Area News

SHERMAN, Texas – A Quinlan woman has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.   Michelle Hignight, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in…

Gilmer, Texas – On 8/19/2026 at approximately 2:52 A.M., Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers responded to an auto-pedestrian crash that occurred on Farm to Market Road 1002 just south of Farm to Market Road 852.   A preliminary investigation indicated that a BMW passenger vehicle driven by Lauren Martin, 30, of Big Sandy, Texas,…

By Jaden Edison, The Texas Tribune January 6, 2026 A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that sought to block Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and his agency from investigating teachers accused of making inappropriate social media remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.  The Texas American Federation of Teachers filed the suit, arguing on Jan.…

By Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune August 25, 2026 A federal judge on Tuesday ordered immigration officials to release Daniel Tirado Pantoja, one of the three passengers in a van driven by Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was fatally shot by an immigration officer in Houston last month. Tirado Pantoja “has no criminal history, is…

By Hien An Ngo and Apurva Mahajan, The Texas Tribune August 7, 2026 Texas’ candidates in this year’s U.S. Senate race are neck and neck, according to recent polling. Since the runoff election on May 26, state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, has performed slightly better than his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton.…

News from Southern Arkansas University MAGNOLIA, AR (08/25/2026) The Southern Arkansas University College of Science and Engineering recognized five faculty members as recipients of its 2025-2026 Outstanding Awards during the college’s annual back-to-school meeting in August. The Outstanding Awards are among the college’s highest honors, presented annually to faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication…

Broadway Icons to Perform at Cowan Center in Two Special Concert Events with ETSO  TYLER, Texas (August 25, 2026) – The East Texas Symphony Orchestra and The University of Texas at  Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center are partnering to present two special concerts  — one featuring Kristin Chenoweth on Oct. 24…

TxDOT Supporting Increased Law Enforcement Effort Aug. 14 – Sept. 7 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Why it matters Impaired driving deaths consistently spike over Labor Day weekend in Texas. A mother shares her story of loss, while TxDOT travels the state encouraging everyone to get a sober ride during increased law enforcement efforts. AUSTIN – The end of…

August 21, 2026 RRC Oil and Gas Division inspectors attend Electrical Power Awareness Training at the Quanta Advanced Training Center in La Grange. AUSTIN – Advancing the Commission’s efforts to broaden inspectors’ expertise in electrical safety to support wildfire prevention, a first group of fourteen inspectors from the RRC’s Oil and Gas Division attended Electrical…

By Shalina Chatlani, Stateline August 25, 2026 Part 1 of an occasional series on how people are being affected by the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies. EDWARDS, Miss. — Every now and then a freight train rumbles through, creaking and groaning on the rusted tracks that run along the edge of the largely deserted…