⭐ You might actually leave the house today

Good morning, Waco. This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that’s like the friend who helps you realize you might actually leave the house today.

Let’s get to it!

— Sam Harper

After a tense week of wondering if we’d get snow, how much we’d get, and whether H-E-B would run out of toilet paper (again), the first winter storm of the season rolled through Waco this past weekend and absolutely delivered.

❄️ Snow & ice totals
Here’s the wild thing about winter weather in Texas: it can look completely different just a few miles apart. According to the National Weather Service, parts of Waco picked up nearly half an inch to more than inch of ice, with wind making some areas feel even worse. Depending on where you live, you may have seen more ice than snow, or a whole lot of both.

🏫 Closures everywhere
Schools, offices, and many businesses were closed (including today), giving Waco kids their second long weekend in a row. Parents had a different reaction, but we’ll call it a win for childhood memories. Sunshine helps melt ice, but temperatures are the real decider. With highs climbing into the low 40s today, we should see noticeable improvement by late afternoon. That said, any water left on roads after sunset will refreeze overnight, so patchy ice is still possible Wednesday morning. Translation: today gets better, tomorrow morning could be slick in spots, and we should finally turn the corner after that.

For the 75 of you who signed up for January’s Dinner Club, we’re playing it safe and pushing it back one week to February 3. You should have an email waiting in your inbox with all the details. That means everyone just got a few more days to sign up if you want to meet other locals and enjoy some great food. Grab a seat.

If you’re reading this while shivering or looking at a driveway full of ice, this one is for you.

Waco (ACT) → San Juan (SJU) — $255 round-trip

You can fly out of our local airport, hop through Dallas, and land in the Caribbean for less than the cost of a new Patagonia coat. Now that Southwest Airline’s open seating is a thing of the past, this may be your sign to consider flying American out of Waco Regional.

No passport required, no international phone plans to figure out, and most importantly: 80-degree weather. This is one of those prices that effectively pays you to go on vacation.

See this flight deal*

Prices are volatile and move fast! If you see $255, grab it before the snow melts.
Price is subject to change and may no longer be available at the time you check this link.

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After a few icy days of staying put, it’s worth saying out loud: a lot of small businesses around Waco have been closed simply because no one could safely get out. As roads improve, this is a great week to finally stop by that local shop, boutique, or restaurant you’ve had bookmarked. They’re open, they’re ready, and support always matters more after a weather hiccup like this.

👀What Could This Become?

Renovation plans are officially underway for Brookview Hills Shopping Center (3400 Bosque), and this one is aiming to be more than a facelift. The vision is a bright, walkable neighborhood hub with local businesses, outdoor gathering space, murals, and room for the community to actually spend time, not just run errands.

Think shaded courtyards, better lighting, green space, and storefronts designed to feel familiar and welcoming. A place where kids, parents, neighbors, and small businesses all overlap. With that in mind, here are a few uses that feel like a natural fit:

☕ Somewhere parents can sit and kids can move
🍕 A place you’d meet friends after work
🍳 A reliable, affordable breakfast spot you’d go back to often
🎒 A safe, productive after school place for kids and teens

One important note: they’re actively looking for someone interested in buying and operating an existing laundromat on-site. If that’s you (or someone you know), reply to this email and I can help get you connected.

You can check out the vision at shopbrookviewhills.com, and they’re also documenting the renovation journey on YouTube as it happens.

“We are Kayla Faulkinberry and Kelly Galanis, and we are the new owners of Bumble Bee Blinds of Waco and Temple. We do window treatments: blinds, shutters, and shades.”

Kelly moved to Waco from Greece in 2000 and spent years building community through food, first at Yianni’s Restaurant in West and later at 1424 Bistro in Waco. After selling the restaurant to her daughter in 2023, retirement looked a little different than planned.

For Kayla, the business became personal. After the sudden passing of former owner Randall Hawkins in August 2025, she stepped in and kept the business running during an extremely difficult season. “He was a great man and is missed,” she shared. When the opportunity came up to buy the business rather than see it close, she didn’t hesitate.

“Starting any business takes lots of determination,” Kelly told me, but they also shared how good Waco has been to their families over the years. They’re now finishing training and have officially opened their new space at 235 N. Hewitt Dr. Look for the Bumble Bee sign.🔗 bumblebeeblinds.com
_{^{Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.}}

After a long weekend of ice, sunshine that felt a little misleading, and everyone doing the “is this road drivable or not?” math, Waco is slowly thawing out. The good news: major roads are improving. The bad news: side streets are still very much not.

