Downtown Waco glistened with holiday cheer this weekend as Waco Wonderland returned to Heritage Square for its 13th year, drawing large crowds of families, students and local vendors. With the ferris wheel lighting up Austin Avenue, expanded food truck options and a busy Mistletoe Market, this year’s event blended familiar traditions with new features that kept visitors circulating through the plaza.
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Doug McNamee is in the process of being hired as Baylor’s new Athletics Director as of Saturday, according to a report by SicEm365.
Michael Rataj is listed as a guard, but has shifted up the lineup to play center due to injuries. He’s been an indispensable Swiss Army knife for the shorthanded Bears, leading the team in offensive rebounds while chipping in 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
The cold front came just in time for Christmas on Fifth. Despite rain concerns, Christmas on Fifth continued in full swing, drawing students out of their dorm and families from staying at home. Students said the Christmas spirit was infectious, helping ease stress around finals.
By Caleb Garcia | Photographer & Sam Gassaway | Photographer
Everybody talks about homesickness in regard to the holidays. Still, not enough people discuss the dread many students face when returning home that comes not because of poor familial relationships, but because of the loss of identity many experience.
AI political posts on social media are only helping further the divide between political parties. To help the country heal, social media platforms should take steps to ban AI-generated content.
As students prepare for finals week, many trek the familiar trail to Moody Memorial Library or the SUB. However, the crowding has significantly intensified this year — not just because of exams, but because of the construction in Moody’s garden level. The construction has temporarily closed much of Moody’s bottom floor, leaving only the atrium spaces, outdoor tables and the Makerspace open.
Baylor welcomed 12 signees for the 2026 class despite recruiting being a “tough fight” as three four-star recruits flipped since the season ended.
In 2024, wanting to share the experience of being a police chief with more children, Sheryl Victorian utilized her knowledge of playwriting to publish a children’s book inspired by the community of Waco.
Carroll Science will transform into Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” for one night only—here’s what you’ll see inside.
Even with injuries and constant change, the Bears have found something steady: each other. Their chemistry has become their anchor, shaping how they play and who they are. It’s the foundation of the team’s strong start to the season.
The Extraco Events Center hosted one of Waco’s largest community gatherings Thursday as H-E-B brought its annual Feast of Sharing back to Central Texas, serving thousands of free holiday meals and offering an evening full of music, activities and volunteer support.
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.
One of the nation’s most iconic Christmas traditions, “The Nutcracker,” will be making its way to Baylor on Dec. 14 for an annual on-campus performance, featuring the Waco Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Frontier and young local Waco performers.
American politics feels less like a democracy and more like a never-ending custody battle. Voters get stuck in the middle while two massive parties argue over who gets to “own” them. The Republican and Democratic parties were originally created to help organize elections and mobilize people. Today, they mostly organize outrage, and they’ve gotten extremely good at it.
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.
Junior cornerback Caden Jenkins has been dismissed from the team for violations of team rules, Baylor Athletics confirmed Monday.
No. 22 Baylor volleyball was selected to its 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, all under head coach Ryan McGuyre. The Bears are set to take on Arkansas State as the No. 6 seed in the lower-left quadrant of the bracket.
By Alyssa Meyers | Photographer & Sam Gassaway | Photographer
The Bears totaled 421 yards of offense and forced two turnovers, but couldn’t slow Houston quarterback Conner Weigman or convert in the red zone. The loss seals the Bears’ third losing season in four years.
Fresh off the program’s best season in seven years, Baylor soccer has secured head coach Michelle Lenard with a new contract extension following a year defined by top-10 rankings, marquee wins and a culture shift that’s reshaped the program’s trajectory.
Art Briles took Baylor to soaring heights — then didn’t coach at the collegiate level again for nearly a decade. In an exclusive interview, Briles spoke with the Lariat about his past nine years.
Baylor’s season ended on a Sunday-afternoon heartbreaker. Ohio State knocked off the Bears 2-1 with a double-overtime, sudden-death goal.
Baylor collapsed in the fourth quarter of its 41-17 loss to Arizona, despite a tightly-contested first three quarters. The Wildcats rattled off 27 unanswered points off three Baylor turnovers.
Baylor University President Linda Livingstone confirmed Friday that head coach Dave Aranda will return for a seventh season.
For many out-of-state Baylor families, the hardest part of sending a student to college isn’t the distance — it’s the feeling of being completely on their own in a new place. That gap is exactly what Becky DeGracia, founder of Mama Bear College Mom, set out to bridge.
During the stressful study sessions of Study Day, student government is bringing a new treat to students: discounts at Starbucks in the Baylor Sciences Building and the Moody Memorial Library. The discount will be $2 off any drink purchased on Dec. 11.
An ideal student-professor relationship sets clear and high expectations, but not unreasonable ones. It’s an exchange between the two — the professor teaches the student and stays available to help the student understand the material, and the student shows their adequate understanding of the information on the test. They don’t feel the need to cheat on a test because they’ve already been given the tools they need to succeed.
Baylor capitalized on a late first-half penalty and leaned on Alvarez’s 11-save effort to edge No. 15 Wisconsin 1-0 in Thursday’s NCAA second round. The Bears survived a late Badger surge, overcoming a 20-10 shot margin to secure their first Sweet 16 berth since 2018.
