Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How much more will Waco families pay on utility bills next year?

Coming up on the Waco Patch calendar: The Great Handmakers Market

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Wednesday August 19th Patch AM
Wednesday August 19th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hello Waco! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How much more will Waco families pay on utility bills next year?
  • How a string of Waco robberies led to 18-year sentence
  • What West Nile risk really looks like for Waco-area residents now

Also on today's calendar: Waco Downtown Farmers Market and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What do evil hens lay? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Waco Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Waco Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Waco. Advertisement

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Partly sunny and hot, with a high of 105 and low of 77 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Thursday: Hot with periods of sun, temps: high: 106, low: 79.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 103 and low of 79 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Waco residential utility rates slated to increase under draft budget (star-telegram.com) — Waco residents should prepare for an average $6.81 monthly increase in city utility bills next year, though lower property valuations and a flat tax rate will keep combined bills only about 66 cents higher. The draft 2027 budget also boosts water, wastewater, drainage, street maintenance, and solid waste fees, with final city council votes set for early September.
   

• Waco man sentenced to 18 years in prison in series of armed robberies (kwtx.com) — A Waco man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for a string of armed robberies at local businesses, including one on Waco Drive. Prosecutors say he used a gun, assaulted a store owner, and was later tied to the crimes through surveillance video, his vehicle, and distinctive tattoos before accepting a plea deal.
   

• West Nile virus cases rise in Texas; here's what Central Texas residents need to know (kxxv.com) — Central Texans are seeing more West Nile virus cases statewide, but Waco-McLennan County currently has no reported human cases, even as Hays County logs its first. A Baylor Scott & White physician explains that older outdoor workers and immunocompromised people face the highest risk, outlines common symptoms, and stresses mosquito-bite prevention while noting many infected people never develop symptoms.
   

📸 Around Waco

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Waco

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Waco Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Three Harmony North Texas High Schools Ranked No. 1 in Their Cities by U.S. News —Brittany Lehning Read on Patch
  • Harmony School of Innovation-Waco Surges 6 Points to Earn 'B' Rating in 2026 TEA Accountability Ratings —Brittany Lehning Read on Patch
  • My brother Erik, who passed away 15 years ago, did a lot of amazing things with his life.
    He was a surfer, snow boarder, a pilot in Alaska, he is in an episode of Flying Wild Alaska, father, husband, son and a brother. During his amazing,… (Nextdoor Alta Vista)
  • I am looking for lady that explains that they had a farm for kittens that can't find a home.
    You had sent me a message about if I couldn't find a home for them I could bring them. Well at this point we still have 2. Plus a pregnant momma we… (Nextdoor La Clede)
  • U-Haul International, Inc. posted a job opening for Facility Housekeeper in Waco. Apply here.
  • Army & Air Force Exchange Service posted a job opening for Materials Handler II Storage (Nights) in Waco. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Waco here.

🗞 Nearby News

Bellmead

Hewitt

  • Digital Digest: DVD Updates for The Cleveland Show and The Middle; The Client List - The Complete First Season DVD Review (sitcomsonline.com)

Robinson

  • A look at Central Texas school districts that experienced gains in state's A-F accountability ratings (kwtx.com)

Ok Waco! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Deviled eggs (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Waco