KXXV-TV (Waco, TX)

2 days ago | kxxv.com | Josh Crawford

BELTON, Texas (KXXV) — At sunrise in Belton, the smokers are already running hot. On Central Avenue, now affectionately known by locals as “Barbecue Alley”, two Texas giants fire up their pits by 4:30 or 5 a.m., preparing for a day that’s about more than just feeding crowds. On one side is Schoepf’s BBQ, first opened in 1993 and later transformed by Ronnie and Staci Schoepf, who took the reins from Ronnie’s parents.

3 days ago | kxxv.com | Josh Crawford

BELL COUNTY, Texas (KXXV) — At Helping Hands Ministry of Belton, the shelves move fast—but the mission remains steady: ensuring families in Bell County don’t go hungry. And in the summer, that need becomes more urgent. “During the summer, kids are home from school. Grandparents and caretakers take on more responsibility," Alicia Jallah, Executive Director of Helping Hands, said.

3 days ago | kxxv.com | Terri Langford

TEXAS (KXXV) — Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed a $60 million budget measure that would have allowed Texas to enter a federal summer lunch program for low-income children. The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, or Summer EBT program would have given qualifying families $120 per child to pay for lunches during the summer months in 2027. An estimated 3.75 million children statewide would have qualified. The provision to join the program was tucked inside the state’s budget bill, Senate Bill 1.

3 days ago | kxxv.com | Tyler Dupnick

ROCKDALE, Texas (KRHD) — The City of Rockdale has begun its second phase of replacing old water lines. Aging infrastructure and the process of replacing it both contribute to the discoloration of water for some residents. The City of Rockdale finished replacing old water lines included in phase one of its water line replacement project in December 2024. Work to replace more of the city's water lines is now underway, with the second phase beginning this month.

4 days ago | kxxv.com | Josh Crawford

BELTON, Texas (KXXV) — Every Wednesday and sometimes Mondays inside the Belton Police Department, a quiet but powerful effort is underway. Volunteers sit down, pick up a list of names, and begin a simple routine: asking “Are you okay?”Watch Josh talk to leaders about how the program works: Belton PD "RU OK" program saving lives That question forms the heart of Belton’s RU OK? Program, an outreach initiative that’s been running since 2013.