By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing EditorSociety expects a “perfect” family to be one with both parents and a few children, also known as the “nuclear family.” However, I have learned that there is no such thing as a “perfect” family. Every family is dysfunctional in some way. My relationship with my mom is unlike most. She and I are best friends, which may sound like a typical mother-daughter relationship, but we share a bond that not many can relate to. Since I was little, I have grown up with just one parent. My mom has played both roles in…
Author: Christina Soto
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor Baylor student Grace Valentine created a blog her freshman year known as the Enough Movement and nearly four years later, she is now a published author. Through her website, gracevalentine.org the Madison, Fla. senior created The Enough Movement. It is targeted at girls who do not feel enough, whether that is pretty enough, smart enough or thin enough. “My whole goal for the Enough Movement is to say you aren’t enough for this world. There will be someone who is prettier than you and there will be someone successful than you and you…
https://youtu.be/sH_LwghOkgc
Story by Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor Human trafficking has been a major concern nationwide, especially in Texas. According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center over 1,731 calls are reported in Texas each year and over 433 cases have been reported. Texas is ranked second behind California out of all states in the U.S., where human trafficking is the highest. Houston is ranked as the city where human trafficking occurs the most. In McLennan County, there were more than 20 arrests for human trafficking and over 120 arrests for prostitution. Baylor professors Dr. Christina Crenshaw and Dr. Lakia…
Story by Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor For months, the historic Elite Cafe has been under renovation to become the Magnolia Table. “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines opened the Magnolia Table this morning. The HGTV couple maintained the same structural elements as the Elite Cafe but added their signature style to the business. In order to commemorate the Elite Cafe, the couple named their coffee after the former business. At the restaurant, you can enjoy freshly-squeezed juices, coffee and a wide variety of breakfast options.
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor Wacoans love Lula Jane’s chocolate chip cookies. Nancy Grayson, the store’s owner, said she frequently gets recipe requests for her cookies and piecrust. “It’s chemistry, it’s about heat, it’s about ingredients, it’s about process and so it’s very mindful of us, very deliberate to make sure that we use each of those components of chemistry and baking and pleasing customers,” Grayson said. “We put all of that together because what we make is not about us, it’s about the people who are coming in and making sure that they can’t get what we…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor Coppell sophomore Summer Maccubbin attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., her freshman year and said she could not believe what she was seeing online Wednesday night when 17 people were killed by a 19-year-old gunman with a semiautomatic AR-15 rifle. Authorities said the suspect, Nikolas Cruz looked like any other high school student. Cruz arrived at the school in an Uber at 2:19 p.m carrying a black duffel bag and a backpack where he hid loaded magazines, according to authorities. Cruz shot five people inside classrooms on the first and…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor Starting this Ash Wednesday, men and women around the world will be protesting and praying outside of health centers that provide abortions. Waco is one of the 335 cities in 25 countries that is participating in the 40 Days For Life campaign. In Waco, pro-life advocates will be standing outside of the Planned Parenthood on 700 W Highway 6. Director of Pro-Life Waco, John Pisciotta said the 40 Days For Life campaign is about praying and community outreach. “We are asking God for the blessings for the moms that will chose life, for…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor All-University Sing is one of Baylor’s most popular traditions and has been around for the last 65 years. Sing is unique every year, and if you miss it, you will never be able to watch and experience that show again. Parents, students, faculty and alumni all make their way to Waco to watch the performance. The demand for Sing tickets is so high that this year, the first round of tickets sold out the day they went on sale. Sometimes people are not able to make it to Waco to watch the show…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor A journalist’s role is to inform the public of any and all news, but there is more to journalism than just writing news articles or doing broadcasts. Being a journalist requires one to follow a code of ethics. The Society of Professional Journalists says that a journalist should: seek the truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently and be accountable and transparent. Acting independently is a news value that every good journalist strives to accomplish. Being objective is our duty. Journalists are responsible for giving the public an accurate, truthful, unbiased account…
