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TEXARKANA (AP) — The French oil giant Total has agreed to pay $15 million to the U.S. government to settle federal allegations that Total underpaid royalties for natural gas taken from federal and American Indian lands. In a statement issued Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department says an assortment of Total S.A. subsidiaries and affiliates reached the settlement in a case pending in a U.S. District Court in Texarkana.

TYLER — Rain, searing heat, and drought have combined to cause pothole problems in East Texas. According to KETK, some simple tips can minimize the damage to your vehicle. First, be sure to check the air pressure in your tires; if it’s not right, the slightest change in temperature can cause a blowout. Experts also recommend an alignment inspection with each oil change, and rotating your tires regularly to slow down their wear. TxDOT’s Larry Krantz adds that his agency regularly seal-coats highways in the area to fix the potholes.

MARSHALL – A 48-year-old Gilmer man has pleaded guilty in Marshall to federal firearms violations. Eric Jason Wright pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne.

According to authorities, on Aug. 7, 2010, Wright was found to be in possession of a shotgun in Upshur County. Further investigation revealed Wright had been convicted of delivery of a controlled substance in Upshur County in 1998. As a convicted felon, Wright is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 2, 2011. Wright faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER – A 31-year-old Carthage woman has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales Wednesday. Christine Stephens Carroll pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. The plea came Wednesday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, on October 22, 2008, Carroll purchased cold pills containing 2.40 grams of pseudoephedrine from a Brookshire Bros. store in Carthage. Carroll also admitted to purchasing cold pills on 64 different occasions from October 22, 2008 to April 15, 2010, which amounted to approximately 137.78 grams of pseudoephedrine, with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Carroll was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2011.

Carroll faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. Carroll’s co-defendants have already entered pleas. Roy Tatum pleaded guilty on September 7, 2011; Carroll’s husband, Billy Carroll, pleaded guilty on January 4, 2012. Both are awaiting sentencing.

VAN ZANDT — Responding to the increased number of citizens wanting to assist law enforcement officials and build a stronger partnership in the fight against crime, Sheriff R. P. “Pat” Burnett, Jr. announced Wednesday that Van Zandt County Citizens are being invited to become Associate Members of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas. Membership invitations will go out in the mail over the next several weeks.

Associate Member funding allows the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas to provide critical training, technical resources, and legislative support on key criminal justice issues to law enforcement officers across the state. Dues will be used to support crime prevention and awareness programs, promote public safety, fight drug abuse, provide additional training for sheriffs and their deputies, and provide scholarships for children of law enforcement officers. Contributions to the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas are tax-deductible.

You can contact the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas at http://www.txsheriffs.org for more information.

EAST TEXAS — Due to a main line break on Farm Road 226 North of Farm Road 2259, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required Woden Water Supply Corporation to notify customers North of FM 2259 on FM 226 all the way to Oakridge of the need to boil their water prior to consumption until further notice.

According to KETK, to ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.

TYLER — A 53-year-old Emory woman pleaded guilty in a Tyler courtroom Wednesday to federal firearms violations. Margaret Lanette Gunter admitted to engaging in the business of selling firearms without a federal firearms license. According to information presented in court, on August 31, Gunter was arrested in Emory. More than one hundred weapons, as well as a large amount of ammunition, were recovered. Gunter admitted to assisting a co-defendant who was selling firearms at public markets in Quinlan and at the First Monday Trade Fair in Canton. She faces up to 5 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

SMITH COUNTY — Officials say a man has been taken to a Tyler hospital after his truck flipped and rolled off Highway 155 South just north of CR 2651 about 7:30 Wednesday morning. The details of the injuries are not yet known. DPS initially called for the injured man to be transported by air to the hospital but he were eventually taken by ambulance instead. According to KETK, the wreck was cleared later n the morning.

JACKSONVILLE — In the city of Jacksonville, residents will have to step outside of public buildings before lighting up, as the clean air act passed unanimously at the city council meeting Tuesday night.

