Kevin O’Connor Kommentary November 27

Bryan ISD school board members at their last meeting approved administrator recommendations for two new courses giving high school students credit for performing community service. Superintendent Ginger Carrabine says this reflects what students are already doing outside the classroom. BISD’s director of advanced academics Christina Richardson says the classes, called Principles of Community Services and Social and Community Services, could also lead students to full time jobs. The community service classes will be part of BISD’s career and technical education offerings. Richardson says that means higher state funding to the district. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the March 24, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting. Click below to hear comments from the March 24, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting.  

A North Carolina man is in the Brazos County jail on a charge of going into a Bryan convenience store and taking a display case holding Texas Lottery tickets. A Bryan police arrest report says 24 year old Victorious Emanuel Prince Carrington is one of two men involved in receiving about $1,100 dollars from winning tickets. The arrest report says he was identified through facial recognition in the review of video surveillance at stores where the winning tickets were redeemed. Carrington is also held on a warrant for theft in Brazoria County. His partner has not been identified. Bryan police announce the arrest of a Houston man for breaking into two Air BnB homes last Friday. Jail records show 25 year old Mikedrion Lister is held on bonds totaling $200,000 dollars for those burglaries. He is also being held on no bond on a Harris County warrant charging him with burglary of a building. News release from the Bryan police department about the arrest of Mikedrion Lister: On March 25th, 2025, the Bryan Police Department arrested Mikedrion Lister, a 25 year old Houston resident, on two warrants for Burglary of Habitation, and two warrants out of Harris County for Failing to Appear/ Burglary of Habitation, and Evading Arrest or Detention. This investigation began on March 19th when BPD officers responded to an Airbnb burglary in Bryan. Over the next 7 days, BPD responded to four more Airbnb burglaries. Forced entry was discovered in each investigation and it appeared flat screen TVs were targeted at each location. At each burglary, BPD patrol officers did an extensive and thorough initial investigation while collecting evidence and processing the scenes. Evidence collected from the crime scenes led to the identification of a suspect, Mikedrion Lister. Warrants were obtained on Lister by the Bryan Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division for two burglaries. Lister was located by Bryan Officers, and was subsequently taken into custody. BPD wants to remind our community to be vigilant of posting reveling property photos online, document serial numbers on valuable items, and report any suspicious activity you may observe.

The Brazos County sheriff’s office announces the death of a jail inmate. A news release says on Monday (March 31), a 63 year old woman experienced an undisclosed medical emergency. The unidentified inmate died at the hospital. The news release also says there does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances, the Texas Rangers will conduct an independent investigation, the Texas jail commission has been notified, and reports will be sent to the attorney general’s office. There was no mention of the death during the jail operations report that is given to county commissioners each Tuesday. Commissioners were told Tuesday (April 1) there were 713 inmates. That followed last week’s report of 695. That was the first time the population was under 700 since April 25, 2023. Jail capacity is almost 1,100. News release from the Brazos County sheriff’s office: On March 31, 2025, a 63-year-old female at the Brazos County Detention Center (BCDC) experienced a medical emergency. Life-saving measures were provided, and she was transported to a local hospital. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, she passed away at the hospital. There does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding this event. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and loved ones of the deceased during this difficult time. A thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this passing is underway. The Texas Rangers will be conducting an independent investigation, as is standard for all in-custody deaths. As is standard protocol, the Texas Jail Commission has been notified, and a Custodial Death Report will be forwarded to the Texas Attorney General once the investigation is concluded.