Initiative Relieving Congestion Through Texas Starts Soon
Oct. 22, 2024 – By Adam Hammons – AUSTIN – A statewide initiative to address highway chokepoints in Texas is making major progress this fall with multiple projects breaking ground.
TxDOT is making huge strides to help address congestion in major cities through its Texas Clear Lanes initiative. Three major projects getting under construction include:
- North Houston Highway Improvement project in Houston
- Capital Express Central in Austin
- I-30 in Fort Worth
All of these projects received funding through Texas Clear Lanes, a statewide strategic initiative to provide congestion relief through non-tolled roads focusing on five metropolitan areas: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Bruce Bugg Jr. started the initiative after direction from Gov. Greg Abbott in 2015.
“We are proud to be here, opening this huge benefit for the people of Houston today and for future generations,” Bugg said during the NHHIP groundbreaking, emphasizing the project’s role in addressing the city’s transportation needs. “We’re making big plays. Getting Texans moving and out of traffic faster and safer is our goal.”
Since 2015, TxDOT has dedicated more than $35 billion of funding toward nearly $80 billion worth of projects on Texas’ 100 Most Congested Roadways list. The 2025 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) also features an additional $1.9 billion of funding for these Texas Clear Lanes projects.
That funding has made a significant impact. TxDOT projects helped Texas drivers save around $3 billion in commuter time in 2022. That’s while the Texas population is growing by 1,300 people every day with motorists driving more miles compared to years before. TxDOT’s roadway construction and expansion projects like those in Texas Clear Lanes are helping make travel smoother and more efficient.
This recent spike in shovels meeting dirt isn’t new. In 2024 there have been 31 Texas Clear Lanes projects under construction with 21 completed. Next year, it’s set to grow even more with an expected 27 projects under construction and 29 projects completed.
Traffic congestion creates a ripple effect that impacts nearly every aspect of our lives, whether we drive or not. Where we live, where we work, where we shop and where we play are all affected by traffic congestion.
That’s why Texas leadership, the Transportation Commission, and TxDOT are committed to addressing this serious issue.
Want to learn more about projects near you? Check out the Texas Clear Lanes page on txdot.gov.
Texas Secretary Nelson Reminds Voters to Check Ballots Before Finalizing Your Vote
October 24, 2024 – As Texans go to the polls for early voting ahead of the November 5 election, Secretary Nelson encourages voters to double-check their precinct numbers and candidate selections before casting a ballot.
“Texas has more than 18 million registered voters, and we want to make sure every eligible vote counts. All voting systems in Texas are designed to give voters an opportunity to review their selections before casting their ballot,” said Secretary Nelson. “I encourage Texas voters to use this built-in opportunity to double-check the selections.”
Voters can find their precinct number by using My Voter Portal, which they can navigate to through VoteTexas.gov. Additionally, precinct numbers are printed on voter registration cards.
In counties with digital recording machines, voters will see a review screen with all of their selections before pushing a button to cast their ballot. In other counties, voters will receive a printout of their selections to review before depositing the ballot.
For other tips and additional information about voting in Texas, visit VoteTexas.gov, the state’s official online voting resource.
Hopkins County Sheriff Tatum Makes Plea to Residents In Effort to Prevent Car Burglaries
October 24, 2024 – In a recent press release to KSST News, Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum encourages residents to do their part in preventing car burglaries.
Press Release:
Recent Car Burglaries:
I need all residents to be vigilant about locking their vehicles. Please take any weapons and all
valuable items out of the vehicles. The same group that burglarized our county and surrounding
counties are sending more crews through burglarizing vehicles again. More than 12 counties
south of us have been victims of this as well.
They have hit our county once but we expect them to come back. They were south of Hopkins
County in Wood County, Rains County and Nacogdoches County on Wednesday night October
23rd until early morning on Thursday 24th.
Some of the firearms stolen from the first crew’s burglaries have already been located as they
were attempting to smuggle them back into Mexico. They are considered armed and dangerous.
Please do not attempt to confront these suspects, as they have used deadly force in recent
burglaries.
I’m sorry we have to deal with this situation, but until our border is secure, these are the true
facts of what is to come with open borders. We are going to have to take care of our county, we
cannot rely on the Federal Government to protect us.
We received information the suspects are currently driving a dark colored Ford 3⁄4 ton truck.
They are known to change vehicles at any time. All residents should check their license plates as
they have been swapping those. We will be out in force to help prevent any burglaries in our
area. If you see anything suspicious, please, do not hesitate to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (903)438-4040.
