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TYLER — Five seed grants totaling $115,000 have been awarded to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. The locally raised money will help UTHSCT researchers explore new cures for serious diseases, said Steven Idell, MD, Ph.D., UTHSCT’s vice president for research.

Hong-Long Ji, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry, was awarded a $40,000 grant to study the relationship between abnormal genes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Usha Pendurthi, Ph.D., professor of molecular biology, received $40,000 to fund her work into how certain proteins that curb blood clotting affect the growth of cancerous tumors. Proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body’s cells, tissues, and organs; each protein has unique functions. Hormones, enzymes, and antibodies are all examples of proteins.

Buka Samten, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology, and Malini Madiraju, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry, were awarded $20,000 for preliminary research that could lead to a better vaccine against tuberculosis. That’s important, because TB kills more than a million people each year, according to the World Health Organization.

Anna Kurdowska, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry, received $10,000 for her research into a new way to treat acute lung injury, also known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). And Amir Shams, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology, received $5,000 to examine how to keep treatments for injured lungs inside those lungs.

According to Dr. Idell, “These grants enable our scientists to pursue new and exciting research that could change our understanding of how serious diseases develop, as well as transform how we treat them. They help our researchers acquire the preliminary data they need to successfully compete for funding from the National Institutes of Health, the gold standard in biomedical research.” He called this year’s projects “outstanding.”

EAST TEXAS — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs will visit Longview and Tyler tomorrow and Thursday to discuss facts, figures and trends fueling the Texas Economy. She will also speak about health care and education spending, federal regulations and other issues that will shape the future of our state. According to a press release, the Comptroller will take questions from the audience to get feedback on issues residents feel are important to Longview, Tyler and surrounding communities.

The hour-long interactive discussion in Longview begins at 10:00 tomorrow morning at the Citizens National Bank’s Boardroom, 410 North Center Street. The meeting in Tyler is Thursday at 10:00 in the Tyler Chamber of Commerce’s Genecov Boardroom located at 315 North Broadway.

HARRISON COUNTY — County elections administrators are crystal clear about one thing as party primaries and the election date for school boards and city councils bump within weeks of each other, this could get confusing.

“It’s extremely worrisome to all of us,” Harrison County Elections Administrator Pam Brock said, speaking for officials across the state who anticipate calls and confusion over clashing election dates.

According to the Longview News-Journal, voters elect candidates to school and city offices May 12. They’ll return to polls on May 29, when party primaries are scheduled for statewide and national elections. It’s a new Texas two-step, with two bands playing at once.

The May 12 city and school elections always are on that second Saturday in May. The Democratic and Republican primary date, kicked down the calendar twice by ongoing court battles over political lines, appears to have finally settled on May 29. The last day to register to vote for the city/school elections is April 13. The last day to register to vote in the primaries is April 30. Early voting in the city/school elections is April 30 through May 8. Early voting in the primaries is May 14-25. So, primary voters will begin casting early ballots two days after voting in school and city races.

LONGVIEW — The passion to spread a personal message on a small but highly visible canvas, the license plate, has resulted in millions of additional dollars for the state’s general revenue fund. It also has provided a boom in business for Longview-based Encore Multimedia, the advertising and marketing firm that landed the contract to help spread the word across the Lone Star state about such license plates through the My Plates campaign.

Dean Waskowiak, president of Encore, said the firm’s latest effort to market Texas license plates is the “Say More With Seven” campaign that continues through Wednesday. The program allows Texans to put seven characters, either letters, numbers or a combination of both, on their license plates. In the past, with the exception of a couple of other similar limited-time offers, Texans wanting personal messages on their license plates have been limited to six characters, Waskowiak said.

According to KETK, Encore Multimedia is a subcontractor for the vendor partners that have the contract to develop and market the plates for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. My Plates is a joint venture of Nacogdoches-based Etech and Pinnacle Technical Resources of Dallas.

EAST TEXAS (AP) — The Texas Department of Public Safety has increased anti-DWI efforts during spring break. DPS says troopers have added patrols through Sunday to crack down on drunken driving. The extra patrols are funded through a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation. DPS during 2011 spring break made nearly 1,300 DWI arrests. The Department of Public Safety last week raised safety concerns about drug-related violence in Mexico and urged students on spring break to avoid heading south of the border.

