Baylor News
Baylor in Washington is in full swing this semester as students pursue diverse opportunities related to their career paths, both in and out of the classroom. The semester-long program provides students with the opportunity to live in Washington and gain professional development through an internship.
Waco is home to a wide variety of gyms, from the on-campus McLane Student Life Center to facilities like Train Waco, Crunch Fitness and Gold’s Gym. Each one offers distinct experiences, but the pros and cons of each have kept students’ decisions on where to work out into an ongoing debate.
Founded 12 years ago to combat human trafficking in Waco, Unbound Now has become a global nonprofit organization. Unbound executive director Kristi Hayes said it started with a small local church group that refused to let the issue go unnoticed in the community.
President Linda Livingstone doesn’t know if she ever would have found Baylor if it had not been for her doctoral dissertation adviser at Oklahoma State University, who, knowing how deeply she prioritized her Christian faith, recommended she apply for a faculty position at Baylor.
Waco News
A six-month wait finally came to an end Thursday when the Waco Independent School District made its final decision regarding its school closings. Now — with nine schools set to close and A.J. Moore students relocating — the school board, students, parents, teachers and community members are waiting for the reveal of new attendance zones, which should come later this month.
Nineteen years ago, federal agents attemped to execute a search warrant at Mt. Carmel, the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, after the McLennan County Sheriffs Office was notified of the possible presence of illegal weapons.
The U.S. Postal Service announced Thursday it intends to close its Waco processing and distribution center as part of a broader effort to answer the declining consumer demand for first-class mail.
The Waco Police Department launched a Twitter account Tuesday evening in an effort to build more efficient communication with citizens.
State News
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.
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.
Dr. Joshua Alley, assistant professor of political science, said part of the Trump administration’s interest in Greenland has to do with America’s national security strategy.
