The abduction of a foreign leader was not on most students’ bingo cards for winter break. Once news headlines began appearing about Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and how his wife were removed from Venezuela, most people scratched their heads in confusion, wondering where the news came from and why it happened.

Long wishlists and tight deadlines aren’t the only things stacked against consumers this holiday season. Prices are rising due to a policy put in place by Washington over the past year.

Climate change is real, but perfection isn’t the answer. Every small action matters, recycle right, save energy, do what you can. Together, our imperfect choices can build a better planet.

The penny has been in Americans’ pockets since 1793. But after Nov. 12, the U.S. Mint says it’s done making the iconic coin, largely because each one costs more than it’s worth. Economists say shoppers may barely notice its disappearance.

The Trump administration’s Liberation Day tariffs haven’t appeared to be liberating for America’s small businesses or shoppers, but trade agreements and bargaining power will likely be threatened if ruled unconstitutional.

We’re told to abandon childish beliefs as we grow up. But letting go of Santa might mean letting go of something else, too: the whimsy that makes the holidays feel magical.

President Trump’s first year of his second term has included natural disasters, an assassination attempt, economic shifts and policy reforms — here are the things economists and educators noted about Trump’s first year at a glance.

Democrats’ strong showings in blue-state elections may seem irrelevant to Texas, but political experts say these results offer an early snapshot of voter sentiment heading into 2026. With affordability emerging as a top concern and uncertainty surrounding national policy, these outcomes could influence strategies for both parties in the coming election year.

While the U.S. was wrapping up its own governmental crisis at home, world leaders prepared to take the stage at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. America, China and India chose not to send formal delegates to the conference this year, a controversial move as three of the world’s largest polluters.

Although states are beginning to release SNAP funds in partial payments, these payments are limited and skewed. The Texas Tribune reported that some Texans have received about 65% of the typical month’s SNAP allotment, while others have received “as little as $16 for two people or no payments at all”

The government is almost back in business. The Senate passed legislation Monday in a 60-40 vote to reopen the government and end the historic government shutdown.

When walking through Foster and reviewing for an exam, students don’t always stop to wonder whether their professor or classmates are veterans. Yet for some professors and students, Veterans Day isn’t simply a holiday, but a memory of time spent in service.

“It’s a result of just near optimal conditions for the survivability of the insects throughout its life cycle,” Dr. Jeff Back, a lab instrument specialist at the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic System Research, said. “And so lots of eggs hatch, lots of immature survive to adulthood, and, voila, you have cricket apocalypse.”

For Andy Spencer and Deanna Pratt, Baylor pride is a family tradition. From the first Mr. Bear to the debut of Marigold, this father-daughter duo helped shape the legacy of Baylor’s beloved mascots, one bear suit at a time.

As censorship rises across American media and education, Dr. James Kendrick, the interim department chair of journalism and professor of film and digital media, warns that power and algorithms are shaping what ideas reach the public. From classrooms to social media feeds, he said the suppression of controversial topics limits critical thinking and open dialogue.

As Election Day nears on Nov. 4, Texans will vote on 17 proposed constitutional amendments, most related to taxes. Dr. Paul Mason, Baylor accounting professor, said many aim to help specific groups but come with financial trade-offs.

Generation after generation, Baylor students continue to return to the campus their parents called home. For these families, homecoming is more than just a campus tradition; it is a celebration of a legacy.

“Generally, tariffs are considered to be negative for economic well-being,” Davidson said. “So initially, stock markets around the world sank following the imposition of the Liberation Day tariffs. However, since then, the U.S. stock market has rebounded dramatically.”

Waking up to Canvas being down was a pleasant or unwelcome surprise that many students and faculty at Baylor encountered on Oct. 20. The Amazon Web Services outage disrupted students’ and faculty members’ day-to-day lives, revealing just how reliant the university is on web services such as Canvas.

During International Business Week, experts discussed the evolving challenges of global trade and encouraged Baylor students to build relationships, take risks, and use Baylor’s trade compliance courses to gain a competitive edge.

The U.S. stock market just got a Texas-sized addition. The Texas Stock Exchange received approval from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a new stock exchange, with TXSE set to begin trading stocks by early 2026.

As rivalry week continues, it’s important to examine how other national rivalries impact us, particularly those that sit atop Capitol Hill. Political polarization between Republicans and Democrats is at an all-time high, and students can combat this by engaging in civil discourse amongst each other.

Federal cuts hit home as Waco’s KWBU fights to stay on air after losing key funding from NPR and Baylor.

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill struggle to find a consensus on the government’s spending bill, Baylor students continue to go about their day-to-day lives. Trouble in Washington doesn’t impact students in Waco, or does it?

“They’re more determined than ever … to have the chapter expand and have it be a presence on campus,” Ogden said.

Flanigan hopes events such as “Popcorn and Politics” will help educate students about current events, better informing them about what’s happening in the world around them and the role their representatives play in these issues.

Despite coming from a vast range of backgrounds and interests, the roads of 10 Baylor professors converged this year in the Baylor Fellows Program.

Instead of wasting our time attempting to solve the great question of why there’s evil and suffering in the world, we should take a step away from our logical mindsets and step into a mindset of empathy.

Friendship rates among adults are steadily dropping, which research attributes to various factors like the increased mobility of people, isolation driven by technology and a decrease in accessibility to third places.

“We want to briefly explore the history, causes, consequences and responses to political violence in the U.S.,” Villegas said, overviewing the panel’s discussion. “We want to role model and promote critical thinking, civil discourse and shared understanding. And lastly, we want to provide trusted expert insight, clear historical context and tools for informed civic engagement so that we can positively address the matter.”