Gulf Shrimp Season to Close May 15 to Support Population Growth
May 11, 2026 – AUSTIN — Commercial shrimping in the Gulf of Mexico off Texas will temporarily shut down beginning 30 minutes after sunset on May 15, state and federal officials announced, as part of an annual effort to protect and strengthen shrimp populations. The closure applies to Texas gulf waters stretching from the coastline out to nine nautical miles. Federal regulators with the National Marine Fisheries Service will...
Role of ICE Unclear for 2026 FIFA World Cup
May 11, 2026 – As Texas prepares to host multiple matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, questions about whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be present at games have sparked concern among fans, immigrant advocates, and local organizers. Federal officials have indicated that ICE will play some role in broader tournament security, but there is currently no clear indication that immigration enforcement...
Houston Toad Recovery Program Efforts Renewed at Bastrop State Park
May 11, 2026 – AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) successfully released more than one million Houston toad eggs at Bastrop State Park in conjunction with the Houston Zoo, Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy (ARC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) this spring. The Houston toad, formerly Bufo houstonensis, is an endangered species of amphibian that is endemic to Texas in the United States. This is...
Data Centers Target North Dakota
May 11, 2026 – As artificial intelligence fuels a nationwide boom in data centers, rural communities in North Dakota are grappling with a question that has quickly become politically and economically charged: who should decide where these massive facilities are built? Nearly 90% of the state’s land area is covered by farms and ranches. A recent report from Agriculture.com highlights growing tensions between local...
Texas A&M Demands Islamic ‘University’ Cease Use of Similar Logos, Trademarks
May 11, 2026 – Texas A&M University System has formally demanded that a North Texas Islamic educational group stop using the name “TexAM University,” escalating a dispute that now involves both trademark concerns and state regulatory action. In a cease-and-desist letter issued Friday, system officials said the Richardson-based entity’s use of names such as “TexAM,” “Texas AM University,” and similar branding infringes on...
A Message of Inspiration From the Author of Living Loved, May 10, 2026
MOMMAS, THERE IS A BEAST OUT FOR YOU!! Bear with me, it’s long, but I pray it will be worth it. A story from when I was a young momma. There I was, walking into Walmart with a young child in tow, ragged and dirty from camping, and a baby in the bottom of my cart in one of those carrier things. I hadn’t had a baby in tow in a long time, and especially not one that wasn’t mine. Moving on. So...
Josh “Joshy Boy” Foster
June 10, 1987 — May 8, 2026 Mesquite Funeral service for Josh “Joshy Boy” Foster, age 38, of Mesquite, Texas, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Interment will follow at Caney Cemetery in Pickton, Texas. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home. Mr. Foster passed away in his home on Friday, May 8,...
Matthew Thomas Bell
It is with heavy hearts and full gratitude for a life well-lived that we announce the passing of Matthew Thomas Bell, who left us far too soon on May 8, 2026. Born on March 3, 1970, in Sulphur Springs, TX, Matt was a true Texan at heart, embodying a spirit of adventure and hard work that inspired all who knew him.Matt is survived by his loving wife, Mindy Bell; his children, Dr. Talon Bell and his wife, Dr. Lindsey Bell;...
Billy Finklea
Billy Ray Finklea, age 76, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, passed away at Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Billy Ray Finklea was born on October 23, 1949, in Sulphur Springs to Billy Joe and Reta (Beadles) Finklea. Billy was dairy farmer and an electrician. Billy is survived by his brother, Ralph Finklea; sons Craig Finklea and Chris Finklea; daughter, Kyla Finklea; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in...
Paxton Pursues Texas School Districts to Enforce Ten Commandments Law
May 7, 2026 – Ken Paxton announced a sweeping statewide investigation into multiple Texas Independent School Districts (ISDs) to ensure compliance with recently enacted laws requiring the display of the Ten Commandments and formal consideration of prayer in public schools. The investigation focuses on adherence to Senate Bills 10 and 11, both passed during the 89th Texas Legislature and effective as of September 1, 2025. SB 10...
