Good morning, Bryan.

On July 21, a Brazos County jury sentenced Larry Bollin, a 31-year-old Iola man, to life in prison and a $10,000 fine for murdering co-worker Timothy Smith at Kent Moore Cabinets on April 8, 2021 — Bollin also shot others including a DPS trooper who lost an eye during the incident.

In April, Bryan ISD awarded a nearly $700,000 contract to install new artificial turf at Merrill Green Stadium and celebrated the project on July 21 with superintendent Ginger Carrabine, who credited board member Joel Bryan for inspiring design changes that feature alternating green shades every ten yards and high school logos. The installation is the third turf project since 2012 funded by surplus bond money from 2014 and 2019 and is expected to boost excitement for the upcoming football season + support local teams.

TEEX’s Brayton Fire Training Field is hosting the 96th annual municipal fire school that began Sunday and runs through Friday—drawing over 700 firefighters from across Texas for live burns, rescue practice, and pump-up training.

Visitors may attend a public demonstration tonight to see firefighters tackle large-scale props, while a morning memorial ceremony honored veteran instructors.

Bonnie Dunbar, director of the Aerospace Human Systems Laboratory at Texas A&M University, was named to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame along with four other women by Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday—she joins a group of honorees recognized for their achievements.

Brazos County officials renewed a $120,000 a year contract for an outside HR consultant after acting county judge Kyle Kacal cast the tie-breaking vote — a move to prevent delays in employee benefits planning — despite the two newest commissioners voting against it.

County staff said the renewal ensures open enrollment coordination — a key factor in smooth operations — and timely vendor negotiations.

Texas A&M volleyball seniors Logan Lednicky and Ifenna Cos-Okpalla were named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List Tuesday.

They are the first Aggies to earn this honor — and were also named to the Preseason All-SEC Team for their strong performances last season.

Texas A&M women’s basketball team earned the WBCA Academic Honor Roll Special Mention distinction after posting a 3.422 GPA for the 2024-25 academic year—coach Joni Taylor led the team that ranked fifth in the SEC—and season tickets for 2025-26 are now on sale.

Texas A&M track & field men's team earned national honors as they were named the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Scholar Team of the Year after winning the outdoor championship for the fifth time.

Senior Sam Whitmarsh was named National Scholar Track Athlete of the Year after winning the 800m event in 1:45.86 while keeping a 3.36 GPA in materials science & engineering.

Brazos Valley Texas Exes Scholarship Fundraiser

6-10 p.m. — Brazos Cotton Exchange — $35 entry — Enjoy an evening of fundraising with heavy hors d'oeuvres and a chance to win amazing vacation experiences.

Games of Texas 2025

1 PM – 1 PM — Bryan, TX — Entry fee varies — Compete in thrilling pickleball matches at one of the upcoming state tournaments.

Young Readers Book Sale

10 A.M. to 2 P.M. — Clara B. Mounce Public Library — Free entry — Discover affordable books for young readers and support local library programs.