Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report – April 7, 2020
Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell presented the following report to Sulphur Springs City Council during the April 7, 2020 meeting conducted via Zoom and online: COVID-19 RESPONSE All City offices are closed to the public except by appointment. Much of City staff are alternating workdays. Police and Fire have instituted new procedures for dealing with persons suspected of COVID-19. Police and Fire have their temperature taken...
Commissioners Court Extends Hopkins County Health Emergency Disaster Declaration
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday agreed to extend the Hopkins County health emergency disaster declaration due to COVID-19 through the end of the month, with one additional item added to the declaration, Monday morning. Hopkins County Commissioners Court at the April 6 special court meeting Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom April 1 enacted an emergency order with terms to fit the Executive Order issued March 31 by Governor...
HB 6 Passes; Increases Punishment Options For Teachers
June 1, 2025 – Texas schools will soon be able to impose harsher disciplinary measures on students after the Legislature passed House Bill 6, a broad package aimed at curbing campus violence and disruptions. The bill, passed Wednesday, is part of a post-pandemic effort by lawmakers to address growing concerns about student behavior and safety in schools. “Disruptions are impeding both the ability of teachers to teach and the...
It’s Not Your Imagination, Assaults on Teachers Are On The Rise
March 5, 2025 – Assaults on teachers in Texas have surged by 18% over the past two school years, with more than 3,500 staff members injured by students, highlighting growing concerns about safety in schools. The increase in violent incidents has placed immense pressure on educators, administrators, and lawmakers to address the underlying causes and implement effective preventative measures. Educators report facing physical...
Low Vaccine Rates Blamed for West Texas Measles Surge
February 11, 2025 – In late January 2025, health officials in Gaines County, West Texas, reported an outbreak of measles, with 15 confirmed cases predominantly among school-aged children. Gaines County is noted for its high rate of vaccine exemptions; nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year had not received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The initial cases were identified in unvaccinated...
What Happened to Joann Fabrics?
February 2, 2025 – Joann Fabrics, a prominent fabric and craft retailer established in 1943, has faced significant financial challenges in recent years, leading to two Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings within a single year. The first filing occurred in March 2024, attributed to declining sales and shifting consumer behaviors post-pandemic. Despite restructuring efforts that eliminated approximately $500 million in debt, the company...
Researchers Discover an Antibody Able to Neutralize all Known Variants of SARS-CoV-2
September 4, 2024 – As part of a new study on hybrid immunity to the virus, the large, multi-institution research team led by The University of Texas at Austin discovered and isolated a broadly neutralizing plasma antibody, called SC27, from a single patient. Using technology developed over several years of research into antibody response, the team led by UT engineers and scientists obtained the exact molecular sequence of the...
Paris Junior College Introduces new Vice President to Help Student Success
New PJC vice president pursues passion to help students succeed June 28, 2024 – For many years, Paris Junior College has been transitioning beyond being an “open door” college where everyone is welcome towards a primary focus of successful completion for every student. A major step on this path has been taken with the hiring of Dr. Lisa Elliott as Vice President of Student Access and Success. Her arrival at PJC on...
$4.5 Billion School Funding Bill Advances From Texas House
April 27, 2023- Texas House gave preliminary approval to a school finance Bill that would increase the amount of state money that schools get per student, start adjusting it for inflation and introduce a major change to how funding is calculated each year. House Bill 100, authored by Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, would increase the basic allotment, this being the minimum money that schools may get per student. Currently the amount...
Slaton & Colleagues Ask Governor To Halt COVID Vaccines For Children Under 4 Years Of Age
Unanswered Questions About Vaccine’s Effect On Young Children Among Concerns Cited In Letter to Abbott Representatives Bryan Slaton (House District 2), Jeff Cason (HD 92) and Kyle Biedermann (HD 73), as well as House District 93 candidate Nate Schatzline, emailed a letter Friday, July 7, 2022, to Governor Greg Abbott requesting he direct the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to halt distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to...
