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...
Texas A&M Forest Service Awards $4 Million for Community Forestry Projects
June 26, 2025 -COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Eighteen Texas municipalities, schools and non-profit organizations were awarded grant funding through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Community Forestry Grants program this month, totaling over $4 million. Established in 2022, the Community Forestry Grants program provides funding to help Texans address local challenges through urban forestry investments and develop nature-based solutions that...
Texas Wins 12th Gold Shovel Award For Outstanding Job Creation, Business Investment
June 18, 2025 – Austin, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today celebrated Texas being recognized with the state’s 12th Gold Shovel Award by Area Development magazine for outstanding achievement in job creation and capital investment in 2024. Texas has now been recognized with a Gold or Silver Shovel in each of the 20 years of the award program. “Texas again wins gold for attracting job-creating business investments...
John Mark and Dr. Steeber Chat About the Last Legislative Session on this Second Cup Of Coffee
On this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Sulphur Springs ISD Superintendent Dr. Deana Steeber. The two had an interesting conversation about the last Texas Legislative Session, and how the results affect the Texas education system. They talked about Sulphur Springs teachers, the latest grade Sulphur Springs ISD got, funding for the Texas Education system, and much more. Be...
Alliance Bank Donates Medically Equipped Golf Cart to Sports Medicine Program at CHRISTUS
May 15, 2025 – Sulphur Springs, TX – Alliance Bank, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, and the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation have joined forces to protect the health of local student athletes. Alliance Bank has donated a medically equipped golf cart to the Sports Medicine program at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation worked with Alliance Bank and...
Paris Junior College’s TRIO Upward Bound Student Ethan Dao Selected for Prestigious Gates Scholarship
May 13, 2025 – Paris, Texas – Paris Junior College’s TRIO Upward Bound program is celebrating a tremendous milestone: student Ethan Dao has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Gates Scholarship. This elite, full-ride scholarship is awarded to just 300 exceptional high school seniors nationwide each year, out of thousands of applicants. Dao’s selection is a testament not only to his academic excellence, drive, and...
East Texas Giving Day on April 29th is the Topic on This Second Cup Of Coffee
CANHelp’s Executive Director, Brian Crump, stopped by for A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey. John Mark and Brian chatted about “East Texas Giving Day” which will be held April 29, 2025. They also talked about CANHelp’s back to school fair, and so much more! Be sure to watch this episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee and learn some deadlines coming up!...
Why Advancing from RN to BSN Matters More Than Ever – And How It’s Faster and Cheaper Than You Think
April 4, 2025 – The East Texas A&M University RN-to-BSN program gives registered nurses the advancement they need at a reasonable price. COMMERCE, TX, April 4, 2025— As the healthcare industry evolves and hospitals increasingly prefer bachelor’s-prepared nurses, advancing from a registered nurse (RN) with an associate degree to an RN with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is more important than ever. Whether it’s...
CANHelp’s ED Brian Crump Dropped by for A Second Cup Of Coffee
On this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with the Executive Director of CANHelp, Brian Crump. John Mark and Brian chatted about CANHelp, the 2024 Impact Report, back to school fair with the back pack give away, and so much more. Don’t miss this segment. Find out what CANHelp does for your...
Alliance Bank Announces Jason Thompson as Hopkins County Market President
February 20, 2025 – Alliance Bank proudly announces that Jason Thompson is the new Hopkins County Market President. Jason Thompson has been a vital part of Alliance Bank for almost 30 years now. Jason is from Sulphur Springs, Texas, and earned a double major in Agricultural Business and Economics Finance from East Texas State University while working at Alliance Bank. Jason Thompson serves on the board of the Northeast Texas...
