News

An 82-year-old Ben Wheeler woman was killed as a result of a two-vehicle accident that took place during the early afternoon hours of June 29 along State Highway 64 approximately 12 miles east of BenWheeler.

VFW Post 12219 leaders sat outside of Brookshires in Canton Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17 to collect non-perishable food/canned items and donations to help Humana raise food and funds for the new Canton VFW Post 12219 and East Texas Food Bank. Eligible Veterans of Foreign Wars are encouraged to join and help with community service and enhancements. Contact Dan Curtis via call or text at 630-786-9896.

‘Help Fix East Texas’ is the theme of a new sense of urgency from the Van Zandt County Pet Project to remind citizens to get their pets spayed and neutered. “Be a part of the solution,” said a VZC Pet Project spokesperson.

After the House and Senate failed to come to an agreement in the first called special session, Governor Greg Abbott called lawmakers back for an immediate session Wednesday to find a way to deliver billions in property tax cuts to Texans. Again, Abbott limited the agenda to bills that only use tax compression, where state revenue is used to buy down local school property tax rates, but added a second issue: legislation to put Texas on a pathway to eliminating school district maintenance and operations property taxes.

Governor Greg Abbott yesterday signed House Bill 2060 by Representative Giovanni Capriglione and Senator Tan Parker establishing the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council as Texas strengthens its position as the leading destination for next generation technology in the country. The council will study and monitor artificial intelligence (AI) technology developed, employed, or procured by Texas state agencies.

The Texas Senate on the first day of the Legislature’s second special session unanimously passed a tax bill last Wednesday that increases the homestead exemption and includes a pay hike for teachers, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The first special session ended with the Senate and House unable to agree on how to provide property tax relief.

Texas cotton growers whose crops held on through recent weather could find strong prices during a summer of uncertainty, according to a TexasA&MAgriLife Extension Service expert. John Robinson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension cotton economist, Bryan- College Station, said the 2023 cotton season will be the most uncertain he has ever analyzed.

The Cody Brantley Team and Elaine Fabbri have been recently recognized in the 2023 “America’s Best Real Estate Professionals” rankings by RealTrends + Tom Ferry. The prestigious survey is made up of five categories for participating agents and teams in the U.S. based on 2022 numbers.

When tow trucks and other emergency vehicles – police, fire, EMS and highway response trucks – are stopped on the side of the road with their lights activated, state law requires drivers to slow down or move over.

The ‘Sewing for Jesus’ ministry in Canton, an outreach ministry of Christian Guild in Tyler, presented 24 quilts and 12 tote bags June 21 to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department. VZC Sheriff Joe Carter accepted the donation on behalf of the sheriff’s department.