Voters Chose Dutton Over Money
Jill Dutton has narrowly defeated fellow Republican Brent Money in the special election runoff for a Texas House seat that marked an early flashpoint in the latest Texas GOP civil war. Dutton’s win marks something of an upset after Money got the support of a who’s who of top Texas Republicans, including Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Attorney General Ken Paxton. With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Dutton...
Texas House District 2 Runoff Election Set for January 30, 2024
November 22, 2023 – Texas Governor Greg Abbott has set the date for the runoff election for Texas House District 2 which includes Hopkins, Hunt and Van Zandt counties. After neither candidate received 50% of the votes cast in the November 7th election, a runoff was required and will occur on January 30, 2024. Dutton That office was vacated back in May of 2023 by Royse City representative Bryan Slaton. Six candidates ultimately...
Texas Legislative Special Session To Begin October 9th
October 2, 2023 – Governor Greg Abbott made good on his promise to keep ordering special sessions of the Texas Legislature until an agreement could be reached on some sort of “school vouchers” program. A September 26th letter signed by Governor Abbott and addressed to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan, did not indicate the focus of this special session. But the governor has said repeatedly the...
Texas Settles With Marriott International, Sues Hyatt Over “Resort Fees”
May 18, 2023 – On Tuesday The State of Texas and Marriott International INC entered in to a voluntary agreement to prominently display all “resort fees” and to increase price transparency in its advertising and booking process. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated that hotel companies are using fraudulent and anti-competitive practices by misleading customers with advertisements which prevent comparative shopping...
Texas To Receive $168M Of $3.1B Opioid Agreement with Walmart — Hopkins County Could Receive Portion of Funds
Another opioid lawsuit settlement was announced Friday. Walmart agreed to a planned $3.1 billion settlement for the business’ “role in the nationwide opioid epidemic.” That amount is to be divided among 17 states, with $168 million designated for Texas, Non-Litigating Threshold Subdivisions, Texas Attorney General’s Office reported in a news release Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. Hopkins County is listed among 2,411...
Sex Offender Who Shot Deputy in the Face Receives Life Sentence
News Release – Aug. 11, 2022 AUSTIN –Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Criminal Prosecutions trial team secured a guilty verdict this week against a man who committed Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant. Shazizz Mateen shot a sheriff’s deputy in the face, blinding him for life. Mateen was sentenced to life in prison and assessed a $10,000 fine by an Austin County jury. It was on November 1, 2018, that Mateen shot and...
Supreme Court Order Overturns Roe v. Wade
The U.S. Supreme Court today (Friday, June 24, 2022) issued an order to overturn Roe v. Wade, the case that made abortion constitutionally legal 50 years ago. US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland According to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Justice Department will work to protect and advance reproductive freedom. The agency will protect providers and those seeking abortions in states where it is legal, but will stand by...
Hopkins County, Other Local Taxing Entities To Receive Funding From Opioid Settlements
Hopkins County Commissioners Court this week approved a Johnson & Johnson Opioid Settlement agreement. County of Hopkins Vs. Purdue Pharma L.P., Et Al Cause No. 2018-166 is one of several lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies that manufactured opioids Hopkins County has joined in previous years, according to Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom. Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom “A number of years ago, we went into a...
AG: 99-Year Sentence Assessed In Hunt County Human Trafficking Case
News Release -Sept. 23, 2021 Hunt County Couple Accused Of Abuse, Neglect, Making Adopted Children Work In Puppy Mill AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that Barbara Barrett of Greenville has been found guilty of Continuous Trafficking of a Child in Hunt County and received a sentence of 99 years in jail. Barrett and her husband, Jeffery Barrett, are accused of abusing and neglecting their adopted children while forcing...
AG’s Consumer Alert: Be Cautious When Purchasing Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids
News Release, May 7, 2021 AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today warned Texans to be cautious when considering buying from companies selling over-the-counter hearing aids, particularly online or by mail order. Many hearing devices sold this way are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are deceptively marketed as medical hearing devices when they contain low-quality amplifiers. Texans should remember...
