Count former Bryan Mayor Ron Blatchley out of the running for the vacant District 14 state representative’s seat. The retired businessowner and A&M administrator says the decision was made over the weekend while driving to Colorado to start a vacation.
That leaves three Republicans who plan to fill the unexpired term of Fred Brown…Rebecca Boenigk, John Raney, and Buddy Winn. A fourth, Bob Yancy, continues to investigate. No Democrats have announced their interest.
A Bryan man’s sixth arrest since February 2022 charges him with possessing 300 vape pens containing what a Brazos County sheriff’s arrest report says is a “large amount” of THC. A sheriff’s spokesman tells WTAW News the estimated street value of the combined 600 grams of THC is $24,000 dollars. The arrest report says a deputy stopped the car driven by 19 year old Steven Lopez for speeding and a missing taillight cover. After Lopez was seen shaking so bad that he could not make a phone call and after Lopez denied consent to search his car, the Brazos County deputy received assistance for a K-9 from Robertson County. After the K-9 deputy detected narcotics, the car was searched. That led to finding four large unopened boxes with the THC vape pens and $985 dollars in cash. Online court records say Lopez is accused of violating probation following a drug conviction in 2022, he is also awaiting two trials on more drug charges in 2022 and 2023, and he is awaiting a third trial on three counts of sexual assault of a child that took place in 2022 and 2023. Online jail records show bond has increased in the district court cases. Lopez remains jailed as of August 14th on bonds totaling $602,000 dollars.
A majority of Bryan city council members express no opposition to rezoning land north of the Premiere movie complex to build 150 luxury apartments. But final action was delayed. That followed more than one hour of discussion involving council members, the landowner, and opponents who included neighboring homeowners and the presidents of the Austin’s Colony and Greenbriar homeowners associations. The opponents favored keeping current zoning for retail development. The landowner, Wayne Courreges III, said he wants to buy additional land surrounding his proposed apartment complex to develop what he calls “top retail”. Courreges said he preferred building three story apartment buildings containing one and two bedroom units versus a four story hotel, which he is allowed to do with current zoning. Councilman James Edge said he was “intrigued” about building a hotel. Mayor Bobby Gutierrez, who supported the apartments, said that would have less impact on the homeowners than the hotel or other structures allowed under current zoning. The council unanimously approved Jared Salvato’s motion to delay action one month. Salvato wanted to give the landowner and city staff time to study how to minimize safety risks associated with extending Sam Rayburn Drive to Austin’s Colony Parkway. That intersection is near what is described as a blind curve on Austin’s Colony Parkway. The intersection is also close to three Bryan ISD schools. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from landowner Wayne Courreges III. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the city of Bryan. Click below to hear comments from the August 13, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. Listen to “Bryan city council delays final action after a majority supports rezoning for a luxury apartment complex” on Spreaker.
Brazos County commissioners move another $1.5 million dollars in federal pandemic grant money to the construction of the medical examiner’s office. There was no public discussion before Tuesday’s (August 13) unanimous vote to increase the amount of money county received from ARPA…the american rescue plan act…to $21 million dollars. After the vote, commissioners were asked by a citizen why $1 million was transferred from what was originally set aside for broadband expansion in rural areas. County judge Duane Peters said after the original decision was made to reserve grant money for broadband, the federal government issued rules that said ARPA funds could not be used on something where another federal funding source was available. In the case of broadband, the commission’s general counsel, Bruce Erratt, said the state received federal money that is being given to broadband providers to expand service in rural areas. Commissioners Chuck Konderla, Wanda Watson, and Steve Aldrich also spoke about efforts by the state’s broadband commission. Click below to hear comments from the August 13, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Brazos County commissioners are asked why more pandemic grant money is moved to building the medical examiners office” on Spreaker.
Bryan Broadcasting Corporation