Baylor News
As the Revivalry approaches, Baylor students are preparing for one of the most anticipated games of the football season. With more than a century of history between Baylor and TCU, the rivalry brings plenty of school spirit, competition and occasional controversy.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a rule change on Oct. 7 that would establish that schools pay a $70,000 fee per F-1 non-immigrant student for initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) and a $30,000 fee per F-1 non-immigrant student for any program extensions, which is said to “combat fraud and abuse, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect U.S. workers.”
With the midterm elections just weeks away, Baylor faculty and students gathered Thursday night in Bennett Auditorium for a panel discussion encouraging students to make their voices heard at the polls, even amid growing political division and dissatisfaction with both major parties.
The sports phenomenon Banana Ball is making its way to McLane Stadium May 7-8 to provide a new fan-first experience to Waco.
Waco News
Students across campus noticed a stench coming from their dorms and apartments this month. From Oct. 20 to Nov. 17, Waco is performing an annual routine water systems maintenance, leaving students confused as Waco’s tap water reeks.
Organized by the McLennan County Democratic Party and Indivisible Waco, the “No Kings” protest turned sidewalks into a curbside gathering — spotlighting limits on executive authority as demonstrators waved homemade signs, a few wearing costumes and blasted pop anthems like Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA.”
Every Wednesday from March through October, Park Rangers lead free hikes in Cameron Park to help the public explore the trails. Each week, around 40 participants join the rangers to learn more about the park and build community in nature.
Families filled the Mayborn Museum on Saturday afternoon and for the fourth year in a row, hosted the Community Offering or “Ofrenda” in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring an array of artwork, activities and performances.
State News
President Donald Trump has approved the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting, with the execution scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Central Texas military installation, roughly an hour from Baylor’s campus.
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.
