Kevin O’Connor Kommentary November 12

Warming Center Available In Bryan Sunday Night Through Thursday Morning

United Way of the Brazos Valley announces a warming center will be available from Sunday (January 19) at 5 p.m. through Thursday (January 23) at 9 a.m. The center is located in Bryan at the Elks Lodge, which is on Mobile Avenue behind Triangle Storage. Volunteers are also being recruited to assist at the warming center. To volunteer, click the QR code in the image associated with this story or click HERE to be directed to the website to register as a volunteer.

Bryan City Council Awards Two Construction Contracts Associated With The Lake At Midtown Park

January’s meeting of the Bryan city council included awarding $6 million dollars in contracts for two more additions at Midtown Park involving the park’s lake. Construction will be starting soon on a boardwalk and to build two water wells that will feed the lake. Weather permitting, the boardwalk could open this August and the water wells could start operating by the end of 2025. A nearly $4.5 million dollar contract for a boardwalk and a support structure called a bulkhead follows the council last April rejecting more than $9 million dollars in bids. A contract for just over $1.5 million dollars was awarded to build two water wells that will feed the lake to keep the water level constant. The cost is over the budgeted estimate of $950,000 dollars. City engineer Paul Kaspar said they are still working on getting state permits to fill the lake. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials shown at the January 14, 2025 Bryan city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download background information about the construction contract for the Midtown Park boardwalk. Click HERE to read and download background information about the construction contract for Midtown Park water wells. Click HERE to read and download a map showing the location of the Midtown Park water wells. Click below to hear comments from the January 14, 2025 Bryan city council meeting. Listen to “Bryan city council awards two construction contracts associated with the lake at Midtown Park” on Spreaker.

Texas A&M Faculty Senate Members Speak Out Against An A&M System Ban On Professional Trips To China

January’s meeting of the Texas A&M faculty senate included comments opposing a Texas A&M system ban on professional trips to China. A system spokesman told WTAW News the ban was in compliance with a governor’s executive order. Faculty senate member Adam Kolasinski said the way he reads the executive order, “I don’t see anything saying that all professional travel to China is gone. What I see is a prohibition on any sort of funding from China.” Kolasinski also said “I have noticed this happens a lot with A&M lawyers. They like to prohibit things that don’t have to be prohibited and this (the ban) seems to be an example of that.” Faculty senate member Frank Sottile said he is “mad as hell” about the ban. Sottile said a colleague who is “pissed off” is being recruited by another university. And Sottile said a prospect for a vacant position at A&M withdrew their name. Faculty senate members were told the system ban does not include personal travel to China. Click below to hear comments from the January 13, 2025 Texas A&M faculty senate meeting: