Bryan ISD School Board Sells Property & Has Another Private Discussion About Correcting Unidentified Security Issues

Bryan Police Investigating The Drowning Death Of A Four Year Old

Bryan police is investigating the drowning death of a four year old boy. This began Tuesday night (July 9) as a search for Jermaine Mills. 75 minutes after responding to a 9-1-1 call made by family members, the youngster was found unresponsive in a pool that was described as being in a condition where visibility into the water was limited. Lifesaving measures began when the child was found and continued until he was pronounced deceased. News release from Bryan police: On June 9th, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., the Bryan Police Department responded to the 2300 block of Jaguar Drive for a missing 4-year-old. The 4-year-old was last seen by family near the pool approximately 30 minutes prior to placing the 911 call. Multiple BPD officers and community members assisted in searching for the child. At approximately 7:14 p.m., the 4-year-old was located in the pool unresponsive. Immediate life-saving measures were performed, before the child was transported to the hospital for emergency medical care. Conditions of the pool made visibility into the water limited. Unfortunately, the child passed away at the hospital. The Bryan Police Department would like to remind our community to never leave children unattended near water. Whether you’re at a pool, lake, splash pad, or any other body of water, constant supervision is essential. Stay alert and avoid distractions such as cell phones, conversations, or other activities that may take your attention away from children. If a child is not a strong swimmer, please have them in a properly fitted life jacket or approved flotation device for their size. Keep gates locked or secured where children cannot access the water. This investigation is ongoing at this time.

Brazos County District Court Jury Convicts And Sentences A Suburban Houston Man For Theft Of An Elderly Person With Prior Convictions

A Brazos County district court jury takes less than 90 minutes to convict and sentence a suburban Houston man for theft of an elderly person with two or more prior convictions. The jury gave the maximum punishment of life in prison to 56 year old Lonnie Birt Donaldson Sr. of Rosharon. According to the district attorney’s office, Donaldson previously went to prison in 2007 for theft of an elderly person, in 2000 for engaging in organized criminal activity, and in 2005 he did time in a state jail for theft. Donaldson was found guilty of taking $2,300 dollars from an elderly Bryan resident to fix his roof but never showing up to do the repairs. News release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office: On June 2, 2026, a Brazos County jury found Lonnie Birt Donaldson, Sr. guilty of Theft from an Elderly Individual with Two or More Prior Convictions. Because Donaldson had a long history of theft convictions, the jury sentenced him to life in prison the following day. The crime took place on August 18, 2024. Donaldson went to the home of an elderly Bryan resident and offered to fix his roof for an unusually low price. The homeowner believed him and paid Donaldson $1,300 in cash as a down payment. A few days later, Donaldson returned to the house and asked for another $1,000 to do extra work on the roof. Donaldson took the $2,300 in cash and vanished. He never bought any roofing supplies, never delivered materials to the home, and never did any work on the house. The victim never saw him again. Det. Kenneth Moore of the Bryan Police Department investigated the case. He discovered that Donaldson’s roofing business did not actually exist. The company had no bank account and no other customers. Detective Moore concluded that Donaldson was running a scam and never planned to complete the job. During the trial, the jury also heard from Brazos County District Attorney Investigator Kindale Pittman. Investigator Pittman, a fingerprint expert, proved that Donaldson was the same man convicted of multiple past crimes across Burleson, Milam, and Brazos Counties. Donaldson’s criminal record stretches back more than 25 years. In 2000, he was sentenced to prison for four years for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity–Theft. In 2005, he was sentenced to state jail for theft. In 2007, he received an eight-year prison sentence for Theft from an Elderly Person, plus a 12-year sentence for Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance. Because of this extensive criminal history, his punishment is statutorily enhanced to a minimum of 25 years up to life in prison. In closing arguments, prosecutors reminded the jury that Donaldson had spent nearly 30 years preying on innocent victims across three different counties. They asked the jury for a sentence that would permanently stop him from stealing from anyone else. The jury took less than 25 minutes to find Donaldson guilty, and less than an hour to sentence him to life in prison. Statement from Brazos County assistant district attorneys Robert Vetter and Tiffany Larsen: “This defendant used lies to steal the hard-earned money of our most vulnerable citizens for decades. This life sentence ensures he can never target an innocent victim again. Our office remains committed to protecting our seniors from fraud.”