LONGVIEW — A suspected pipe thief who claimed he was an escapee from the Cass County Jail was arrested last week in Longview. Captain Scott Sartain, public information officer for the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, said the suspect, Gary Linn Wilson, 56, of Longview, has been charged with aggravated robbery. Sartain said Wilson was allegedly trying to steal oil field pipe and diesel fuel Jan. 18 on Farm Road 125 near Linden-Kildare high School.

“When oil field company employees caught Wilson at the well site, they blocked the entrance and exit and he drove his truck into the woods,” Sartain said. “They chased him, and he picked up a limb and started acting like he was going to hit them with this limb, which is the reason for the aggravated robbery charge.”

According to the Longview News-Journal, Morris County has two cases pending against Wilson: an arrest warrant for criminal trespass and a previous arrest for theft of copper wire from a Bowie-Cass Electric Cooperative substation site in Morris County. A Cass County warrant for Wilson’s arrest was issued February 15. Wilson remains in the Morris County Jail charged with theft over $1,500 and less than $20,000.

LONGVIEW — Three Longview teens have been arrested after police said they stole about $3,900 worth of equipment from a Longview oil lease. Cole Emberton, Samuel Cantey and Zachary Lampkin, all 17, were arrested about 6 p.m. in the 2400 block of Lafamo Road in connection with a theft at TomCat Oil Lease. When officers arrived, the teens were standing near a Dodge pickup that had about 25 pipe connectors, two casings and two jack stands in the bed, according to arrest reports. TomCat Oil officials confirmed the stolen items belonged to their company and said the teens didn’t have permission to be on the property. The three were released from jail on $5,000 bond each after being charged with theft between $1,500 and $20,000.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man remains jailed after leading a state trooper on a chase with young kids in his car. Arrested was William Jason Pence, 33. The chase started on Farm Road 2206 when a state trooper tried to stop Pence for speeding. He didn’t stop until turning into a driveway on Cupit Road. Pence told the officer he didn’t stop because the 4 and 11 year old kids were not wearing their seat belts. Officers also found an open can of beer in the car. Pence was charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle, two counts of endangering a child, resisting arrest, failure to maintain financial responsibility and expired registration. His bonds total $31,000.

NACOGDOCHES – A search for a wanted fugitive in Nacogdoches County has resulted in four arrests, including the fugitive.

It started with a tip that the fugitive, Travis Bailey, was staying at a residence on Highway 103 East in the Etoile area. Two men standing outside the residence gave officers permission to search the house. Inside, in plain view, was methamphetamine, according to authorities. They say they later found hidden in the house a large quantity of methamphetamine. Arrested were Ricky Eugen Sowell 28, of Woden, and Kevin Ray Rust, 35, of Gun Barrel City.

As they continued looking for the fugitive, they received information he was possibly hiding off County Road 888 in the Lilbert Community. When a woman would not permit them to search a house, they obtained a search warrant. They reportedly found Bailey hiding inside. The woman, Jennifer Mccreary, was charged with hindering apprehension and possession of marijuana.

NACOGDOCHES – The robbery of a Nacogdoches County convenience store has authorities looking for three men. The robbery occurred around 12:45 Tuesday afternoon at Fuller’s Grocery in the Blackjack Community.

The suspects had been in the store earlier, when customers were present. The suspects made a purchase and then left. They later returned with one staying on their SUV and the other two, one armed with a hand gin and one with a knife, entered the store.

They tried to tie up the clerk, but he fought them off. They took money from the cash register before leaving. They were last seen in a white Tahoe or Suburban heading north toward Martinsville. The suspects were described as young Hispanic males in their 20s. One was around 5’11 and the other around 5’3’.

FLINT — Smith County Road and Bridge Crews have temporarily closed a portion of County Road 132 in the Flint-Gresham. The action was taken for maintenance. Details on when the County Road will reopen to the public will be made available as soon as possible. Motorists are being asked to find an alternative route.