Story by Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor For over 20 years, Baylor students have wanted to take American Sign Language as a foreign language. However, ASL is not considered a foreign language at Baylor and is only offered to certain majors. Marnie Abrahams, a lecturer in the Department of Communication Sciences, and Disorders- Health & Human Sciences, attended Baylor in 1998 and encountered the same issue as a student. “I think that we need to understand this not as an academic issue, it’s a human rights issue,” Abrahams said. “It’s discriminatory to judge one person’s language and culture as…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor The Waco Suspension Bridge has closed until Friday in preparation for what is soon to be a $5 million renovation.For the next few days, crews will be taking soil samples and engineers will be testing the soil around the area. The Waco City Council will be meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Waco Convention Center’s Bosque Theater to discuss the Tax Increment Financing Board funds.The funds to renovate this 148-year-old bridge will go towards replacing the wood deck with waterproof material, repairing anchors and replacing steel cables.Deputy City Manager Wiley Stem told…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been popular ever since they made their comic book debut 30 years ago. Since then, the cartoons have grown into shows that have been around for years. Because of this, the Mayborn Museum has decided to bring the Ninja Turtles to Waco. Rebecca Nall, the Assistant Director of Exhibits, Communications and Visitor Services, is constantly working on bringing exhibits to the Mayborn and said she is very excited about having the Secrets of the Sewer exhibit here. “We are the exhibit’s first stop in Texas, so we are…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing Editor The Women’s March last year was one of the largest demonstrations in history with over 2.9 million people advocating for women’s rights. This weekend marked the one year anniversary of the event and all over the country, men and women gathered together again. On Saturday, Waco community members gathered in downtown Waco at Heritage Square to hold their own event. Deborah Michals, a rally attendee, said she is disappointed in where our country is today. She said she is hoping our country will return to its roots and become united again.”I think we…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Managing EditorTwo Baylor alumni, Darren Samuels, Kodi Agbasi and a current Baylor student, Oneil Mbakwe created an app called “What’s Poppin’.”This app will inform you of upcoming events in your area, events that are happening now and their location. Agbasi after graduating Baylor moved to Austin and found himself curious and unaware of events going on in the city. That is when he came up with the idea for the app. “One of our friends, the founder, Kodi Agbasi, he lives in Austin right now and he was wondering why there wasn’t many things for…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter Today, a local art gallery called Cultivate 7Twelve will have their grand opening, featuring a botanical garden exhibition. Cultivate 7Twelve is devoted to showcasing and developing Waco artists. Unlike other art galleries, this gallery provides space for the artist to produce their own work. Managing partner Josh Overtown said it is their mission to help local artists sell, produce and promote their work. “We’re not here to push artists in certain directions or to make them commercialize or anything like that, but for those that just need that last five yards,” Overtown said. Boerne…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast ReporterIt has been seven weeks since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico and more than half of the island is still without power. Puerto Rico officials said it could be weeks or months before the power is completely restored throughout the island. According to the Weather Channel, 867,000 homes and businesses have no electricity. Thousands have left the island and migrated to the mainland because of the storm. The executive director of the Financial Oversight and Management Board of Puerto Rico, Natalie Jaresko told Congress that Puerto Rico needs emergency and restoration funds.”The island…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast ReporterThe jury for the Twin Peaks trial has been sequestered for the night and trial will continue tomorrow because after nine hours of deliberation, the jury was deadlocked and could not come up with a decision.The jury told Judge Matt Johnson that it is deadlocked on all counts. The jury will continue deliberating through the night, however due to Veterans Day being on Saturday, the courthouse may be closed. The jury reconvened and on the second note of the night, they stated that one of the jurors is said to have experience with the Cossacks…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast ReporterIn high school, your friends are the people you have multiple classes with, eat lunch with and participate in extracurricular activities with. For most, high school friends and relationships are created by the things you do together. Your life is scheduled with school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m with designated lunch periods. Therefore, your friends are people you see and spend your day with. Although I still have great friendships from my high school, the friends I have made in college have been some of the best friendships I have ever had.I believe your…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter Every year, the Waco Fire Department participates in the Homecoming Day Parade. This year, the department has bought a brand new truck that will be showcased for the first time on Saturday during the parade. This truck is one of a kind because the department can finally present a logo for the community they serve. The logo is a bear wearing a firefighter hat located on the back of the truck. Bergerson said the number four on the hat represents Engine 4, which has been serving the Waco department since 1829. “It’s a logical…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter While Hurricane Harvey displaced hundreds of people from their homes, pets also found themselves without a home in the wake of disaster. That’s why the Humane Society opened its shelter to receive animals that have been affected by the hurricane. Last week, the Humane Society received 46 cats from shelters in the Houston area. Don Bland, Humane Society executive director, said the Doris Day Animal Foundation has helped the Humane Society cover the adoption fees — making the owner save up to $75. “The Doris Day Animal Foundation has helped us cover the sponsorship…
