Community Updates: Sexual Assault Suspect Sought, Scott Shafer Wins City Council Election, Fee Increases Approved by A&M Regents, and Middle School Fire Incident

College Station: Community Updates on Recent Events

Hey there, College Station! As the heart of our community continues to beat strong, we’ve got some important updates to share that are sure to get your attention. From local crime alerts to election results and school incidents, let’s dive into what’s happening around town.

Concerning Reports from Texas A&M Police

On a serious note, the Texas A&M University Police Department (UPD) is on the lookout for a suspect connected to two recent sexual assault incidents. The UPD took to social media on Monday, November 11, to share that a second victim has come forward, stating she was assaulted after a Halloween party at her off-campus apartment. Frighteningly, this victim learned from a friend about a similar assault by the same individual, highlighting a worrying pattern.

The suspect is described as a black man, standing about five foot 11 and weighing around 185 pounds. If you have any information related to this case, you’re urged to reach out to UPD at 979-845-2345. It’s crucial for our community to stay safe and vigilant!

Election Results: Scott Shafer Claims Victory

In brighter news, the College Station City Council Place Six race has concluded with Scott Shafer emerging as the winner! After recounting provisional, military, and overseas ballots on Tuesday night, November 12, Shafer secured his win by a narrow margin of 221 votes.

On election night, November 5, the atmosphere was tense as Shafer led Tre Watson by just 215 votes, but with the additional ballots counted, Shafer added 46 votes to his total while Watson gained 40. The overall voter turnout was impressive, hovering close to 70 percent with 92,626 ballots cast out of 132,601 registered voters in Brazos County!

Curious about the detailed results? You can check out the unofficial cumulative results issued by the Brazos County elections office.

Texas A&M Regents Tackle Fee Increases

In educational news, the Texas A&M System Board of Regents has green-lit fee increases for three existing graduate-level programs at the flagship campus. However, it wasn’t a unanimous decision; two regents voiced their dissent against hikes for graduate programs at the Mays Business School and one other program in the College of Arts and Sciences. They argue against any fee increases, citing concerns about affordability.

In contrast, a different Mays program—one deemed cost neutral—received unanimous approval for its fee change, along with the establishment of fees for two new programs. The board members expressed a common desire for more efficiency, as regents like John Bellinger and Mike Hernandez have vowed to vote against increases until a formal efficiency program is adopted across all system universities.

Middle School Fire Incident at SFA

And in a curious turn of events at local schools, it was business as usual on Tuesday, November 12, at Bryan ISD’s Stephen F. Austin (SFA) Middle School after a small fire incident occurred the previous day. A student reportedly set toilet paper ablaze in a first-floor bathroom while other students were present. Thankfully, school staff extinguished the fire quickly, and there was no need for evacuation—plus, no injuries were reported!

The school’s resource officer acted swiftly, leading to the student being arrested and taken to the juvenile detention center on an arson charge.

As our community navigates through these various events, it’s important to stay informed and engaged. Remember, together we can create a safer, more connected College Station!