State Rep.-Elect John Raney on WTAW

Media Release 11/09/2026: PUBLIC NOTICE FOR CUSTOMERS IN SOUTH BRAZOS COUNTY (SOUTH OF GREENS PRAIRIE RD): Unfortunately, due to a sudden unexpected change in source water quality, a sample of the Nitrate level near our Harlan Road Surface Water Treatment Plant tested at 10.4 mg/l, which exceeded the TCEQ’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/l.  Confirmation sampling is being performed now, but in an abundance of caution the TCEQ requires public water systems to send notice of water quality exceedances within 24 hours of receiving the results.  The mandatory notice language is below, please review it carefully and follow any guidelines recommended by TCEQ.  The source which produced the elevated nitrate level has been taken offline until confirmation sampling can be performed.  This issue only affects customers in South Brazos County.  Our other sources of water are not showing any elevated levels of nitrate. There is no risk to most consumers, but children younger than 6 months and pregnant women should use an alternate source of drinking water until the issue is resolved or follow-up testing confirms there is no ongoing issue. The District can provide bottled drinking water to at-risk customers who request it by calling 979-690-9799. Mandatory Language for a Maximum Contaminant Level Violation MCL, SINGLE SAMPLE / NITRATE The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the PWS TX0210016 – WELLBORN SUD public water system that the drinking water being supplied to customers had exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for nitrate. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has established the MCL for nitrate to be 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) based on a single sample, and has determined that it is a health concern at levels above the MCL. Analysis of drinking water in your community for nitrate indicates a compliance value in quarter 4 of   2026 of 10.4 mg/L. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome. If your child is under the age of six months, the child must be given an alternative water supply for any consumption. Boiling the affected water is not an effective treatment for nitrate removal. Most consumers do not need to use an alternative water supply. However, if you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor to get more information about how this may affect you. At this time, the health effects to fetuses of pregnant women are unclear. If you are pregnant, you may also choose to use an alternative source of water for drinking and cooking purposes. We are taking the following actions to address this issue: This issue appears to have been caused by an unexpected change in water quality coming from one of our sources. The water source which caused the issue has been taken offline temporarily while we find a treatment solution. Confirmation testing is proceeding now. There are no issues with our other sources. Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (i.e., people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. If you have questions regarding this matter, you may contact General Manager Campbell Young at 979-690-9799. 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 he hit his wife with a bag of oranges then locked her outside of the house. College Station Police responded to a civil disturbance around 4:00am Monday at a residence in the 500 block of Holleman Drive. The woman said her husband, 62-year-old Melvin Vernon Ragston, threw water on her then laughed about it. After she responded by throwing water back at him, he launched a bag of oranges in her direction, striking her in the face. Officers observed that her left eye was swollen. Ragston was arrested for Family Violence Assault Causing Bodily Injury (Class A Misdemeanor). After his criminal history revealed a previous conviction for Family Violence Assault in 2021, the charge was upgraded to Family Violence Assault With A Previous Conviction (Third Degree Felony). 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 traffic stop turned into a drug bust Sunday. A Brazos County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted a pickup making an unsafe lane change around 12:30pm on Highway 21 near Sandy Point Rd. While executing a traffic stop, the deputy could smell marijuana emitting from the vehicle. This gave him probable cause to search the vehicle. 37-year-old Lawrence Gregory Blue admitted that he had “some weed” and handed the deputy two bags containing marijuana from inside his hoodie. The deputy found a clear plastic bag in Blue’s waistband containing a white powder that was later determined to be cocaine. A search of the vehicle revealed a brick of cocaine that was double wrapped. First inside a clear plastic bag, then inside a silver colored foil package. Total weight of the cocaine was 869.7 grams. The marijuana weighted in at 1.575 ounces. $617.00 in cash was also recovered. Blue was charged with Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Penalty Group 1, greater than 400 grams) and Possession of Marijuana (under 2 ounces). He is free on $84,000 bond. It was Blue’s 15th booking in the Brazos County Jail. 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.