Sheriff Lewis Tatum
Honda Recalls 2.4 Million Vehicles For Various Issues
October 23, 2024 – In two seperate recalls this month, Honda has recalled a total of 2.4 million vehicles of their late model vehicles. Earlier this month, Honda recalled 1.7 million vehicles for steering issues. It seems there was a manufacturing issue that could make it difficult to steer the vehicles and lead to crashes. The safety recall order from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, potentially causing “excessive internal friction” that could make the vehicle difficult to steer and increase the likelihood of a crash. The vehicles covered in the recall were from model years 2022 to 2025 and include certain Acura Integras, Honda Civics, Honda CR-Vs and Honda HR-Vs.
Later in the month of October, Honda recalled an additional 700,000 vehicles for fuel pumps that could leak. The recall includes the Accord and Accord Hybrid 2023-2024; the Civic and Civic Hybrid 2025 and the CR-V Hybrid 2023-2025. Honda said that it has had 145 warranty claims, and no reports of injuries or deaths related to the issue from February 2023 through September 2024. The automaker said that dealers will inspect and replace the high-pressure fuel pump as necessary and for free. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 4. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Learn About Cooper Lake’s October 26th Fall Hike on 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 Cooper Lake State Park Supervisor Aron Maib. John Mark and Aron chat about the Fall Hikes being held at Cooper Lake October 26, 2024. They also talked about a new shade shelter at the playground at Cooper Lake State Park, they discussed the upcoming Christmas plans at Cooper Lake, and so much more. Find out what’s going on at Cooper Lake State Park on this episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey.
Controversial Marvin Nichols Reservoir on Agenda at Region D Water Planning Group Meeting
WHAT: The Northeast Texas Region D Water Planning Group is meeting to discuss the controversial Marvin Nichols Reservoir in the state water planning process. Leaders from the Dallas – Fort Worth area (Region C) will be in attendance to hear firsthand from Northeast Texas residents about the impact of Marvin Nichols. This meeting will include a presentation by a Region D Technical Consultant on the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir , a discussion and comments from Region C, a discussion and comments from Region D, and a public comments period in which 5 minutes for each speaker will be allowed.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m .
WHY : The reservoir, proposed more than 50 years ago, would dam the Sulphur River in Northeast Texas and use eminent domain to take 200,000 acres from private ownership to be flooded or used for environmental mitigation. At least 80% of the water would be pumped to the Dallas – Fort Worth region. Recently , at the direction of the Texas Legislature, the Texas Water Development Board published a draft report on the feasibility of the reservoir and invited public comments through October 25 , 2024.
WHERE: Region 8 Education Service Center 4845 US 271 N Pittsburg, TX 75686
WHO: All Northeast Texas residents concerned about Marvin Nichols are invited to come speak about how the proposed reservoir would impact them.
www.PreserveNortheastTexas.org
Hopkins County Genealogical Society to Hold Next Lunch & Learn October 23rd
October 22, 2024 – The Fourth Wednesday Lunch & Learn will be held this coming Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 611 North Davis St., Sulphur Springs, TX. The Hopkins County Genealogical Society invites anyone who wants to learn more about doing genealogical research to come on in. Bring your sack lunch, salad or drive-through meal and your tablet or laptop, if you wish.
Last month we viewed a FamilySearch virtual presentation on how to create a family tree and how to read a fan chart. This month we are going to return to Amy Johnson Crow with Generations Connections and her class on “Vital Records Substitutes.” This class has 4 Lessons: 1. Intro and Substitutes for Many Types of Records 2. Birth and Marriage Records Substitutes 3. Death Records Substitutes 4. Substitutes for Veterans; Evaluating and Finding Substitutes. We have all really enjoyed Amy Johnson Crow in the past and she always provides wonderful handouts with her presentations. We should be able to complete all four lessons in the hour allotted.
We hope that you will join us and bring a friend!!
Just a reminder: This will be our last “Lunch & Learn” for 2024, as we will not meet in November or December. However, we will
begin again in January 2025 and we plan to bring you more programs to improve and/or enhance your research techniques.
League Street Church of Christ Trunk or Treat
Hello, this is Josh Moyer, preaching minister with the League Street Church of Christ.
We are having a trunk or treat on October 31st, 2024 starting at 5:30pm with free foods, games, bounce houses and free candy. Whole community invited to League Street CofC!!
Joshua Moyer
Preaching Minister
League Street CofC
Sulphur Springs, TX
405-570-5048
Attorney General Ken Paxton Investigates ActBlue
Paxton Uncovers Large Number of Suspicious Donations Made Through Obscured Identities and Untraceable Means; OAG Demands FEC Action
October 22, 2024 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a Petition for Rulemaking to the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) detailing how suspicious actors appear to be using ActBlue’s political fundraising platform to make a large number of straw political donations.
