Live updates: Floodgates open at multiple dams; Llano River forecast to crest tonight in major flood stage
Flash flooding occurred across much of the Hill Country on Thursday, and the impacts continue to be felt Friday.
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Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.
Our Town: Origins of Hewitt
HEWITT, Texas (FOX 44) - As this week's edition of Our Town reaches a close, our coverage of Hewitt caps off by answering a simple question: How was Hewitt founded? The town is located eight miles southwest of Waco and was established in 1882 when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad built a s...
Who are the best Big Ten college football programs? Ohio State tops the rankings
The question: Which program is the best in the Big Ten? It’s not a hard one to answer.
Live updates: Floodgates open at multiple dams; Llano River forecast to crest tonight in major flood stage
Flash flooding occurred across much of the Hill Country on Thursday, and the impacts continue to be felt Friday.
What to know about proper gun storage and safety
CENTRAL TEXAS (FOX 44) - Research consistently highlights the importance of safe firearm storage to prevent unintentional shooting deaths. Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Bryan Washko dropped by our studio to share some tips on how to keep you and your loved ones safe. You can watch ou...
The Marlin VFD cooks up "mouthwatering grub" for Saturday's fundraiser
MARLIN, Texas (FOX 44) - The Marlin Volunteer Fire Department promises "some mouthwatering grub" as they gear up for their big BBQ Sandwich fundraiser this Saturday, July 18, 2026. The fundraiser will kick off at 11 a.m. at the Marlin VFD firehouse, located at 3172 State Highway 6 in Marlin. Enjo...
Smoke, fire, floods: US faces triple extreme summer weather threats
Wildfire smoke blanketed the eastern U.S. from the Great Lakes to Washington, D.C., on Friday, floodwaters tore through Texas's Hill Country for a third day, and new fires erupted in the Pacific Northwest overnight, with 68 large blazes burning in…
CTC Police Academy cadets learn firearms proficiency through live-fire exercise
KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44) - Recently, cadets in the CTC Police Academy sharpened their firearms proficiency during a shotgun training exercise designed to prepare them for the realities of law enforcement. The live-fire exercise allowed cadets to build confidence and develop the skills necessary to...
Drones, AI and white paint: Europe races to protect infrastructure from heat
Record heat is exposing weaknesses in Europe's transport networks as airports, railways and roads battle to adapt.
Three arrested in credit card skimming case indicted by grand jury
Waco, Tx (FOX44) - A McLennan County grand jury has returned felony indictments against three men arrested in April accused of putting card skimmers on gas pumps in Hewitt. Yardanys Castillo, Sarria Gutierrez Jeiler, and Lazono Raul Pinera Rodriguez were all indicted on charges of engaging in org...
Bill Tinsley: Cornerstone marriage
There’s a lot I don’t know about heaven. What kind of bodies will we have when we get there? Will our heavenly bodies resemble our earthly bodies?
SpaceX targets next week for another Starship launch attempt as shares slide on abort
WASHINGTON — SpaceX is targeting Monday for another attempt to launch its Starship rocket after a last-second abort during engine ignition on Thursday, a brief setback that nevertheless wiped roughly $100 billion from the newly public company's market value.
Christ the King Church pastor talks Vacation Bible School
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - With school out and the kids at home, it's important that they spend time doing something positive. Many churches throughout the area are hosting Vacation Bible School programs this summer. Pastor Ramiro Peña from Christ the King Church paid a visit to our studio to share m...
Why 2026-27 NBA schedule is in limbo until LeBron James picks new team
The question of where LeBron James will play next has lingered for about three weeks after he told the Lakers he'd opt for a new team.
Haitians set to lose TPS protections July 24; what to know
After the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, more than 350,000 are expected to lose their legal authorization to live and work in the U.S. on July 24, leaving them…
Sex abuse victim family says they’re “tired of being used” for politics amid Talarico attacks
Talarico has been attacking Paxton on the campaign trail over his office’s handling of a case where a Waco man was charged with sexually abusing a young boy.
Trump threatens network licenses for not carrying speech
Two of the three major U.S. television networks and CNN did not broadcast President Donald Trump's primetime address Thursday on their primary platforms, drawing a rebuke from Trump.
Our Town Hewitt: A Safe Place
HEWITT, Texas (FOX 44) — The City of Hewitt has sat far below local, state, and national crime rates for years - and at the center of this safety is the Hewitt Police Department. With a population of about 16,000 people, the City of Hewitt isn't some sprawling metropolis. In small cities like Hew...
MLB players deal with unhinged bettors as league and union secure the gambling bag
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB Players’ Association interim executive director Bruce Meyer agree that if sports gambling is legal, they most certainly should get a piece of it.
Report: Marvel Comics moving publishing group to California
Marvel Comics is moving its publishing division from New York City to Burbank, California, ending nearly 90 years in the Big Apple. The shift aims to bring the comics team closer to Marvel Studios and Disney’s entertainment hub, aligning creative…
Man gets life without parole in death of 68 year old woman
Belton, Tx (FOX44) - Dimani Philip Gaddis has been sentenced to life in prison without parole in his 264th District Court trial for the shooting death of 68-year-old Vivian Delois McClain. The charge became capital murder when it was determined that the shooting occurred during the commission of ...
