schools
Texas’ divisive overhaul of high school social studies lessons set to conclude this week
A rewrite of what Texas high schoolers learn in history, government and geography is expected to receive final approval this week.
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US military families ride 'roller coaster of emotions' over six months of Iran war
During the Iran war's on-and-off fighting, shuttle diplomacy and failed peace talks, military families experienced a “roller coaster of emotions.”
News
Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump's $400 million ballroom
A divided Supreme Court on Monday allowed the White House to continue construction on a $400 million ballroom project as lawsuits play out. The decision replaces a temporary order from Chief Justice John Roberts previously issued hours before a lower-court decision halting the wo...
government
'Too late' for Trump to make major changes to how mail-in voting works, expert says
A court on Monday denied the Trump administration's request to allow major changes to mail-in voting to proceed while a court case against them goes on. However, the judge ruled that the US Postal Service can start creating an online portal to keep track of who is allowed to vote...
library
Man accused of causing young girl to smoke substance
Bruceville Eddy, Tx (FOX 44) - A Bruceville Eddy man is facing felony charges after a 14-year-old girl became ill after saying she was intimidated into smoking suspected marijuana. Edward Michael Vasquez, age 17, was booked into the McLennan County Jail Sunday morning on charges ...
News
About 80 Americans remain unaccounted for after devastating flash flooding in Nepal
Approximately 80 Americans are among more than 4,400 people unaccounted for after catastrophic flash flooding swept through Nepal and areas along its border with China, according to a U.S. State Department spokesperson. The spokesperson said 13 U.S. citizens have made their way t...
News
Winners, losers of NFL roster cuts: Who's bluffing on QBs?
The NFL's obligatory annual roster purge is complete. But anyone participating in the league-wide workforce reduction should know better than to refer to the recent flurry of moves as final....
News
Nicolás Maduro shares photos on his social media from inside New York prison
Ousted Venezuelan president Nicols Maduro shared photos on his X account from the prison in New York where he has been held since the U.S. military captured him and his wife in January. In the social media post, Maduro is seen wearing a gray tracksuit and smiling while holding up...
News
Kalshi bans ex-Congressman George Santos for life, alleging insider trading
Kalshi said Monday that it has permanently banned former U.S. Rep. George Santos for his bets on whether he'd attend the State of the Union address. The online prediction market also fined and temporarily banned North Carolina congressional candidate Laurie Buckhout for bets she ...
safety
Willis man killed, two injured in Grimes Co. Hwy 30 crash
Grimes County, Tx (FOX 44) - A late Sunday night three-vehicle crash in rural Grimes County has left a 59-year-old Willis man dead and two others sent to the hospital. Department of Public Safety Sergeant Justin Ruiz said it happened about 11:17 p.m. Sunday on State Highway 30 ne...
government
More than 1.2 million Texas voters are on suspense list. Are you?
More than 1.2 million Texas voters are on the state’s voter suspense list, meaning election officials have been unable to confirm their current address....
News
Experts, lawyers puzzled over Venezuela oil deal
A massive long-term oil deal expected to grant the U.S. access to a fifth of Venezuela's crude reserves has energy experts and lawyers questioning its legality and eventual execution while calling on both governments for contract transparency....
schools
Support program could be helping former inmates stay out of prison
A simple support program could be helping former inmates stay out of prison. A new Indiana University study found incarcerated people with traumatic brain injuries were far less likely to return to prison when they received education, coping skills training and post-release suppo...
News
Many consumers are likely to switch insurance companies because of slow payouts
According to InvoiceClouds 2026 Consumer Claims Experiences Survey, about 15-percent of people say they got their claim payment within a week. The survey added that three out of four people say they would be likely to switch insurance companies because of slow payouts. RELATED ST...
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On islands key to Taiwan's defense, troops prepare for a Chinese first strike
Thousands of Taiwanese troops form a garrison on the Penghu Islands and they are training for war with China. If Beijing decides to attack, they will be on Taiwan’s frontline....
business
Recent study finds those shopping around with loan offers can save significantly
A recent LendingTree study has found that borrowers who compare multiple loan offers can save significantly over the life of a loan. Experts say checking rates and fees from several lenders could help you avoid paying more than necessary. RELATED STORY | Average 30-year US mortga...
schools
2026 Week 2 Texas high school football rankings
Crawford enters the Top 10 as Whitney, Axtell and Rosebud-Lott move up. Plus, a couple of Centex teams exit the Week 2 DCTF state rankings. #txhsfb
News
Fed report finds rising gas prices have lasting effect on inflation expectations
A new report from the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank shows U.S. household inflation expectations rise when expecting higher gas prices, but remain relatively unchanged when prices at the pump drop. Data from the nations second-largest Federal Reserve bank branch also found th...
