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Passion vs. paycheck: AI and student debt push students to rethink their majors

As students pack dorms and lecture halls for the new semester, student loan costs, a cooler job market, and fears about AI-related job losses are all influencing how students choose their college majors. This year, business, health sciences, and engineering top the list of most p...

KXXV (ABC 25) NewsAug 25, 2026

Baylor history professor wins statewide award

This spring, Baylor University history professor Stephen M. Sloan was named a Piper Professor of 2026 by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.

Waco Tribune-HeraldAug 25, 2026

Griffin III, Newton to serve as honorary captains for Baylor-Auburn

Baylor legend Robert Griffin III and Auburn legend Cam Newton will reunite at midfield when the two Heisman Trophy winners serve as honorary captains for their alma maters in the 2026 Aflac Kickoff Game, according to a Monday release....

Waco Tribune-HeraldAug 25, 2026

Vertical refocuses mission on reaching Baylor’s ‘unreached’ students

By Abby Rathburn | Staff Writer Vertical’s new leadership team is entering the academic year with a renewed focus on its mission to reach unreached students who are unfamiliar with the gospel. The student-led ministry’s mission is to “ignite a passion” in college students for Jes...

Baylor LariatAug 25, 2026

Klopfenstein, Polley step up in tight end room amid offseason changes

By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor Baylor saw the emergence of a top talent at tight end in 2025. Michael Trigg found his place in the Bears’ offense in his second season in Waco. Trigg became a Mackey Award Finalist, All-Big 12 First Team and an All-American as one of the top pass...

Baylor LariatAug 25, 2026

English professor appointed as new director of University Scholars

By Tripp Henderson | Staff Writer Baylor has appointed Dr. Richard Rankin Russell, a professor in the English department, as the new director of the University Scholars program. Russell, who previously served as the program’s assistant director from 2009 to 2013, said returning a...

Baylor LariatAug 25, 2026

Top 5 songs for your first week of class playlist

By Kalena Reynolds | Editor-in-Chief An unspoken mark in everyone’s transition from adolescence to adulthood is the first week of college. Drowning in surreal emotion and overwhelm, the first week of school brings on an odd combination of feelings. Whether you’re a freshman, grad...

Baylor LariatAug 25, 2026

Waco’s dirty soda showdown: Swig vs. Sip City

By Rhea Choudhary | Arts & Life Writer Waco’s dirty soda options have officially become a little more competitive, and Baylor students have two contenders to consider when deciding which shop earns their next taste test. Whether Baylor students want a sweet drink between their cl...

Baylor LariatAug 25, 2026

Killeen ISD preparing for annual Freedom Walk

KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44) - The Killeen Independent School District is getting ready to march for a cause and bring the community together for its annual Freedom Walk. For more information about this event, you can watch our interview above....

FOX 44 News (KWKT)Aug 24, 2026

Texas A&M welcomes 70,000 Aggie students back to campus for the first day of class

Texas A&M welcomes 70,000 students back to campus for the first day of class Watch the full story here: Texas A&M welcomes 70,000 Aggie students back to campus for the first day of class The fall semester is underway at Texas A&M University, with 70,000 Aggies returning to campus...

KXXV (ABC 25) NewsAug 24, 2026

OpenAI adds plug-in that gives ChatGPT more autonomy on your Mac

If you're a Mac user, there's a new feature that you should be aware of. OpenAI has added a new plug-in that gives ChatGPT more autonomy. Users will be able to ask the chat bot to reply to contacts, suggest follow-up responses and detect spam. RELATED STORY | Nearly a third of co...

KXXV (ABC 25) NewsAug 24, 2026

New nursing school dean sees faith as foundation for Baylor’s future nurses

By Hannah Webb | News Editor For Dean Tanya Sudia, she cannot remember an “aha” moment when she decided to become a nurse. Instead, she said, nursing has always felt like a calling — one rooted in serving others. Now, as the new dean of Baylor University’s Louise Herrington Schoo...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

MEET THE BEARS

BAYLOR FOOTBALL

Waco Tribune-HeraldAug 24, 2026

The literary crisis reflects more than a lack of reading books

By Fallon Head | Web Editor When I joined my high school journalism program, one of the first things I was taught was that we shouldn’t write above a sixth-grade reading level because that was the reading proficiency of the average American. I’ve listened to conversations where p...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

Residence Halls introduce new students to traditions

By Jen Forse | Staff Writer Students engaged in traditions unique to their residence halls this weekend, including meals, pickleball games, Hall Battles and a Girls’ Night In. Residence Hall Traditions Night is an annual Welcome Week event and, for most freshmen, their first expe...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