TYLER — It’s the final week for Tyler’s Spring Free Bulky Item Collection. Residential customers may get rid of bulky items such as unwanted furniture, appliances, carpet, fence material, up to four noncommercial vehicle tires, old toys and other large items that would normally require a special fee for free. Brush, limbs and liquid waste is not included. Paint must be dried out with oil dry or kitty litter.

Last week the collection was for residents whose trash is picked up on Monday and Thursday. This week it is for those whose trash is collected on Tuesday and Friday. All you have to do is place your bulky items on the curb by Monday. Place your bulky items on the curb and leave them there until collected. Items may be collected on a different day from your regular garbage collection. There is no need to contact the city Solid Waste office when you set out your bulky garbage.

Bulky items will also be accepted from 7:00am till noon on Saturday at the City of Tyler employee parking lot in the 300 block of North Bois D’Arc in down town Tyler.

You can visit http://www.tylersolidwaste.com or http://www.keeptylerbeautiful.com for more information.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

GREGG COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation is anticipating the activation of a new traffic signal this week at the intersection of State Highway 135 and Farm Road 1252 near Liberty City. Crews will need to complete roadway striping work on the job before the signal can be activated. The signal is part of the ongoing construction project to expand SH 135 between Interstate Highway 20 and Farm Road 2207. Motorists are encouraged to use caution in the area.

Also this week in Gregg County, TxDOT maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on State Highway 322 between Farm Road 2011 and Farm Road 1249 in Rusk County. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue edge repairs on Farm Road 2868 between State Highway 155 in Noonday and Farm Road 346 in Flint. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also in Smith County, construction crews are scheduled to return to work on Farm Road 2767 as early as today. Crews will resume work to add shoulders, make repairs and resurface the roadway between Farm Road 757 and State Highway 31 near Country Tavern on the Gregg County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect on the project while the work is in progress.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations in various locations on State Highway 294 west of Elkhart between Farm Road 322 and Farm Road 1990. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs on Farm Road 3056 between U.S. Highway 80 east of Mineola and Farm Road 778. The work is in preparation for a seal coat application this summer.

A second crew is scheduled to continue edge repairs on Farm Road 2869 north of Farm Road 49. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 177 and Farm Road 3052 in the Mixon area. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 859 in Edgewood between U.S. Highway 80 and Farm Road 1395, on Farm Road 1395 north of Edgewood, and on Farm Road 47 south of Interstate Highway 20.

A second crew is scheduled to continue edge-repair operations on Farm Road 314 between Farm Road 1995 south of Van and State Highway 64 north of Edom. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement-repair operations on State Highway 31 in Malakoff, followed upon completion by the same work in the curb-and-gutter section of State Highway 198 in Malakoff. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 95 between State Highway 315 and U.S. Highway 84 east of Mount Enterprise.

Also in Rusk County, a second crew this week is scheduled to perform pavement repairs on State Highway 322 between Farm Road 2011 just south of the Gregg County Airport and Farm Road 1249. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

TYLER — A local business is honored at the Fourth Annual BASF Builders Challenge Awards ceremony during the 2012 International Builders Show in Florida. Wright-Way of Tyler was named one of ten U.S. home builders to achieve significant benchmarks under the Department of Energy Builders Challenge program. To qualify, homes must use at least 30 percent less energy than a typical new home built to code, and they must meet Builders Challenge Quality Criteria to ensure the highest level of comfort and quality. Wright-Way Remodeling & Construction, Tyler, in partnership with Wright Way Solar Technologies, was honored for a maximized performance home.

EAST TEXAS — Multiple cars were involved in a wreck on Texas 64 just West of Tyler, according to KETK reports. Officials said seven people had been taken to the hospital. One victim had serious injuries but was in stable condition, and the others had minor injuries. The wreck was due to unsafe road speeds during wet conditions, officials said.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are investigating a burglary that left one suspect shot and one on the run. It happened Saturday night shortly before 9:15 in the 100 block of Delmar. Officers said a neighbor went next door when they heard a commotion. The neighbor said the door was kicked in and two suspects were inside the residence. They exchanged gunfire and one of the suspect’s was shot in the ankle. He was taken to the hospital with a non life-threatening injury. They second suspect reportedly fled on foot. Names have not been released.

LUFKIN — Testimony continues today in Lufkin in the trial of Kimberly Saenz. The former nurse is accused of killing at least five DaVita Dialysis patients in April 2008 by injecting them with bleach from a cleaning pail.

