State Representative John Raney’s Legislative Update On WTAW’s The Infomaniacs

College Station’s fire chief has given his annual report to the city council. Richard Mann said progress continues towards an April groundbreaking of College Station’s seventh fire station. Mann told the council that the fire engine for that station, which was ordered in October of 2023, is on an expedited basis to arrive in July of 2026. That is just ahead of the station opening in the fall of 2026. Mann said two-thirds of CSFD calls during 2024 involved medical emergencies. And nearly 90 percent of 5,100 patients who were transported by CSFD ambulances were for advanced life support. Mann said that reflects College Station citizens using 9-1-1 when they have a legitimate medical need. CSFD made 230 fewer ambulance trips in 2024 compared to the year before. 2024 was also the first full year that CSFD ambulances went into Bryan only for the most serious emergencies. Overall, 92 percent of CSFD’s automatic and mutual aid calls during 2024 were to locations in College Station. Seven percent were to locations in Brazos County outside city limits, and one percent were to locations in Bryan. During 2024, CSFD responded to more than 1,600 sick calls, more than 1,200 automatic alarms, more than 800 major accidents and falls, more than 500 calls of unconscious persons and difficulty breathing, more than 400 investigations and chest pains, and almost 400 seizures. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the February 13, 2025 College Station city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from Richard Mann during the February 13, 2025 College Station council meeting.  

Two people were injured during a disturbance at a mobile home park in west Bryan Tuesday afternoon (March 11). Bryan police arrested 34 year old Dan Arzola for family violence assault after punching the victim in the eye with a closed fist. The BPD arrest report says after the assault, a juvenile stabbed Arzola in the back with a kitchen knife. That resulted in Arzola going outside, damaging the victim’s vehicle, and walking away. An officer found Arzola and took him to the hospital to be treated for the stab wound. Then Arzola went to jail for the assault, criminal damage to the vehicle, and possessing cocaine. A BPD spokesman tells WTAW News the preliminary investigation of the stabbing shows that was done in defense of the assault victim. As of March 13, Arzola remains jailed in lieu of bonds totaling $15,000 dollars. Bryan police responding to the report of gunfire Monday night (March 10) leads to an arrest. The BPD arrest report shows no one was hit by two shots during a disturbance south of Henderson Park. 28 year old Zachariah Hawkins of Somerville was charged with unlawful possession of a gun after he was convicted of robbery in Washington County. According to the arrest report, Hawkins said he arrived at the scene after the gunfire. The arresting officer said he was outside Hawkins SUV when he saw in plain view the grip and magazine of a gun sticking out from under the front passenger seat. Hawkins said the gun was not his and his mother said the gun belonged to her. Hawkins is out of jail after posting an $8,000 dollar bond.

In February, Texas A&M’s vice president of operations sent a campus wide memo to contact university police (UPD) if they are approached by someone wanting to serve a warrant. The week after the memo was sent, Peter Lange repeated the message to members of the faculty senate. Lange added it was very unlikely law enforcement would visit a classroom. The message was also repeated by faculty senate speaker Angie Hill Price. She said she would not want to be responsible for verifying if someone was a federal agent because they could be an imposter. Lange said a warrant is required when someone wants student information that is protected by federal law. WTAW News contacted Lange this week for an update. He said there’s “nothing new on this front and no inquires have been made to UPD.” Click below to hear comments from Peter Lange and Angie Hill Price during the February 10, 2025 Texas A&M faculty senate meeting.