Dave Kirkpatrick

With temperatures continuing in the 90's and heat indices in triple digits, the United Way of Lamar County is continuing their Annual Summer Fan Drive. Donated box fans may be dropped off at the United Way office located at 2340 Lamar Avenue (next door to Pickle Printing) or at East Texas Broadcasting at 2810 Pine Mill Rd. The office is open M-F from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Those needing fans can call the UWLC office at 903-784-6642.

Reducing electric bills driven by the data center boom is now on the Texas Public Utility Commission's agenda. Governor Abbott directed the PUC and ERCOT to take steps to protect residential ratepayers from the costs of the data center expansion. He wants the data centers to add power generation to the grid and cover infrastructure costs. The PUC scheduled July 9th to officially review governor Abbott's data center directives.

A newly created office that's charged with investigating forced diversity, called DEI, on college campuses has received dozens of complaints. But a new report shows that only one was actually investigated State Representative Brian Harrison accused his fellow republicans of paying lip service to an issue that's one of the party's priorities. In some cases complaints were not investigated because they involved course content. That's exempt from the state's DEI ban.

State Troopers report that 9 people were hospitalized in a crash on I-20 in Kaufman County involving 13 vehicles, including 4 18-wheelers. The Elmo Fire Department says it happened near mile marker 511 at around 10:55am on Saturday morning. A mass casualty incident triage had to be established to help treat those injured at the scene. The injuries were believed to all be non-life-threatening.

Concerns about the New World screwworm in Texas are preventing some rescued East Texas dogs and cats from leaving the state on transport flights. East Texas shelters had more than 60 animals lined up for a Wings of Rescue transport to out-of-state partners and adoptive homes, but some destination states are no longer accepting animals from Texas as a precaution. The change means fewer animals can be placed out of state and shelters say that could worsen crowding.

A non-profit in Texas is hosting an online workshop today to help people navigate the process when a family member develops dementia. The James West Center in Fort Worth/has a six hour forum today broken into three parts. The center's Hollie Lowe says they'll then get into the basics of dementia and then brain health tips. She says they hope to take away a stigma associated with talking about the different kinds of dementia and help caregivers validate their loved one's feelings and put them at ease. the event runs from two to eight p-m monday and will be broadcast on the James L West center's Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages.

STate Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on US Highway 271 just south of the Titus County line at about 2:30 Sunday afternoon. Preliminary information indicates that a car driven by 16-year-old Gavin Brooks,was northbound on US Highway 271. A Kenworth Truck Tractor Semi-trailer driven by 48-year-old Simon Morales Gonzalez of Tyler was southbound on US 271. Brooks crossed over into the southbound lane and collided head-on into the tractor-trailer. Brooks and his passenger, 21-year-old Morgan Brooks of Mt. Pleasant, were pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of the truck was transported to a local hospital.

The Texas House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, June 23, at 10:00 AM in Austin (Room E2.036) to discuss how data centers affect Texas water supplies. The hearing will cover how much water these facilities use, the challenges they create for local infrastructure, current oversight, and possible ways to better protect water resources, especially in drought-prone areas.

The Texas GOP put in their 2026 platform that they'd like to reclassify abortion as homicide. It would pave the way for women who get an abortion to face felony murder charges. But it doesn't have the support of Texas Right to Life. Their President, John Seago and other anti abortion activists will be at the State Capitol today discussing things like this and updating State Senators on House Bill 7, which allows private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, prescribes, or mails abortion pills in or to Texas.