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Bryan City Council Approves A Tax Abatement Agreement With The New Owner Of A Data Center Building On The RELLIS Campus

The Bryan city council approves a tax abatement agreement with the new owner of a data center building on the RELLIS campus. The unanimous vote among four members at a special meeting Friday (June 26) followed no public discussion and after hearing from two opponents. Those attending Friday’s meeting were mayor Bobby Gutierrez and councilmen Paul Torres, Ray Arrington, and James Edge. Click HERE to read and download the tax abatement agreement that was approved at the June 26, 2026 Bryan city council meeting. The 27 page agreement says the approximate value of the project is $298 million dollars, which will be reached “over a multi-year period”. The new agreement also calls for eventually hiring a minimum of five full time employees with an annual payroll reaching $518,000 dollars. In April of 2025, information provided to the city indicated the value of the project would eventually reach $700 million with a minimum of 100 employees generating an annual payroll of $7.35 million dollars. The first year of the new tax abatement begins January 1, 2029. The ten year agreement calls for the owner to make an annual payment in lieu of taxes to the city based on the center’s annual appraised value. The minimum payment to the city for the first year of the agreement is $371,904 dollars; increasing to a minimum $1,859,520 for the fifth through 10th years. The total over the ten years of the agreement is a minimum of $14,876,155 dollars. The new owner is required, as was the original owner, to make an annual payment to the city to go towards what is described as “quality of life” service. The amount, equal to five percent of the city’s maintenance and operations tax rate, can be spent by the city “for economic development programs and infrastructure or programs for parks, recreation and exercise; libraries; aesthetic enhancements to public spaces; career and technology training; senior citizen services; youth services; and healthy lifestyles.” City councilman James Edge said during an April 8th visit on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs that this is a replacement agreement following financial issues with the original owner. Edge said at the time that construction of the building was nearing completion after two years. Edge described the center “is not what I would call one of the massive (centers). It’s really not large enough for them to generate their own power”, adding “they (the center) can certainly purchase power from BTU, which we’re really excited about there as well.” As for the amount of electricity the data center will use, WTAW News asked BTU to compare the projected consumption of the data center with other BTU industrial and commercial customers. The response from a BTU spokesman was “Unfortunately, we cannot disclose any usage projections as it would violate our requirement to maintain customer privacy and confidentiality. The RELLIS campus as a whole is a vital asset to our community, and we are prepared to meet the demand for additional power as they grow the size and scope of their mission.” Click HERE to read and download background information about the replacement tax abatement agreement from the agenda of the June 26, 2026 Bryan city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download the public notice of the replacement tax abatement agreement from the agenda of the June 26, 2026 Bryan city council meeting.

Brazos County’s Historical Commission Receives Another State Award

For the 23rd time in 24 years, the Brazos County Historical Commission gets a distinguished service award from the Texas Historical Commission. Chairman Henry Mayo accepted the state award at this week’s (June 23) county commission meeting. Burleson, Washington, and Milam counties were among the 62 counties who also received the state award, which is based on local activities during the preceding year. Click below to hear comments from the June 23, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Brazos County's Historical Commission receives another state award” on Spreaker.

College Station Police Officer Returns To Duty Following An Officer Involved Shooting

