FDA Says Popular Decongestant is Not Effective
September 13, 2023 – The Food and Drug Administration’s independent Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee Sept. 12 by unanimous vote declared oral phenylephrine ineffective as a decongestant. Phenylephrine is a common active ingredient in over-the-counter medications sold under the Nyquil, Tylenol, Advil, Robitussin, Sudafed and Benadryl brands, to name a few. FDA is not bound to the committee’s recommendations, but the...
Former Sulphur Springs DPS Officer Named First Female Ranger Major in 200 Year History
September 12, 2023 – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announces the promotion of Texas Ranger Captain Wende O. Wakeman to the rank of major, making her the first female Ranger major in the organization’s storied two-hundred-year history. “Major Wende Wakeman’s years of hard work, her tremendous strength of character and her unwavering determination have all led her to this moment,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “I...
TAMUC Science and Engineering Dean Builds Bridges for STEM Success
COMMERCE, TX—As a young girl growing up in rural Lee County, South Carolina, Dr. Andrea Toney Graham had “big dreams of doing big things.” Since then, she has blazed a pioneering trail through the STEM field, making a lasting impact through her scholarship and leadership. Graham was the first engineer from her household and the first African American to earn a doctorate in industrial engineering from The University of Texas at...
Would You Like Some Peanut Butter with Your Twinkies?
September 11, 2023 – The J.M. Smucker company, otherwise known as Smucker’s, has gobbled up the Hostess Snack Company in a $5.6 billion deal. Smucker’s distributes Jif peanut butter as well as a wide array of jellies and preserves, and now will own the Hostess signature product Twinkie alongside Ding Dongs, Ho-Hos, and Sno-Balls. Smucker’s will be adding to their assortment of products from pet food Meow Mix to...
Will Our Trees Recover? From Master Gardener David Wall
September 11, 2023 – We’ve discussed soil, water, and sun in terms of their effects on our gardens. It would be shortsighted, however, to ignore the effect of these items on our trees which, under our current conditions, are little effected by the soil itself, as they were born, grew, and currently survive in the same soil. On the other hand, they’re affected by the sun, associated temperatures, and especially by water...
SSHS Athletics Prepare to Induct Three into Wall of Honor
Three former Sulphur Springs High School athletic greats will be inducted into the Wildcat Hall of Honor during a pre-game reception and on-field presentation before the Sept. 15 football game. All-State offensive lineman Mason Y’Barbo, Division I athlete Fred McGill and tennis state qualifier Betty Sue Chubb Gooch have earned recognition in the Hall of Honor A reception will be held in their honor beginning at 5:15 p.m. Friday, Sept....
Texas Faces Increased Fire Danger
Unprecedented heat, drought pushing Southern US fire danger to extremes September 8, 2023 – COLLEGE STATION, Texas The Southern United States has faced a challenging summer with unrelenting daily temperatures of more than 100 degrees, abnormally low relative humidity, critically dry vegetative fuels ready to burn, wildfires exhibiting extreme fire behavior, and to top it off — a hurricane. Hot summers and wildfires are not new...
Student Loan Payments Set to Resume
September 8, 2023 – A three-year pause on student loan payments and interest accrual initiated at the start of the pandemic is coming to an end Oct. 1, leaving nearly 4 million Texans scrambling to figure out how to factor the debt payments back into their budgets. Former president Donald Trump first suspended payments in March 2020 to provide pandemic relief through the CARES Act, and that suspension was then extended through...
Paxton Trial Begins
September 5, 2023 – The impeachment trial for embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton begins on Tuesday. Support for or against the impeachment has mostly followed party lines, although the Republican was impeached in May of this year by the Republican led Texas House of Representatives. Capitol Austin, TX The trial is expected to hinge on his relationship with a real estate investor and political donor Nate Paul. The Austin real...
Watering During Current Drought From Master Gardener David Wall
As global warming continues to increase (yes, global warming is real),our summers are becoming unreal. Summers are drought times, with theonly question being when in May or June are rains going to cease untilsometime in September. Temperatures get into the hundreds and stay therefor longer periods. Pollen hardens, and pollination becomes difficult ifnot impossible, all of which combine to cause vegetable plants to eithergreatly reduce...
