TAB 2023 Specialty/Beat Reporting: College Station City Council

Fans of Waffle House can rejoice. Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez confirmed to WTAW today that Waffle House has submitted a site plan to open a location of the popular 24-hour breakfast joint in West Bryan. The location will be in the Walmart Shopping Center on Harvey Mitchell Parkway and West Villa Maria. Waffle House has previously said that there would need to be a total of six locations in the general vicinity for logistical purposes. So there may be more yellow and black beacons to come. Results from a survey hosted by Grow College Station last month revealed that Waffle House is the most desired restaurant missing in the community. From The City of Bryan: “The City of Bryan is excited to announce that Waffle House submitted plans today, Monday, Oct. 26, to develop a new Waffle House location at Rudder’s Landing, the Walmart-anchored commercial development in West Bryan near the intersection of W. Villa Maria Road and Harvey Mitchell Parkway. The plan would bring the beloved Georgia-based icon to the Bryan-College Station area for the first time, after years of community interest and development requests. The closest current locations are in Conroe and Cypress, about 70 miles away. “There is no better place for Waffle House’s next expansion than Bryan, Texas,” said Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez. “Personal relationships matter; you never know where they will take you. We listen to our residents. They have been asking for a Waffle House for years, and we’re thrilled to bring them this news. Our discussions with Waffle House have been enjoyable, productive and beneficial, allowing us to bring one of the most-requested businesses to Aggieland.” Timelines for construction commencement and completion will be determined at a later date by Waffle House, Inc. Listen to “Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez Confirms That Waffle House is Coming to Bryan!” on Spreaker. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.

The community is invited to pay their final respects for an identified girl whose remains were found along I-45 in Madisonville more than 10 years ago. “Baby Madison” was discovered inside a suitcase on the side of the road on September 17, 2016. She will finally be laid to rest tomorrow at a graveside service at 2:00pm at the Madisonville Cemetery. Genetic testing suggests that she may have ancestral ties to El Salvador and Nuevo León, Mexico. Forensic isotope and pollen testing points to Southern Arizona as a primary potential origin. “Baby Madison” was found with a feeding tube and likely required medical care during her short life. Investigators think the child was between the ages of 2 and 5. While the cause of death could not be determined due to the state of the remains, the manner of her death was officially ruled a homicide. Authorities believe the child had been on the stretch of highway between Dallas and Houston for 3 to 5 months before being found. The case remains unsolved. If you have any information about Madisonville Jane Doe (AKA Baby Madison), please call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.  

Media Release 10/26/2026: (BRYAN, TX) – Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) is set to begin a meter exchange project that will upgrade roughly 50,000 Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) units across its service territory over the next five years. This work is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 2, 2026, weather permitting. Since 2011, BTU has utilized “smart” meters that send usage data electronically to ensure accurate billing without the need for technicians to visit each customer’s property monthly. After fifteen years of usage, many of those original meters are approaching the end of their expected service life. “These meters have served their purpose well, but no piece of equipment lasts forever,” BTU General Manager Doug Lyles said. “We’d much rather replace them on our own timeline, methodically and carefully, as opposed to addressing issues retroactively.” BTU is planning to handle installations with in-house meter technicians and purchased the new meters in bulk, decisions that were made in the interest of keeping costs minimal. “Buying in bulk and using our own trained crews means we can do this work without passing unnecessary costs on to the people we serve,” Lyles said. “Our focus will always be on accomplishing major projects responsibly, affordably, and safely.” What can customers expect? The project will roll out in phases over the next five years, with over 9,000 meters scheduled to be replaced annually. Throughout the course of the project, customers will see updates on BTU social media accounts and the BTU website with general information and reminders to keep the area around their meter clear and accessible. Closer to their actual swap date, customers that have opted in to text notifications will get a heads up the week before a crew is scheduled to access their property. Emails will be sent to addresses BTU has on file as well. After a crew has visited your property, a door hanger will be placed indicating a successful installation or a need to return another time. Customers are encouraged to keep their contact information current and confirm they are opted in to text alerts from Text Power. Updates can be made at btutilities.com/contact-update or by calling customer service at (979) 821-5700. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.