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Millennials, Gen Z set to inherit trillions — but most aren't prepared for the tax implications
Millennials and Gen Z are set to inherit the largest wealth transfer in U.S. history, with estimates ranging from $36 trillion to more than $100 trillion over the next few decades. But most of those set to receive that money have never spoken to a tax professional about how to ma...
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'There will be a next': Karl Ravech shares booth memories upon ESPN exit
It all started for Karl Ravech in Needham, Massachusetts, before and after dinner, on fields and courts with friends, playing what he calls “runaround sports.”...
News
Coastal Louisiana and Texas warned of tropical storm as a hurricane moves toward Hawaii
The National Hurricane Center posted a tropical storm warning on Monday for the Gulf of Mexico coast near the Texas-Louisiana state line. As of late Monday morning, the potential tropical cyclone was centered about 130 miles (210 kilometers) south of Morgan City, Louisiana, with ...
News
Is it safe to eat lettuce yet? What to know as cyclosporiasis outbreak lingers
As federal health officials continue to investigate this summers outbreak of cyclosporiasis tied to iceberg lettuce, many people are left wondering: Is it safe to eat lettuce yet? For now, the answer seems to be generally yes with an important caveat. In an update last week, the ...
government
"Battleground Midterms": A Conversation About The Texas U.S. Senate Race
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - The 2026 midterm elections are a little over two months away, and you can keep up with the key races with a special program called Battleground Midterms that you can watch on FOX 44 weeknights starting on Monday, August 31 at 11 p.m. through the November 3r...
business
Recall issued for this mango brand due to possible Salmonella contamination
A recall has been issued for more than 300 boxes of mangoes because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The product, sold by Panorama Produce at select Walmart stores in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, were recalled after the FDA found Salmonella in man...
schools
Open books can open doors for local students
Each fall, our station supports the Scripps Howard Funds If You Give a Child a Book campaign. Donations to the campaign directly benefit children in our community, allowing them to pick new books to build their home libraries. This year marks the 10th anniversary of book distribu...
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Fort Hood to host 343rd Bomb Squadron training
FORT HOOD, Texas (FOX 44) - Residents living on and around Fort Hood may experience increased aircraft noise and hear detonations on Tuesday night. The Fort Hood Media Center says B-52 Stratofortress aircraft from the 343rd Bomb Squadron of Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, wi...
News
New report shows the world's coral reefs are declining rapidly
A new report shows that the world's coral reefs are declining rapidly. According to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network , coral reefs have declined by nearly 10 percent since 2020. RELATED STORY | 84% of the world's coral reefs hit by worst bleaching event on record There ha...
safety
Bellmead's police chief moves to Pampa
Bellmead, Tx (FOX 44) - After serving as police chief in Bellmead for the past four years, Shawn Myatt is leaving to become chief in the Texas panhandle city of Pampa. Chief Myatt came to Bellmead on July 5, 2022 after serving as chief in Navasota. Bellmead City Manager Yost Zakh...
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50,000 cans of PBR vanish in beer heist
As investigators search for the missing cargo, Pabst has turned to social media to spread the word, offering a reward for information.
News
Trump's foreign beef deal draws skepticism from farmers and cattle ranchers nationwide
Jason Leavitt grew up on the farm in Calvert County, Maryland he now runs with his family. He ushers over 100 cows around their 160 acres of arable land, letting his grass-fed, grass-finished cattle graze on more than a dozen different pastures. He understands what Pres. Trump is...
safety
Madison County oil well fire brought under control
NORTH ZULCH, Texas (FOX 44) - A fire at an oil well site in Madison County was safely extinguished on Saturday afternoon. The North Zulch Volunteer Fire Department says it was dispatched to a fire on Blagraves Road, west of North Zulch. Normangee Fire/Rescue, Madisonville Fire/Re...
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Canada is fighting back in trade war with Trump. See what states it targets
Canadian officials say they targeted specific states and industries with retaliatory tariffs — such as those on food products, beverages and appliances — to apply political pressure on U.S. officials....
Local
Waco-area news briefs: AI and innovation focus of Waco chamber luncheon
Items of interest around the Waco area, in brief.
News
Argentina star Lionel Messi retires from international soccer with World Cup title and 125 goals
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Argentina superstar Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international soccer on Monday, ending 21 years of national-team duty that were capped by winning the World Cup in 2022 to secure his place in the pantheon of the game's greatest ever play...
News
US Treasury blocks certain journalists from G20 meeting in North Carolina
The U.S. Treasury Department is preventing certain journalists from covering a finance meeting among the world's most powerful countries, the latest example of how President Donald Trump's administration has restricted media access. Individual reporters from The New York Times, T...
