Kevin O’Connor Kommentary May 20

Texas A&M System Board Of Regents Votes 7-2 Approving Higher Fees For Two Graduate Fee Programs At The Flagship Campus

The Texas A&M system board of regents agrees to raise fees for three existing graduate level programs at the flagship campus. But two of the nine regents voted no to increase fees for two existing graduate programs at the Mays Business School and one existing graduate program in the College of Arts and Sciences because they were against any increases. There were unanimous votes approving a fee change in another Mays graduate program that was determined to be cost neutral, and to set fees in two new Mays graduate programs. Click HERE to read and download background on what was approved at the November 7, 2024 board of regents meeting. During the November 7th meeting of the regents finance committee, John Bellinger of San Antonio said he will continue to vote against increases until the system adopts an efficiency program at all system universities. Mike Hernandez of Fort Worth also voted no. That’s after president Mark Welsh told Hernandez during the finance committee meeting that he did not know if an attempt was made to offset some of the additional expenses. Welsh did say that he is calling on next year’s budget submissions from the colleges on the main campus to identify a percentage of their budget that could eliminate existing programs to pay for new programs. Click below to hear comments from the November 12, 2024 Texas A&M system board of regents meeting.  

Bryan Police Arrest A Middle School Student On An Arson Charge

It was business as usual Tuesday (November 12) at Bryan ISD’s Stephen F. Austin (SFA) middle school. That follows a student on Monday (November 11) setting a small fire in a first floor bathroom. A Bryan police spokesman says toilet paper had been set on fire on the floor of the restroom that was occupied by a group of students. BISD’s central office sent WTAW News a letter from SFA’s principal, telling parents that Monday’s fire was extinguished by school staff, there was no evacuation, and no one was injured. SFA’s school resource officer arrested the student on an arson charge and taken to the juvenile detention center.

Brazos County District Court Jury Convicts Hempstead Man Of Gunfire Outside A Bryan Tire Store

A Brazos County district court jury convicts a Hempstead of gunfire outside a Bryan tire store in May of 2020. 26 year old Arnoldo Romero was sentenced to 45 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A 20 year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon will be served at the same time. A news release from the district attorney’s office says the victim still has physical complications from being shot. At the time of the shooting, Romero was out on parole following convictions on four counts of aggravated robbery. Online court records show Romero has pending trials in Brazos County for an armed robbery that took place in June of 2023, engaging in organized criminal activity in January 2023, and felony weapons charges in November 2021 and June 2023. Online jail records show Romero is being held on Williamson County charges of armed robbery and felony robbery. News release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office: On Friday, November 8th, 2024, a jury found guilty of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and was sentenced to 45 years in the prison. The defendant was also sentenced to 20 years in prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. In May of 2020, Arnoldo Romero instigated a fight with an employee of Bryan’s House of Tires. Romero escalated the fight when he pulled out a gun and shot the employee. Romero then fled the scene. At the time Romero was on parole for four counts of Aggravated Robbery. Brazos County citizens driving down the road, along with individuals at the House of Tires ran to the aid of the victim. Multiple individuals pulled their cars off of Texas Avenue to rush toward the victim and provide life saving aid. When police and EMS arrived, the victim was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital. The victim underwent immediate surgery. While the surgery saved the victim’s life, he still has physical complications from the shooting that he lives with to this day. In punishment, the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office presented evidence that the defendant had previously been sentenced to five years in prison for Aggravated Robbery. The jury also heard evidence of Romero’s other pending charges, including two additional Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon charges in 2022 and 2023, Aggravated Robbery, and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity. Evidence was also presented that Romero was a documented member of the Latin King criminal street gang. Statement from assistant district attorneys Rachel Porter and Tonika Davis: A Brazos County Jury sent a message to the Defendant and others like him—when you continue to bring crime and violence into our community we will not tolerate that behavior.