Will the Federal Government Stay Open?

The latest message on the website of Texas A&M’s president includes updates on the immigration status of some international students and filling leadership vacancies. From president.tamu.edu, Mark Welsh says 23 international students had their legal status in the United States revoked recently. As of last Friday (April 25), Welsh said the status of 12 students returned to legal status in the U.S. On that subject, Welsh wrote that “we need to do everything legally possible to support” international students, “both practically and emotionally”. The president also says A&M is looking into guidance to address faculty concerns about traveling outside the U.S. this summer. As for filling vacant administrative leadership positions, Welsh says finalists have been identified to be the next vice president of student affairs. That’s after three people recently participated in candidate forums. And the opening for vice president for research has an updated job description and a search committee has been formed. As for filling two vacant academic dean positions, Welsh says the new dean of the pharmacy college is expected to be announced soon. That follows two finalists completing on campus interviews. And three finalists for dean of the college of veterinary medicine and biological sciences will be on campus this week for candidate forums and to meet with faculty and staff.

The College Station city council takes final action on extending the residential recycling agreement. Approval was given at the council’s April 24th meeting to a five year extension with the city’s current provider valued at nearly $8 million dollars. The price for recycling at single family homes in College Station will increase from $3.15 a month to $4.80 per month. Click HERE to read and download what was approved at the April 24, 2025 College Station city council meeting. Before preliminary approval was given at the council’s April 10th meeting, solid waste division manager Caroline Ask said 76 percent of what is being collected is being recycled. Among the items that can not be recycled are plastic grocery bags and greasy pizza boxes. Nearly 26,000 College Station single family households participate in the city’s recyclable service. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the April 10, 2025 College Station city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from the April 10, 2025 College Station city council meeting.  

Another step is taken towards the construction of Brazos County’s new office complex across Texas Avenue from the courthouse. A $92,000 dollar contract to test soil was unanimously approved after commissioner Fred Brown questioned testing soil on the site of the former Bryan ISD administration building, which was originally a bank. While Brown thought the soil could handle a new building to replace the former structure which was originally a bank and later the Bryan ISD administration building, Brazos County’s construction manager, Trevor Lansdown, said testing was required by those designing and building the complex. Commissioners were also told completing the testing was time sensitive to the rest of the project. Click HERE to read and download the contract that was approved at the April 22, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting. Click HERE to read and download the agenda background information from the April 22, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting. Click below to hear comments from the April 22, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Brazos County commissioners award a soil test contract for the courthouse annex project after questions are answered” on Spreaker.