Good morning, Waco! This is the Waco Buzz, the email newsletter that’s as hotly anticipated as Happy Gilmore 2. Yep, that’s a thing coming out this week.

In today’s Waco Buzz:

  • TSTC Expands Money Back Guarantee ⚡

  • Amazon Drones in the sky 📦

  • Texas lawmakers start special session ⚖️

  • Live music and events happening around Waco this week 🎶

I’m putting together something new: a group of local businesses that love Waco, do great work, and treat people right.
These are the ones you'd recommend to your neighbor, your best friend, or your grandma without hesitation—the kind of businesses that show up with integrity and leave you saying, “That’s who I’ll call next time too.”

Who’s your go-to electrician? Plumbing company? Pest control? Maybe your favorite local coffee shop, gym, or financial advisor?

👉 Hit reply and tell me who you’d recommend to family and friends. As always, never hesitate to reach out and say hi. There is a lot of great stuff in today’s newsletter, let’s get to it.

— Sam Harper

Together with Waco Civic Theatre

Waco showed up big for opening weekend... and it did not disappoint. The Prince of Egypt lit up the stage with jaw-dropping sets, powerhouse vocals, and standing ovations that felt like thunder.

This is the show Waco’s been waiting for—and next weekend is your last chance to see it.

Final shows run July 25–27. If you've been thinking about going, now's the time to part the calendar and make it happen.

🎟️ Waco Buzz Readers Get 10% Off
Use code BUZZ at checkout for a sweet deal on date night, family night, or your “finally putting my phone down and going out” night.

👉 Grab your tickets now before they’re gone.
*Indicates sponsored content

🐝Buzzworthy News

TSTC is putting its money where your job is
Texas State Tech just expanded its Money-Back Guarantee program—if you don’t land a job in your field within six months, you get your tuition back.

Why? Because jobs like welding, HVAC, and electrical are in huge demand right now. Think 140,000 needed just for submarine construction alone.

Coding might get automated. Plumbing won't.
👉 Apply now

AxisCare is putting Waco tech on the map
AxisCare, a healthcare software company growing like a rocket ship in Waco, just won 18 national awards from G2, including the #1 spot in home care agency software.

They’re hiring, expanding fast, and building something big—right here in town.
👉 See open jobs

🧳 Local Business

School grows, shop closes 🎓🏬
Valor Prep Academy will be relocating to the Bosque Square Shopping Center, replacing longtime staple Craft Gallery, which will close on August 30 after 32 years in business. The move gives Valor space to expand from 500 to nearly 660 students. The move from their current location off of Sanger Rd and New Rd will be in phases over the next two years.

7 Brew brewing another ☕️
More drive-thru caffeine is on the way. 7 Brew Coffee is building a second Waco location right in front of Hobby Lobby, next to Slim Chickens. With the success of their first location in Bellmead, it’s exciting see them expanding and investing in Waco more.

Uncle Dan’s gets a new pit boss 🔥
Both Uncle Dan’s BBQ locations have officially been sold. The new owner? Greg Behm, a 37-year veteran of Waco’s food scene. The deal closed in the Spring and was just recently announced. Behm plans to continue the legacy that Uncle Dan’s has had in serving Waco great BBQ.

Amazon drones... landing in Waco? 🚁📦
Amazon just posted a job opening for a Prime Air Autonomous Vehicle Assistant—based in Waco. That means drones could soon be flying from the Amazon warehouse on Waco’s south side, dropping packages at your door in under an hour.

Civil News ⚖️

Texas Lawmakers Back in Austin
Why it matters:
Texas is in a special legislative session this week, with lawmakers taking up 18 agenda items that could directly impact schools, taxes, public safety, and disaster response.

The big picture:
Gov. Greg Abbott called the session in the wake of the deadly floods in the Hill Country, but he’s also pushing to address broader issues from education reform to property tax cuts.

Catch up quick:

  • 💦 New flood warning & emergency response systems

  • 🧪 Limits on hemp-derived THC products for minors

  • 🏫 Eliminate the STAAR test and replace it

  • 💰 Cut property taxes and cap spending by local entities

  • 🛑 Ban taxpayer-funded lobbying

  • 🧖‍♀️ Define women’s-only spaces in law

What’s next:
The session started on Monday and could last up to 30 days. Moves to eliminate the STAAR test and cut property taxes could hit home for every Waco parent and homeowner.

📄 Full agenda here

Midweek Live Music and Events

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • The Meetup with special guest Ross Harris, owner of The Bear Mountain

    9:00 AM | Startup Waco

  • Wild Wednesdays Hikes 5:45 PM | Northern Gateway in Cameron Park

  • Wine Wednesday with Stan Wilfong 6:00 PM | Segovia Wine Bar

  • Trivia Night 6:00 PM | Hemingway’s Watering Hole

  • Lexi Ryan: Between These Broken Hearts 7:00 PM | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | Tickets here

  • Music Bingo 7:00 PM | Brotherwell Brewing

Thursday

  • Live Music Night 5:00 PM | Anthem Stories

  • Bingo 6:00 PM | Waco Ale Co. & The Will

  • Gordon Pyle in concert 6:30 PM | The BLVD Steakhouse

  • Trivia Night 7:00 PM | Brotherwell Brewing

  • Thursday Mystery Movie Night 7:00 PM | Freight Bar

  • Mark McCallister 7:00 PM | Union Grove

  • Country Blues Songwriter Series 8:00 PM | Texas Music Cafe | Tickets here

  • Open Mic Night 8:00 PM | Common Grounds

Sports🐻

⚾🥎Midway = Title Town
It’s been a championship year to remember. Midway High School’s Baseball and Softball teams both brought home State Titles this season… but the dynasty doesn’t stop there. Midway’s 10U & 12U Little League squads also won State Championships in baseball and softball.

And they’re not done yet. This week, both teams are battling some of the top squads in the Southern Region, all chasing a shot at the Little League World Series in August.


🏀🏀Baylor Hoops Represents Team USA
It’s a brand-new Baylor Men’s Basketball team—literally. Not a single player from last year’s roster is back (Star player Robert Wright left for BYU due to a $3.5 million dollar offer). That said, the new team has plenty of star power going into next season.

This week, they’re in Germany representing Team USA at the FISU America Games, and they’re off to a hot 3–0 start as they build chemistry on the fly. 📺 Catch the action on FISU.tv

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who hasn’t gone back-to-school shopping yet.

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