Baylor News
Baylor recently announced the launch of a new alumni engagement program called NextGen Bears. Spirit boxes filled with Baylor gear can be ordered from the program’s website to give to the next generation of Baylor Bears. There are several different boxes to choose from, each intended for a different age group. Each box costs $50 plus tax and shipping.
Student government’s executive branch will be proposing a new structure for the organization on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to which officer positions may be removed, beginning with the freshman class of 2026.
Baylor held a celebration for faculty and staff Monday in recognition of the university reaching R1 status — an achievement made in December 2021. The event was held at the Baylor Club at McLane Stadium and featured catered food, live music and an appearance from Bruiser and Marigold.
During the 2006-2007 school year, the university’s journey toward religious inclusivity began with an outcry from over 100 groups seeking freedom to practice their faith on campus. Three years after this meeting, the university’s guidelines for religious diversity remain untouched.
Waco News
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.
National
Politics
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.
