Year: 2013

Noses run, eyes water and fevers burn as an unusual disease hits Tarrant County in Texas.

A recent measles outbreak in Tarrant County made international headlines this week with 16 confirmed cases of the virus, said a public health statement from the Tarrant County website on Thursday. The confirmed cases are no longer infectious, the statement said, but additional reports have been received of rash and fever illnesses.

“Tarrant County Public Health is investigating these reports,” the statement said.

Getting in shape can be an intimidating task, which is why Baylor Bearobics instructors try to make fitness fun and stress-free.

Bearobics offers a variety of classes such as Yoga, Zumba, Boxing, Pilates and more. From Tuesday to Sunday, Bearobics classes will be offered to students free of charge. This gives students the chance to meet instructors and see what different classes will be like throughout the semester.

To continue taking Bearobics classes after the first trial week, students must have a Group X membership, which also includes Bear Cycle, an indoor studio cycling class. Students must show their student ID to the McLane Student Living Center front desk to register.

Paul L. Foster is deferring his service on Baylor’s Board of Regents to serve in a position of leadership at the University of Texas System Board of Regents.

The decision was announced earlier today by Baylor University Board of Regents Chair Richard Willis.

More than 40 Waco first responders who aided the city of West during the April 17 explosion were honored by the Waco Police Department. West Mayor Tommy Muska and Waco Police Department Chief Brent Stroman handed out the awards, which included several Medals of Valor, during the second quarterly ceremony Thursday.

Baylor students, faculty and staff who have returned to Waco this fall with pet cats or dogs will face new regulations concerning spaying and neutering.

On Aug. 20, the Waco City Council unanimously approved the second reading of a new ordinance making it official that all Waco pet owners will be required to spay or neuter dogs and cats older than four months. All Waco pet owners are also now required to implant their animals with microchips, a radio frequency identification device placed under the skin. Animals with certain health problems, used by government agencies and animals owned by breeders are exempt from certain measures of the new ordinance.

Kolaches, music, Polka dancing and more are lined up for three days to honor West’s Czech heritage through the annual Westfest.

Almost five months ago, an explosion from a fertilizer plant rocked West, causing injuries, devastation to nearby homes and casualties. In spite of the tragedy that took place, president of Westfest John Hurtick said the hosts of Westfest still want to focus on the celebration aspect of the event.

No. 7 Baylor soccer will be tested on the road at 5:30 p.m. Friday against the University of Washington Huskies.

The Huskies (1-1) struggled offensively last weekend scoring only one goal in two matches despite having 29 attempts. In the game against UNC Greensboro, the Huskies outshot the opponent 24-4, but it took two overtimes to get a win. The Huskies fell 0-3 to No. 21 UCF in their season opener. The team struggled to generate any kind of offense as UCF only allowed five shot attempts. Despite the offensive drought, Baylor is not going to underestimate the opponent.

Baylor volleyball begins their 2013 campaign on the road with a three game swing in Colorado, with games against Northern Colorado, Cal Poly and the season opener against Colorado State in Fort Collins on Friday.

Baylor is coming off a season where they finished with 20 wins, but just missed out on the NCAA Tournament. The Bears played their Green/Gold scrimmage on Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 732 at the Ferrell Center.

The NFL has reached a tentative $765 million settlement over concussion-related brain injuries among its 18,000 retired players, agreeing to compensate victims, pay for medical exams and underwrite research.

A federal judge announced the agreement Thursday after months of court-ordered mediation. It came just days before the start of the 2013 season.

A military jury on Wednesday sentenced Maj. Nidal Hasan to death for the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, handing the Army psychiatrist the ultimate punishment after a trial in which he seemed to be courting martyrdom by making almost no effort to defend himself.

Baylor University took part in a nationwide event, remembering both the 1963 march on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.’s historical “I Have a Dream” speech.

More than 20 students, faculty and staff gathered in front of Pat Neff Hall at 2 p.m. Wednesday, the approximate time King delivered his speech 50 years ago, and listened to the Baylor McLane Carillon bells. Baylor’s carillonneur Lynnette Geary performed, “We Shall Overcome,” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” to commemorate the day.

Shehan Jeyarajah, sports writer for The Baylor Lariat, takes a look at each of the Big 12 teams playing this week and their opponents in a preview of week one of college football.

A youth movement has given No. 7 Baylor soccer new life as the team begins the journey for a back-to-back Big 12 Championship Title.

Coming off the best season in program history, Baylor lost three key goal scorers in Dana Larsen, Lisa Sliwinski and Hanna Gilmore. The trio combined for 28 of the 58 goals scored. Despite losing that kind of productivity, Baylor’s freshmen class is making a big impression.

Baylor Alumni Association members who joined the association after 12:30 p.m. today will not be allowed to vote at the BAA meeting Sept. 7, BAA President Collin Cox said.

The decision came after a unanimous vote during a conference-call BAA board meeting.

Members will be voting on the Transition Agreement, which was proposed by both the BAA and Baylor on May 31. The agreement would dissolve the BAA and allow Baylor to take over alumni relations and operations.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared unequivocally that the United States has “concluded” that the Syrian government carried out a deadly chemical weapons attack on civilians last week.

Obama did not present any direct evidence to back up his assertions. He said he is still evaluating possible military options in retaliation for the attack that killed hundreds near Damascus, but vowed that any American response would send a “strong signal” to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

In the first podcast of the semester, Daniel and Greg discuss Baylor vs. Wofford, the Big 12, the Heisman race and give their early Super Bowl picks. Follow the show on Twitter @DFTBPodcast and follow the hosts @D_Hill80 and @GregDeVries3000.

International students got a taste of Texas Tuesday at a welcome dinner.

Over 175 international students from all over the world sat down to a Western themed dinner Tuesday in the Cashion Banquet room. Cow noises played on a CD player in the doorway, a giant light up cowboy boot stood in the corner, and Texas Barbecue was served for dinner.

Vice President Dr. Karla Leeper welcomed the new students to Baylor on Judge Ken Starr’s behalf.

Baylor volleyball gave the hundreds of fans in attendance an early preview of their 2013 team with the annual Green/Gold scrimmage Tuesday night at the Ferrell Center.

Baylor Green dominated, winning the match 3-0. They won the first set 25-14, second set 25-22 and third set 26-24. Sophomore outside hitter Thea-Munch Soegaard led the match with 16 kills on a match high .419 hitting percentage.

To go or not to go, that’s the question women are asking themselves after the National Football League implemented a new stadium bag policy.

From this season onward, purses larger than a small clutch, binocular cases, diaper bags, printed patterned plastic bags, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, seat cushions, camera bags and laptop bags are prohibited.

Between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Baylor and Waco police responded to an automobile accident on South University Parks Drive. Multiple squad cars blocked two lanes of the road at the scene of the accident.

A Waco police officer said it’s possible the driver of the vehicle, who was identified as male, had a medical problem while driving, causing him to veer across the road, hit a sign and crash into a ditch.

Margarita and Salsa Festival 2013 from Baylor Lariat on Vimeo.

It’s the circle of life for the No. 7 Baylor Bears as they quickly answered any concern about the offense with consecutive 5-0 wins against UTSA and Northwestern State. Despite losing the top three goal scorers from the previous year, the underclassmen came up big scoring six of 10 goals.

Baylor volleyball returns to Waco this Tuesday when the Bears play their annual Green / Gold scrimmage. The event will allow fans to get an early look at the 2013 team.

The Bears scrimmage is free to the public and all students are encouraged to attend. Pizza will be provided after the game and fans will have the opportunity to meet the players after the game to receive autographed posters.