‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’ gets release date, teaser trailer

Lauren Lapkus, Kevin Sussman, John Ross Bowie and Brian Posehn in 'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.' (Colin Remas Brown/HBO Max)

The Big Bang Theory spinoff series Stuart Fails to Save the Universe now has a teaser trailer and release date.

HBO Max has announced that the series will premiere on July 23. It will consist of 10 episodes which will be released weekly every Thursday.

The new series stars Kevin Sussman as Stuart, Lauren Lapkus as Denise, Brian Posehn as Bert and John Ross Bowie as Barry.

"Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon," according to its official logline. "Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well."

The new teaser trailer shows off the high-concept series, with Stuart meeting an alternate universe version of himself.

"I'm you from another stream of reality," alternate Stuart says. "This apocalyptic nightmare, the dimensional rifts, never has to happen."

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe comes from Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. It is created, written and executive produced by Lorre, Zak Penn and Bill Prady.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is not the first Big Bang Theory spinoff. Young Sheldon, which followed the origins of the original show's protagonist, Sheldon Cooper, aired on CBS from 2017 to 2024. A spinoff of Young Sheldon, titled Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, currently airs on CBS. It premiered in October 2024 and is now in the middle of its second season.

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Industrial structure fire in Crockett under investigation

CROCKETT – An investigation is underway after an industrial building in Crockett caught fire on Tuesday night, which officials expect to continue to burn for the next few days. According to our news partner KETK and the Houston County Emergency Management Office, the building was identified as Animal Comfort Group. The fire started before 11 p.m.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation, the Crockett Fire Department said. There were no reported injuries as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

“This fire is contained and will likely continue to burn for a few days,” the fire department said. “CFD will continue to monitor the area and work with property ownership to ensure it remains contained.”

Residents are asked to use caution in the area and be respectful of personnel working the scene.

Men wrongly accused of grisly yogurt shop murders in Texas reach $35 million settlement with city

AUSTIN (AP) – The city of Austin will pay $35 million to three men and the family of a fourth who were wrongly accused of the 1991 rape and murder of four teenage girls at a yogurt shop, a case that initially sent one of the men to death row and another to life in prison, under a tentative settlement reached Tuesday.

Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Forrest Welborn and Maurice Pierce had all insisted they were innocent of one of the city’s most notorious crimes. They were finally declared innocent by a judge in February after investigators determined the crime was committed by a suspect who died in 1999.

The settlement must still be approved by the city council at a later date. Details of the payments to the men and their families were not released.

“This settlement closes the final chapter of a devastating story in Austin’s history,” Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a statement. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with those who were wrongly accused and wrongly convicted in this case and hope that this settlement brings a sense of closure to everyone affected by this horrific event.”

Scott and his attorney Tony Diaz said in a joint statement they are hopeful the settlement will help improve investigation practices and safeguards against wrongful convictions.

“Discussions and negotiations are ongoing regarding police reforms that would help ensure that nothing like what occurred in this case ever happens again,” they said.

Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15, were bound, gagged and shot in the head at the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” store where two of them worked. The building was set on fire.

Investigators chased thousands of leads and several false confessions before the four men, who were teenagers when the girls were killed, were arrested in late 1999.

Springsteen and Scott were convicted based largely on confessions they insisted were coerced by police. Both convictions were overturned in the mid-2000s.

Welborn was charged but never tried after two grand juries refused to indict him. Pierce spent three years in jail before the charges were dismissed. He died in 2010 in a confrontation with police after a traffic stop.

Prosecutors wanted to try Springsteen and Scott again, but a judge ordered the charges dismissed in 2009 when new DNA tests that were unavailable in 1991 and the previous trials revealed another male suspect.

Investigators determined in 2025 that new DNA science and reviews of old ballistics evidence pointed to Robert Eugene Brashers as the sole killer.

Since 2018, authorities had used advanced DNA evidence to link Brashers to the strangulation death of a South Carolina woman in 1990, the 1997 rape of a 14-year-old girl in Tennessee and the shooting of a mother and daughter in Missouri in 1998.

The link to the Austin case came when a DNA sample taken from under Ayers’ fingernail came back as a match to Brashers from the 1990 killing.

Brashers died in 1999 when he shot himself during an hourslong standoff with police at a motel in Kennett, Missouri.

New city council members sworn in

New city council members sworn inTYLER – On Wednesday, May 13, City of Tyler City Council members were sworn into office. Those taking their oath of office included newly elected Councilmembers Clint Childs (District 4) and Carleen Dark-Bays (District 6). 
 
Re-elected Council member Petra Hawkins (District 2) will be re-sworn in at a later date. 
  
Following the swearing-in, the council held its first meeting, where they elected District 2 Council member Petra Hawkins as Mayor Pro Tem. Members of the Council elect the Mayor Pro Tem, who serves in the Mayor’s absence for a one-year term. 
  

In brief: ‘Every Year After’ trailer, and more

Prime Video has dropped the trailer for its upcoming romance series, Every Year After, based on the bestselling book Every Summer After by author Carley Fortune. The series, starring Saltburn’s Sadie Soverall and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ Matt Cornett, tells the love story of two friends, Percy and Sam, over the course of six years and one week in the lakeside town of Barry’s Bay. The eight-episode season premieres June 10 ...

