League of Women Voters Hosts Speed Dating With the Candidates

The TxDOT Bryan District is hosting an open house public meeting and a Chapter 26 virtual public hearing regarding proposed improvements to SH 30 (Harvey Road) aimed at addressing current and future congestion, enhancing safety, and providing additional connectivity. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Bob and Wanda Meyer Senior & Community Center located at 2275 Dartmouth Street in College Station. The corridor plan, developed in collaboration with Brazos County and the City of College Station, is an approximately 2.1-mile stretch of SH 30 from Associates Avenue to FM 158 on the east side of SH 6. The roadway is currently one lane in each direction with a center left-turn lane and limited pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations. A traffic study projects that traffic on that section of SH 30 to increase approximately 60 percent by 2052. A public meeting was held in December 2025 and three corridor plans were presented. The option that would expand the roadway to two lanes in each direction, add roundabouts, and add pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations will be presented at the upcoming meeting. The proposed project would require right-of-way acquisitions from both Veterans Park and Summit Crossing Park. They would not impact the existing functions of the parks. A virtual public hearing will be held as required by Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code. The hearing will consist of a pre-recorded video presentation with audio and visual components. The public will be able, and is encouraged, to provide comments. Learn more at the SH 30 (Harvey Road) Corridor Plan and details on the upcoming event at https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/bryan/sh30-widening.html Comments must be received or postmarked by Wednesday, November 4, 2026, to be included in the official record summary for either the public meeting or the virtual public hearing. They may be submitted via: Comment forms available at the venue during the event Mail: TxDOT Bryan District Office, Attn: SH 30 Corridor Plan, 2591 North Earl Rudder Freeway, Bryan, TX 77803 Email: BRY_PublicComment@txdot.gov Voicemail comment line: (713) 263-5521 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.

A man was arrested after throwing a xylophone at his mother. Brazos County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a family disturbance on La Posada Drive around 4:15pm on October 14th. 27-year-old Patrick Reno Blumenthal had been fighting with his mother, and when she tried to leave, that’s when he hurled the 18 inch instrument at his mother, striking her in the arm. According to arrest records, Blumenthal became angry after his mother told him he needed to get a job and help out while he lives there. He fled the scene, but was located nearby. Deputies say he refused repeated commands to get out of the vehicle. Blumenthal resisting arrest by grabbed a deputy’s uniform, refusing to release his grip, and kicking at deputies. Blumenthal was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury Involving Family Violence and Interference With Public Duties. He remains jailed on $13,000 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.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, October 14, 2026 — Three members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets have received the Cadet Life Saving Award for their responses during separate emergencies. The Cadet Life Saving Award is a rare distinction presented only when a cadet’s response demonstrates extraordinary courage and a commitment to protecting the lives of others. On April 25, following Final Review for the Spring 2026 semester, sophomore cadets Camila Ospina of Company K-1 and David Berry of Company P-2 saw a man collapsed near Texas Avenue. After assessing the situation, Ospina placed the man in a recovery position. The man was unresponsive and began convulsing. Berry contacted emergency personnel while assisting Ospina in keeping him safely on his side. The cadets remained with the man until paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital. Ospina and Berry both credited the Corps with fostering mutual trust and confidence in each other’s abilities, enabling them to tackle the emergency as a team. “The Corps taught me to wholeheartedly trust my buddy. After going through fish year together, which was difficult, it taught me to have faith in my buddy and her instructions. Through her guidance, we were able to safely place the man into a recovery position until Paramedics arrived,” said Berry. In a separate incident, senior cadet Benjamin Claypole of Company E-1 came to the aid of a woman who had been struck by a vehicle while riding a moped. Claypole used his shirt to apply pressure to the woman’s wound and continued assisting her until medical personnel arrived. To Claypole, the response was instinctive. In a stressful and rapidly unfolding moment, he said muscle memory and faith took over. “I really believe the Lord put me in the right place at the right time for a reason. In moments like that, all your training kicks in to keep you from hesitating, and I just trusted my faith that God gave me the calm mindset I needed,” said Claypole. “I focused entirely on the person in front of me, taking it one step at a time and acting as fast as I could. For me, serving others is a big part of both my faith and what we learn in the Corps.” For Ospina, Berry and Claypole, the recognition reflects more than their immediate response in an emergency. It reflects the Corps values of selfless service, integrity and leadership in action. “These cadets are a perfect embodiment of what our Corps Values demand, and how the Corps of Cadets develops leaders of character who are prepared to step forward when circumstances demand it,” said Mackenzie Cronin, 2026-2027 Corps Commander. “Cadets Ospina, Berry and Claypole demonstrated that leadership is not just a title or a position. It is the willingness to act immediately, and with compassion and courage, when another person needs help most.” “This award is one of the highest forms of recognition that we have the privilege of giving in the Corps of Cadets. It is only given to cadets who exemplify the highest standard of character, and who act immediately in the face of adversity to save someone’s life. This award is given very rarely, and it is an honor to be able to give it to not one, but three cadets who have displayed our values so clearly,” Cronin explained. Their actions serve as a reminder that leadership is not always a grand gesture. Sometimes, it means stopping when others pass by, remaining calm amid uncertainty and using one’s skills to care for a stranger. 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.