Browsing: News

Gas prices in Texas have surged more than 70 cents per gallon since the U.S. went to war with Iran three weeks ago. The near-total shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has driven oil prices up more than 40%, pushing the national average to its highest point since 2023 and sending diesel past $5 for the first time in three years.

Students, faculty and staff gathered Tuesday night in Bobo Spiritual Life Center to break the Ramadan fast and experience community across cultural and religious lines.

With a message by Dr. Jacqueline C. Rivers, executive director and senior fellow for social science and policy of the Seymour Institute for Black Church and Policy Studies, Global Bridges held its inaugural chapel service on Tuesday, outlining growing secularism in the U.S., the shift of Christian influence from the global north to the global south and the importance of remembering God.

Baylor alumnus and long-time Waco businessman Rick Tullis won the seat for McLennan County judge in this year’s primary elections. As judge, he will replace the current Judge Scott Felton at the start of 2027.

The stress of late-night studying sparked a student‑led partnership with Moody Memorial Library to launch a digital wellness page. San Jose, Calif., sophomore Ananya Bharathapudi said the goal was to offer encouragement, community and mental health support to students studying on campus.

The International Student and Scholar Services team brought a group of Baylor international students to New York over spring break, focusing on showing them a wider perspective of America’s “melting pot” culture.

Turning Point USA’s This is the Turning Point Tour will stop at Baylor April 22, bringing several nationally known conservative commentators and political figures to campus.

Better Together and Multicultural Affairs will join to host a Neighbor Night March 17 for Muslim students to break their Ramadan fast. The event will be at 7 p.m. in the Bobo Spiritual Life Center, and students of all cultures and religions are invited to attend.

The 2.25-mile Bear Trail around campus is mostly concrete, but three-fourths of a mile between the Dutton Garage and the intersection of Second Street and Bagby Avenue is a softer decomposed granite surface that narrows to just a few feet in some spots. Construction Project Manager AJ Mueller said that about two-thirds of that stretch is currently being upgraded to an 8-foot-wide concrete sidewalk, while the remaining third near Dutton Garage is tentatively scheduled for the same work.

Though the observances come from vastly different cultures and religions, Christians and Muslims across campus observe Lent and Ramadan this month, two practices involving fasting and sacrifice.

Dr. Lewis Lummer, senior lecturer of communication sciences and disorders, has taught ASL for 17 years at Baylor. Throughout his time as a lecturer, Lummer advocated for expanding the classes offered in the department to respond to the recent rise in demand.

The Student Government Allocation Fund distributes roughly $500,000 in university operational dollars each semester to support events, campus improvements and student initiatives. Funds are awarded on a merit basis to eligible student organizations, according to DeRidder, La., junior and Senate Internal Vice President Ashlyn Graves.

Launched under the School of Engineering and Computer Science, the Biomedical Engineering Program is designed to prepare students for careers in medical device design, biomechanics, imaging and graduate study in medicine or research. Faculty such as Dr. Jonathan Rylander, a lecturer in mechanical engineering, described it as a natural fit with Baylor’s mission to combine innovation with service.

Despite common assumptions, student leaders say food insecurity affects up to 12% of Baylor students and are working to connect more students with campus resources.

With all 1,700 spots filled, Student Foundation achieved a record-breaking number of sign-ups for the Bearathon, selling out of tickets more than a month before the race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms_xUjT2p3kBy Irma Peña | Executive Producer, Claire-Marie Scott | Managing Editor, Aiden Richmond | Sports DirectorThis week on Lariat TV…

Texas voters turned out in historic numbers Tuesday, delivering victories for State Rep. James Talarico and forcing a runoff between Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the state’s U.S. Senate contest that claimed national attention. The total early-voting turnout of more than 2.5 million marks the highest ever for a midterm primary election. The results also kicked off the 2026 midterm cycle.

Surpassing all other programs and disciplines at Baylor, 100% of Truett students receive scholarships for their program. Truett’s donors allow students to be considered for many different scholarships, with an impact that goes beyond statistics.

Expanding beyond just the app, Dr. Stephen Sloan, director of the Institute for History at Baylor, has taken other media paths to educate people about Waco’s history. Through his podcast, “Waco History,” he started a series called “Waco 175” that he co-hosts with Rick Tullis, a Baylor graduate and current member of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.

Baylor’s tuition has risen nearly 44.53% over the past decade, and the university’s most recent increase has drawn reactions from students and families about affordability and transparency.

Great uncertainty looms for international students as U.S. Rep. Greg Steube proposed the EXILE Act in Congress on Feb. 10, a bill that could eliminate visa programs that allow foreign nationals to work in the U.S. after graduation as early as 2027.

President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve. He is set to succeed Jerome H. Powell when Powell’s term as chair ends May 15. The nomination is in the Senate for confirmation.

The largest U.S. military operation in the Middle East in decades unfolded as American and Israeli forces struck Iran Saturday, killing its supreme leader and triggering retaliatory strikes from the Gulf to Israel. The White House said the campaign is aimed at dismantling Iran’s military and toppling its government.

Truett Seminary Professor Dr. Kimlyn Bender hosts a book club discussing “Destroyer of the Gods: Early Christian Distinctiveness in the Roman World” by Larry Hurtado, and explores modern Christianity with students every Saturday.

The killing of El Mencho, a Mexican cartel leader, triggered a wave of retaliatory violence across multiple parts of Mexico, drawing attention and raising concerns among students who have ties to the region.

Unlike traditional hands-on volunteering, the Steppin’ Out planning committee offers a unique service of coordinating the event itself. Those interested in joining should attend the Tuesday interest meeting for more details.

The Baylor University Institute for Oral History hosted the Black History Month Walk to honor on the people in history that might have been forgotten. The annual event hosted about 100 people through the streets of Waco Saturday morning, beginning at the McLennan County courthouse.

Students learned cultural and religious respect as they gathered for Iftar on Friday evening in Cashion Lobby. Organized by Intercultural Engagement and the Center for Global Engagement, students broke their fast as per the customs of Ramadan.

https://youtu.be/BEkN7-ybCGI?si=vyGSuR-aL0gkXuY3By Irma Peña | Executive Producer, Claire-Marie Scott | Managing Editor, Aiden Richmond | Sports DirectorThis week on Lariat TV…

The Keston Center annual lecture welcomed Dr. Scott M. Kenworthy to talk about religious persecution in the early Soviet Union and reminds students what standing up for faith has looked like throughout history.