Brazos County Commissioner Bentley Nettles on WTAW

Governor Greg Abbott announced $872,543 in grants for the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) program. The grants are being awarded to three schools by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The JET grants support career and technical education (CTE) training programs by helping schools purchase and install equipment to initially train 75 students for high-demand occupations such as automotive service technicians and nurses. $344,985 is going to the Hearne Independent School District to train five students as registered nurses in partnership with Blinn College. “Texas leads the nation in growth, and it is essential that students have the skills they need to secure high-paying jobs,” said Governor Abbott. “These grants will provide students with valuable training and resources to launch successful careers.” “The partnership between TWC and educational institutions creates a direct benefit for Texas employers,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “When students learn on the modern equipment used in hospitals and service centers, they enter the workforce with confidence and transferable, marketable skills that employers value.” Austin Community College is receiving $331,387 to train 50 students as automotive service technicians and mechanics with an electronic vehicle specialization. Lometa ISD will receive a $196,171 grant to train 20 students as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in partnership with Central Texas College. Through funding provided by the Texas Legislature each biennium, TWC uses JET grants to defray start-up costs to develop or expand career and technical education programs for public community, state and technical colleges, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools. Equipment funded through JET grants must be used to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations. JET grant awards for the current fiscal year have yet to be announced and will be published in the coming months.

A woman has been arrested on several charges after she was reportedly intoxicated at a local school. College Station Police were called to IL Texas in the 3600 block of Longmire Drive, around 5:15pm on Wednesday, after an off-duty officer reported that a woman parked crooked in the school’s parking lot. The officer said he could smell marijuana coming from the car. 36-year-old Whitney Carol Carson, of Navasota, told officers she was at the school to pick up her daughter. Officers say she was unsteady on her feet, with delayed and slurred speech. She failed a field sobriety test. A search of Carson’s car revealed a marijuana cigarette and officers found methamphetamine in her purse. She claims she had taken prescription Bupropion and Buspirone at 7:00am that morning, and blamed her condition on those medications. Because the drugs were found within 1,000 feet of the school, Carson was charged with Possession of Marijuana in a Drug-Free Zone and Possession of a Penalty Group 1 Controlled Substance in a Drug-Free Zone. She was also arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. A blood sample was obtained before she was booked into the Brazos County Jail where she is being held on $20,000 bond.

Crime Stoppers announced today that they are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the death of a teenager last month. 14-year-old D’Antwon Miles died after suffering a gunshot wound during a party in Bryan on August 8th. Three others were injured in that shooting. Anyone with first hand knowledge of the individual(s) responsible and/or the incident itself is encouraged to come forward. Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest AND conviction of the individual(s) responsible. Tips can be submitted anonymously at: https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=118&C=&T= Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.