Video by Jessica Babb | Broadcast Managing Editor, Story by Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter The first trial of the 154 indicted bikers who were involved in the deadly shootout at Twin Peaks restaurant began Wednesday afternoon with Jacob Carrizal, 36, the Bandidos Dallas chapter president. On May 17, 2015, nine people were fatally shot and 18 people were injured outside of Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco, which permanently closed the next day. The shooting occurred over a territory fight between rival biker gangs the Bandidos and Cossacks. The trial began with an opening statement from District Attorney Abel Reyna,…
Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter This year, Baylor Spirit has added a new mascot named Marigold. There are six students on the mascot team that get the honor of playing Bruiser, but for Austin, senior Deanna Spencer and Round Rock, junior Marie Ament they are able to do both. Spencer and Ament have been on the team since their freshman year and said they have loved every minute of it. “I mean it’s such an adrenaline rush every single time we get in the suit,” Spencer said. “So it’s just such an honor and so fun and definitely a humbling…
Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter On Saturday, Sept. 31 over 1000 people walked in solidarity at Brazos Park East for suicide prevention awareness. Jennifer Warnick, Waco Walk chairwoman and Central Texas board member, brought the “Out of Darkness Walk” to Waco five years ago and has seen it grow exponentially. Warnick has been personally affected by the issue as she had lost her mother to suicide. “My mom was… she was a beautiful soul and there is no doubt in my mind that if she knew about this walk she would be here with me, wearing her green bead, sharing…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast ReporterYou always hear the saying, “You never appreciate something fully until it’s gone,” and I never realized how true that was until this last week. I have never been a person that values my phone. My friends consider me a “bad texter” because I never respond or my phone is dead. However, I never realized how much I depended on my phone until this week when it broke.Initially, I was devastated because I had not backed up my phone to my iCloud, so I lost my contacts and photos. To me, losing my photos and…
Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter Pat Neff has been a symbol of Baylor for years. The gold-plated dome is an icon for the university. As you’re walking around campus, you’ll be able to hear the chimes that have been considered a tradition for many years now. In the late 1980s, the bells needed to be replaced and a committee was formed to get funding for new bells. Drayton McLane heard about the issue and his family donated the entire carillon to Baylor. The carillon was the first gift Baylor received from the McLane family. “He and his family gave the…
Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter Over 40,000 homes were affected by Hurricane Harvey. The catastrophic flooding in Houston has left families without homes. The storm, however, has also left many pets displaced. Animal shelters all over Texas have opened up space in order to give these animals a home. The Humane Society in Waco has opened over 50 kennels in order to house animals that have left Houston shelters because of over capacity. The Humane Society in Waco has opened its doors to these pets and is waiting on their arrival. Executive Director Don Bland said he is grateful that…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast ReporterMost freshmen are beyond nervous to gain the infamous “freshman fifteen.” Unlimited meal plans, Dr. Pepper Floats, late night at Penland and Ms. Mei’s cookies all add up. Here are a few tips to keep you from gaining those dreadful fifteen pounds. The best way to keep off those pounds is to stay active and make healthy choices in the dining hall. Although the unlimited amount of pizza and hamburgers seems very appetizing, make sure to include greens in your diet. Eating a balanced and nutritious diet will keep you full for longer, leaving less…
Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter Waco has added its first Big Belly Smart Bin, a solar-powered recycling, and waste collection system. The bin, which cost an estimated $7,000, is located on University Parks Drive and Franklin Avenue in front of the food trucks. Because of the solar powered compactor inside, the Big Belly Smart Bin can hold up to 150 gallons of trash in a 32-gallon bin inside. When the bin is full, it will notify the crew electronically via email. According to Public Works Operations Administrator Anna Dunbar, the bin will make things more efficient in the Waco community.…
Christian Soto | Broadcast Reporter Baylor University’s Move2BU experience is unlike other institutions. As freshmen arrive on campus they are greeted with excitement from students, faculty and staff. Upon arrival, student volunteers swarm the cars to help move their belongings into their dormitories. “As soon as I got here, everyone came to the car and grabbed my stuff….I felt so comfortable and welcome,” said Dallas, freshman Rachel Garcia. For Houston, freshmen, twin sisters Vanessa and Venae Jessurun moving to Baylor was their dream come true. “We’ve wanted to go to Baylor for a long time. It’s just always been my…