❄️ Road conditions, Tuesday morning
Highways like I-35 are drying up, but neighborhood roads and less-traveled streets remain covered in ice. With today’s high reaching 42, we should see noticeable improvement by late afternoon, but anything that melts and sticks around after sunset will refreeze overnight. Translation: expect better conditions later today, but patchy ice could still be an issue for the Tuesday morning commute.

🏛️ Waco has a new city manager
On Friday, January 23, Ryan Holt was officially sworn in as Waco’s next city manager after a City Council vote last week. Holt has served the City of Waco since 1996, including time as police chief and most recently assistant city manager. Council members emphasized steady leadership and continuity as the city moves forward.

🚆 A quieter downtown is on the way (eventually)
During last week’s City Council meeting, funding was approved to begin work on downtown “Quiet Zone” improvements. Once completed, trains moving through the designated corridor will no longer sound their horns. It’s been a long time coming, but expectations matter here: the current timeline points to late 2027 before you stop hearing the train horn go off.

Save the date: Waco Travel Expo ✈️
After a weekend of snow, ice, and being stuck inside, you’re probably already day dreaming about your next vacation. Expedia Cruises Waco is hosting their 2026 Travel Expo to help you do just that. Here’s the best part: working with a travel advisor costs you nothing, plus you’ll get a $100 travel credit for your next trip (how good does the Bahamas sound right now?!). It’s happening this Saturday, January 31, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Glory Bell Coffee. RSVP today.

Tuesday: (Reminder to check social media to confirm these are still happening as planned)

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Looking Ahead

Love Notes: Cabaret & Four-Course Affair at Baylor Club | Saturday, January 31 | 5:30–8:00 PM
An intimate, dress-up date night featuring a live cabaret performance by Baylor Theatre students paired with a chef-driven four-course winter menu. Expect great music, thoughtful dishes, and the option to add curated wine pairings for each course. A slow, romantic evening designed to be savored, not rushed. Register here.

Night to Shine Waco 2026 at Crestview Church of Christ | Friday, February 13
Night to Shine is a free, unforgettable prom night experience centered on God’s love for people with disabilities and special needs, ages 14 and up. Hosted by Crestview Church of Christ in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation, the evening includes a red carpet entrance, dinner, dancing, and music. Every guest is treated like royalty, because that’s exactly the point. Register or volunteer information here.

🏀Women’s Basketball (18–3, Ranked No. 14)
The Bears handled UCF last week, cruising to a 73–48 win and continuing what’s been a very steady stretch of basketball. They’re back home tonight (Tuesday) at Foster Pavilion, hosting Houston at 7 PM. Then it’s a road trip to Morgantown to face West Virginia on Sunday at noon.

🏀 Men’s Basketball (10–7)
Well… Saturday happened amidst the ice storm outside. The Bears dropped their fourth straight home game, falling to TCU 97–90 after also taking a tough loss to Texas Tech earlier in the week (92–73). Now it’s time to see how they respond. They hit the road this week with a Wednesday matchup at Cincinnati (5:30 PM), then head to West Virginia for a Saturday afternoon tip at 3 PM. If there’s a “reset button” stretch on the schedule, this might be it.

🏈 Football: 2026 Schedule Is Out
The headline: Baylor will host Colorado Buffaloes and Deion Sanders on September 26.
Even wilder: the Bears open the season September 5 in Atlanta against Auburn Tigers. Will be a great opportunity to see new QB DJ Lagway perform on a national level out of the gate. The countdown officially starts now for college football to be back.

🔥Kick off 2026 with the Fit in ’26 deal from HOTWORX Woodway: just $99 all in for enrollment, January dues, plus a mat and towel. This Waco Buzz reader promo ($276 value) expires Jan 31, 2026. Call (254) 870-4508 or stop by 13701 Woodway Dr. to claim it.

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Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something helpful, please share it with your neighbor who attempted to sled over the weekend.

Whenever you’re ready, there are three ways I can help you:

1. Dinner Club: Making new friends as an adult is hard. We make it easy by coordinating a dinner with five others at the table, provide conversation starters, and take the awkward part out of the evening. Next Dinner Club is on February 25.

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