On Friday, day five of the capital murder trial, one of Saenz’s former co-workers testified there was a “certain group” of dialysis patients Saenz didn’t like treating. According to the Lufkin Daily News, when asked by prosecutor Clyde Herrington to specify what patients Saenz, now 38, “didn’t like,” Candace Lackey named seven of the 10 people Saenz is alleged to have injected with bleach.

When asked by Saenz’s defense attorney Ryan Deaton to clarify her statement, Lackey said that working with that certain group of patients would cause Saenz some distress. Throughout the course of the trial, Deaton has theorized that DaVita’s improperly purified water caused the patient deaths. While several DaVita employees testified that dialysis machines were cleaned with bleach once a week after all patients were gone, Lackey testified she saw another practice.

Before jurors left for the day, they listened to a recording of Saenz’s testimony before an Angelina County grand jury. Saenz said as she and her co-workers watched more and more patients die and become ill they became more concerned. It was out of concern for her patients, Saenz said, that she and her husband looked up bleach poisoning online April 2, one day after the initial two deaths.

If convicted of capital murder, Saenz faces life in prison or death by lethal injection. Day six of her trial is scheduled to begin this morning.

MARSHALL — Marshall ISD will implement random use of metal detectors at the junior high school after students were caught with pocket knives on campus during school hours earlier this month. Three students were caught with knives on March 2, the day after a fight broke out between eight junior high students, said Interim Superintendent Brian Nichols. According to the Longview News-Journal, as a result, students were not allowed to bring backpacks to school this past week. The handheld metal detectors will be used to lessen the chance of a weapon being brought on the campus again, he said.

Along with the metal detectors, junior high administrators have cracked down on campus security, including changing the location where students are allowed to congregate in the mornings before the school bell rings. Nichols re-iterated the weapons found were pocket knives, which are considered prohibited weapons.

EAST TEXAS — An East Texas farmer’s restraining order to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline from cutting across her family’s land has been rescinded, again. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Texarkana on Friday reversed its decision of a week earlier that had upheld the order. In its latest ruling, the court said it had reinstated the order March 2 “in an abundance of caution,” but because the court now had fully reviewed the matter, it believes the order should be dissolved. It was the latest twist in the effort by Julia Trigg Crawford, who this past month won an order to stop TransCanada from taking her Lamar County land via eminent domain and routing its pipeline across her family’s farm.

The original order was appealed by TransCanada and overturned February 24. It was reinstated March 2 and dissolved again Friday. Crawford vowed to continue her battle against the pipeline and has raised concerns about protecting Caddo Indian antiquities and the environment. A court date to appeal TransCanada’s use of eminent domain to route the Keystone XL pipeline across her land is set April 30.

TYLER – The bicyclist injured in a Wednesday night accident in Tyler has died. Terry Knutson, 70, of Tyler died around 7:00 Friday night from his injuries. The accident happened shortly after 8:15 Wednesday night at the intersection of the Troup Highway and Shiloh Road. Knutson was severely injured when his bicycle was hit by a wrecker. He was taken to East Texas Medical Center. After investigating the crash, Tyler Police Accident Investigators determined that Terry Knutson was at fault for failing to yield the right of way when entering the roadway on his bicycle from a private drive. No charges were filed in this case.

KETK-TV is reporting that just before the accident, Brook Hollow Park evicted Knutson from his travel trailer and threw all of his possessions on the other side of the fence.

TYLER — Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of the grand opening of FRESH by Brookshire’s. Staff invited the public to celebrate with live local music, free gelato and cake and chances to win a trip to Napa Valley. FRESH is one of the first of its kind in East Texas to open as a completely environmentally friendly grocery store. According to KETK, recently, FRESH received a prestigious honor for a LEED certification. LEED is recognized by the US Green Building Council and stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A New Diana High School teacher was found dead of a gunshot wound Friday afternoon at his home. David Gross, an agriculture science teacher who was a Union Grove resident, was found by Upshur County sheriff’s officers in his home on a private road off Union Grove Road. According to the Longview News-Journal, deputies arrived in response to a call received by sheriff’s dispatch about 2:40 p.m., Sheriff Anthony Betterton said.

