TAB 2023 Political Coverage: November 2023 Election

Applications Open to Run For Bryan Mayor or City Council

If you’ve considered running for office in Bryan, now is the time! Three positions will be up for grabs on the November ballot. Four year terms for Mayor and two city council positions (single member districts 1 & 2) will be on the ballot during the November 3rd general election. The application window is open through August 17th. In order to be a candidate, you must: Be 18 years of age or older; Be a U.S. citizen; Be a registered voter in the City of Bryan and if running for a single member district, a registered voter of that district, on the date of filing for elected office; Have resided within the State of Texas continuously for 12 months immediately preceding the deadline for filing for a place on the ballot; Have resided continuously for 12 months in the single member district immediately preceding election day if running for a single member district place on the Council; If elected, a Councilmember from a single member district must remain a resident of that district for the entire term; Not have been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote; Not have been finally convicted of a felony from which the candidate has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities; Not have a financial interest in any contract, job, work, or service of or to the City of Bryan, or the sale to the City of Bryan of any supplies, equipment, material, or real or personal property. Candidate packets are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., in the City Secretary’s Office at Bryan City Hall, 300 S. Texas Avenue, Room 302 or online at bryantx.gov/CandidatePacket. The last day for a candidate to withdraw from the ballot is by 5 p.m. on Aug. 24, 2026. Other important election dates: Oct. 5, 2026: Last day to register to vote for Nov. 3, 2026 election Oct. 19 – 30, 2026: Early voting by personal appearance Nov. 3, 2026: Election Day

Texas A&M Forest Service Awards Community Forestry Grants to Support Urban Forests Across Texas

The Texas A&M Forest Service awarded $389,340 through its Community Forestry Grants Program this month to support community-led projects that expand tree canopy, improve access to green spaces, and strengthen urban forests across Texas. The grants will fund projects led by local governments, school districts, and nonprofit organizations that focus on community resilience, human health, workforce development, and tree planting and maintenance. Together, these efforts will help communities address local needs while increasing the environmental, economic and social benefits that healthy urban forests provide. “Communities across Texas are facing growing challenges from heat, storms and urban sprawl,” said Michelle Moore, Texas A&M Forest Service forest systems department head. “Investing in community forestry helps address these challenges while improving quality of life for residents. The Community Forestry Grants Program provides support to local partners working to expand tree canopy, enhance public spaces and build healthier, more resilient communities.” The program supports locally driven initiatives that create healthier, more resilient communities while expanding opportunities for education, stewardship and long-term urban forest management. The 2026 Community Forestry Grants Program awarded funding in four categories. The City of El Paso received $50,000 in the community resiliency category. West Oso ISD received $50,000 in the human health enhancement and access category. American YouthWorks and Partners for Education, Agriculture, & Sustainability each received $50,000 in the workforce development category. The City of Burleson, City of Kemah, City of Palmview, City of San Elizario, Collaborative Earth Institute, El Paso County, GROW North Texas, Paso del Norte Trail and Valley Ranch, Master Association each received $20,000 in the tree planting and maintenance category. Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition received $9,340. “These grants help communities expand and care for their urban forests, providing benefits that extend far beyond trees—from cleaner air and reduced heat to improved public health and stronger local economies,” said Moore. Established in 2022, the Texas A&M Forest Service Community Forestry Grants Program helps communities invest in healthier urban forests through projects that improve quality of life, increase resilience and expand access to the many benefits trees provide. Funding for the program is made possible through federal and state funds.

5 Year Old at Center of Amber Alert Found Dead

A tragic ending to the search for 5-year-old Edward Hall, who was reported missing from his home in Katy on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office announced that Texas Equusearch located the child’s body just before 2 o’clock this morning. Hall, who was autistic and non-verbal, was found in a lake near his home. Investigators say there are no signs of foul play.