Oscar Isaac’s Las Vegas-set Netflix show now has a title and more cast members. The show, about the high-stakes world of casinos, is called The Roman. Betty Gilpin, Alec Baldwin and David Costabile are joining Isaac in the cast. A release date for the eight-episode series has yet to be announced ...

Paranormal Activity is going from the big screen to the Great White Way. Paranormal Activity: A New Story Live on Broadway will officially open in New York this fall. The Olivier Awards-nominated production will play a limited 20-week engagement beginning on Aug. 14 ...

Breakout Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette star Paul Anthony Kelly has joined the cast of American Horror Story. The 13th season of the Ryan Murphy anthology series debuts on FX and Hulu this fall. Further details on Kelly's role have yet to be revealed ...

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‘Ted Lasso’ star Cristo Fernández signs pro soccer contract

Cristo Fernandez attends Elton John AIDS Foundation's 34th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 15, 2026 in West Hollywood, California. (Jerod Harris/Getty Images)

Cristo Fernández is turning his on-screen soccer dreams into reality.

The actor best known for playing Dani Rojas on the hit Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso has signed a professional soccer contract with El Paso Locomotive FC, the club announced Tuesday.

Fernández, 35, joined the USL Championship side after completing what the club described as an "extensive" two-month trial.

During that stretch, the Mexican actor and forward trained regularly with the team and appeared in a preseason match against New Mexico United.

"Fútbol has always been a huge part of my life and identity, and no matter where life has taken me, the dream of competing professionally never truly left my heart," Fernández said in a statement released by the club.

Long before his acting career took off, Fernández played youth soccer for Mexican club Tecos FC. However, an injury forced him to step away from the sport when he was 15 years old.

He later shifted his focus to acting and became one of the breakout stars of Ted Lasso in 2020.

His character, Dani Rojas, became a fan favorite for his upbeat personality and memorable catchphrase, "Fútbol is life."

In recent years, Fernández has shared his journey back to soccer on social media, posting videos of himself training with professional clubs across the country, including teams connected to Major League Soccer organizations.

El Paso Locomotive FC head coach Junior Gonzalez said Fernández will bring both talent and leadership to the squad.

"Cristo is a great addition to our roster, adding another attacking threat to our forward line," Gonzalez said. "His passion for the game and leadership qualities for our locker room allow us to continue growing the positive culture we strive for as a club."

Fernández said the opportunity represents more than just a return to soccer.

"This journey back to professional soccer is about believing in yourself, taking risks, and continuing to chase your dreams no matter how unexpected the path may be," he said.

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Natural resource protection motion tabled

Natural resource protection motion tabledSMITH COUNTY — As East Texas counties continue searching for solutions to protect their property and water rights, Van Zandt County is proposing a partnership with Smith County to better protect the region’s natural resources. According to our news partner KETK, Van Zandt County proposed a 391 commission, which would create a council including commissioners and residents from both counties. It would allow neighboring counties to work together to protect the region’s groundwater and property rights. The commission would oversee potential projects in the area and discuss developmental issues that affect both counties.

Following Tuesday’ s meeting, attended by several key lawmakers and public officials, Smith County Commissioners voted to table the decision until they obtained further information on the proposal. During a Smith County Commissioners Court meeting earlier this month, Van Zandt County resident David Dunigan said if Smith County entered the partnership, it would ensure better protection of the region’s natural resources.

“Your voice is going to tell people we can’t be predatory against East Texas counties anymore,” Dunigan said. “I really urge you guys to amplify your voice for the citizens of this county, and for the surrounding East Texas counties to be able to at least say yes, we want something, or no, we don’t.” Continue reading Natural resource protection motion tabled

Domestic dispute leaves 2 dead, 1 injured in shooting at Texarkana Aluminum

TEXARKANA, Texas (KETK) — Two people are dead and one person is recovering at a hospital after a domestic dispute led to a shooting at Texarkana Aluminum early Tuesday morning, the Nash Police Department confirmed. According to Nash PD, the shooting occurred at the facility’s parking lot at around 6:37 a.m. 48-year-old Eddie Hill Jr. was attempting to intervene in what is believed to be a domestic dispute between 40-year-old Wendell Champion Jr. and his wife, who worked at Texarkana Aluminum.

Champion Jr. then shot and killed Hill Jr. and shot his wife. She was transported to a local Texarkana hospital and is in stable condition, the police department said. Champion Jr. then shot and killed himself, Nash PD said. Champion Jr. had been convicted of murder in Harris County in 2010 and was released on parole in 2025.

There is no danger to the public at this time, the police department said.

Both Hill and Champion Jr.’s wife were employees of Texarkana Aluminum, which will continue operations as normal but has counseling available for employees.

Two arrested after possible pipe bomb found near Livingston home

LIVINGSTON (KETK) — Two people have been arrested after law enforcement discovered a possible pipe bomb near a Livingston home on Monday. According to the Livingston Police Department, officers were notified of a possible pipe bomb on Banks Drive and several nearby homes were evacuated as a perimeter was secured.

