Tumbleweed Smith Will be Inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame
August 21, 2025 – Tumbleweed Smith, originator and producer of THE SOUND OF TEXAS radio series will be inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame on November 1st in the Broadcast Museum in Kilgore. After 9 years in radio and television news, Tumbleweed decided features were what he really liked to do. “It was sort of an experiment in free enterprise,” he says. “I wanted to see if I could make a living doing what I really like to do. “
The syndicated statewide radio series began August 1, 1869 and covers Texas history folklore, small towns, unique vents and most of all the state’s colorful characters and storytellers. He has conducted over 14,000 interviews which will go into the oral history department archives at Baylor University. Tumbleweed has also had a syndicated newspaper column for more than 40 years. He lives in Big Spring with his wife, Susan. They have two sons, four grandsons and one great grandson.
White Castle Coming to Texas: First Location Set To Open in 2026
August 21, 2025 – White Castle has officially announced that its first Texas restaurant will open in The Colony, a suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, marking a major milestone for the iconic burger chain. Known for its famous square sliders and 24/7 service, White Castle plans to open the new location in summer 2026.
It was founded on September 13, 1921, in Wichita, Kansas. White Castle has been generally credited as the world’s first fast food hamburger chain.
This will be White Castle’s first entry into Texas, a state with a strong fast-food culture and plenty of competition. The company says it chose The Colony for its strategic location, growing population, and vibrant retail scene, including nearby attractions like Grandscape and Nebraska Furniture Mart.
Though started in Kansas, there are no White Castle restaurants open in Kansas.
White Castle fans in Texas have waited for years for the brand to make its debut in the Lone Star State. The new restaurant is expected to offer dine-in, drive-thru, and possibly even 24-hour service. Construction is set to begin later this year, and officials anticipate a strong local response.
The expansion is part of White Castle’s broader growth strategy across the southern U.S., and Texas represents a significant opportunity. For fans of the iconic sliders, the countdown to summer 2026 has officially begun. White Castle is finally coming to Texas—and it’s bringing the Crave with it.
Governor Abbott Expands Special Session #2 Agenda
August 21, 2025 – On August 20, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott announced the addition of three new items to the Texas Legislature’s Special Session #2 agenda, aiming to address long-term issues affecting Texans. In his press release, the Governor emphasized the importance of maintaining legislative integrity, increasing healthcare access, and protecting natural resources.
“Today I am expanding the agenda for the second special session to include important issues that will benefit Texas,” Governor Abbott stated. “We must ensure that lawmakers cannot abandon their duties, Texans have greater access to Ivermectin, and East Texas aquifers are studied thoroughly before further groundwater decisions are made.”
The newly added items to the special session agenda are:
- Legislation to impose penalties on legislators who intentionally leave during session, disrupting the legislative process
- Legislation allowing individuals to purchase Ivermectin directly from pharmacies
- Legislation requiring the Texas Water Development Board to conduct a groundwater study of East Texas aquifers before certain permit actions are taken
These issues, Abbott said, reflect priorities that impact the state’s legislative integrity, public health access, and environmental protection. The Governor called on lawmakers to act swiftly and decisively to move these measures forward during the ongoing special session.
Como Battles Water Issues
August 20, 2025 – The following press release was received by Hopkins County Emergency Management concerning the water disruption for the City of Como. The city of Como water department is offering one case of bottled water per family available at city hall.
City of Como Water Well Pump Out of Service – Emergency Response Plan Activated
Como, Texas – The City of Como is currently experiencing a disruption in water service due to a water well pump being out of service. In response, the Hopkins County Homeland Security Department Emergency Management Division has activated the Emergency Response Plan.
Key actions and updates include:
• A contractor has been dispatched to the site with an estimated time of arrival of three hours. If the correct replacement pump is available, water service is expected to be restored by the end of the day.
• The following agencies and officials have been notified and are actively monitoring the situation:
◦ Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
◦ Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM)
◦ Como-Pickton Consolidated Independent School District (CISD)
◦ Local city and county officials
• Como-Pickton CISD will dismiss students early at 1:00 PM today. The school district is arranging transportation and has begun notifying families.
• Families who are customers of the Como water system are being informed that bottled water will be available for distribution at Como City Hall within the hour.
• Updates and repair status will be provided through official social media platforms and other public communication channels. Estimated repair timelines will be updated later this afternoon.
• A special tanker response has been coordinated to ensure continued fire suppression capabilities during the outage.
We appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation as we work to restore full water service as quickly and safely as possible.
For further updates, please monitor official City of Como and Hopkins County Emergency Management social media pages.
Texas DPS Launches ‘Ghost’ Patrol Units, Ignites Online Debate
August 20, 2025 – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has unveiled a new fleet of low-profile “ghost” patrol units, designed to blend into traffic and crack down on dangerous driving behaviors. These vehicles, which feature subtle markings only visible at certain angles or under specific lighting, are part of DPS’s strategy to enhance roadway safety while maintaining an element of stealth.