A Texas A&M System Board Of Regents Member Is Appointed To Lead The Federal Response To Stop The Spread Of The New World Screwworm

A member of the Texas A&M system board of regents is appointed to lead the federal response to stop the spread of the New World screwworm. The insect is a parasitic fly whose larvae can infest livestock and wildlife, creating animal health and economic concerns. In a news release from the A&M system, regent John Bellinger of San Antonio said “the threat must be taken seriously but emphasized that consumers should remain confident in American beef products.” News release from the Texas A&M system: As federal and state officials intensify efforts to stop the spread of the New World screwworm in Texas, the United States Department of Agriculture has turned to Texas cattleman, food safety entrepreneur and Texas A&M University System Regent John Bellinger to help lead the response. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Monday that President Donald J. Trump has appointed Bellinger as Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness, a role that will support USDA’s ongoing efforts to contain and eradicate the destructive livestock pest. The appointment places a longtime Texas A&M leader and agricultural expert at the center of one of the nation’s most significant animal health and livestock protection efforts in decades. “When agriculture faces serious challenges, the country often turns to Texas and to Texas A&M,” said Chancellor Glenn Hegar. “John Bellinger brings decades of experience in cattle production, food safety and animal agriculture to this fight. He understands what is at stake for ranchers, rural communities and the nation’s food supply, and he understands how to bring people together to solve problems. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae can infest livestock and wildlife, creating serious economic and animal health concerns if not aggressively contained and eradicated. Bellinger said the threat must be taken seriously but emphasized that consumers should remain confident in American beef products. “This is a real threat to cattle production and animal health, and we are going to attack it aggressively,” Bellinger said. “But Texans and consumers across the country should also know this clearly: American beef is safe, Texas beef is safe, and Texas produces the best beef in the world. Our ranchers, veterinarians, researchers and animal health professionals are working together right now to protect that industry and keep it strong. The fight against screwworm is not new to Texas A&M. Texas A&M Former Student, Dr. Edward F. Knipling ’30 helped co-develop the sterile insect technique as a USDA entomologist, this technique drove the pest out of the United States nearly 60 years ago and transformed livestock protection around the world. As the nation confronts the threat again, Texas A&M expertise is helping lead the response. “Texas A&M was built to serve the people of Texas by solving real problems,” Hegar said. “This is exactly the kind of moment where that mission matters.” Regent Bellinger is expected to help lead coordination efforts involving USDA, the State of Texas and the Texas A&M System as officials work to accelerate testing, field response, producer outreach and long-term preparedness. The Texas Animal Health Commission remains the lead animal health response agency, while the Texas Division of Emergency Management is coordinating broader state support efforts. Texas A&M AgriLife has spent more than a year preparing for the possible return of screwworm through a coordinated task force involving AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension, TVMDL, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. As response efforts expand, Texas A&M experts are also helping evaluate future diagnostic, research and sterile-fly production needs aimed at strengthening long-term readiness. These Texas A&M System teams are now playing an elevated role in the state and federal response following confirmation of New World screwworm in South Texas. The A&M System is already moving resources toward the border region. Diagnostic equipment from the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory is being deployed to Uvalde, while AgriLife Extension is standing up training for Extension agents supporting animal inspection and producer education efforts. Chancellor Hegar has directed the System to move quickly and provide the resources necessary to support the response. Producer groups across Texas remain concerned but prepared and continue looking to Texas A&M for practical, science-based guidance. The response reflects the A&M System’s land-grant mission in action: research, diagnostics, Extension outreach and service during a major agricultural and animal health challenge. Bellinger was appointed to the Texas A&M System Board of Regents by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023 and currently serves as chair of the Board’s Committee on Research. He is the former co-founder and CEO of Food Safety Net Services and has spent decades working in the cattle, meat export and food safety industries.