🐾 A NEW CHAMPION

Good morning, Waco. Somewhere between Italy and Poland last week, thieves stole 413,793 KitKats (and the truck carrying them). Neither the candy or truck have been located. Sounds like someone’s planning one heck of a black market Easter egg hunt.

Reminder: Wednesday is April Fools Day. Last year I announced a Costco was going in by Main Event and spent the rest of the day responding to texts saying it was a joke. Learned my lesson not to play with Wacoans hearts on the topic of Costco or Trader Joe’s.

— Sam Harper

Lake trips. Long weekends. That trailer you've been meaning to haul somewhere since January. Spring in Waco has a way of reminding you exactly what your truck is for…or isn't.

The team at Chevrolet of West has 197 vehicles ready to go, including the new 2026 Silverado. Don't just take our word for it:

"Adrian handled every step of the process with patience and professionalism, ensuring my experience was transparent and stress-free." -- Kathleen M., verified buyer

Browse inventory at ChevyofWest.com or call 254-826-8436.

🐾 We Have a Champion

Our first-ever Mutt Madness is in the books. Thirty-two dogs entered. Five rounds. Nearly 10,000 votes cast over two weeks -- and one pup standing at the end.

In a final that was almost as close as the Duke vs UConn game, Lilah is your 2026 Mutt Madness Champion with 3,450 votes in the final round. She's going home with a year of treats from Woof Gang Bakery, a $50 gift card to Wags Pet Spa, a family pack meal from Frenchie Daddy French Toast, and a free yard scoop from Scoopy Doo Waco.

A huge thank you to presenting sponsors Ranch House Pet-Med and Scoopy Doo Waco for helping make this happen, and to everyone who voted. The $400 raised goes directly to Fuzzy Friends Rescue. We'll definitely be doing this again next year.

🌙 Night Hikes Are Back at Lake Waco Wetlands Cameron Park Zoo staff are leading free guided evening hikes at the Lake Waco Wetlands starting this Friday, April 3, from 7-8 PM. No registration or tickets required, just comfortable shoes, a flashlight, and a willingness to see what the Wetlands looks like after dark. Additional dates are April 17, May 8, and May 22. Meet at the Research and Education Center at 1752 Eichelberger Crossing in China Spring.

✈️ Waco (ACT) → Chicago (ORD) for $290 round-trip

Deep dish pizza, the Bean, a lakefront walk in spring weather, the Cubs….Chicago in May is hard to beat. At $290 round-trip out of Waco, this one is worth a serious look.

👉 See Flight Deal →

If this flight deal caught your eye, Denae at Traveluxe can handle the flights, hotel, and insider perks at no cost to you. Just email [email protected] and she’ll take it from there. ✈️
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🎂 Should We Throw a Cake Party?

We just crossed the 13,000 member mark on this little slice of Waco and I’m thinking of how to celebrate. I think we should throw a party where the only rule is you have to bring a cake.

Picture this: we find a great spot, everyone shows up with a homemade cake, we taste our way through the whole spread, and we crown a winner. Not a stuffy baking competition -- just neighbors showing up with their best, sharing a slice, and meeting the person who made it. Waco has some incredible bakers (Baked Bliss, Sweetness, Around The World Bakery just to name a few), but there are hundreds of you who have amazing recipes waiting to be shared. And just to be clear….no cupcakes or cookies. Cake.

🍖 Waco BBQ Owner Gets His Shot Nathon Woods of In the Woods BBQ had his restaurant forced closed by repeated break-ins in 2022. Now, working with Startup Waco, he's competing in a national business contest hosted by Shark Tank's Daymond John -- and he needs your vote. Free to vote, once a day, and he's currently in third place. 👉 Vote here.

🏋️ Waco's First Adaptive Gym Opens Saturday Edwin Munoz came to Waco in 2018 after a diving accident left him paralyzed at 26. Hillcrest gave him a charity bed, no questions asked. His physical therapist Antonia Silva eventually became his business partner, and together they built Waco Adapt, designed for athletes living with any injury or disability. Soft opening is set for this Saturday, April 4.

🧊 Bahama Buck's Is Looking for a New Owner With temps climbing back into the 80s, someone's going to want to own the shaved ice spot next to Target. The Waco Bahama Buck's -- 20 years in business, exclusive city-wide territory rights, building included, is on the market for $385,000.

