Baylor News
National Mall thrummed as crowds of a million people bunched together and as camcorders rose in unison hoping for a glimpse of history. With the wave of flags, high hopes and wide smiles, the nation waited to witness the inauguration America’s first Black president — Barack Obama.
Long before social media, news print was the heartbeat of every community. Baylor Lariat alumnus Louis Moore made a name for himself covering religion, civil rights and history’s most significant moments at the Houston Chronicle. Even in his retirement, Louis Moore still loves a good story.
Upon its founding, Baylor banned the chartering of national fraternities and sororities. It wasn’t until 1975 that the ban was finally lifted, the floodgates opened and Baylor Greek life’s tumultuous and iconic history began.
What started as an advertisement in The Lariat morphed into Baylor’s own masked vigilante armed with coconut cream pies. For over a decade, the Pie Man turned campus into his bakery of chaos, leaving laughter, whipped cream and bewildered professors in his wake.
Waco News
The Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative draws researchers and employees to a site that has been largely vacant for 27 years.
“The research that has been going on here and will go on here in the future has the potential to affect humankind,” Lori Fogleman, assistant vice president for media communications, said. “I hope that is not much of an exaggeration and I really don’t think it is. The future is just limitless here at the BRIC.”
The American Red Cross has allocated $295,000 to long-term relief in West, five months after a fertilizer plant explosion killed 15 people. The Red Cross announced this gift on its website on Friday.
Those who work closely with recovery in West say the city is still in need, though opinions differ as to which areas of need are most pressing.
The money the Red Cross is giving comes from donors all over the country, said Bristel Bowen, regional director of communications for the Central Texas region of the American Red Cross.
Baylor’s Air Force and Army ROTC detachments and Veterans of Baylor will host the first Waco Wounded Veterans 5K Run at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the Lake Waco Dam.
The cost to register is $30 for civilians and $25 for students, veterans and active military. Online registration is open until midnight on Thursday. Day-of Registration will be available as well.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Nicole Powers, who began planning the race last April, said she had two goals in mind: to raise as much money to the Wounded Warrior Project as possible, and to start a tradition that will last years after she leaves Baylor.
It will be easier for pedestrians to get around Waco as Waco city officials begin plans to extend the Brazos Riverwalk.
The city of Waco has recently received money from the federally funded program called the Transportation Enhancement Program, said a staff member of the Texas Department of Transportation who did not wish to be identified. Money is given under the Transportation Enhancement Program to support local projects that have a strong link to transportation.
“It was created to provide funds for projects that do a little above and beyond what the department’s used to doing,” the staff member said.
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.
