Area News

By Jess Huff, The Texas Tribune June 9, 2026 LUFKIN — Dozens of East Texans converged at an Angelina County Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday to demand answers regarding a proposed data center project on State Highway 103 East. The project proposed by Denver-based AmpZ Champion Data Center Holdings has drawn considerable ire in Lufkin over…

By Jaden Edison, The Texas Tribune June 10, 2026 Texas charter schools recently saw their smallest enrollment bump in state history, signaling that similar forces crushing traditional public districts may soon hit them as well. Students have enrolled in charters at significant rates since they launched in the state three decades ago — even as…

By Alejandro Santos Cid, The Texas Tribune June 9, 2026 A federal watchdog agency said Camp East Montana, the country’s largest immigration detention facility, wasted up to $11.5 million of taxpayer money during its first two weeks of operation in August 2025. During that time, the camp in El Paso was still empty — the…

By Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune June 10, 2026 Texas death row inmate Charles Flores is seeking to force the state’s highest criminal court to consider whether his murder conviction was tainted by witness testimony that was improperly influenced by hypnosis. Flores was sentenced to death in 1999 for the robbery and murder of 64-year-old…

View this email in browser Summer reading season is officially here, and we’re excited to share the 2026 Summer Reads Catalog with you. From captivating novels and inspiring nonfiction to unforgettable books for young readers, this catalog showcases the incredible authors, publishers, and literary organizations that make Texas such a vibrant place for readers. Whether…

By Paul F. Petrick Red Sheet by James Ellroy (Alfred A. Knopf, June 9, 2026) Where were you in ’62? Regardless of your answer to that question, author James Ellroy offers a more exciting alternative in his latest novel Red Sheet. Red Sheet invites readers to accompany real life private investigator Fred Otash on a fictional investigation…

Matthew 24: 14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” By Van Yandell “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” (Dr. Seuss). Working in missions where tourists rarely go has afforded me the privilege of seeing living conditions, meeting…

View as a webpage Veterans Health Care June 9, 2026 Hurricane season is here: Are you ready? When major storms or incidents occur, VA may contact Veterans by phone, text, or email with real-time information about clinic closures, alternate care sites, pharmacy refills, and evacuation instructions. Veterans are urged to do 2 things: prepare and…

By Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune June 9, 2026 A bipartisan group of federal campaign operatives is launching a new super PAC in support of state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, with plans to hammer Republicans’ standard-bearer, Ken Paxton, on his legal and ethical scandals. Moment of Truth PAC, according to the…

LIVING ON PURPOSE By Dr. Billy Holland Are we ashamed of God? Is God ashamed of us? Do we not realize that God knows our thoughts? Yes, the spiritual atmosphere within society has changed in the last 75 years, and one of the reasons is the older generations who stood fervently for God have passed…