EAST TEXAS — East Texas cities like Tyler and Longview are handing out tickets for things like littering, playing music too loud in your car, running stop signs or stoplights, and using your cellphone in school zones. And according to KETK, it may cost you more than you think. Fines for first-time offenders start at around $150. Talking or texting on your cell phone in a school zone could cost you around $200. And playing loud music on your car stereo could run up to $500. By the way, all those fines come with some hefty court fees as well.

LUFKIN — Lufkin Police officials say Olivia Charlene Foster,18, was arrested after she was allegedly caught stealing cash and gift cards from the store where she worked. Police tell KETK Foster was caught by the loss prevention department at Belk’s department store in Lufkin. She reportedly admitted to the theft of over $1700 in gift cards and $60 cash. Foster was booked into the Angelina County jail for theft.

TYLER — The Verizon Foundation presents a $10,000 check to Michael’s House of Hope Inc. at New Life Worship Center on Hwy 69 S in Tyler. Spokespeople say the funds will help MHOH serve the community through its Domestic Violence Program (BIPP) that provides an interventional approach through cognitive intervention. According to a news release, “MHOH is proud to be a recipient of this award and will continue to be instrumental in providing housing, spiritual development and job placement to men who have difficulty restructuring their lives.”

MHOH representatives say there are many services that serve the victims of domestic abuse, but the perpetrators are often overlooked and not seen as reparable. According to the release, Michael’s House of Hope, in partnership with the Texas Council on Family Violence, has developed a program in Tyler that will decrease and counteract the negative effects of family domestic violence. MHOH reps urge the community to get involved and witness the progress they say the Verizon Foundation and Michael’s House are making towards the reduction of domestic violence in East Texas. For more information, you can contact Marcus Wade, Director of Outreach, at 903-871-8700 ext. 510.

TYLER – East Texas Medical Center Tyler says it’s taking steps to increase its level of on-campus security, including the immediate deployment of more security staff members. That’s in the wake of a Monday night stabbing at the hospital and another recent attack there.

According to Art Chance, ETMC Tyler’s vice president of operations, “With recent events, the security department has also evaluated on-campus security associated with cameras and lighting. To that end, we have made improvements to our overall system and will continue to upgrade our security technology. In both incidents that occurred recently, clear video images of the assailant were obtained, which are assisting law enforcement investigations.

“Maintaining a safe environment requires that everyone remain vigilant and on guard. Employees and visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times and report any suspicious individuals loitering on campus. ETMC security escorts to and from vehicles are available to anyone on request. Anyone wishing to report a suspicious individual may contact the ETMC security department at 903-531-8800 or call the Tyler Police Department.”

In the latest incident, an employee was stabbed in the arm in front of the hospital as she was leaving around 10:30 Monday night. The nurse said a man tried to grab her purse, then stabbed her and fled on foot with her purse. The victim was treated for a non-life threatening wound. The suspect, who is pictured here, is described as a thin black male approximately 5’8″ tall, weighing approximately 140-150 lbs. The suspect was wearing a black hooded coat, red shirt, dark pants and tennis shoes and authorities said his head appeared to be shaved. The suspect fled southbound from the hospital.

LUFKIN — Crime Stoppers of Lufkin wants your help locating Rafael Orta. According to KETK, Orta is wanted by the Lufkin Police Department on a capital murder arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in the murder of Robert Darnell Bennett. Bennett was shot to death February 7 in his house on California Boulevard in Lufkin. Orta, who will be twenty years old next month, is about 5’6″ and weighs around 165 pounds. He has brown eyes and short-cut, black hair, and he has the letter “N” tattooed on the back of his hand. Investigators believe that Orta is still in the Lufkin/East Texas area.

Investigators have made four others arrests in the Bennett murder investigation, but Orta remains at large. Due to the nature of the crime for which he is wanted, investigators have expressed concern that Orta may be a danger to others. If you can provide any information concerning the current location of Rafael Orta, call Crime Stoppers of Lufkin at 936-639-TIPS. You can also go to http://lufkincrimestoppers.com/wanteds.aspx for more information or to submit an anonymous tip. You never have to give your name, and Crime Stoppers may pay a cash reward of up to $2,000 for information that leads to Orta’s arrest.

