Baylor News
The chosen artist for the statues of Baylor’s first Black graduates was announced by President Linda Livingstone as Benjamin Victor. The statues are of Robert Gilbert and Barbara Walker and will be placed in front of Tidwell Bible Building.
Rumors began spreading online after a Facebook post was made alleging “God the Mother” is a front for a sex trafficking scheme after members of the church were reportedly going door-to-door at URSA. However, after an investigation, Waco PD spokesperson Cierra Shipley said these rumors are false, and the individuals are not believed to be associated with any sex trafficking schemes.
Baylor’s Information Technology Services (ITS) released a new platform that provides to-the-minute status updates for students, staff and faculty about the technology infrastructure and systems that power the university.
Charla, or Spanish conversation hours, is meant to help students improve their Spanish skills. All Charla sessions are conducted by graduate students, according to a Baylor webpage on Charla.
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
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.
The abduction of a foreign leader was not on most students’ bingo cards for winter break. Once news headlines began appearing about Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and how his wife were removed from Venezuela, most people scratched their heads in confusion, wondering where the news came from and why it happened.
