TYLER — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White’s wife, Andrea, is talking up her husband’s trip to East Texas this week. Mrs. White says the campaign is going well, but her husband is still trying to introduce himself to Texans. She says, “A lot of people still haven’t heard of him, so that’s one reason he’s working so hard — but then, he works hard all the time.” Mrs. White is also promoting “Expectation Graduation” — a program Bill White started in his hometown of Houston, where he once served as mayor. The object is to get kids to re-enroll in school. Mrs. White explains that in September, project workers go door-to-door and ask kids who have dropped out to consider returning. So far, she says, the program has gotten over 8,000 Houston-area kids back in school — and has now spread to other towns.
Bill White’s East Texas swing includes stops Thursday in Tatum, Carthage, Longview and Henderson. He’s set to host education town hall meetings at 2 p.m. in Carthage; 4:30 p.m. at the Greggton Community Center; and 7 p.m. at the Henderson Civic Center on Thursday. He kicks off the day at noon, when he tours Tatum Independent School District facilities before a community lunch of grilled burgers at the Tatum High School Cafeteria. On Wednesday, White plans stops in Palestine, Rusk and Jacksonville before a stop Thursday in Tyler prior to his Tatum visit. White faces Republican Rick Perry in the Texas governor’s race in November. Perry has been governor since 2000.
REDLAND — The DeSoto-based American Indian Cultural Society remembered the Battle of the Neches during a weekend ceremony in Van Zandt County’s Redland community. The pivotal battle spurred the wholesale exodus of Native Americans from Texas in 1839. Key event organizer Eagle Douglas says there’s a renewed emphasis on maintaining the land where the battle ended –which the society now owns, and where the ceremony is held each July. “The land needs to be self-sufficient so the history that is here can go on to future generations,” says Douglas. The society’s also working to add some new touches, possibly a library, a visiting center, and a wellness center, according to Douglas. For more information or to learn how you can help, you can contact Douglas at 
TYLER — The countdown begins to the 77th Texas Rose Festival, October 14-16. At a celebration over the weekend, festival organizers thanked the corporate sponsors and 800-plus volunteers. It’s been a summer of dress rehearsals and other preparations, and Rose Queen Mary-Lawson Bracken Walden told what she’s liked the most about it all. She cited “getting to learn more about my heritage in Tyler and just learning more about the community and being able to help out.” That said, all the work has kept Mary-Lawson plenty busy. She remarks, “When I got asked and I accepted, I was very excited, and I knew it was gonna be a lot, but it’s a lot more than a lot — but it’s fun.”
TYLER (AP/STAFF) A Smith County jury has convicted and delivered a life sentence against a man accused of being part of an alleged swinger’s club that used children as performers. The panel decided within a half hour Thursday that Dennis Pittman, 47, will serve at least 15 years of his prison sentence before he becomes eligible for parole. Pittman had been found guilty earlier in the day of engaging in organized criminal activity. The jury deliberated about 1½ hours before convicting Pittman, who was the fourth of six defendants to be tried in the so-called Mineola child sex ring. Pittman’s defense will file a motion for a new trial. In June, an appeals court overturned convictions of two other men. New trials were ordered for Patrick “Booger Red” Kelly and Jamie Pittman.
KILGORE — A powered wheelchair is reportedly stolen from a Vietnam Veteran at Brookshires in Kilgore. According to KETK, Fred Niles says he went into the store for about an hour and when he came back, his handicap walker was gone. Security tapes show a man in his 50’s swapped the stores power chair with Niles’, then loading it into an SUV. 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP/Staff) – Cast iron pipe manufacturer McWane Inc. has agreed to pay $4 million in civil penalties and spend $9.1 million to protect communities near its plants in 14 states in a settlement with federal environmental regulators. McWane is the parent company of Tyler Pipe. The Environmental Protection Agency said the settlement with Alabama’s McWane resolves more than 400 violations of air and water quality standards at 28 plants. The EPA statement Wednesday said McWane already has spent more than $7.6 million on corrective measures. The company previously paid more than $25 million in criminal fines and penalties for environmental violations. In Birmingham, McWane President Ruffner Page Jr. said the settlement marks the beginning of the final chapter in its effort to be in full compliance with environmental standards.