Gross, a husband and father, was pronounced dead by Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Rhonda Welch. Betterton said an autopsy had been ordered. It was unclear Friday night whether authorities were seeking a suspect in connection with the death. Gross had been at the Houston Livestock Show, where his students had been showing animals, Betterton said. He had returned to his home Friday, but intended to return to Houston. Gross’ exact age was not available, but Betterton said he was in his mid-30s.

Gross taught at New Diana for more than six years, Sloan said. He also represented East Texas as a board member of the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas. Gross was the son of New Diana trustee and Upshur County Sheriff’s deputy Don Gross and his wife, Joy. David Gross was married and had two children.

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office is working with Texas Rangers and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the death.

SULPHUR SPRINGS — A Savannah, Georgia, man wanted for aggravated child molestation and two counts of false statements and writings was arrested by the United States Marshals Service Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force in Sulphur Springs on Thursday. That’s according to KETK and Marshals Service press materials. Dionte Thomas, 28, was wanted by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department after he allegedly failed to appear in court in Savannah. The original charges stemmed from a Pooler, Georgia, incident in which he was charged in June of 2010.

LONGVIEW — 16,000 Eastman Kodak retirees could soon lose their benefits. As part of the company’s Chapter 11 reorganization, the company is trying to cut the benefits to emerge from Chapter 11 more quickly. If approved, the company will save more than $200 million annually. But Texas Eastman retirees tell KETK they are not happy about the situation — especially because they were promised benefits for life when they retired. One retiree, Thurmond McGuire, is trying to contact all Texas Eastman retirees who’ll be affected by the cuts.

MARSHALL — 30-year-old Bradley Gary-Joe Varnell has been arraigned on charges of sexual assault of the elderly, attempting to take a weapon from a law enforcement official, and evading arrest. The bond for those offenses was set at $310,000. According to KETK, Varnell was also due to have an additional charge of violation of parole from the State of Texas. There will be no bond set for that charge. Varnell, a registered sex offender, is currently in the Harrison County Jail.

Harrison County authorities say Varnell is accused allegedly sexually assaulting a 72-year-old. According to authorities, 911 operators received a call at approximately 4:30 Thursday morning regarding a sexual assault that had just occurred on Highway 134 close to the intersection of Farm Road 1793. Deputies arrived at the location and found the victim to be a woman who stated she was awakened by a man who had entered her house. She said he was standing at her bed and was holding a knife demanding to have sex with her. The suspect then fled the scene. The victim called 911 and was taken to Good Shepherd hospital for an examination.

Around 7:30 Thursday morning Lt. Floyd Duncan was driving on South on Blackjack Rd. and observed a man walking on the roadway who matched the general description of the suspect. He stopped to identify and speak with the person. The person stated his vehicle had broken down and was walking to his residence. Lt. Duncan asked the person for an ID and to get into his vehicle. The person then reportedly became very agitated and began to fight with the deputy as he was attempting to take him into custody. The suspect then reportedly broke free and ran into a wooded area. The suspect was able to get back to his vehicle and flee.

Another deputy coming to the location for assistance observed a pickup truck driving east on Swendson Road. He then attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the truck fled from that Deputy and drove into a road ditch. The suspect reportedly jumped from the truck and ran back into the woods. Numerous responding units were able to seal off the roadways and establish a perimeter. A search was begun with the assistance of Harrison County K-9 units and the Shreveport Fire Department bloodhound team. Authorities say deputies were able to establish a location of the suspect after the K-9 units traced his route through the woods. Deputies found the suspect in a home shortly before noon, not far from where he was originally stopped by Lt. Duncan.

EAST TEXAS — Texas blues legend Bugs Henderson passed away Thursday night at his home. He was 69 and had been fighting liver cancer. Four months ago, Henderson announced that he was fighting cancer, which launched a series of benefit concerts to help with medical expenses. The most recent benefit concert took place Sunday at the Palladium Ballroom. Henderson was to sick to attend. Henderson grew up in Tyler.

TYLER — A 56-year-old Athens man pleaded guilty to federal violations in a Tyler courtroom Friday. Mark Eugene Thomas faces up to 20 years in federal prison for mail fraud. According to information presented in court, from 1998 to 2009, Thomas was employed by Argon Medical Devices, Inc. in Athens. From 2004 to 2008, Thomas provided fraudulent data to appear more profitable in order to secure additional capital investments. The fraud resulted in a financial loss of between $1 million and $2.5 million. A sentencing date has not been set.

