Baylor News
In March 2022, Riley Gaines — a 12-time NCAA swimmer from the University of Kentucky — lost the 200-meter freestyle race by a hundredth of a second to Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete from the University of Pennsylvania. Wednesday evening, Gaines visited Baylor to speak to students about how allowing transgender athletes to compete in collegiate sports goes against what Title IX vows to protect.
Jury selection will take place Friday in a Title IX and negligence lawsuit filed by a former Baylor student against the university, former head football coach Art Briles and former athletic director Ian McCaw. Following jury selection, the case will be tried in Waco’s U.S. District Court starting Oct. 16.
The newly created Biblical Journeys in the Holy Land study abroad program has been postponed from May 2024 to January 2025 due to the escalating Israel-Hamas War. Trip coordinator Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott said faculty will keep a very close eye on the situation in collaboration with the Study Abroad Office.
Students in the Louise Herrington School of Nursing’s class of 2025 officially received their white coats on Tuesday in Dallas, preparing to take the next step in their nursing careers.
Waco News
The center of the massive explosion at West Fertilizer Co., has been located.
According to Assistant Texas Fire Marshal Kelly Kistner at a press conference Sunday morning, the epicenter of the blast has been found and investigators will be working inward from areas with the least damage to areas with the most damage.
West’s mayor pro tem, Steve Vanek announced today that stage one of “several upcoming reentry stages” will begin this afternoon at 3 p.m.
According to Vanek, state fire marshalls and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms have been investigating the area devastated by Wednesday night’s fertilizer plant explosion and it has been determined that residents living between Oak Street and Walnut Street in West can assemble at the corner of Tokyo Road and Reagan Street to return to their home on a limited basis this afternoon. Vanek also assured citizens and media that the rumors of lingering health hazards and possible secondary explosions were unfounded.
Since the fertilizer plant explosion Wednesday in West, students have responded swiftly with prayers, donations and relief for victims.
The number of casualties in connection with the Wednesday night explosion in West has been updated to include two additional people, bringing the number of total confirmed casualties to 14.
State News
Lilia Gonzalez, director of nurses, said Health Services would remain available to monitor potential measles outbreaks and help students. Though the Texas measles outbreak has ended, Health Services continues providing preventative measures for other potential outbreaks.
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