Journalist · 14 articles indexed on Waco
Billy Banks is a bylined journalist whose reporting appears on Waco. We aggregate Billy Banks's work from trusted local sources with full attribution, linking back to the original publisher. To learn more about how we select and review stories, see our editorial standards.
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One man is dead and another is detained following a Saturday evening shooting in Grimes County.The Grimes County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call around 5:12 p.m. Saturday reporting a shooting on
Waco PD says Interstate 35 southbound is shut down near Valley Mills Drive due to a truck spill, forcing drivers to use alternate routes.No injuries were reported. Officials have not said when the hig
The first West Nile virus case of 2026 has been confirmed in Bell County after mosquito samples tested positive, health officials announced Thursday.The Bell County Public Health District received lab
Killeen Independent School District announced Monday the appointment of three new campus principals for the 2026-2027 school year.Genevive Manning, with more than 25 years of education experience, wil
The City of Hillsboro announced that water service will be temporarily suspended west of Cho Street beginning Monday at 10:00 PM.City crews will take the downtown water tower offline to repair two wat
A Montgomery County Sheriff's Office deputy was killed early Sunday while directing traffic at a crash scene on Interstate 45. Deputy Erika Serrato, 24, died after being struck by a commercial truck w
UPDATE:The Bryan Police Department now says southbound lanes are reopened.ORIGINAL:Two people are in custody after a pursuit in which Brazos County Sheriff's Office deputies were fired upon.The incide
The Belton Fire Department is investigating the cause of an early morning house fire that destroyed a home in the 1000 block of Sharon Drive. Five residents escaped the blaze uninjured, but two pets d
A Temple truck driver died Thursday after losing control of his vehicle while avoiding a detached tire on State Highway 36, Texas Department of Public Safety officials said.Jonathan Aaron Thomas, 42,
A deadly shooting in Harker Heights claimed one life Sunday morning after a victim arrived at Seton Hospital around 3:28 a.m.Police believe the shooting occurred in the 700 block of Edwards Drive, tho
First responders are conducting rescue operations on Interstate 35 southbound between Waco and Hewitt after multiple vehicles became stranded in high water Sunday night.The flooding occurred between m
A single-vehicle crash left one person dead Sunday morning after their car struck a utility pole and caught fire in Temple.Temple police responded to the crash around 7:39 a.m. at West Adams Avenue an
Incumbent Harker Heights Mayor Michael Blomquist won re-election with 1,237 votes, beating out former Councilwoman Lynda Nash with 1,107 votes.25 Newscaught up with both candidates before the election
Marlin police responded to reports of a disturbance around 2:43 p.m. in the 300 block of Oakland Place Thursday.When officers arrived, they found two individuals with gunshot wounds, police said. Both
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Search 567,859+ verified resources for food, healthcare, and housing — all 50 states, DC, and US territories. Free. A practical guide for Waco: pantries, SNAP, WIC, the 211 referral line, and how to use the free Feed America directory at feedam.org.
HEWITT, Texas (FOX 44) — The Hewitt Public Library opened its doors in 2016, and since then it's made itself a central piece of the Hewitt community. In 2025, the Hewitt Public Library was awarded the Achievement of Excellence by the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) – The Waco Independent Film Festival (Waco Indie) has announced the film lineup and events schedule for this year's event! The Festival was recently was named as one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee”. Waco Indie’s in-theater...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Waco's Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children is inviting you to an inspiring afternoon of connection, impact, and community. The organization's third annual Spill the Tea Luncheon will be taking place at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Ridgewood...
Waco, Tx (FOX44) - Investigators seeing two vehicles stopped at gas pumps with no gas purchased led to two traffic stops and arrests for marijuana possession. An arrest affidavit stated a DPS Special Agent was conducting surveillance on a convenience store and gas station at US...
McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) - Preparing for hurricanes is essential in saving lives, protecting your property and surviving prolonged power and supply outages. McLennan County Emergency Management Coordinator Ryan Dirker shares how we can be well-prepared for hurricane...
Robinson, Tx (FOX44) - Northbound traffic on I-35 in Robinson was disrupted shortly after two o'clock Tuesday morning when a truck tractor caught fire and burned. Robinson volunteer firefighters responded to the fire near the 330A northbound mile marker. The fire was confined to...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children has spent nearly 50 years helping survivors across Central Texas. They provide crisis services, counseling, forensic interviews, prevention education and more. The Center is also inviting the community to...
Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMillan says the Aggies are ahead of schedule this offseason, while forward Mackenzie Mgbako works his way back from injury. Aggie Basketball Offseason UpdateTexas A&M basketball head coach Bucky McMillan says the Aggies are ahead of schedule this...
Leon County commissioners reject initial tax break application for Crusoe Technologies data centerWatch the full story here: Leon County commissioners reject initial tax break application for Crusoe Technologies data centerMore than 200 residents packed Leon County's Annex 2...
HEWITT, Texas (FOX 44) — In Hewitt, Fire Chief Jonathan Christian has brought about millions of dollars in change, including a new fire engine and a fire station. Coming to the Hewitt Fire Department, Fire Chief Jonathan Christian had a plan. The department was already making...
Waco police warn residents to verify AI-generated crime alerts after a false report about an officer shooting turned out to be a training exercise. Waco police are warning residents to be cautious of AI-generated crime alerts after a false report spread through a crime reporting...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Every week, FOX 44 will be featuring a furry friend up for adoption through the Humane Society of Central Texas. You can take a look at Crown Apple in the video above! If you're thinking about adopting this furry friend, you can contact the Humane Society...
HEWITT, Texas (FOX 44) - Hewitt's calling card for making it a great place to live is its proximity to big city attractions and amenities with a small town feel. One of the great attractions is the Hewitt Public Library - which earned the 2025 Achievement of Excellence from the...
As children lose access to school meals for the summer and grocery prices remain high,25 Newsis partnering with Shepherd's Heart for the annual "Feed the Need" food drive to help support local families.Watch Full Story Here: Feed the need: 25 News and Shepherd's Heart team up to...
Killeen City Council is set to vote on an ADA transition plan that would improve accessibility across the community, following a settlement agreement reached with the Department of Justice in 2021.Watch the story here: Killeen city council to vote on ADA transition plan aimed at...
HEWITT, Texas (FOX 44) - While the City of Hewitt is second to none when it comes to its public services, it also boasts a couple of landmarks! The Hewitt Baptist Church was founded in November 1894 with the help of Whitehall Baptist Church. Hewitt Baptist joined the Waco...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - A McLennan Community College (MCC) music professor is one of five finalists for Keyboard/Pianist of the Year in the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards! The College is celebrating the recognition of Music Industry Careers professor and alumnus Shane Hall, who...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Organizers for the 2026 ATG Expo in Waco have made the difficult decision to postpone this year's event. The event will not be taking place on September 12–13. Event organizers say circumstances outside of their control resulted in the Expo being once...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) -- The softball season may be over, but the next generation of stars is already making its case. More than 280 high school softball players took the field this weekend at the Parsons Sports Ranch Baseball and Softball Complex in Clifton for the facility’s...
Five Texas A&M baseball players were selected on the final day of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft Sunday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.Catcher Bear Harrison headlined the group, going 160th overall to the New York Yankees in the fifth round. Harrison...
Gas prices may be falling, but grocery bills are heading in the opposite direction and Waco shoppers are feeling it.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports grocery inflation is up nearly 3% over the last year. While local economist Ray Perryman says that percentage is in...
One man is dead and another is detained following a Saturday evening shooting in Grimes County.The Grimes County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call around 5:12 p.m. Saturday reporting a shooting on Independence Drive in Bedias. Deputies arriving at the scene found one adult...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce is celebrating twenty years of its LEAD Program. LEAD stands for Leadership, Education & Development, and it is the Chamber's locally-grown, grassroots mentoring program, started by a local banker who graduated from...
Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks is hosting a youth football camp at Fort Hood, centered solely around military children.Watch the story here: Houston Texans Woody Marks hosts football camp for military children at Fort HoodFor many military kids in the area, the...
After a quick guilty verdict, a local jury began weighing the sentence for Richard Ozment who was found guilty Wednesday in the death of Michaela Brooker in 2024. Ozment killed Brooker with a concrete brick, and in addition, he used a machete during the brutal death Ozment...
Glory Bell Church in Waco raised over $5,000 in donations to help bring down the price of gas for residents. The event was held at Buzzy Gas Station from 9 am to 11 am Dozens of residents attended the eventBROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:I barely got paid today," said resident Pablo...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Let's face it, these days, anything under $3 per gallon is a score, but one local church takes it a step further every year. Hundreds, literally over 200 vehicles, showed up this morning (July 11, 2026) for Glory Bell Church's annual 'Gas Buy Down Day.'...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) --The third annual Famous Friends vs. Waco 6-Shooters Granny Basketball Fundraiser returned to Waco. The event tipped off at the Highlands Gym at MCC, bringing together local leaders, community supporters and familiar faces to raise money for Friends for...
For the last two years, the city of Whitney has been collecting fees from our neighbors to register their pets. Now, some residents want to know where the money is going. One city official said that within the past two years, a little over $500 sat in a general fund, and the...
The 3-day camp at the Brazos County Expo Center draws first-time campers from across Texas and provides a boost to the local economy. Aggieland Lamb and Goat CampThe 28th annual Aggieland Lamb and Goat Camp is underway at the Brazos County Expo Center, helping teach families how...
Aggie baseball players poised to hear their names called at the 2026 MLB DraftMultiple Texas A&M baseball players are projected to be selected when the 2026 MLB Draft begins Saturday. Aggies MLB Draft PreviewAfter a strong 2026 season, several Aggie Baseball players are waiting...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - We are only halfway through summer vacation, but the Waco Police Department already has back-to-school on their mind. The department had all available hands on deck for their annual 'Stuff the Cruiser' event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, (July 11, 2026),...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) — The Waco Regional Airport has been working towards making itself the first choice for Wacoans, and one step they're taking is seeking a grant to grow the capabilities of the airport. As of the past few years, the Waco Regional Airport (ACT) only offers...
Waco, Tx (FOX 44) - UPDATE: The McLennan County Sheriff's Office has provided the all clear after a bomb threat at the County Courthouse on Friday morning, according to the Waco Police Department. Waco PD says no threat has been found. All roads have been reopened. This comes...
A Central Texas couples request for public information from their city is being challenged and is now in the hands of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.The expecting parents are now at their wits' end about flooding on their Copperas Cove property and have reached out...
Former Texas Tech football player Haydon Wiginton is returning to his family roots in Lampasas this weekend for the annual Spring Ho Festival and he's bringing his very first song with him.Watch the story here: Haydon Wiginton honors late grandfather through music at Lampasas...
A bomb threat was called in to the McLennan County Sheriff's Office at 8 a.m. Friday, prompting the evacuation of the McLennan County Courthouse and nearby buildings in Waco. Deputies conducted a primary and secondary search of the courthouse, the district attorney's office, and...
Robinson, TX (FOX 44) - A good night's sleep is helping dreams take shape in Kerrville thanks to the efforts of two local organizations working together to ensure campers have a comfortable place to rest. Campers will rest a little easier thanks to the Robinson Area Lions Club...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Bold stories, big laughs, and unforgettable memories will come to life at the Waco Independent Film Festival! Festival Co-Founders Louis Hunter and Samuel Thomas tell us what we can expect for the event's tenth year in our interview above. For more...
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