🛑 Texas SNAP Change Starts Tomorrow On April 1, Texans using Lone Star Cards can no longer buy sodas, candy, gum, or most sweetened drinks with SNAP benefits. Texas Senate Bill 379 bans sweetened drinks with 5 grams or more of added sugar per serving and all candy. For context, a 12 oz can of Dr Pepper, invented right here in Waco in 1885, has 40 grams. Texas is the first state in the nation to do this. The change affects roughly 3.3 million Texans.

🚨 Emergency Alert Test Thursday Morning On Thursday between 10 AM and 12:30 PM, you may receive test alerts on your phone and hear outdoor warning sirens as part of a statewide emergency alert system test. Remember the Hawaii employee who accidentally sent a real-sounding missile alert to the entire state in 2018? Tests like this exist so that never happens here. Don't panic -- it's just a drill, and you may get more than one alert since multiple agencies are participating.

🗑️ Trash and Recycling Heads Up If your trash runs on Fridays, this week's pickup moves to Wednesday, April 1 due to the holiday. City offices and Cobbs Recycling Center will be closed Thursday, April 3. The landfill stays open Thursday but Cobbs closes again Friday, April 4.

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Looking Ahead

📚 Social Studies Returns on April 9 A world-class Baylor professor on stage, and a lecture on how you're being persuaded every day without realizing it. Get Tickets

🎸 Hudson Westbrook at Foster Pavilion - The Texas country music singer is coming to Foster Pavilion on Friday, April 24 at 7 PM, with Tyce Delk opening.

🦕 Jurassic Quest — June 26-28 at Extraco Events Center North America's largest dinosaur experience is coming to Waco this summer. We're talking life-sized moving, roaring animatronic dinosaurs, fossil digs, bounce houses, and a 60-foot Spinosaurus that will make your kid forget every screen they've ever looked at. Tickets are on sale now.

🏃 Waco's Own Ethan Locke Just Made History Valor Prep Academy senior Ethan Locke ran a 29:09 in the 10,000 meters last weekend which is the 5th fastest time in U.S. high school history. That time bumped Galen Rupp, one of the greatest American distance runners ever, off the all-time list. Ethan is committed to the University of Alabama and is about to become someone the whole country knows going into the 2028 Olympics.

🏀 Baylor Men's Basketball (16-16) The Bears are in Las Vegas for the College Basketball Crown Tournament, taking on Minnesota (15-17) Wednesday night at 9:30 PM CT at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The game is on FS1. Every computer model has this one close, so it should be worth staying up for. Baylor needs a tournament run to build some momentum heading into the offseason.

⚾ Baylor Baseball Tonight is $2 Tuesday at Baylor Ballpark — Tarleton State at 6:30 PM, with $2 tickets, $2 hot dogs, and $2 drinks. It's one of the best deals in Waco and a perfect excuse to get outside on a spring evening.

This weekend, BYU comes to town for a three-game home series starting Thursday at 6:30 PM. Saturday's game at 1 PM is Faith and Family Day — kids 12 and under get in free with a youth jersey, and there's a postgame Easter egg hunt.

🪙153 five-star reviews, free appraisals, and a reputation for fair market value. Reliable Coins is where Waco goes to sell gold and silver the right way.

🐶Enjoy your yard again without the cleanup. Scoopy Doo Waco is offering Waco Buzz readers a free first scoop—no contracts, no pressure.

🔥Spring Into Sweat at HOTWORX Woodway: $1 to join (normally $99), prorated March dues, and April FREE. Stop by 13701 Woodway Dr. or call (254) 870-4508 to claim it.

✨ Skin & Body Refinery delivers top tier injectors, advanced treatments, and natural looking results that help you look and feel your best. They’re offering 15% off the Event Ready treatment plan right now.

💧 Need a boost? I-ViT Wellness offers IV therapy and wellness treatments to help you feel better, recover faster, and boost energy. Waco Buzz readers get $35 off by clicking the link.

💪Move better. Recover Faster. Live Stronger. Waco Bodymend is a world class space built for everyday movers, athletes, and anyone who wants to feel their best.

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who calls it "spring cleaning" but just moved everything to the garage.

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