The goal, according to officials, is to deter reckless driving, street racing, and other traffic violations by increasing the presence of law enforcement without being immediately recognizable. DPS says the ghost units are already being deployed in high-traffic areas and regions with elevated crash rates.
The move has sparked a wave of reactions online, with some praising the tactic as a smart safety measure that will keep dangerous drivers in check. Others have criticized it, raising concerns about transparency and potential overreach, arguing that police should be clearly visible rather than operating covertly.
Supporters say that the element of unpredictability will make drivers think twice before speeding or texting behind the wheel. Opponents, meanwhile, fear it could lead to more citations rather than improved safety.
Despite the debate, DPS says the ghost units are here to stay.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures $9.5M Settlement Over “Junk Fees” with Booking Holdings
August 20, 2025 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has reached a record-setting $9.5 million settlement with Booking Holdings Inc., the parent company of Booking.com, Priceline.com, and Kayak.com, over deceptive pricing practices involving hidden “junk fees.” This is the largest state-level settlement ever obtained against an online travel agency for such conduct.
The lawsuit alleged that Booking misled consumers by advertising unrealistically low hotel rates that excluded mandatory fees. These hidden charges were often grouped with legitimate government taxes under a vague “Taxes and Fees” label during checkout, obscuring the true cost and giving Booking an unfair advantage over more transparent competitors.
“Texans deserve clear, honest pricing—anything less is a violation of trust and of the law,” said Paxton. “This settlement ensures companies like Booking are held accountable and sends a strong message: deceptive practices will not be tolerated.”
Under the settlement, Booking must now clearly disclose all fees upfront, empowering consumers to accurately compare hotel prices across platforms. The case is part of a broader consumer protection push by Paxton, who has also secured similar agreements with major hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Omni.
Paxton’s efforts have helped drive federal regulatory momentum to eliminate hidden fees across the travel industry.
Governor Abbott Celebrates Re-Opening Of Cow Creek Bridge
August 20, 2025 | Marble Falls, Texas | Governor Abbott celebrated the re-opening of the Cow Creek Bridge after the bridge was washed out by catastrophic floods last month. The bridge was rapidly rebuilt to completion in 29 days.
“This is what Texas is all about—we get things done,” said Governor Abbott. “In just a short period of time, crews put together the pieces, finished construction, and got this bridge completed. Because this bridge was completed so quickly, it will ensure that we reconnect communities and get things back to normal for all the people who were affected.”
Watch the full re-opening ceremony here.
During the ceremony, Governor Abbott thanked the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the construction crews who worked around-the-clock to quickly rebuild the bridge after it was destroyed. The Governor also emphasized that the re-opened Cow Creek Bridge has been redesigned to be a bigger, wider, and taller bridge than its previous version.
Governor Abbott was joined at the re-opening ceremony by Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator Jay Payne, Senator Donna Campbell, Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) Acting Chair W. Alvin New, TTC Commissioner Steven Alvis, TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams, and other state and local officials.
Foundation Surpasses $1M Raised in FY25 Due to Generosity of Community
August 18, 2025 – Sulphur Springs, Texas – The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation is celebrating a milestone that has been 28 years in the making. Due to the donations and support of Hopkins County residents and businesses, the Foundation raised over $1 million in the first 10 months of the fiscal year 2024-25. Board members are eager to state that this is means more dollars that will be invested in local healthcare to benefit Hopkins County residents.
“This accomplishment was only possible due to the generosity of the community,” said Pam Black, chair of the Foundation Board of Directors. “The Health Care Foundation raises money that is then given back to the community through healthcare initiatives such as free clinics, education, improved facilities, and cutting-edge equipment. We believe that any support the Foundation receives enables medical professionals to save local lives. That is why we take our role in this process very seriously.”
The Foundation is known for some of the best fundraisers in Hopkins County, such as the annual Gala, Snowflake campaign, and bingo events such as Man Bingo and the upcoming Designer Handbag Bingo. But the group is most proud of the work the Foundation is able to accomplish due to the financial support received from the community.
Each year, the Foundation offers free clinics including a free mammography clinic for uninsured Hopkins County women and a free heart calcium scan clinic for Hopkins County men. The Foundation also provides In My Closet for the women’s cancer community. This includes free items to assist breast cancer patients and survivors, as well as the Hopkins County Breast Cancer Support Group.
“The more money we receive, the more we can invest locally in healthcare to benefit all of us,” stated Black. “Raising $1 million was a community-wide effort that will benefit all of us.” The Foundation also provides funds to two other local healthcare entities, the Hopkins County Hospital District/EMS and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, to ensure that they have what they need to better serve Hopkins County.
Annually, the Foundation Board considers funding requests from these two organizations to determine which projects will have the most healthcare benefit for local residents. This may involve updating existing equipment, adding a machine to provide additional testing locally, or, as is currently the case, assisting with fundraising for a construction project.
