Baylor News
Fresh off a statement win over No. 7 Duke in Paris, Baylor women’s basketball looks poised to build on its momentum. With returning stars, key transfers and a growing national spotlight, the Bears are setting the tone for a season built on chemistry and championship ambition.
Beginning in 1917, a bear belonging to a Camp McArthur soldier was paraded around by Baylor students. The tradition of a live bear watching Baylor football on the sidelines became a beloved aspect of the school’s identity over the next 86 years.
To put this monumental celebration in perspective and to celebrate the development of student press over these years, here are 10 important historical developments that succeed the birth of The Lariat.
For Andy Spencer and Deanna Pratt, Baylor pride is a family tradition. From the first Mr. Bear to the debut of Marigold, this father-daughter duo helped shape the legacy of Baylor’s beloved mascots, one bear suit at a time.
Waco News
The National Zoo might have a baby panda, but Cameron Park Zoo has Aztec, the miracle baby ocelot.
Aztec was born on May 31 at Cameron Park Zoo, and is considered a miracle baby because of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his birth.
Cameron Park zookeeper John Abernathy said part of the reason Aztec was a miracle was because his mother Maya was so old when she had her first child.
In response to the city of Waco’s new ordinance that requires all pets to be microchipped, the Animal Birth Control Clinic will be offering a free microchip clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at their location on 3238 Clay Ave.
The new Waco city ordinance requires all cats and dogs of Waco residents to be spayed or neutered and microchipped.
This must be done by Jan. 1, 2014, said Carrie Kuehl, executive director of the Animal Birth Control Clinic. The city of Waco is sponsoring Sunday’s free microchipping clinic, Kuehl said, to meet the needs of citizens.
A drug ring distributing $30,000 to $40,000 of high-grade marijuana monthly near Baylor campus HAS resulted in four arrests and an investigation of more than 50 Baylor students.
McGregor, Lorena and Baylor Police departments, in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration, served two warrants less than one mile from campus on Aug. 28. Marijuana, prescription pills, packaging materials, weapons and more than $12,000 were found in the two residences, according to the McGregor Police Department. The customer base of the suspected distributors is the Baylor student body, said McGregor Police Department’s Criminal Investigator Lt. Joe Coy.
Local police arrested four men Wednesday near Baylor campus after searching two homes in connection to an extensive marijuana drug ring.
After three months of following leads and working with Drug Enforcement Administration officers, McGregor Police and Lorena Police served two warrants with the cooperation of the Baylor Police Department. While McGregor and DEA officers handled the the first search warrant Wednesday morning, Baylor police officers handled the second search warrant later that day, said Baylor Police Chief Jim Doak.
Covid-19
“Since July 1st, Baylor’s campus has had nine positives out of 48 tests,” Stern said. “And in the last month alone, we have had seven positives out of 29 tests, which is almost a 25% positivity rate.”
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.

