College Station Police Investigating Fatality Crash

Texas 4-H Foundation Receives Its Largest Gift

A foundation from suburban Cincinnati Ohio has given the largest gift received by the Texas 4-H Foundation. A news release from the 4-H foundation says the $700,000 dollars will be spent to keep up with the Texas 4-H program and membership. The money will go towards what the news release says is “transformative programs in leadership and citizenship, natural resources, agriculture and livestock, family and community health, and STEM.” News release from the Texas 4-H Foundation: The Texas 4-H Foundation received a transformative $700,000 grant from the Adam R. Scripps Foundation, marking a significant milestone in their shared mission of empowering Texas youth. The Adam R. Scripps Foundation has a longstanding legacy of championing initiatives that drive education, health and community development. This generous contribution reflects a deep commitment by the foundation toward fostering leadership, service and life skills to prepare the next generation of youth for success. “This grant represents a powerful investment in the future of Texas youth,” said David White, president and CEO of the Texas 4-H Foundation. “With the support of the Adam R. Scripps Foundation, we’ll be able to expand access to our programs and provide more young people with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive as leaders in their communities.” White said the Texas 4-H Foundation applied for this grant because it felt the funds were needed to keep up with the growing Texas 4-H program and membership. “Our mission aligns very closely with the mission of the Adam R. Scripps Foundation,” he said. “They believe in what we are doing and want to help us continue to grow leaders and provide opportunities for 4-H members to gain life skills. We feel very fortunate to have such a generous donor with similar values and goals collaborating with us and supporting the works of the Texas 4-H Foundation.” Rick Avery, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, which oversees the administration of the Texas 4-H program, said this funding is a tremendous start on a new and exciting chapter for the program as it continues to inspire, educate and empower youth across the state. “We are deeply grateful to the Adam F. Scripps Foundation for their generous support of Texas 4-H,” Avery said. “As the largest youth development program in Texas and the largest 4-H program in America, this funding will significantly enhance our ability to empower youth through transformative programs in leadership and citizenship, natural resources, agriculture and livestock, family and community health, and STEM.” This grant will directly enhance Texas 4-H efforts by expanding program reach, enriching curriculum development, and providing vital resources to support youth statewide. Grant funds will be utilized across the state and will be administered by the Texas 4-H Foundation in collaboration with Montza Williams, Ed.D., Texas 4-H state program leader. “We are thankful for this partnership and the trust the Adam R. Scripps Foundation has placed in us,” Williams said. “This grant not only strengthens our programs but also affirms the life-changing work being done every day by our faculty, volunteers and youth members.”

City Of Bryan’s Tourism Office Announces Record Hotel Revenue And Hotel Rates

The city of Bryan’s tourism office announces two months of record hotel revenue. Destination Bryan director John Friebele says October revenue was $4.28 million dollars, and in November was $4.42 million. The average daily rate for Bryan hotels also hit a record at $143 dollars a night. Friebele says the average rate for the Texas A&M-Texas football weekend was $410 dollars a night. Year over year, hotel demand in Bryan rose almost 15%. News release from the Destination Bryan tourism office: Bryan, Texas, achieved record-breaking hotel revenues in November 2024 at $4.42 million, showcasing the area’s growing appeal as a prime destination for both leisure and business travelers. The hospitality sector in Bryan has witnessed a significant uptick in occupancy rates and average daily rates, reflecting the city’s robust tourism and economic development efforts. Demand was up 14.8% year over year and was the highest average daily rate on record in Bryan at $143.00 per night. Prior to November 2024, October 2024 was the highest month on record at $4.28 million and October 2023 was the next highest at $4.14 million in revenue. These figures only reflect Hotel revenue and do not reflect short-term rentals. Click below to hear Destination Bryan tourism office director John Friebele’s visit with WTAW’s Bill Oliver. Listen to “City of Bryan's tourism office announces record hotel revenue and hotel rates” on Spreaker.

College Station City Council Asked To Oppose Medians On Wellborn Road

The week after public comments closed to the Texas department of transportation’s (TxDOT) plan to widen Wellborn Road in south College Station, the city council is asked to oppose plans for medians. The council could not respond to comments from Karen Hall of Bryan because the item was not on the agenda of the December 12th meeting. Karen Hall of Bryan said all you have to do is see what has happened with the Texas Avenue median in Bryan. Hall said more than 100 people told TxDOT during a public meeting last month to remove medians from the plan. She closed by telling the council “When you annexed Wellborn (in 2011), you promised to protect those residents. Please keep your promise. Stand with your citizens.” TxDOT’s plans for the three mile project between Fitch and Greens Prairie Road calls for a four lane highway with a median, a traffic signal at McCullough Road, curbs and gutter, and a shared use path on the east side of the roadway. Click below to hear comments from Karen Hall during the December 12, 2024 College Station city council meeting.