Randy Bullock Wins Lou Groza Award!

College Station City Council Receives Texas A&M Student Housing Update Before Adding Civil Fines For Violators Living In ROO Districts

In April, the College Station city council added a civil fine for those found guilty of violating the city’s ordinance restricting housing to no more than four unrelated occupants. On Monday (May 13), the council approved adding the civil fine to those found guilty of violating the city’s new ROO, or restricted occupancy overlay district, which caps the maximum number of unrelated residents at two. Before the council’s vote, were comments from two Texas A&M representatives asking the council to delay their vote. Student government representative Ben Crockett and A&M vice president of student affairs Joe Ramirez both asked to wait until students returned in August. Six council members approved adding the civil fine to the ROO regulations. Click HERE to read and download what was approved during the May 13, 2024 College Station city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the May 13, 2024 council meeting. Elizabeth Cunha, who shared her opposition, decided against voting and abstained. Also during the discussion prior to the vote, councilman Bob Yancy asked Ramirez the status of plans to build more on-campus. Ramirez says recommendations will be presented soon to the president and other administrators. Not brought up during the council meeting, was the A&M system board of regents approval last week (May 7) of an updated five year capital projects plan that does not include new on campus housing projects. Click below to hear comments from the May 13, 2024 College Station city council meeting. Listen to “College Station city council receives Texas A&M student housing update before adding civil fines for violators living in ROO districts” on Spreaker.  

Texas A&M System Still Auditing DEI Compliance At The Flagship Campus

Texas A&M is one of two universities out of 11 in the A&M system that have yet to have system audits completed regarding compliance with the new state law eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and offices. The system’s chief auditor, Charlie Hrncir, told the board of regents during a committee meeting last week (May 6) that he expected A&M’s DEI audit to be completed in June. Hrncir brought up the time being taken for A&M’s DEI audit “just because they’re just so complex and so big” and “to go through scholarships”. Hrncir said the system has a DEI website that is “very thorough and has our policy, it has the FAQ’s, it has the checklist that the system has required management to utilize.” Hrncir also said the system’s DEI audits will be forwarded to the state, where their reviews will start September 1st. The chairman of the regents audit committee, Mike Hernandez of Fort Worth, said the following day during the board’s business meeting (May 7) that the system’s “DEI audit was nearing completion and that the results to date are very positive.” Click below to hear comments from the meetings of the Texas A&M system board of regents on May 6 and 7, 2024.  

Bryan Police Arrests For Harassing 9-1-1 Dispatchers And Driving With An Invalid License With Prior Convictions

Bryan police arrest a woman after she called 9-1-1 dispatchers ten times over a three hour period starting just before midnight and ending just before 3 a.m. Sunday (May 12). The BPD arrest report says there was no emergency and the caller yelled and used profane language. 40 year old Silvia Olson, who was arrested for making abusive or harassing statements to four dispatchers, was taken into custody when she resumed making calls after an officer told her to stop. Olson is out of jail after posting a $2,000 dollar bond. A Bryan police officer making a traffic stop Sunday (May 12) just after 1 a.m. on a car driving without headlights learns the driver has three convictions for driving with an invalid license. The BPD arrest report says the driver asked the officer why she “was being arrested over and over again”. Online jail records shows this was the 20th time the driver went to jail since March 2011. 18 of the 20 times, the booking had something to do with an invalid license. 32 year old Precious Williams of Bryan also went to jail on a charge of resisting arrest. She is out of jail after posting bonds totaling $6,000 dollars.