This record year has highlighted the need to donate to the surgical wing expansion at CMF-SS. The generous gift from Sharon and Charles Helm to name and underwrite the four new operating rooms played a huge role in the Foundation’s fundraising success and will have a long-lasting impact on Hopkins County’s access to state-of-the-art surgical offerings.
In Fiscal Year 2025-26, the Foundation has already provided $12,500 to the Hopkins County Hospital District/EMS to be used for a whole blood initiative to help save lives prior to an ambulance arriving at the hospital. In February, the Foundation donated $260,000 toward an MRI upgrade that is already in use. The Foundation also facilitated a donation from Alliance Bank to purchase a golf cart for the Mobile Athletic Training Room used by CMF-SS. The golf cart will be on the sidelines at high school sporting and community events to assist trainers and medical staff in rendering aid.
Foundation Chair-Elect Steve Rutherford underscored why the Foundation exists. “The Foundation fills in the gaps to make sure that our rural community has the equipment, technology, and facilities necessary to provide us with as many opportunities to receive quality local care. The Foundation believes that choosing a great quality of life outside of an urban area should not negatively impact residents’ healthcare treatments and opportunities. Our community deserves great healthcare. We appreciate the individuals, organizations, and businesses that help us fulfill our mission.”
The Foundation is an IRS 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization; all or part of donations may be tax-deductible. Donors should consult their tax preparer for more information. Donors interested in learning more about the Foundation or the Spreading Our Wings Campaign, making a cash donation, including the Foundation in estate planning, or establishing a pledge may contact the Foundation at 903-438-4799 or [email protected].
No celebration is complete without a spray of champagne, or in this case, grape juice. Foundation Chair-Elect Steve Rutherford turned the twist top after the announcement of the Health Care Foundation’s fundraising accomplishment.
The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation Board of Directors has cause for celebration of FY 2024-25. Due to the generosity of Hopkins County residents, organizations, and businesses, the Foundation surpassed $1 million in funds raised during the first 10 months of last fiscal year. What that means for Hopkins County residents is that they will have even more local health-related opportunities! A win-win! Shown here are former Foundation Board Members, from left to right, Markeda Fisher, Wanda Galyean, and Lynda Hager.
Current and former Health Care Foundation Board members and donors gathered to hear a surprise announcement 28 years in the making. Chair-Elect Steve Rutherford, Mary Heilman, and Jimmy Jones catch up prior to the reception.
A healthy group of current and former Foundation board members gathered to hear the news. Initial Board Member, Dr. Bill Dietz, current Board Member Mickey McKenzie, former Board Member Tom Sellers, and former Board Member Jimmy Jones wait for the big announcement.
Current and former Foundation Board Members, left to right, Tom Sellers, Jessica Kultgen, Paul Harvey, Sharon Helm, and Charles Helm gather for a surprise announcement about the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation.
Texas DPS Unveils New, More Secure Driver’s License and ID Cards
August 19, 2025 – Starting this week, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is rolling out a new design for all driver’s licenses and state ID cards, aimed at enhancing security and deterring fraud.
The previously issued cards, with the current design, are still valid until their expiration date.
The updated cards include advanced security features, including laser-engraved text, tactile surfaces, and new ultraviolet elements that are nearly impossible to replicate. DPS officials say the changes are designed to make it much harder for counterfeiters to create fake Texas IDs.
“These new designs will help protect Texans from identity theft and keep our systems ahead of those trying to exploit them,” said a DPS spokesperson. “It’s all about ensuring trust in the integrity of our identification process.”
The new cards will also have an updated layout and design, including more prominent placement of personal information, and refreshed graphics showcasing Texas themes. The DPS noted that all existing cards will remain valid until their expiration date, so there’s no need for current cardholders to take immediate action.
The redesign is part of DPS’s ongoing efforts to improve public safety and comply with federal REAL ID Act standards. The department is encouraging Texans to verify their documents are current before traveling or updating ID-related records.
Texas Health Officials Declare End to 2025 Measles Outbreak
August 18, 2025 – The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has officially declared an end to the 2025 measles outbreak that affected communities across the state earlier this year. The outbreak resulted in 762 confirmed cases and two deaths, marking it as one of the most severe measles outbreaks in Texas in over a decade.
Health officials say no new cases have been reported for more than 42 days—the equivalent of two full measles incubation periods—meeting the criteria to declare the outbreak over. The outbreak began in January and spread rapidly across multiple counties, largely fueled by low vaccination rates in certain areas and international travel.
DSHS officials emphasized the importance of vaccination as the key defense against highly contagious diseases like measles. “This outbreak was preventable,” said DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford. “Vaccination protects not just the individual, but entire communities—especially those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons.”
The two deaths involved unvaccinated children with underlying health conditions, officials said.
In response to the outbreak, state and local health departments launched an aggressive campaign of contact tracing, vaccination clinics, and public education. Over 50,000 MMR vaccine doses were administered statewide during the response effort.
While the outbreak is officially over, DSHS urges families to ensure they are up to date on their vaccinations, especially ahead of the school year.