Chuck Lorre's ‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’ brings back familiar faces
Before “The Big Bang Theory” ended, creator Chuck Lorre envisioned a sequel featuring a portal to other universes in the comic bookstore, aiming to explore a bigger genre with special effects and computer graphics.
Baylor men's tennis adds assistant coach Jordan Gobatie
The Baylor men’s tennis program has added to its coaching staff, bringing in Jordan Gobatie as an assistant coach, Baylor announced on Friday.
Accident in Lorena shuts down southbound I-35
LORENA, Texas (FOX 44) - UPDATE: An accident on southbound Interstate 35 in Lorena shut down multiple lanes on Friday morning. Old Lorena Road in the 6000 block was closed, according to the Lorena Police Department. The Texas Department of Public Safety, the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, and ...
Senator Cruz, coaches weigh in on Protect College Sports Act
The legislation is being revised by its co-sponsors with the possibility of a floor vote before the full Senate in the working session that extends through Aug. 7.
Texas flash floods leave at least 2 dead in region devastated a year ago
Some spots of the Guadalupe River rose by more than 30 feet.
Suspects sought after property damage at Rockdale park
ROCKDALE, Texas (FOX 44) - The Rockdale Police Department is seeking those responsible for property damage at Moultry Park. The department says this park is enjoyed by many citizens and is home to the city's only splash pad. Police say this destructive behavior is "disrespectful to all of our cit...
Who are the top 25 college football coaches? Curt Cignetti passes Kirby Smart at No. 1
Who are the best coaches in college football? It's always a difficult question to answer.
Blue Bell recreates the Land of Milk and Honey
McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) - Blue Bell Creameries has been making the best ice cream in the country for more than 100 years! We learn more about the company's Texas roots, and its newest flavor, in the video above!
Maine ICE shooting puts Republican Sen. Collins in political bind
Republican Sen. Susan Collins received a political gift with the withdrawal of her opponent Graham Platner. Then ICE shot and killed a man at a traffic stop.
World Cup beer sales are hopping and brewers hope the stout demand continues
The World Cup has been a bonanza for beer in the U.S. Bars in Boston reported needing emergency deliveries to keep taps from running dry on some game days. Fans downed a total of 290,000 stadium beers during the six matches in Philadelphia, FIFA organizers said.But all that frothy foam obscures a...
Messi bathed Yamal as a baby, now they face off in a World Cup Final
Almost two decades ago, photographer Joan Monfort didn't think much of his photo shoot of a teenage Lionel Messi bathing a cute baby boy in a plastic bathtub. Not until the remarkable twist of fate became clear years later, when that infant blossomed into Lamine Yamal.Now those images of the long...
Trump speech alleges election weaknesses: 5 takeaways
Trump said new declassified documents will show China tried to undermine the 2020 election. Yet most of the documents released did not support his assertions about "shocking vulnerabilities."
CDC, FDA link Taco Bell's lettuce to five-state cyclospora outbreak
Across the U.S., the CDC is also investigating other outbreaks and illnesses linked to the stomach-churning parasitic infection that causes diarrhea and nausea, unrelated to this five-state outbreak.
Air quality crisis deepens as wildfire smoke covers Great Lakes, East Coast
Heavy, pungent wildfire smoke darkened skies in the U.S. on Thursday from the Great Lakes to parts of the East Coast, reducing visibility and prompting warnings that breathing the air outside could be dangerous.Officials in many cities urged residents to stay inside or wear masks outside as air q...
Fort Hood updates visitor procedures, public access to BLORA following fatal shooting
On Wednesday officials at Fort Hood announced that the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA) is now accessible to the community, soldiers and their families following the addition of gate guards and updated visitor access procedures.The recreation area had been under limited access since Ma...
If inflation is 'cooling,' why are prices still so high?
Inflation “cooled” in June, thanks in part to falling gas prices. However, the 3.5% annual inflation rate for June was higher than any month of 2025.
Taco Bell lettuce supplier under investigation in cyclospora illness outbreak
Shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and sold at some Taco Bell restaurants has been linked to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a source familiar with the investigation said Thursday.Cases of the intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite are surging across the US, w...
Rain chances diminish and the dry out begins
Rain chances hang this morning for our western counties. San Saba remains under a flood watch through Friday evening where two to five inches of rain is possible.The low pressure system that has been slowly churning to our southwest is finally moving a bit north and west. This provides our wester...
New federal housing law could make homeownership more attainable for first-time buyers across Central Texas
A new federal law is now in effect aimed at making homeownership more attainable for first-time buyers in Central Texas.Watch Full Story Here: New federal housing law aims to make homeownership more attainable for first-time buyers in WacoThe 21st Century Road to Housing Act became law this week,...
Celebrating One Wonderful Year
With joyful hearts, Madelynne and Edward Getterman celebrate their first wedding anniversary-the traditional paper anniversary. The couple was married on July 10, 2025, at Twin Bridges Cross-Fit in Waco, Texas, surrounded by family and close friends.