TYLER — A 38-year-old Hawkins woman has pleaded guilty to federal violations. Stacy Dianne Campbell pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of stolen mail. According to information presented in court, on December 2, 2010, Campbell purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Wal-Mart in Mineola and made numerous other purchases on other occasions, all in furtherance of her methamphetamine manufacturing activities. Campbell was named in a 133-count indictment returned by the grand jury on May 11, 2011.

Also presented in court was information regarding Campbell’s 2008 charges of stealing mail from mailboxes and attempting to either cash or deposit the money contained within the mail into an account fraudulently set up under a fictitious name. Campbell was indicted on these charges by a federal grand jury last September.

Campbell faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the drug charge and up to 5 years for the mail charge. A sentencing date has not been set.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man was arrested on a drunken driving charge early Monday morning at Woodland Heights Medical Center after a minor accident left him stranded. Brandon McAdams, 31, was driving along Loop 287 when he hit a curb and blew out two tires around 12:10. When an officer approached McAdams and asked for his driver’s license, the officer noted that McAdams was so intoxicated he couldn’t pull his driver’s license out of his wallet, according to an arrest report. He then admitted to the officer he was drunk and subsequently failed a field sobriety test. McAdams then agreed to an Intoxilyzer test and blew a .260 on his second attempt, three times the legal limit. McAdams was arrested and taken to jail on a DWI charge. He was released the same day on a $1,500 bond.

LONGVIEW — The Longview News Journal is reporting: A federal judge has denied motions alleging inadequate legal representation by Longview attorney Ebb Mobley on behalf of a Longview woman sentenced to nine years in prison for intoxication manslaughter.

Natalie Michelle White, 24, pleaded guilty to an August 2004 wreck on Loop 281 that killed 18-year-old Lauren Mackenzie Frazier. White, who was 16 at the time of the wreck, had been drinking beer at a party before colliding with the vehicle carrying Frazier.

Mobley said the ruling showed that there was nothing ineffective about White’s council. White began her sentence in 2007 after appeals for a new trial were denied.

MARSHALL — A former Harrison County sheriff’s deputy, arrested in September for two counts of sexual indecency with a child by contact and again in December on a third charge of sexual indecency with a child, has been arrested on two more sex charges. Huey Edward “Eddie” Nichols Jr., 49, was arrested Friday for sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. According to jail records, bonds were set at $100,000 each on the new charges. Details of the new charges were not immediately available.

According to the Longview News-Journal, the alleged victims in Nichols’ first arrest are two girls, ages 14 and 11, who told a school counselor and authorities that Nichols touched them inappropriately. In Nichol’s third charge, he is accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl starting in January 2002. Authorities learned of the accusations from the school counselor, who came forth with the information after Nichols and his wife were arrested in September on the other two cases. Nichols was indicted for the third charge in January. He and his wife, Sharon Renee Nichols, 33, were indicted on the first two charges this past October.

TYLER — Officials with the City of Tyler issued a letter Monday to Total Healthcare, suspending any future payments to the organization until concerns about its leadership can be allayed. That’s according to KETK. Concerns about Total Healthcare’s leadership have also been voiced by Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA), which is a federal oversight agency, about what they call Total Healthcare’s “chronic inability to maintain organizational leadership over time.”

According to Total Healthcare’s website, the organization “provides a medical home for patient-centered access to affordable, quality primary and preventive health care.” The City of Tyler gives the organization about $22,000 a month, which is about $265,000 a year. City of Tyler spokesperson Susan Guthrie says the city has not had an official contract with Total Healthcare for more than a year, and has been working with them on a month to month basis. Guthrie says the city feels it’s a steward of the public’s tax money, and for that reason, the city feels obligated to suspend the payments.

