Hopkins County Judge Newsom Issues Declaration of Local State Of Disaster
DECLARATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF DISASTER WHEREAS, The County of Hopkins, Texas, beginning Friday, January 23, 2026, is under threat of widespread and severe damage, injury, and loss of property, or the imminent threat thereof, resulting from a forecasted winter storm, including but not limited to: wintry mix, sleet, snow, recurring precipitation, prolonged freezing temperatures, and accumulative ice; and WHEREAS, The...
Governor Abbott Launches Task Force on Early Childhood Education and Care
Schertz, Texas — January 20, 2026 – Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday announced the launch of the Governor’s Task Force on Early Childhood Education and Care, a new statewide initiative aimed at improving the quality, access, and affordability of child care and early learning for Texas families. Speaking at an event in Schertz, Abbott said the task force was created to help parents overcome rising costs, inconsistent standards,...
20th Anniversary Gala Postponed Due to Weather
January 20, 2026 – Sulphur Springs, TX – The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation has made the decision to postpone their 20th anniversary Gala scheduled for January 24. The Foundation has been asked by local officials to postpone the fundraiser since the Civic Center serves as a warming location for our community when needed. With that in mind as well as the Foundation’s concern for the health and safety of...
Pedestrian Killed in Sulphur Springs
January 20, 2026 – A 71-year old man from Mena, Arkansas was struck and killed on a service road to Interstate 30 on Monday January 19, 2026 at approximately 6:45pm. Michael Wayne King was crossing the south service road while carrying a spare tire when he was struck by a pickup truck traveling westbound on the frontage road. King was attempting to reach a car on Interstate 30 which had a flat tire near the 118-mile marker....
ERCOT Confident in Grid for Upcoming Winter Storms
January 20, 2026 – AUSTIN, Texas — As forecasts point to the possibility of severe winter weather this week in Texas, state power officials are reassuring residents that the grid is prepared — even as underlying risks remain. Meteorologists are warning of an arctic blast bringing snow, sleet and freezing rain, prompting heightened attention to potential strain on the energy system. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas...
State Fair of Texas Pauses Pre-Fair Horse Shows for 2026 Season
January 20, 2026 – DALLAS — The State Fair of Texas has announced it will pause both the pre-Fair horse shows and the State Fair Rodeo for the 2026 fair season this coming fall, citing the need for careful evaluation and long-term planning. In a statement, fair officials said the decision was made after extensive consideration and review of operations, facilities, and resources required to host the events. Organizers emphasized...
Less To Love At The 2026 State Fair of Texas
January 19, 2026 – DALLAS — The State Fair of Texas has announced it will pause its rodeo for the 2026 fair season, a decision officials say comes after careful review and planning. Fair officials confirmed the rodeo will not be held during the 2026 run, citing the need to evaluate long-term operations, facilities, and overall programming. The rodeo has been a long-standing attraction at the fair, drawing competitors and...
Teachers Could Benefit From Voucher Program Soon
January 16, 2026 – Teachers and educators across Texas may soon find new income opportunities through the state’s Education Savings Account program, often referred to as school vouchers, passed by the Legislature. The program allows families to use state-funded education dollars for approved services outside traditional public schools, opening the door for educators to participate as paid vendors. Under the program, teachers and...
CEA Mario Villarino Had A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey Again
January 16, 2026 – Hopkins County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent Mario Villarino-Gutierrez recently visited on KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey. Mario and John Mark chatted about the importance of volunteers. Mario Villarino shared that those who would like to volunteer as a Master Gardener can get started with an online training session being held January 29th, 2026. John Mark and Mario also...
Do You Qualify For a $20 Credit From Verizon?
January 15, 2026 – Verizon Outage Hits Texas Customers, Company Offers $20 Credit Verizon customers across Texas experienced service disruptions this week as widespread network outages left many without reliable phone, text and data service. The outage affected both urban and rural areas, with reports coming in from major cities including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, as well as smaller communities. Customers began...
