Baylor News

“[If you] remind yourself it isn’t real and temper your thoughts… then that can take a little bit of the power away from it, but it definitely still does have an influence,” Bates said.

Waco News

Don’t be fooled by the Baylor Bubble.

A woman in Waco can disappear in moments and become a victim of sex trafficking, an umbrella term that covers the recruitment or transportation of people for the purpose of subjecting them to involuntary service in the sex industry.

While Christmas is a time for celebration, is it also a time for remembrance.

The McLennan County Crime Victim Coalition will host the second annual lighting of The Tree of Angels to honor victims of violent crimes. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Bellmead Civic Center. The general public is welcome to attend the event.

When you walk into Mission Waco’s Youth Center, it’s almost like walking into a high school student’s dream hangout spot. Foosball, a pool table and a big screen TV are just a few of the amenities the center offers. But the center isn’t just about having fun: It’s about education, too.

State News

INTERNATIONAL

The Iran war is now in its 46th day. Iran responded by restricting access to Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil, and moving to toll vessels transiting the strait. Waco drivers are already feeling it. The local average hit $3.38 a gallon last week, up 21 cents in seven days and 75 cents year-over-year, according to AAA data.

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.

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.