United Way Of The Brazos Valley Update With UWBV Partner Agency Big Brothers Big Sisters Of The Brazos Valley

Susan Ballabina Is Officially Texas A&M’s 28th President

The Texas A&M system board of regents Wednesday (May 6) unanimously named Susan Ballabina president of the flagship campus. Ballabina, whose first official day is May 11, returns to the university after serving as the system’s executive vice chancellor since June 2025. Before that, Ballabina served as chief of staff to former president Mark Welsh for one year and eight months. Ballabina has 32 years experience between Texas A&M university, the system office, and other system agencies. Click below to hear comments from the May 6, 2026 board of regents meeting and an interview with board of regents chairman Bob Albritton and WTAW’s Bill Oliver. Listen to “Susan Ballabina is officially Texas A&M's 28th president” on Spreaker. News release from the Texas A&M system: The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System today voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Susan Ballabina as 28th president of Texas A&M University. Dr. Ballabina will assume her new role on May 11. The vote follows the state’s required 21-day waiting period after which Dr. Ballabina was named sole finalist and marks the selection of a leader with more than three decades of service to Texas A&M and the State of Texas. “Our unanimous vote reflects a clear sense of direction for Texas A&M,” said Board Chairman Robert L. Albritton. “There is strong momentum already building behind Dr. Ballabina across the university and among those who care deeply about its future, and we are confident she will carry that forward.” Dr. Ballabina currently serves as Executive Vice Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, where she has helped lead systemwide operations, advance strategic initiatives and support the work of the A&M System’s universities and agencies across Texas. Throughout her career, Dr. Ballabina has held senior leadership roles spanning the university and the A&M System, including Chief of Staff to the president, Senior Vice President for Academic and Strategic Collaborations, and Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer for Texas A&M AgriLife. Her work has included strengthening statewide programs, building partnerships, supporting research and educational initiatives, and coordinating large-scale efforts such as the Healthy South Texas initiative and the disaster recovery following Hurricane Harvey. “Texas A&M has always been defined by its mission and the people who serve it,” said Chancellor Glenn Hegar. “Leading this university requires an understanding of that responsibility and a willingness to keep the focus on what matters most. Dr. Ballabina has shown throughout her career that she understands that, and that is a big part of why she is the right choice to lead Texas A&M forward.” The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of the institution and her ability to lead at scale. Dr. Ballabina said she is honored by the Board’s decision and focused on the work ahead. “Texas A&M has a strong foundation, a clear mission, and passionate faculty, staff, students, and former students who care deeply about its future,” Ballabina said. “I’m grateful for the trust placed in me by the regents and Chancellor Hegar, and I look forward to working alongside the Aggie community to build on that strength and move the university forward.” The leaders of the Texas A&M System also expressed their appreciation to Interim President Tommy Williams for his leadership during the transition. “Chairman Albritton, the other regents and I are grateful to Tommy Williams for his steady leadership and continued service to Texas A&M during this important time,” Hegar said. “He has provided continuity for the university, and we appreciate his commitment to the institution.”

Space X Proposed Project At Gibbons Creek Lake Generates Opposing Comments To Grimes County Commissioners

Grimes County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing to consider giving tax breaks to Elon Musk’s Space X for a proposed project at the former Gibbons Creek Lake property. The cost of the proposed semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing fabrication facility could reach $174 billion dollars according to the public hearing notice. Click HERE to read and download the public hearing notice from the Grimes County government website. Before the June 3rd public hearing, commissioners at their May 6th meeting heard public comments about semiconductor plants in general and/or specifically the Space X proposal. Commissioners also heard more comments from opponents to another company proposing a data center and battery energy storage system between Roans Prairie and Singleton east of Highway 90. After the public comments, commissioners made no statements. Commissioners then met in executive session. After returning from a private discussion with their lawyer there were no motions. County judge Joe Fauth announced a postponement in naming a committee that will be involved in dealing with tax abatements and economic development grants. Click below to hear public comments regarding the proposed Space X project and other references to semiconductor facilities at the May 6, 2026 Grimes County commission meeting. Listen to “Grimes County commissioners hear opposition to a Space X facility at the former Gibbons Creek Lake property” on Spreaker.

Four Men Admit In Brazos County District Court To Taking Copper While Trials Await For Four More Co-Defendants

In January 2023, more than $300,000 dollars of copper was taken from a Union Pacific railyard in Brazos County. Out of eight men who were indicted in district court for engaging in organized criminal activity related to the copper theft, four have been convicted and four are still awaiting trials. The latest sentencing was last Friday (May 1). Online court records shows 32 year old Rafael Romero Jr. of Bryan reached a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office where a ten year sentence also covers pleas in separate cases of unlawful possession of a gun and possession of a controlled substance. In January, 27 year old Jeffrey Neblett Jr. of Bryan was sentenced to 25 years as part of a plea agreement where he also admitted to five felony and three misdemeanor crimes that took place between June of 2021 and June of 2023. Those convictions included armed robbery, family violence assault, burglary of a habitation, and four counts of illegal drug possession. Also pleading guilty for taking part in the copper theft, 28 year old Tela Williams of College Station was sentenced to 15 years and 27 year old Arnoldo Romero of Hempstead was sentenced to 40 years. All four still awaiting trials for organized criminal activity associated with the copper theft are out of jail on bond. Three of the four also have pending trials in unrelated cases. 36 year old Felipe Tello Jr. of Bryan has cases going back July of 2021. Three felony cases includes possessing controlled substances. Ten pending trials on misdemeanor charges includes three DWI’s and six cases involving driving without a license. Another man, 27 year old Sergio Bernal of College Station, is awaiting trials on three misdemeanor charges of driving with an invalid license and one misdemeanor charges of unlawful carrying of a weapon and possessing marijuana. Those cases involve incidents that took place in 2024, 2025, and in January and March of 2026. 31 year old Alejandro Nicholas Gonzalez of Bryan is awaiting trial in a separate case of possessing a controlled substance in February 2024. And awaiting trial for only the copper theft is 25 year old Evan Ross of Bryan.