LUFKIN (AP) – The attorney of an East Texas dialysis nurse on trial for murder says she was spotted drawing bleach into a syringe to measure it for cleaning water, not to hurt patients. Kimberly Saenz is charged with killing five patients in Lufkin by injecting bleach into their dialysis lines. Attorney Ryan Deaton has challenged the testimony of two patients who say they saw Saenz fill a syringe with bleach. Deaton says they misunderstood what she was doing. Deaton on Thursday asked a former co-worker of Saenz’s whether someone had once suggested using a syringe to measure bleach. The co-worker, Yazmin Santana, says a supervisor immediately shot that idea down. Saenz could get the death penalty if convicted. The trial enters its fifth day Friday.

TYLER (AP) – Attorneys for a man once on death row for the rape and killing of an East Texas woman want his request for new DNA testing to be heard by a judge outside the county. Kerry Max Cook was twice sentenced to death for the 1977 stabbing of Linda Jo Edwards. Courts overturned both convictions. In 1999, Cook agreed to plead no contest to murder in exchange for a sentence of time served and went free. The prosecutor during one of Cook’s trials is now a judge and will not decide on Cook’s latest motion. Cook’s attorneys say other Smith County judges should also step aside to avoid the appearance of impropriety. A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt. Cook says new DNA testing could prove his innocence.

DIBOLL – Three persons have been killed in Diboll when their SUV was hit by a Union Pacific freight train. It happened on Maynard Street around 2:00 Thursday afternoon. Police identify the victims as Sofia Carillo, 54, Tomavia Carillo, 19, and an 18-month old boy, whose name has not been released. All three were Diboll residents. Investigators say the SUV either stopped or stalled on the tracks. It was pushed some 100 yards down the track before the train was able to stop.

MARSHALL – An early morning wreck in Harrison Country has killed a Marshall man. It happened around 1:30 Thursday morning. Dead at the scene was Dustin Dean Butler, 21. The accident happened on State Highway 154. The Department of Public Safety reports Butler lost control of his vehicle on a curve. He was thrown from the vehicle when it overturned.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s officials report that two fuel storage tanks ruptured and exploded just after 3:45 Thursday afternoon. According to KETK, the cause of the explosion on County Road 342 was not immediately determined. Sheriff Thomas Kerss says the Melrose, Chireno, and Swift/Shady Grove VFDs and the City of Nacogdoches Fire Department responded and contained the resulting fire before it spread to four other tanks located in the vicinity. Kerss says there were no injuries reported.

TYLER – Four Kilgore residents have pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to drug trafficking violations. Matthew Dean Willis, 25, and Terri Young, 51, both pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine Thursday. David Christopher Wheeler, 30, and Raelene Dawn Ferguson, 27, pleaded guilty to the same charges earlier this week. All pleas were entered in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, the four defendants were involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing methamphetamine in the Gregg County area. The defendants were named in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury last November. The defendants each face up to 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not been set.

CHANDLER — Next Tuesday afternoon at 5:30 p.m., the City of Chandler will hold a short ceremony to dedicate the new city seal and display of the National motto, “In God We Trust” on the Council Chamber’s wall. According to KETK and city press materials, the event is part of a City Hall Open House and meet and greet with the Mayor and City Council scheduled for 5:00 till 6:00 p.m.

According to city officials, in November of last year Chandler was the first city in Henderson County to adopt a resolution approving the prominent display of the National Motto of “In God We Trust.” Since that time the City has been working on a redesign of the Council Chambers and the fabrication of the new City Seal, which is displayed along with the National motto. “We look forward to having the citizens of Chandler and elected officials of Henderson County join us for this special dedication,” Mayor Ann Hall said. “It’s an honor to display our new city Seal and “In God We Trust” in our updated Council Chambers.”

LUFKIN — A wanted man turns himself in to Angelina County authorities. Lufkin police tell KETK around 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, Rafael Orta surfaced at the jail. Orta was the last of five people wanted for the capital murder of Robert Darnell Bennett. Bennett was robbed and killed in Lufkin in February. His murder is believed to be the result of a robbery gone wrong.

TYLER — If you’re summoned to jury duty in Smith County, changes are underway. The Smith County Sheriff’s Department tells KETK starting in about two months, a new entryway will be available to jurors in the morning. That way, they won’t have to wait outside in long lines and in the rain. Officials say the project will cost more than $30,000, but it won’t cost taxpayers a dime.