Record Demand for Texas Education Freedom Accounts Highlights School Choice Shift
April 6, 2026 – AUSTIN — More than 274,000 students applied for Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) in the program’s first year, according to new data released by the Texas Comptroller’s Office, underscoring a surge in demand for school choice options across the state. Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock called the response unprecedented, noting that Texas set a national benchmark for first-year participation in a school choice...
Jerrell Lynn Echols
January 17, 1956 ~ April 4, 2026 (age 70) Funeral Services for Jerrell Lynn Echols, age, 70 will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at East Caney Baptist Church with Pastor LaVelle Hendricks officiating. Interment will follow the service at East Caney Cemetery. There will be a visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026, at West Oaks Funeral Home. Jerrell passed away on April 4,...
Texas Sales Tax Revenue Hits $4 Billion in March Amid Strong Economic Growth
April 6, 2026 – AUSTIN — Texas collected $4 billion in state sales tax revenue in March, a 10 percent increase from the same month last year, signaling continued strength in the state’s economy, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced. The majority of March revenue reflects sales made in February, with collections showing the fastest growth rate since early 2023. Hancock credited the gains to broad-based economic expansion,...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Launches Major Initiative to Combat Widespread Fraud by Companies Selling Solar Panel Systems
April 6, 2026 – Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a major initiative to crack down on companies who sell solar panel systems and are engaging in fraudulent and deceptive practices. As part of the initiative, Attorney General Paxton has issued Civil Investigative Demands (“CIDs”) to a number of companies such as Freedom Forever, LLC. (“Freedom Solar”), SunRun, Inc. (“Sunrun”), Lone Star Solar Services LLC (“Lone Star...
Riley Paul Dunahoo
Funeral services for Riley Paul Dunahoo age, 82, of Sulphur Springs, will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, March 7, 2026, at the Gafford Chapel Church with Rev. Jim Goodwin officiating. Burial will follow at the Ridgeway Cemetery with Joseph Flemens, Dirk Birchfield, Bo Fox, Kieth Edwards, Bill Jr. Philips and Philip Don Philips serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 12 noon to 1PM. ...
A Message of Inspiration From the Author of Living Loved, April 5, 2026
Hey friends, I feel this sweet, tender message from our Father to us. I don’t just see your pain, I made a way to heal it. I didn’t just witness your brokenness…I carried it. When my son went to the cross, it was not random. It was not distant. It was not just for “someone else, someone good.” It was personal. It was intentional. It was for you. “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us...
From Black Coffee to Sugar Rush: Starbucks’ Growing Appeal to Children
April 4, 2026 – Starbucks, once a standard-bearer for premium coffee culture, is facing growing scrutiny over how its business has evolved—particularly in its increasing appeal to children through highly sweetened beverages. Founded in 1971, Starbucks originally set itself apart by focusing on high-quality coffee, often served black. Early company philosophy emphasized the integrity of the bean, discouraging heavy additions like...
Marylou Fryer
June 4, 1948 — April 2, 2026 Visitation service for Marylou Fryer, age 77, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home. Mrs. Fryer passed away at Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas, on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Marylou Fryer
Don’t Worry Fellow Tractor Drivers, AI Has Not Taken Over… Yet
April 3, 2026 – SAN FRANCISCO — A once-promising agricultural technology startup has collapsed, laying off its entire workforce and abandoning its Bay Area headquarters after its flagship AI-powered tractor project failed to gain traction in the market. The company, which had attracted significant venture capital funding during the height of the artificial intelligence boom, aimed to revolutionize farming with autonomous...
Lillie Dolores Renshaw
June 29, 1938 — April 1, 2026 Saltillo Graveside service for Lillie Dolores Renshaw, age 87, of Saltillo, Texas, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Old Saltillo Cemetery with Buddy Wiggins officiating. Mrs. Renshaw passed away at Christus Trinity Mother Frances in Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Lillie Dolores Renshaw, a longtime resident of Saltillo, Texas, was born on June 29, 1938, in Dike, Texas....
