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LUFKIN � Lufkin police are looking for a bandit who got up close and personal with a cashier. Security footage caught a man coming up behind an employee counting money from a cash register. The man grabs the money from the employee�s hands and runs off.

LONGVIEW � A lawsuit filed against several Longview firefighters is dismissed. Former Fire Chief Michael Pruitt filed the lawsuit against the officers of the Longview Professional Firefighters Association and two other organizations. He claimed the organizations did not help him in his fight against the city. The lawsuit was dismissed after Pruitt failed to file the correct paperwork. Pruitt, who was fired over a year ago, claimed his firing was racially motivated.

TYLER — During its meeting on Wednesday, the Tyler Development Authority received a presentation on the state of parking in the downtown area and unanimously approved a proposal from Walker Parking Consultants to provide functional design alternatives for a downtown parking garage. The parking study was conducted in an area of approximately 12 city blocks in downtown Tyler generally bordered by Locust Street to the north, Fannin Avenue to the east, Elm Street to the south, and Bois D�Arc Avenue to the west. The study is a preliminary step in improving downtown parking and comprised three components: a parking supply and demand study, a parking alternative analysis, and a preliminary financial analysis.

Findings from the study show that available parking in downtown meets current demand; however, officials say that as redevelopment efforts continue downtown, parking demands will quickly exceed the existing supply of parking. To guarantee that the amount of parking available in downtown continues to meet demand as the city grows, Walker Parking Consultants has recommended building a multi-level parking structure with between 300 and 400 spaces. Walker Parking Consultants will now begin work designing a parking structure that will be built at the corner of Elm Street and Broadway Avenue. It is anticipated that this phase of the project will take approximately one month to complete.

�With the all of the exciting redevelopment projects planned for downtown, like Liberty Hall and renovations to the Lindsey Building, it is important to ensure that we are adequately planning for all aspects of this growth,� said Mayor Barbara Bass. �The proposed parking structure will provide parking to a variety of downtown patrons and will make sure that there is ample parking to support future development in the downtown area.�

The Tyler Development Authority was created by the Tyler City Council to provide services to the TIRZ Number Two Board on an as needed basis. Board members include the Tyler mayor and city council and representatives from other governmental entities participating in the Downtown TIRZ (Commissioner JoAnn Hampton from Smith County and Trustee Mike Coker from Tyler Junior College). Such services include hiring consultants to plan projects, hiring contractors to implement improvements, and paying for such services from available TIRZ Number Two funds.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has unanimously approved the purchase of a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station and two residential solid waste trucks that utilize this fuel. These purchases are the first phase of a pilot project that will move part of the city of Tyler’s fleet from unleaded and diesel fuel to CNG fuel. If this project is successful, officials say, each year the city will add additional vehicles and equipment that operate on CNG under the regularly budgeted vehicle replacement plan.

According to a city news release, the initial cost of CNG fuel shows a consistent yearly cost of $2.00 per gallon versus what the city is currently paying, which has recently been as much as $3.26 per gallon for unleaded and $3.44 per gallon for diesel fuel. At the conclusion of the pilot program, according to officials, the city will be able to obtain an additional 50-cent credit on CNG fuel from the federal government, reducing the cost from $2.00 to $1.50 per gallon.

“This pilot program to start moving the city’s fleet to alternative fuel is just another example of how the city is utilizing innovative and environmentally friendly ways to save money,”� said Mayor Barbara Bass. “CNG vehicles have a history being environmentally friendly by utilizing cleaner fuel as well as showing less wear on vehicle engines, creating longer vehicle lifespans.”

HALLSVILLE — Hallsville ISD Superintendent Greg Wright is on a paid leave of absence after his late-night evaluation by trustees Monday. But no one Tuesday was saying how long he will be gone or whether he will be back, although his contract runs through June 30, 2013. The school board took no action Monday after emerging after midnight from a three-hour closed-door assessment of the superintendent, district spokeswoman Carol Greer said Tuesday. �At this time, I am requesting to take a personal leave of absence � effective immediately,� Wright said. Details of Wright�s mid-semester departure were not available Tuesday. Greer said only that Wright requested the immediate hiatus and it is paid. �He will be out of the office for I don�t know how long, immediately,� she said. �He�s not in today.� Deputy Superintendent Paula Rogers is in charge of district operations at this time, Greer said.

LONGVIEW � Eastbound Longview-area Interstate Highway 20 traffic had to be diverted onto Texas 31 after a crash involving a tractor trailer. Shortly after 4:00 yesterday morning, a tractor trailer carrying groceries hit a parked minivan causing a fire. According to Longview Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary, there was no one in the minivan when the wreck occurred. Fire crews extinguished the fire but officials remained on the scene for a while. Elderville/Lakeport and West Harrison Volunteer Fire Departments responded along with the Longview Fire Department.

LONGVIEW � A Longview man is set for sentencing tomorrow morning in the 2009 shooting death of another Longview man. Brandon Quadnell Horne, 31, pleaded guilty November 17 to killing Kelvin Muckleroy, 33, before setting fire to Muckleroy�s home on Chappell Street. Horne could be sentenced from five and 99 years or life in prison, and fined up to $10,000. He is scheduled to appear at 10:30 Friday morning at the Gregg County Courthouse.

TYLER � Acting on a tip, Smith County authorities have uncovered illegal dumping and a business has been charged in the case. They received the tip a couple of weeks ago that items had been illegally dumped at Madfos Metals. They�re located north of Tyler off U.S. Highway 271.

