The Waco
Business
Can a humanoid robot clean your house? A San Francisco company says yes
A robotics company is betting humanoid robots can succeed where automation previously struggled: navigating the cluttered, unpredictable environment of people's homes to provide a cleaning service....
Spirit Christmas expands after successful Northeast and Midwest growth
As Spirit Halloween expands its footprint across the United States, its holiday-themed spinoff, Spirit Christmas, is growing as well. The company announced that 44 Spirit Christmas stores will open across the United States this holiday season, up from 30 locations last year. This...
Can you still trust a 4.7-star online rating? How AI is skewing how we choose providers
Nextdoor reports that 45% of Americans now use AI assistants for local business recommendations, but star ratings are often unreliable, according to the FTC....
Governor Abbott announces expedited online business filings in Texas
Governor Greg Abbott announces online Texas Express services, offering expedited same-day and next-day business filings through the Texas Secretary of State....
Fairy Garden workshop
Urban REAP, 1509 N. 15th St., will host a Fairy Garden workshop from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Rising diesel prices are squeezing local restaurants, McLennan County bakery owner says it's hitting hard
Rising diesel prices are squeezing local restaurants, and one Waco bakery owner says the pressure is unlike anything he's seen in more than two decades of business. WATCH HERE: Rising diesel prices are squeezing local restaurants, and a McLennan County bakery owner says it's hitt...
ServPro leases space in downtown Waco building
ServPro, a national cleanup and restoration company with two locations in Greater Waco, has signed a lease on about 27,000 square feet of warehousing space in downtown Waco....
Small businesses and mental health: How to prepare for a crisis at work
Rocket Lawyer details how small businesses can prepare for mental health crises in the workplace.
Trump administration accuses Microsoft of fraud, bars it from green card program
President Donald Trump's administration is suspending tech giant Microsoft from a program to apply for green cards for workers who come to the U.S. to live and work using an H-1B visa as it accuses the company of fraud. If you do the math, for every worker that Microsoft laid off...
Disney Believe: Homeport, maiden, venues, shows announced for new cruise ship
Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship will sail out of Fort Lauderdale by the end of 2027, the company announced during a livestream event Wednesday. The Disney Believe, the cruise line’s fourth Wish-class ship, will make its maiden voyage on Dec.…...
Why EV sales are lukewarm in America, but hot in Europe
U.S. car shoppers have been slow to warm back up to electric vehicles since a key federal subsidy expired a year ago, despite persistently high gas prices....
Personal loan debt hits a 20-year high as more Americans borrow to pay bills
David Merowitz said he racked up thousands of dollars in debt after losing his job during the pandemic. To dig himself out, he took out personal loans, including one to help cover credit card bills. "At the time, I was struggling as a father and as a business owner and with the e...
We choose to scroll alone
Bowling has seen better days. Lucky Strike Entertainment Corp., the dominant player in the business, has lost nearly half of its market value in the past year and had the rating on its debt cut further into junk territory....
Inflation drives up costs for Troy dairy farm owners
A Troy dairy farm is feeling the effects of inflation as the cost of running the business continues to rise. Melinda and Albert Mersch, military veterans and owners of Red White and Moo , have operated their dairy business for the past four years, selling raw milk to customers in...
Study links rural renewable projects to economic gains
A new University of Missouri study has compared rural counties with renewable power plants to those without and found those with wind projects saw economic output, or GDP, increase about 7%. Counties with solar projects saw employment and wages increase by 10% to 20% in the utili...
THC industry stares down a December deadline that may sharply limit its business
THC gummies, drinks and other hemp products are sold across the country. But that multibillion dollar industry could be headed for a major shakeup: A federal loophole that helped the market explode is set to close in December, putting businesses and jobs nationwide at risk. The h...
Texas court denies request to stop execution over Christa Pike's failed lethal injection
A Texas court on Wednesday refused to halt the execution of a man who fatally shot a convenience store clerk after his attorneys cited the failed lethal injection of Christa Pike in Tennessee. The Texas execution was scheduled to take place later Wednesday and would be the first ...
You can build a full business website in 4 days, new report says
Wix reports that AI has halved website creation time to four days, with 84% of users utilizing AI tools while maintaining control over personal branding elements....
Texas set to execute man for fatally shooting a convenience store clerk during robbery in 2000
Lawyers for a Texas man who fatally shot a convenience store clerk are asking a judge to stay his execution by lethal injection set for Wednesday, citing the failed execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee last week. This would be the first execution scheduled in the U.S. since Pik...
