Baylor News
This April, the OEL welcomed its newest cohort of Vardaman Scholars, formerly known as Global Engage Fellows. The program, intended for rising sophomores or juniors, lasts for the duration of the student’s undergraduate career at Baylor. The program structure requires students to take two courses under the OEL’s Philanthropy & Public Service Program before undertaking an engaged learning project and becoming an engaged learning student leader.
The honor society Phi Alpha Theta and the Baylor history department host their department celebration just for students who are majors and minors in Cameron Park annually.
Baylor students said independence brings unexpected challenges, from sleepless nights to budgeting struggles.
The Camp Staff Commissioning Ceremony recognized students preparing to serve at camps across the country in roles ranging from counselors to program staff. The event featured food, fellowship and remarks from President Linda Livingstone and first gent Brad Livingstone, serving as both a send-off and a moment of reflection before summer.
Waco News
Sedillio’s wrongful detainment highlights a broader issue in Texas’ justice system; with the rate of wrongful convictions being estimated between 2% and 6%, there are 3,000 to 9,000 innocent people in Texas prisons today, according to the Innocence Project of Texas.
Argyle sophomore Avery Mortman and her mother, Michelle Mortman, brought a fresh sense of style to downtown Waco when they opened their boutique Golden Green in November, offering a carefully curated selection of trendy and timeless pieces.
The organization’s Waco location fights to prevent trafficking by educating youth on warning signs in juvenile centers and schools, including Baylor; members also train law enforcement, hospitals and community leaders to recognize and address trafficking, according to Hayes.
As Baylis said, the impacts of this research are tremendous for the United States, as it could curb the problem of limited spectrum space for our increasingly internet-reliant world. This technology could also be used for defense initiatives such as more advanced radar and communication technologies.
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.
