Corps of Cadets Freshman Pepper Sprayed; Fish Spurs Stolen

A teenager was arrested for driving while intoxicated after the vehicle he was driving ended up in a pond. The Texas Department of Public Safety was dispatched to a crash on FM 2154 near Millican around 3:00am on September 26, 2026. The vehicle driven by 18-year-old Keauntrae Lee Merchant left the roadway, traveled down an embankment, and ended up in a small pond. Merchant told the trooper he consumed a Mike’s Harder Lemonade about 30 minutes before getting behind the wheel. He was charged with Driving While Intoxicated as a Minor. Merchant is free on $3,000 bond. 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.

Austin Stallman, a senior at Texas A&M, has died after two weeks in the ICU. Stallman was on a 9-mile run with a student group, training to become a Navy SEAL on September 15, 2026 when he became disoriented. Stallman was diagnosed with heat stroke and rhabdomyolysis, a serious medical condition where damaged muscle tissue breaks down rapidly and releases harmful proteins and electrolytes into the bloodstream. He was airlifted to San Antonio for specialized care and spent roughly two weeks in the ICU before his death. Stallman is the son of Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman. The family has setup a GoFundMe to help with medical bills and provide general support during this incredibly hard time, “We are asking friends, family, classmates, and anyone who knows Austin to come together and help ease some of the burden his family is carrying. Every donation, no matter the size, will mean so much. If you are not able to give, please keep Austin and his family in your prayers and share this fundraiser with others. Please support Austin and Austin’s family as they face the days ahead.” 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.

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. is making some Texas beaches more accessible. The Texas General Land Office (GLO) Coastal Management Program (CMP) is purchasing mobility mats and beach wheelchairs in 2026 for local governments to help make Texas beaches easier for all to enjoy. “As Land Commissioner and a Texan who spent more than a decade living on the coast, it’s an honor to ensure people of all abilities have access to our beautiful beaches,” said Commissioner Buckingham. “A big thank you to the GLO’s Coastal Management Program (CMP). With their help, I am proud to be able to purchase mobility mats and beach wheelchairs for communities in need so that our coastline remains welcoming and enjoyable for all.” To assess individual needs, the GLO’s CMP reached out to each eligible local government. The GLO will provide new ADA compliant mobility mats and chairs to the following coastal communities: Galveston Park Board of Trustees – three beach wheelchairs City of Galveston – one beach wheelchair City of South Padre Island – two beach wheelchairs and four 50-foot mobility mats Cameron County Parks and Recreation, two 50-foot mobility mats By providing local governments with these mobility items, the GLO aims to help these communities comply with the newly amended Texas Administrative Code requirements for Americans with Disabilities Act access. If you would like to learn more about beach accessibility measures, visit: Texas Beach Accessibility Guide The GLO’s CMP is also providing signage to coastal communities to protect dunes and dune vegetation and to direct beach goers to appropriate parking spaces and beach access exit points. These signs will make the beach going experience safer for all and help preserve the ecologically important coastal dune system. Signage will be received by the following communities: Matagorda County Brazoria County Galveston Park Board of Trustees City of Galveston City of Corpus Christi Cameron County Parks and Recreation Village of Surfside Beach 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.