News
DEA tactic that let fentanyl flood the streets is now being investigated
A controversial policing tactic that permitted staggering amounts of deadly fentanyl to reach the streets as federal authorities sought to build bigger drug cases is now under investigation by Republicans on the House Oversight Committee. The committee's chairman, Rep. James Come...
News
FDA expands Mounjaro approval for heart attack and stroke prevention
The Food and Drug Administration is expanding the use of the diabetes drug Mounjaro to help prevent heart attacks and strokes in high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes. The new approval applies to the drug produced by Eli Lilly. RELATED STORY | Mounjaro or Ozempic: Which is better...
News
With Aaron Donald back, how have unretired NFL players historically done?
Aaron Donald isn't done yet.
News
9 most notable players released as part of NFL's 2026 roster cuts
The NFL's 53-man roster deadline for 2026 has come and gone, leaving more than 1,000 players out of work, at least temporarily.
News
The US can’t fake its way out of fiscal trouble | Bloomberg News
The U.S. government, steward of the world’s largest economy, faces a darkening fiscal outlook as sovereign borrowing costs surge. Unfortunately, it seems intent on trying any fix except the one that might help....
News
'They call 15 times a day': Seniors inundated with Medicare calls ahead of open enrollment
Medicare open enrollment is still more than a month away, but scammers are already targeting seniors with a flood of phone calls, texts and emails. Some try to steal Medicare numbers using deceiving warnings about incomplete benefit information, while others promise free benefits...
News
Hall of Famer survived Yankees owner George Steinbrenner: ’I'll never reclaim those years'
New Yankees owner George Steinbrenner tried everything to break him and destroy his reputation to the point of no return, but Dave Winfield refused to let him win....
government
Plan to cut number of polling sites in a major Texas county draws protests as Senate race looms
A plan in one of Texas' largest counties to use dozens fewer polling locations than in previous years is drawing protests from Democrats who say the reductions could create confusion in the November midterm elections. The proposal, set for a vote Tuesday, would reduce the number ...
News
Sometimes the best classroom technology is no technology at all | Chicago Tribune
If a muscle atrophies, our bodies weaken. We can’t walk very far, we can’t lift things.
parks
US strikes Iran again as retaliation raises fears over gas prices, Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military conducted strikes against Iran for the first time in weeks, and Iran retaliated, as the war between the countries surpassed six months. President Trump called the campaign very limited but didnt rule out further action, calling Iran a failed nation. Their navy i...
News
College football Week 0 winners, losers: Belichick on top, NDSU wins 1st FBS test
Belichick, Virginia and TCU lead the biggest winners and losers from Week 0 of the 2026 season.
parks
2 dead, 15 possibly missing after flash flooding rips through Grand Canyon
At least two people are dead and around 15 are unaccounted for after flash flooding ripped through Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona over the weekend. The body of a 46-year-old man was found near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, park officials said. His identity and t...
safety
Police in Switzerland make arrest after deadly rave shooting
Swiss police say they arrested a 43-year-old man on Monday after a deadly shooting at a rave in northern Switzerland led to the death of an Italian citizen and saw several other young people wounded. Aargau Cantonal Police previously said one person was killed and five others wer...
government
Election officials say mail ballot rule could compromise midterms
Election officials said it would take something short of "an act of God" for their states and localities to comply with the rule just weeks before the elections....
News
With costs up, healthcare a defining issue in Texas’ battleground House races
One of the most expensive ads in a South Texas congressional race this cycle opens with a simple pitch: “When it comes to your healthcare, Bobby Pulido believes you should be in charge — not politicians.”...
government
McLennan Co. commissioner discusses tax increase
McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) - The McLennan County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 on Tuesday to approve a four-cent property tax rate increase alongside the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Precinct Two Commissioner D.L. Wilson came to our studio to share more informati...
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Jiko – The Cooking Place celebrates 25 years at Walt Disney World
The soft light that filters down, like sun through the thatched roof of a rondavel, in the soaring lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge has something warm in it. Protective, almost — which makes sense, as its stunning chandeliers are…...
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Family travel 5: Real adventures
The best vacations often include memorable experiences, real adventure and transformative moments. Here are five ideas to consider. Traverse Norway’s fjords by yacht From the deck of a Windstar yacht, the scenery unfolds at an unhurried pace. Waterfalls tumble from…...
News
How to sleep better when you travel
Here’s a disturbing fact: A third of U.S. adults fail to get the recommended minimum of seven hours of daily sleep. As many as 70 million Americans experience chronic sleep disorders or disturbances, with 20% of those reporting daytime drowsiness.…...
parks
‘Disney Worldbuilders’: Translating films into theme parks
ORLANDO, Fla. — A new documentary that delves into filmmakers and their associated theme-park projects is streaming now on Disney+. “Disney Worldbuilders” goes behind the scenes and into the childhoods of a set of storytellers with interviews and file footage.…...