In December 2023, Attorney General Paxton opened an investigation into ActBlue to determine whether the platform’s operations were compliant with all applicable laws. In August 2024, Attorney General Paxton announced that due to the investigation, ActBlue began requiring donors using credit cards to provide “CVV” codes, a common security measure. But this is not a full solution to the problems that Attorney General Paxton’s team has identified on ActBlue. Namely, it appears that straw donations are systematically being made using false identities, through untraceable payment methods.
Today, Attorney General Paxton transmitted partially redacted findings to the FEC through a Petition for Rulemaking. The petition recommends regulations that would close fundraising loopholes that jeopardize American election integrity. The FEC previously considered rules on the loopholes that the Attorney General has found here. But ActBlue was a vocal opponent of such rules. That opposition is no longer tenable in light of the Attorney General’s findings. If not corrected by the FEC, bad actors can—with trivial ease—illegally funnel foreign money into American elections, exceed political contribution limits, and more.
“Our investigation into ActBlue has uncovered facts indicating that bad actors can illegally interfere in American elections by disguising political donations. It is imperative that the FEC close off the avenues we have identified by which foreign contributions or contributions in excess of legal limits could be unlawfully funneled to political campaigns, bypassing campaign finance regulations and compromising our electoral system,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I am calling on the FEC to immediately begin rulemaking to secure our elections from any criminal actors exploiting these vulnerabilities.”
To read the partially redacted Petition for Rulemaking sent to the FEC, click here.
Longtime Stallings Family Friend Honors Johnny with Paris Junior College Endowment
Longtime Stallings family friend honors Johnny with PJC endowment
October 21, 2024 – Paris native John W. Welch, now of College Station, recently found a wonderful way to honor his friends Ruth Ann and Gene “Bebes” Stallings and the legacy left by their son, John Mark “Johnny” Stallings. That legacy is now inspiring and supporting future generations of students at Paris Junior College.
John, who graduated from Paris High School in 1956 and from Texas A&M University in 1960 is a longtime friend of the Stallings family. Johnny Stallings’ life was filled with love, joy, and a deep connection to those who knew him. As the son of Gene Stallings, former NFL coach and longtime supporter of individuals with special needs, and Ruth Ann Stallings, Johnny’s journey affected people from Paris, Texas, to College Station, Alabama and beyond.
“Johnny was a bright light to everyone who knew him, and his legacy continues to touch hearts,” said John. “I wanted to create something that would extend that light into the future, helping young people who are dedicated to working in special education.”
John’s donation establishes a scholarship endowment for students interested in special education, a cause close to the Stallings family. Johnny, who was born with Down syndrome, became a symbol of strength and resilience. His life not only transformed the Stallings family but also ignited a deep passion in Gene and Ruth Ann for advocating for individuals with disabilities. Gene Stallings famously led the University of Alabama to a national championship, but his most cherished title was “Johnny’s Dad.”
Inspired by Johnny’s story, John sought to honor both his memory and the lifelong dedication of Gene and Ruth Ann to special needs education. His generous gift to Paris Junior College ensures that students passionate about special education will have the financial backing they need to follow their calling.
The scholarship endowment represents more than financial support – it’s a tribute to a family that has given so much of their lives to this cause. Gene and Ruth Ann Stallings’ dedication to improving the lives of people with special needs has left an indelible mark on the Paris community and beyond. This gift, established in their honor and Johnny’s memory, ensures that their work will continue for years to come.
PJC students who receive this scholarship will have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals with special needs, furthering the vision of inclusivity and empowerment that the Stallings family has always stood for.
“We are incredibly thankful to John W. Welch for this meaningful gift,” said Dr. Stephen Benson, President of Paris Junior College. “This scholarship is a testament to the power of kindness and generosity, and it will have a profound impact on our students and the broader community.”
John’s contribution comes at a pivotal moment for Paris Junior College, as the institution celebrates its centennial anniversary. This new endowment not only supports the college’s mission but also honors a family whose influence has long shaped the values of compassion and care within the community.
“Johnny Stallings was a remarkable individual who touched so many lives, and we are deeply grateful to John W. Welch for this wonderful gift in his memory,” said Baleigh McCoin, Director of Institutional Advancement and Alumni.
“This scholarship will make a lasting difference for students dedicated to special education and reflects the caring and compassionate spirit of both Johnny and his parents, Gene and Ruth Ann Stallings.”
The Stallings family’s long-standing ties to Paris and their passion for advocating for individuals with special needs are deeply appreciated by the community. This endowment is yet another testament to the power of their influence and their commitment to education.
For more information about the scholarship or to contribute to the endowment, please contact the Paris Junior College Foundation at [email protected] or 903-782-0276.
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Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
