All articles tagged with #waco
A cold front and stalled boundaries trigger multiple flash flood warnings across Central Texas tonight through Monday, with 3-5 inches of rain possible in slow-moving storms; Waco and surrounding counties (McLennan, Milam, Falls, Bell, Coryell) plus Temple are affected, and a flood watch remains in effect. Cooler temperatures are expected next week, and a Gulf disturbance could bring more rain to the coast later.
First responders are conducting rescues after multiple vehicles were stranded in high water on southbound I-35 between Waco and Hewitt; the roadway is impassable between mile markers 330 and 327, northbound lanes remain open, and a flash flood warning remains in effect until 12:30 a.m.
A Nigerian priest, Fr. Anthony Odiong, who served in multiple U.S. dioceses including Austin and Baylor University in Waco, was found guilty in Texas of one first-degree and two second-degree sexual assaults against women under his spiritual direction; prosecutors say he fathered a child with a parishioner in Louisiana and he previously faced a 2024 arrest for possession of child pornography, with sentencing set for June 1.
Anthony Odiong, a Louisiana priest convicted in Texas of first- and second-degree sexual assault against female parishioners, had his name stripped from the Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel he helped build in Luling, while survivor accounts and police records outline a broader pattern of abuse; the archdiocese had previously suspended him, and a sentencing phase was set to follow the four-day trial.
A 7-year-old child was killed in a head-on collision on Waco's Lake Shore Drive when a driver crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with two other vehicles. The child was riding in the second vehicle involved in the crash. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
The Waco Fire Department is investigating a house fire that occurred on North 32nd St. and Fort Ave. One person has been displaced, but there were no injuries reported. The fire damaged a car at the home, and firefighters are currently working to put out hot spots in the debris.
Chip and Joanna Gaines have announced the opening date for their new boutique hotel, Hotel 1928, in downtown Waco. The hotel, which includes three restaurants and a 33-room accommodation, is set to open on November 1st. The building, located at 701 Washington St., was originally a social club and later housed county offices. The project received "opportunity zone" tax benefits and is part of the Gaineses' efforts to build their brand and make Waco a tourist destination.
Central Texas, particularly Waco, is preparing for the Solar Eclipse event in 2024, expecting millions of visitors and a significant economic boost. With the region being one of the best spots to view the eclipse, experts predict people from northern states will travel south to Texas for better chances of clear weather. Waco's tourism board estimates nearly $15 million in economic impact, with hotels and rental spaces already experiencing skyrocketing prices. Local businesses and hotels are making preparations for the influx of visitors, including RV slots and lodging arrangements. Other cities in the region, like Killeen, are also anticipating a large number of tourists and expect the sales tax revenue to benefit the local community. The Waco Convention Center is hosting events and has purchased solar glasses for visitors and local school districts.
Chip and Joanna Gaines are auctioning off the historic Waco castle that they spent years rehabbing and made the focus of a special Fixer Upper series on Magnolia Network. The three-story, 6,700-square-foot residence has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, seven fireplaces, and sits on 1.5 acres in the heart of Waco. Bidding will begin at 3 pm July 20, and there's no reserve. The property was appraised this year at $1.7 million, including land - nearly $700,000 more than its $1.03 million appraisal in 2022. The castle is also being offered for sale at $2.9 million by Magnolia Realty.
Chip and Joanna Gaines of "Fixer Upper" fame are listing the historic Cottonland Castle in Waco, Texas for auction through Concierge Auctions, with bidding to open on July 20. The castle, which was listed as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1977, has undergone three years of renovations by the Gaines and is listed at 6,176 square feet with four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. The castle is located in the Castle Heights neighborhood and is 8 minutes from Baylor University and 12 minutes to Lake Waco.
The 30th anniversary of the Waco siege has sparked renewed interest in the events that led to the deaths of 86 people, including more than 20 children. The siege has continued to captivate new generations, with their understanding of what happened shaped by pop culture and politics, along with a flurry of new film and book versions. The events are easily exploitable in today’s polarized, gun-saturated cultural landscape, with anti-government forums drawing a through line from Waco to what are presented as federal excesses in the prosecution of rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Thirty years ago, after a 51-day standoff, federal agents moved in on a religious cult’s compound in Waco, Texas. The siege culminated in a fiery spectacle that ended with the apparent deaths of more than 80 men, women, and children in what authorities said may have been a mass suicide. David Koresh, the self-styled messiah, and his Branch Davidians set their besieged compound afire after FBI agents had knocked holes in their flimsy wooden buildings with Army combat engineer vehicles and pumped tear gas into their living quarters for six hours in an attempt to end the conflict peacefully.
"Waco: The Aftermath," the sequel to the 2018 TV series "Waco," has premiered on Showtime. The series explores the aftermath of the Waco siege and the trauma carried by federal agents involved in the incident. The show is sympathetic to the surviving Branch Davidians and explores how Timothy McVeigh was radicalized by the siege. Michael Shannon reprises his role as FBI negotiator Gary Noesner, and the cast is perfectly casted. The series is off to a hot start and is worth watching for fans of the original series.
Showtime's "Waco: The Aftermath" is a five-episode companion series to the 2018 Paramount Network miniseries about the deadly standoff between federal law enforcement and the Branch Davidian sect in Waco, Texas. The series follows the disparate paths of those either dealing with their role in the siege or taking malicious inspiration from it. While the series has an excellent cast and explores the psychology of the Koresh followers, it is biased towards the Branch Davidians and struggles to frame the Waco incident as a catalyst for lone wolves without tacitly affirming the outrage that creates people like Timothy McVeigh.