Americans feel more and more glum, data shows
Six years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans still feel gloomy and no once-a-month economic report seems to make them happy.
Jack in the Box location accused of soaking customers with anti-loitering sprinkler system
Customers at a San Diego location of a Jack in the Box fast-food restaurant say they are being drenched without warning by sprinklers mounted on the building as an anti-loitering measure. A reporter with the Scripps News Group station in San Diego witnessed the sprinklers turning...
The hidden cost of winning new business
Toggl reports that winning new business can hide costs due to delayed responses, poor project scoping, and unrecorded hours.
Senior violinist selected for national orchestra intensive
By Reagan Hunter | Reporter For St. Louis senior Ava Janes, music has always been about more than what happens onstage. Janes, a violin performance major with a secondary major in film and digital media studies and a minor in business administration, has spent much of her life pe...
Waco Small Business Burglarized for Over $5,000 of Tools
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) — Regian Tool & Home in Waco was broken into on Friday Morning, with two thieves taking thousands in merchandise within minutes. At about 3:40 a.m., two suspects shattered the glass door at Regian. Using a trash can taken from a nearby business, they stole bo...
Bell County businesses team up with nonprofit to create sensory-friendly spaces for special needs families
A Nolanville museum is among several local businesses partnering with a nonprofit to host weekly, sensory-friendly outings for families raising children with disabilities in Bell County. The Texas All Abilities Network partners with local businesses to host the outings, which are...
A new Supreme Court term begins with cases on climate change, immigration and gun rights
The Supreme Court's new term begins Monday with cases on climate change, religious rights and President Donald Trumps crackdown on immigration high on the agenda. Heres a look at what's in store: Climate change The high court is starting its term with a major climate change case....
Hewitt restaurant becomes a second home for a neighbor living with seizures
To someone passing by, Mi Casita Mexican Food Restaurant might look like your typical hole-in-the-wall spot. But for the regulars who pull up a chair there every single day, it's means so much more. WATCH HERE: Hewitt restaurant becomes a second home for a neighbor living with se...
Americans feel more and more glum, data shows. Economists are over it
Six years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans still feel gloomy and no once-a-month economic report seems to make them happy.
The trendiest costumes of 2026, according to Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween has released its annual report on Halloween costume trends, which highlights the looks you might expect to see when trick-or-treaters come knocking. The company says it keeps its finger on the cultural pulse all year long so it can offer the most recognizable cos...
Alabama offense, Jeremiah Smith lead college football Week 5 overreactions
On the whole, the results from Week 5 didn’t change the overall picture in the sport. A few unbeatens fell, but for the most part teams handled their business....
Shoppers are growing skeptical about AI: Where it still earns confidence
Sinch reports that shopper preferences for AI vs. human support depend on the question, with rising AI skepticism and privacy concerns impacting confidence in its use....
The ‘intangible economy’ is making everyone miserable | Allison Schrager
These are the best of times for Americans — at least economically and on paper (in the metaphorical sense of course, since no one uses paper anymore). We’ve never been richer or more prosperous as a nation. Living standards and…...
Price wars begin: Walmart, Amazon and Target launch October sales
The holiday shopping season is getting an earlier start than ever. Walmart has already kicked off its major October sale, while Amazon and Target are rolling out competing sales events this week, setting the stage for weeks of holiday discounts and price battles. But these sales ...
Trump touts economic record, rallies support for Paxton in Senate race
President Donald Trump returned Thursday to Texas, looking to promote an economic record he called "phenomenal" and give Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton a political boost....
A gut punch in Ohio: Nearly 1,400 laid off at truck factory just days before Trump rally
Sipping tea from beer mugs with his co-workers, Kyle Bos listed the ways his life is changing. Bos has two daughters, with a third due in January. At the grocery store, five items cost as much as a full cart once did. And on Wednesday, Bos and nearly 1,400 other people were laid ...
Texas All Abilities Network to host Down syndrome awareness event
The Texas All Abilities Network is hosting a Down syndrome awareness celebration as part of their SOAR Day event. The day aims to bring together individuals with Down syndrome, people of all abilities, their families, educators, healthcare providers, businesses, nonprofits, and o...
A shorter expiration date doesn't mean a food is healthier
Does a shorter shelf life mean your food is more natural? Not necessarily, according to a new study. Researchers found that shoppers often use shelf life and expiration dates as a shortcut for judging how natural or healthy a product is. The finding emerged from a series of exper...