With the help of the Montgomery County Bomb Squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, technicians safely disabled the device and began an investigation.

A search warrant was conducted on a nearby home, leading Livingston PD officers to more explosive components. The home’s residents, 44-year-old Brian Humphreys and 37-year-old Shaney Humphreys, were arrested on the scene for possession of explosives and booked into the Polk County Jail.

“This investigation is still active and more charges are possible,” Livingston PD said. “At this time there is no threat to the public.”

Suitcase full of marijuana seized

Suitcase full of marijuana seizedSMITH COUNTY — A person has been arrested after a traffic stop in Smith County led officers to the discovery of a suitcase containing over 27 pounds of marijuana on Monday afternoon.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, deputies initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-20 for traveling in the left-hand lane while not passing. The driver was identified as Reinaldo Hernandez.

Deputies detected the odor of marijuana while speaking to Hernandez. After getting consent to search and being denied, a detective and his K-9 partner conducted a free-air sniff, which resulted in a positive result. They then located a suitcase in the bed of the vehicle. The suitcase contained 25 vacuum-sealed bags containing marijuana. The bags totaled a weight of 27.5 pounds.

Hernandez was arrested for possessing marijuana in an amount equal to or less than 50 pounds but greater than 5 pounds. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on Monday and was later released after posting bond.

Savannah Bananas’ Jackson Olson joins ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 35

Jackson Olson plays the fans as the Savannah Bananas take on the Party Animals at Campanelli Stadium on August 16, 2023 in Brockton, MA. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)

Savannah Bananas second baseman and social media personality Jackson Olson is trading the baseball field for the dance floor.

Olson has officially joined Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars as a celebrity contestant, ABC announced during Disney's Upfront presentation on Tuesday.

The internet creator and baseball star is the latest celebrity revealed for the upcoming season, joining previously announced contestants Maura Higgins of The Traitors and Love Island and Ciara Miller of Summer House.

The full celebrity cast and professional dancer lineup will be announced Sept. 2 exclusively on Good Morning America.

Olson has gained a massive following online through his mix of baseball content, personal storytelling and behind-the-scenes moments from life with the Savannah Bananas, the viral exhibition baseball team known for its entertaining spin on the sport.

Along with sharing baseball insights and highlights from his career as a second baseman, Olson's content often focuses on relationships, family, food and everyday life experiences.

The Savannah Bananas have become a social media sensation in recent years for their fast-paced and comedic style of baseball, often compared to the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball, with Olson emerging as one of the team's most recognizable personalities.

Dancing with the Stars is coming off a milestone Season 34, which marked the show's best finale performance in a decade, according to ABC.

The show will air live this fall on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.

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Conan O’Brien to return as Oscars host for third consecutive year

ABC’s The Oscars hosted by Conan O'Brien. (Disney/Mark Seliger)

Conan O'Brien will be reprising his hosting duties at the Oscars next year. 

At Disney Upfront 2026 on Tuesday, Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts announced that the Emmy Award-winning television host, writer, producer and comedian will return for the 99th Oscars.

Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will also return as the show's executive producers for the fourth consecutive year. Joining them are Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney, who will return as producers for the third time.

“We are thrilled to be working again with Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 99th Oscars,” said Kramer and Howell Taylor in a press release. “They are an incredible team and have produced such captivating, entertaining and heartfelt shows over the last two years. We are so grateful for their ongoing partnership as we honor our global film community — and we look forward to Conan superbly leading the celebration with his brilliance and humor.”

O'Brien made his Oscars hosting debut in 2025. He came back for the 98th Oscars this year, where he received positive reviews.

In a press release, Kapoor and Mullan said working with O'Brien for a third year is "really special."

"He brings that signature humor everyone loves, along with a real warmth and generosity that carry through the entire show,” they said. “He’s a true creative partner, someone we trust completely, and someone who makes the whole process genuinely fun, both behind the scenes and on stage. We’re incredibly grateful to keep building this together and can’t wait to share what’s next.”

The 99th Oscars will air live on ABC and Hulu on March 14, 2027, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

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County seeking data center oversight

County seeking data center oversightHENDERSON COUNTY – An East Texas county has passed a resolution asking the governor and a state representative to stop local officials from becoming “powerless observers” in the face of the fast growth of A.I. data centers. The resolution, which expressed concerns about the potential effects of large-scale data center projects on local infrastructure and natural resources, was read by the county’s attorney during a Henderson County Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday morning.

Our news partners at KETK report that additionally, the resolution calls for an independent evaluation of the effects on natural resources before any new A.I. data centers are built. In order to address what the county refers to as “urgent reliability, water supply, and local governance concerns,” it also requests that state lawmakers investigate the matter and, if required, call a special session.

The decision was made almost a month after Data Factory showed interest in constructing a 10-megawatt facility in Athens. The company refers to its facilities as “flexible power farms,” a form of infrastructure that it claims can support high-performance computing while stabilizing strained power grids.