On Tuesday the business was served with a search warrant. A backhoe was brought to the property and authorities began digging. They say they found more than 1,000 pounds of illegally buried items on the back of the property. The business has now been charged with commercial illegal dumping which is a state felony.

COMMERCE � A student at Texas A&M University-Commerce has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. According to a news release from the school, Student Health Services at the school will provide screenings to some students. University officials say the individual is no longer on campus, and does not pose a continuing threat to the community. Some students, however, may be more at risk if they�ve been in contact with the infected individual for a prolonged time or in a confined space.

School officials say the university is working closely with the Texas Department of State Health Services to investigate and monitor the incident. �We�re notifying all the students, in addition to the faculty and staff that were in contact with the student,� said Maxine Mendoza-Welch, a physician�s assistant and Student Health Services manager. �We know which classes the student attended, and the student is no longer on campus.�

Those with a believed high risk of exposure are required to visit the Health Center on the Commerce campus Tuesday, April 19 for a free screening. No appointment is necessary. It was not immediately clear how many students will need to be screened. Students will be asked to return to Student Health Services on Thursday, April 21 for test results.

�This [testing of students] is mandatory,� said Dr. Tom Selvaggi with Live Oak Professional Center in Commerce. �There�s no reason for public hysteria. It�s the appropriate thing to do, and it�s the correct protocol to be followed to make sure that if someone has been exposed to it they get the appropriate treatment.” According to Dr. Selvaggi, the infected student was diagnosed at a heath facility in Dallas and the university was later informed by the Hunt County Health Department.

TYLER � The Smith County Chapter of the American Red Cross is hosting a reception this afternoon for Dave Sanderson. He was the last person to leave the US Airways plane that was forced into frozen waters in the emergency landing that was to become known worldwide as the �Miracle on the Hudson.� Red Cross officials say Sanderson was largely responsible for many others making it out safely.

Today, Sanderson is a highly sought-after motivational speaker, with over 150 speaking engagements in the U.S. and Canada, and has been invited to speak in Europe. He is a contributing author to the book, �Brace for Impact,� a compilation of survivor stories of the �Miracle on the Hudson.� Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing at the reception. The reception will be held at the Smith County Chapter office located at 320 East Rieck Road in Tyler from 3:30 p.m. until 4:15 p.m.

Red Cross officials say Sanderson is a firm supporter of the American Red Cross, having made it home from the crash with the sweatshirt and pants given to him by the local Red Cross. Smith County Red Cross chapter staffers invite you to join them for punch and cookies and a chance to meet Sanderson. For further information regarding this or any other Smith County Chapter events or programs, you can contact Linda Edwards at 903-581-7981.

TYLER � A memorial to the 227 children who died of abuse and neglect in Texas in 2010 will be displayed from 9:00 to 11:30 this morning at Tyler�s Broadway Square Mall as part of National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in April. The Memorial to Abused and Neglected Children was created by Texas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). According to CASA spokespeople, its purpose is to bring awareness about the epidemic of child abuse and neglect and children who die because they are not in safe, loving homes. The memorial is on a four-day, eight-stop tour through East Texas. The stop in Tyler is sponsored by CASA for Kids of East Texas.

LUFKIN (AP) � Two more men have been charged over the alleged rape of a 16-year-old East Texas girl on a mattress in a yard during a party. Angelina County Sheriff�s Department records show three suspects, including a father and son, were jailed Tuesday, while a fourth man was freed on $100,000 bail. All are charged with aggravated sexual assault over the March 5 incident. Adrian Moreland of Lufkin was released Monday. Jail records did not list an attorney for the 17-year-old defendant. Moreland and Timothy Joseph Headley, 21, of Lufkin were arrested Friday. Headley�s bond is $100,000, with no attorney listed for him. Deputies earlier arrested Clinton Johnson Sr., 53, and Clinton �Bubba� Johnson Jr., 17, both of Hudson. The party was at the son�s home. The underage girl allegedly drank alcohol.

TYLER — Pilgrim’s Pride and Feather Crest Farms team up to donate more than 118,000 eggs to the East Texas Food Bank. It’s the fourth year in a row United Egg Producers and Feeding America’s network of food banks have joined hands. Egg farmers nationwide are donating nearly 12 million eggs; they’ve donated more than 50 million across the country since 2008. According to East Texas Food Bank staff, “Fresh eggs are always a prized item for food banks due to their dense nutritional and high protein content, but they are also one of the hardest categories for food banks to acquire. The partnership here in Texas and throughout the nation will help feed more than 50 million men, women, and children in America who are at risk of hunger, up significantly since the beginning of the recession in December 2007.”

TYLER � The East Texas teen accused of shooting and killing his sister Amanda Anderson back in September at their parents� Chapel Hill house, has had another hearing. Monday, Nate Anderson was back in court at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center for a routine hearing, where lawyers told Judge Floyd Getz Anderson has been a model detainee. Judge Getz ordered Anderson to remain in custody and set another routine hearing for April 25th. The hearing that will determine whether Anderson will be tried as an adult is pushed back to May 9th.

TYLER � Tyler police are looking for a Hispanic male in the attempted robbery of the Allstate Insurance offices at 4719 Old Bullard Road. It happened around 5:15 Monday afternoon. Employees told officers the man entered the business and displayed a handgun, demanding money. After being told that there was no money on the premises, the suspect then fled the scene on foot.

The suspect was described as a clean shaven Hispanic Male, 5�10� tall, 230 � 240 lbs., wearing a backward facing baseball cap with red brim, Ray Ban style sunglasses, gray sweat shirt and dark gray basketball shorts. He was armed with a silver handgun with white grips. The suspect spoke fluent English with no accent.