Halloween candy getting too expensive? Try these cheaper treats instead
As Halloween approaches, many shoppers are finding that filling a candy bowl can cost much more than it did just a few years ago. Reese's cups -- those are the best, said Christy Bowles while shopping at Walmart. I love shopping here for Halloween candy. But chocolate treats ofte...
OpenAI's new AI tool was too capable. Now its release is delayed
OpenAI said Monday it was delaying the release of a new artificial intelligence model out of security concerns voiced by its researchers, the latest in the company's effort to decelerate the pace of the technology's advance. OpenAIs decision to hold back the model, called GPT-6.1...
Mechanic hourly rates by state: What shops charge vs. what techs take home
Way reports that mechanic hourly rates vary significantly across states, with shop owners struggling to balance competitive wages and increased costs.
Why aren't 2027 vehicles showing up on dealer lots yet?
If you've been shopping for a new vehicle lately, you may have noticed something unusual: there aren't many 2027 models on dealership lots. Typically, dealerships begin filling up with next year's vehicles by early fall. But this year, automakers are taking a slower approach to r...
Stewards OF Dollywood
BUSINESS
MCC hosts AI forum for local business input
Local business and industry leaders will talk about the artificial intelligence are skills needed in the workplace at an Oct. 8 forum hosted by McLennan Community College....
E. Coli outbreak linked to recalled raw milk cheese sold in nine states
The CDC, FDA and public health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections linked to certain cheeses sold across nine states. According to officials, all Graziers raw milk cheeses sold by Sierra Nevada Cheese Company have been recalled due to possible ...
Trump announces Iowa steel plant expected to be nation's largest
President Donald Trump on Monday announced a new $15 billion steel plant being built in Iowa, highlighting an economic victory in a key battleground state where Republicans face competitive midterm races. Trump announced the new plant at an Oval Office event alongside steel execu...
Investigation finds some 7-Eleven, Circle K stores overcharged customers
You may want to double-check your receipt the next time you stop at a convenience store. An investigation by The Guardian found that 7-Eleven and Circle K stores repeatedly charged customers more than advertised prices at registers and gas pumps. The report cites government inspe...
Starbucks launches air-whipped espresso drink for National Coffee Day
Starbucks is introducing a new air-whipped iced espresso drink at locations across North America this week. The launch comes after the coffee giant announced plans to close 250 North American stores this year. The company also said it expects 1,500 stores to be retrofitted by Sep...
Nvidia unveils security platform to stop AI agents from going rogue
Nvidia on Monday unveiled a new security platform that the chipmaker said can stop artificial intelligence agents from going rogue. The company said that its Open Agent Safety Platform includes open source software that "sets boundaries for agents," and follows a series of revela...
Paying a "convenience tax"? Here’s how to cut costs
Americans are burned out by fees and costly add-ons yet many consumers still spend the extra few dollars when it means saving time. The habit, known as "convenience spending," adds up to hundreds of extra dollars a year when paying for conveniences like faster shipping, store mea...
FNFF Hit of the Week:
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Some plays make the highlight reel because of where the football ends up. This one makes it because of where the helmet ends up. Abbott’s Lane Hejl delivered the inaugural D&D Body Shop Hit of the Week with a crushing tackle against Calvert. The play develo...
Mexia residents asked what they want as city works to attract new businesses and growth
Mexia residents have the opportunity to tell the city what they want as local leaders work to attract new businesses and spur economic growth. A recent community survey has already generated 250 responses. Residents are asking for more housing, restaurants, and youth activities. ...
Powerful nor’easter floods Northeast, leaves over 130,000 without power as high tides threaten coast
A powerful noreaster battered the Northeast again on Sunday, flooding coastal communities and leaving tens of thousands of homes and businesses without power as forecasters warned that another round of high tides could inundate vulnerable shorelines. The slow-moving storm, which ...
Week in review: Notable news from this past week
From three news outlets’ restored access to the White House to the Chinese president’s state visit to the U.S., here’s what made headlines.
Two years later, Helene survivors are still rebuilding lives
A general store rises again, a couple get a sign and parents experience something they never thought possible.
TikTok reaches first state settlement over teen safety claims
An Alabama jury will hear the state's claims starting Monday that TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance made the platform addictive to young users and misled consumers about its safety....