Baylor’s wide receiver room turns page with new core

By Carson Vercoe | Sports Writer Baylor’s receiving core was one of the top in the Big 12, returning most of the core. Receivers like Josh Cameron, Ashtyn Hawkins and Kole Wilson helped create one of the most dominant passing attacks in the country. Now, as the Bears head into th...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

New faces, new identity for Baylor’s defensive line

By Carson Vercoe | Sports Writer As fall practices draw to a close and the new season kicks off, Baylor’s revamped defensive line is looking to create a new identity different than the one that took the field for the Bears last season. With a completely new defensive line and a p...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

Despite triple-digit heat, Move2BU volunteers show up for incoming students

By Tripp Henderson & Abby Rathburn | Staff Writers Sweat dripped down faces, shouts of encouragement echoed across campus and water bottles became essential as student volunteers helped incoming students move into their new homes Thursday. A heat advisory and temperatures well ab...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

Former Baylor provost opts for new leadership position instead of sabbatical

By Hannah Webb | News Editor Former Baylor provost Nancy Brickhouse has accepted an administrative position with Texas State University Systems three months after announcing her resignation as provost and her plan to stay on Baylor faculty. Brickhouse served as Baylor’s provost, ...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

What international students should know about ‘Duration of Status’ rule change

By Giselle Lee | Staff Writer As Baylor international students return to Waco for the fall semester, they will face new regulations after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of “Duration of Status” (D/S), effective as early as Sept. 15 this ye...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

Student Government officers outline priorities for the 2026-27 school year

By Joana Karoshi | Staff Writer Ashlyn Graves: Student Body President DeRidder, Louisiana, senior Ashlyn Graves, Baylor’s 2026-27 student body president, plans to build on existing university initiatives and strengthen student engagement throughout the academic year. Photo courte...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

Sports Take: 2026 Baylor football season predictions

By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor Many Baylor fans are down on the Bears following a disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2025. That squad had the pote ntial to create a memorable season behind the majority of starters returning. This year is a new story for Baylor football. There has be...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

I-35 to AI: What you missed over the summer

By Hannah Webb | News Editor As students return to Baylor’s campus, several major developments from the spring and summer have shaped the university. From a new artificial intelligence degree and a record-breaking fundraising year to changes along I-35, here are 10 things to know...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

Baylor defense enters new era under Joe Klanderman

By Carson Vercoe | Sports Writer Baylor’s defense looked to find success in 2025 behind a combination of change and continuity. The Bears seemed confident in veteran leaders at all three levels of defense behind Devyn Bobby, Keaton Thomas and Jackie Marshall. They also found a sp...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

Jacob Redding turns underdog mentality into leading veteran safety room

By Grant McTaggart | Sports Writer Senior safety Jacob Redding entered Baylor football at the bottom of the totem pole. Redding joined the Baylor roster as a walk-on, largely overlooked by major programs despite earning unanimous First Team All-District honors at New Braunfels Hi...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

A new legacy: DJ Lagway looks to turn career around at Baylor

By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor Junior quarterback DJ Lagway came into college with hopes of being a dominant force in the SEC. He was ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2024 out of Willis High School and joined a historically rich Florida program. Lagway looked lik...

Baylor LariatAug 24, 2026

Over 80 local churches help students ‘get connected’ at annual Church Fair

By Kamryn Anthis | Staff Writer As new students settle into campus and find their place, the Baylor Spiritual Life Center welcomed everyone to its annual Church Fair at Fountain Plaza. Representatives from more than 80 churches across the Baylor area set up tents to introduce stu...

Baylor LariatAug 22, 2026

NCAA sanctions former Baylor men’s basketball assistant coach for sports betting

By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor The NCAA placed a two-year show- cause order on f ormer Baylor men’s basketball assistant coach Jared Nuness after he admitted to betting thousands of dollars on professional and college sports. Baylor conducted an internal investigation and turne...

Baylor LariatAug 22, 2026

Baylor Football Predictions

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Baylor LariatAug 21, 2026

A Waco Welcome 2026 invites incoming freshmen to connect with Baylor

By Giselle Lee & Stephanie Starks | Staff Writers The Class of 2030 was welcomed on Wednesday and Thursday at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center for the annual A Waco Welcome event, which allowed students to familiarize themselves with campus resources and Waco businesses. El...

Baylor LariatAug 21, 2026