A College Station police officer has returned to regular patrol duty. That’s after he was placed on paid administrative leave following an officer involved shooting on May 16th. A CSPD news release says a Brazos County grand jury found no criminal conduct. That followed investigations by the district attorney’s office and the Texas Rangers. A prior CSPD news release said the officer shot a suspect who refused to drop his gun after he fired into an apartment, which resulted in a woman being hit. The man who was arrested, 28 year old Charles Male of Hearne, remains jailed as of June 26th on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of discharging a firearm, and making a terroristic threat causing fear of serious bodily injury. Bonds on those charges totals $425,000 dollars. News release from College Station police: On May 16, 2026, officers with the College Station Police Department responded to the Ivy Apartments in the 1300 block of Harvey Road for a report of a civil disturbance. During their response, officers learned that a male suspect was actively threatening individuals and later discharged a firearm into an occupied apartment. The first responding officer arrived on scene, engaged with the suspect, and an officer-involved shooting occurred. As is standard procedure, the officer, identified as Corporal Hunter Davis, a four-year veteran of the department, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the Grand Jury proceedings. The Texas Rangers conducted an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Upon completion, the investigation was submitted to the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office and presented to the Brazos County Grand Jury today, June 25, 2026. The Grand Jury found “no criminal conduct” in connection with the officer-involved shooting. Corporal Davis will now return to regular patrol duty. Update May 19, 2026: The girlfriend of the man shot by a College Station police officer last Saturday night (May 16) is charged with evidence tampering. The CSPD arrest report says 28 year old Marissa Linthicum threw a cell phone into an apartment pool which had video showing what officers did after her boyfriend was shot. Linthicum is out of jail after posting a $15,000 dollar bond. Her boyfriend, 28 year old Charles Male of Hearne, remains jailed as of May 19 in lieu of bonds totaling $425,000 dollars on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, making a terroristic threat causing fear of serious bodily injury, deadly conduct by firing a gun, and firing a gun inside city limits. CSPD arrest reports released on Tuesday (May 19) say the gunfire into an apartment followed an argument between Male and one of three occupants. The gunshot struck a second occupant in the legs.             Update May 18, 2026: A Hearne man shot by a College Station police officer after refusing to drop his gun has been transferred from a hospital to the Brazos County jail. As of Monday afternoon (May 18), 28 year old Charles Male is held without bond on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and deadly conduct by discharging a firearm. He was also charged with making a terroristic threat causing fear of serious bodily injury and discharging a gun in the city limits. Bonds on those charges were set at $3,000 dollars each. A CSPD news release issued Monday (May 18) provided more information about the charges. • Terroristic Threat – threatened to shoot another person • Discharge of a Firearm – intentionally firing a round into an apartment • Deadly Conduct – retrieved and brandished a firearm, and subsequently firing a round into an occupied apartment • Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon – injuries sustained from shrapnel from Allen firing into the occupied apartment The Texas Rangers continues its investigation of the officer involved shooting Saturday night (May 16) at The Ivy apartments. CSPD news releases previously reported an officer who heard Male fire his gun into an apartment told Male to drop his weapon. When Male refused, he was shot. The officer’s shot also ricocheted into an apartment, hitting a woman in the leg. She was also taken to the hospital. Monday’s CSPD news release also stated the officer who fired their gun is on administrative leave, which is described as “standard protocol in such cases and does not suggest any wrongdoing by the officer.” WTAW News confirmed that the officer is on paid leave. As of Monday afternoon, the Brazos County jail website did not have a booking photo of Charles Male. Update May 17, 2026: College Station police identify the man who fired a gun outside an apartment complex and was later shot by an officer after refusing to drop his gun. A CSPD news release 28 year old Charles Male of Hearne was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a non life threatening wound. The news release also says the shot fired by the officer is believed to have ricocheted into an apartment and struck a woman in the leg. The woman was also taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The news release says once Male is released from the hospital, he will be taken to jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, deadly conduct, making a terroristic threat, and discharging a gun. The Texas Rangers are investigating the officer involved shooting. News release from the College Station police department: CSPD officers were initially dispatched in response to a civil disturbance. During the incident, the suspect threatened an individual and armed himself with a firearm. Upon arrival, the first officer heard the suspect fire a round into an adjacent apartment. The officer approached, issued lawful commands for the suspect to drop the weapon, and the suspect refused. The officer then discharged his firearm, striking and disarming the suspect, who was taken into custody. Officers immediately began providing medical aid for the suspect’s non-life-threatening injuries. While treating the suspect, officers learned that a resident in a neighboring apartment […]