

A 68 year old Bryan man returns to jail three weeks after being released to probation after pleading guilty to domestic violence assault causing bodily injury. Ray Miller returned to jail on a charge of violating a protection order two or more times within a 12 month period. The arrest report from the Brazos County sheriff’s office says Miller while in jail the first time made multiple calls to a protected person. After jail staff blocked the ability for Miller to make calls, he is charged with sending text messages. And after Miller was released from jail on March 5th, deputies were told Miller contacted the victim on eight consecutive days telling them to meet him and not tell anyone. Miller was arrested after deputies were notified by a family member of the victim. Miller, who returned to jail March 24th, remained there as of March 26th in lieu of a $20,000 dollar bond. Two Brazos County jail inmates are arrested for possessing synthetic marijuana in their cells. Arrest reports from the sheriff’s office says an accused murderer, 20 year old Censear Solomon of Hempstead, had a stack of paper soaked with K-2 in a deodorant container. And a man awaiting trials on felony assault, drug, and weapons charges, 24 year old Kaden Luna of College Station, had paper soaked with K-2 in a box of soap. Detention officers also found in Luna’s cell, a battery from a computer that had been tampered with and pieces of a razor and wire, which the arrest report says can be used to create improvised ignition devices to facilitate smoking. The detention officers also found what was a flex pen that had been modified to become a plastic pipe.