Governor Abbott Announces Over $872,000 In Career Training Grants; $345,000 to Hearne ISD

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.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on appointed John A. Barton vice chancellor for business affairs on Thursday. The veteran engineer and public-sector leader has served in interim role since January, overseeing the offices responsible for facilities planning and construction, risk management, real estate, land management and System training. From the Texas A&M Press Release: “John has already been doing the job, and doing it exceptionally well,” Chancellor Glenn Hegar said. “The best part of today’s appointment is that we get to drop ‘interim’ from his title. He knows how Texas works because he has spent nearly four decades helping it work. He listens, solves problems and takes care of people and public resources. We are fortunate to have him.” Barton brings 39 years of experience in state government, higher education and the private sector. His work has included capital planning, major construction programs, public-private partnerships, real estate, risk management and financial stewardship. He began his career at the Texas Department of Transportation in 1986 and rose through a series of leadership positions, including district engineer, chief engineer and deputy executive director. Barton ultimately oversaw agency operations supported by an annual budget of more than $10 billion. His work at TxDOT included major public-private transportation projects representing billions of dollars in investment, including State Highway 130, the North Tarrant Express, the LBJ Express and the DFW Connector. Barton first joined the A&M System in 2016 as associate vice chancellor and executive director of the RELLIS Campus. He also led the Texas A&M Center for Infrastructure Renewal and helped guide the Commission to Rebuild Texas following Hurricane Harvey. After serving seven years as a senior vice president at HNTB Corporation, Barton returned to the A&M System in October 2025 to again lead the RELLIS Campus. The Board appointed him interim vice chancellor for business affairs in January. “Texas A&M gave me my start, and serving this System is a privilege,” Barton said. “The work is large, but it is never abstract. It is about creating safe places for students, protecting public assets and helping our universities and agencies deliver for Texas. I am grateful to Chancellor Hegar and the Board for their trust, and I am proud to continue working alongside this team.” Barton earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 1986. He has been a licensed professional engineer in Texas since 1991. His honors include the Federal Highway Administrator’s Public Service Award, the Governor Rick Perry Leadership in Transportation Award and recognition as a distinguished graduate of Texas A&M’s Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. About The Texas A&M University System: The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.