Carl Hoover

There's no question about “can you see” when it comes to some of the American flags in the skies around Waco: It's hard to miss something that could cover two teams on a football field and hangs from atop a 100-foot flagpole.

Restructured classroom teaching for elementary and junior high. Fewer campuses. Principals whose main job is instructional leadership. New "Innovation Labs." Hiring and retention bonuses for teachers.

Cultivate Waco, which operated for several years as the downtown arts space Cultivate 7twelve, reintroduces itself to downtown visitors Friday night with an exhibit opening and debut of its new gallery at 924 Austin Ave., Suite 100.

As the nation celebrates its 250th year of independence Saturday, Waco will welcome one of American pop music’s iconic families, along with other events and no rain in the forecast.

McLennan Community College trustees are considering a roughly half-cent tax rate increase this year to narrow a budget gap partially caused by a $3.1 million drop in state revenue.

Skyview Ranch outside McGregor will take over some of the operations of McLennan Community College's Highlander Ranch in September, after MCC trustees on June 30 approved a five-year lease agreement.

The title may say “mean,” but that's not the same as mean-spirited, and the Waco Civic Theatre production of “Mean Girls” is far from the latter.

The Waco Independent Film Festival started 10 years ago as a celebration of short films and their makers, but it's not short these days nor overlooked in the film festival world.

Progress toward reopening may appear slow, but the motion still is forward, said Bobby Horner, interim director of the Taylor Museum of Waco and McLennan County History.