TPWD Encourages Texas Anglers and Boaters to Stay Clear of Coastal Waterbird Rookeries
April 9, 2026 – AUSTIN – With summer and peak boating season just around the corner, iconic coastal birds like brown pelicans, roseate spoonbills, black skimmers and reddish egrets begin to utilize small, inshore nesting islands, also called rookeries, along the Texas Gulf Coast. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) urges anglers and boaters to use caution around these nesting birds, which are particularly sensitive to...
Paxton Seeks Records from 1,000+ Texas Cities in Tax Transparency Probe
April 10, 2026 – AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a sweeping inquiry into more than 1,000 municipalities, demanding financial records to ensure cities are complying with a new state law aimed at increasing transparency and preventing unlawful tax increases. The effort centers on Senate Bill 1851, passed during the most recent legislative session, which requires cities to complete and publicly post annual...
Child Care Deserts Persist Across Texas, Limiting Access for Families
April 10, 2026 – Large portions of Texas continue to face a shortage of child care options, with many communities classified as “child care deserts,” leaving working families struggling to find affordable, accessible care. A child care desert is defined as an area where the number of young children with working parents is at least three times greater than the available licensed child care capacity. Recent data shows the problem...
James Moten
August 24, 1959 — April 7, 2026 Homecoming memorial service for James Moten, age 66, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home with Rev. CJ Duffy officiating. Mr. Moten passed away at Christus Mother Frances in Tyler, Texas, during the sunset on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. James Moten was born during the sunrise on August 24, 1959, the son of Etta Ann Moten and Preston...
Jeffrey Elliott
December 20, 1969 — April 9, 2026 Jeffrey Lance Elliott, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on April 9, 2026, at the age of 56. Born in Dallas, Texas, on December 20, 1969, Jeff was raised in Grand Saline before making his home in Sulphur Springs. He was the son of the late Lynn Parker and Hoppie Elliott. Jeff was defined by a tremendous work ethic and an incredible sense of humor that could brighten any room. He...
Barbara Anderson
July 19, 1945 — April 7, 2026 Sulphur Springs Barbara Anderson, age 80, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, passed away at Christus Mother Frances in Tyler, Texas, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Barbara Anderson was born on July 19, 1945, in Greenville, Texas, to the late Ed and LaVerne (Graves) Brock. She married Jim Anderson in Sulphur Springs on May 18, 1963. Barbara is survived by her husband; daughter, Leigh Anderson of Sulphur Springs,...
Questions Raised Over Himalayan Pink Salt Origins, Contamination Concerns
April 9, 2026 – Himalayan pink salt, long marketed as a natural and premium alternative to table salt, is facing renewed scrutiny as researchers and consumer advocates raise questions about its origins and potential contamination before reaching U.S. kitchens. Despite its name, most Himalayan pink salt is not sourced directly from the Himalayan mountain range but is mined from ancient salt deposits in Pakistan’s Punjab region,...
Texas School Bond Debt Surpasses $236 Billion, Raising Oversight Concerns
April 9, 2026 – AUSTIN — School bond debt in Texas has climbed past $236 billion, according to a new report that is fueling debate over how local districts finance major projects and the role outside firms play in the process. The analysis, released by the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), argues that a network of consultants, contractors, and advocacy groups has become deeply embedded in the state’s school bond system. The...
Texas Highlights Rural Investment During Community Development Week
April 9, 2026 – AUSTIN — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is marking National Community Development Week by spotlighting millions of dollars in annual investments aimed at improving infrastructure and quality of life in rural communities. The observance, established in 1986 by the National Community Development Association, recognizes the nationwide impact of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs. In Texas,...
Potential ‘Super El Niño’ Raises Questions About Texas Drought Relief
April 9, 2026 – AUSTIN — A developing weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean could become one of the strongest El Niño events in more than a century, but experts say its impact on Texas drought conditions remains uncertain. El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern defined by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which can shift global weather systems. When strong enough, it can...
