CHRISTUS Health announces contract extension with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas through July 31
Keeps CHRISTUS hospitals, physicians in network while negotiating long-term agreement (IRVING, Texas) – CHRISTUS Health announced today it has reached a month-long contract extension with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) that ensures continued in-network access to CHRISTUS Health hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physicians through July 31. The interim agreement allows additional time to reach a long-term contract with...
Federal Grand Jury has Indicted a Sulphur Springs Woman in Connection to the Death of a Juvenile
July 1, 2025 – A federal grand jury has indicted a Sulphur Springs woman in connection to the death of a juvenile who overdosed on a drug called N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene. Twenty-four-year old Diamon Leann Yates is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance resulting in death. The case was the first instance of the drug being identified in Texas and the seventh in the U.S. Because it was the first...
Cruz and Cornyn Want Space Shuttle Back in Texas
June 30, 2025 – Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are making a renewed push to bring the Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston by embedding their initiative—the “Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act”—into the sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill” now advancing through the U.S. Senate. The legislation, a key part of President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, includes broad tax cuts, infrastructure investments, and nearly $10 billion in...
State Fair of Texas Wins; No Guns at the Fair
June 30, 2025 – A Dallas County judge has dismissed Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit challenging the State Fair of Texas’ firearm ban, handing a win to organizers and the City of Dallas. On June 24, Judge Emily Tobolowsky granted summary judgment in favor of the fair and the city, effectively ending the lawsuit before it reached trial. Paxton had argued that because the State Fair is held on city-owned Fair Park, licensed...
County Extension Agent Mario Villarino Dropped by for a Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey
June 30, 2025 – Hopkins County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension County Extension Agent Mario Villarino-Gutierrez dropped by to be a guest on KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey. John Mark and Mario chatted about hay and it’s importance to the cattle industry, the need to provide enough calcium to your vegetable plants, the 4H members that graduated this year, and so much more! Be sure to check out...
Texas Budget Surpluses May Be Coming to an End
June 30, 2025 – After several years of record-breaking surpluses, Texas lawmakers may soon face tighter fiscal conditions. According to budget analysts, the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds and a slowdown in sales tax revenue growth could constrain the Texas Legislature’s ability to fund major initiatives in the coming years. Texas benefited from massive federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with surging...
New Guidance Enforces English Proficiency for Truckers
June 30, 2025 – In May 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy signed a new order strengthening enforcement of the English proficiency requirement for commercial truck drivers. This move aligns with the Trump Administration’s ongoing focus on enhancing road safety, promoting accountability, and ensuring clear communication on America’s highways. The updated guidance directs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety...
Proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir Hits Minor Obstacle
June 29, 2025 – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has officially declared an interregional water conflict between Region C (the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area) and Region D (East Texas) regarding the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir. The proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir is a planned water supply reservoir in the Sulphur River Basin in Titus, Red River, and Franklin counties about 100 miles northeast of the Dallas-Fort...
Texas Gun Law Changes Coming September
June 27, 2025 – Over the weekend, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a series of bills aimed at strengthening Second Amendment protections and curbing local efforts to implement stricter gun control policies. The newly enacted legislation, which takes effect on September 1, 2025, makes it easier for Texans to own certain firearms while limiting the power of local governments to enforce gun restrictions. Among the most...
Abbott Signs HB4211; Takes on Developments like ‘EPIC City’
June 26, 2025 – Governor Greg Abbott has signed House Bill 4211, a new property law aimed at limiting the legal framework of the proposed EPIC City development, taking effect immediately. EPIC City is a proposed 402-acre Islamic-centered master-planned community initiated by the East Plano Islamic Center, located about 40 miles northeast of Dallas in Collin and Hunt counties. The 402-acre project, initiated by the East Plano...
