Bryan ISD trustees approved the purchase of eight new school buses and a pay increase for bus drivers during their Sept. 14 special board meeting.

At a glance: The district will purchase six general education buses and two special-needs buses, which are configured with wheelchair lifts and three wheelchair positions.

The breakdown: Using 2020 bond funds, the eight buses will cost the district $1,285,148 and are estimated to be delivered to the district within seven months.

New buses will also help the district prepare to be in compliance with a Texas law requiring school buses to have three-point seat belts by 2029.

In similar news: Trustees also approved increasing starting pay for bus drivers to $22 per hour. The change is expected to cost the district about $155,000 annually, with the discontinuance of its attendance stipend for CDL bus drivers whose primary assignment is driving.

Measuring the impact: District officials said the hope is for the higher starting pay to help recruit and retain drivers. The new pay rate was expected to take effect immediately.

According to a report from the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, Brazos County has recorded its lowest inmate population and faster state sentencing statistics since 2023.

The gist: Chief Deputy of Corrections Kevin Stuart presented the data to the Brazos County Commissioners Court Sept. 15, noting a 6.8% decrease in population and state sentencing.

Stuart attributed the decline to several factors:

• Collaborative efforts from county departments

• New processes implemented by the district clerk’s office

• Efficiency from the public defender's office for taking on more cases

The takeaway: Due to the declining inmate population, the county has closed an inmate dormitory, which Stuart said will help reduce overtime and save taxpayer dollars. While the state of Texas is experiencing an overall inmate population increase of about 2%, Brazos County is one of 90 Texas counties with a declining inmate population.

Bryan voters will decide between incumbent Paul Torres and challenger Chris Scotti Nov. 3 in the race for District 1.

Get to know the candidates: Candidates were asked to keep Q&A responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents.

One question Community Impact asked was, "What projects are most important for the city to focus on for the future of Bryan?"

The candidates answered in part:

• Paul Torres*: "Infrastructure has to remain a top priority, especially roads, drainage, water, sidewalks, and transportation."

• Chris Scotti: "I would prioritize street and drainage projects, water, wastewater and utility capacity, and police and fire staffing, equipment and response capacity as Bryan grows."

Texas does not have a single system to connect first responders in emergencies, meaning local and state agencies often operate on a network of radio systems that are not always compatible with one another.

The big picture: State leaders said there are more than 50 different radio systems used by first responder agencies across Texas.

"We have situations where counties and cities are on separate ones, and they never know it until they have to [communicate with] each other," state Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, said during a Sept. 14 legislative hearing.

Looking ahead: King has vowed to pass a bill to integrate first responder communications under a statewide system during the 2027 legislative session, with some emergency management experts calling interagency communications "the No. 1 issue" in the aftermath of disasters.

"[This] is not simply a communication issue—it's a responder safety issue and an operational effectiveness issue," said Kyle Mills, head of planning and preparedness for the Texas A&M Forest Service.