The City of Tyler has not ruled out funding the organization in the future, and city officials say they are willing to work with Total Healthcare if the leadership issues are resolved. Pamela Phoenix, the chairman of Total Healthcare, says that the organization is “still striving to help citizens with healthcare in this area.” Phoenix also says Total Healthcare hopes this situation with the City of Tyler will be temporary, but that the organization does have other grants.

GILMER — A review of Upshur County District Judge Lauren Parish’s campaign finance reports showed a majority of the six allegations filed with the Texas Ethics Commission against her by a tea party supporter are unsubstantiated. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Jim Doyle of Conroe filed the complaint against Parish on Feb. 6 with the Texas Ethics Commission, accusing her of multiple campaign finance report violations. Doyle has ties to the tea party and has filed complaints against political figures from Austin, Tomball, El Paso and other areas of the state.

A primary point of Doyle’s complaint says Parish used political contributions to pay a spouse or dependent child for campaign work, violating the law. Todd Parish, who is listed as received two $500 expenditures on her campaign finance report, is Lauren Parish’s brother – not her husband or child, her attorney Sam Baxter said. Doyle said Monday afternoon that the ethics commission will disregard that portion of the complaint if she is permitted to pay her brother for work under election law. “There were things that weren’t explained in her campaign finance report,” Doyle said. “You’ve got to be really explicit when you fill out your reports so people know what’s going on.”

Doyle earlier claimed that during the past two years, Parish had knowingly used campaign funds to pay her spouse for campaign work, made an unlawful contribution to a political committee, failed to fully disclose contributors’ primary occupations, job titles and employers or law firms, failed to fully disclose the recipients of political expenditures, and filed several incomplete reports. That’s according to William Elmer with the Texas Ethics Advisory Board. Parish is the 115th District Court Judge in Upshur County. She also serves Marion County.

HENDERSON — Seven people face drug charges following a weekend bust in East Texas. KETK reports that on Sunday, the Rusk County Narcotics Division, along with the Henderson Police Department, executed search warrants at two residences in the 4000 and 5000 blocks of County Road 3175 in Mt. Enterprise. The two departments’ Tactical Units were utilized to enter both residences simultaneously, along with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Authorities say that at the conclusion of the search warrants, Narcotic Officers made the arrests and seized over 18 ounces of marijuana, over 10 grams of crack cocaine, prescription medication, firearms, and an unspecified amount of U.S. currency.

The seven suspects were arraigned Monday morning. Charles Ray Lewis, 54, of Mt. Enterprise, is charged with Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of a Controlled Substance, with bonds totaling $30,000. Brodrick Demon Hall, 39, of Mt. Enterprise, was charged with Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana, with bonds totaling $20,000. Sheldon Ramon Starling, 34, of Mt. Enterprise, was charged with a Parole Violation and Possession of Marijuana; his bond was set at $10,000.

Others arrested at the scene were Xavier Fitzgerald Bryant, 22, Quillan Demon Moore, 20, Nico Dekeith Jones, 20, all of Mt. Enterprise; and Anthony Benard Frazier, 19, of Marshall. All were charged with Possession of Marijuana, with all bonds set at $10,000 each. Panola County Narcotics also assisted in the investigation.

LUFKIN — Six East Texans have been indicted on charges of manufacturing meth by federal authorities, including the man accused of stealing a small airplane from the Athens airport earlier this year. According to KETK, the indictment alleges that Terry Lynn Boozer, 55, of Nacogdoches, manufactured meth at various locations in Nacogdoches County, using pseudoephedrine purchased by himself and his co-defendants at locations all over East Texas. Also named in the indictment are Autumn Bradway, 27, of Nacogdoches, Douglas Edward Vance, 43, of Nacogdoches, Janice Williams, 47, of Nacogdoches, Linda Richelle Pugh, 41, of Broaddus, and Mattie Alabama Emerson, 23, of Garrison.

Authorities say the psuedoephedrine used to manufacture the meth was bought at pharmacies in Wal-Mart, Kroger, CVS and Walgreen’s stores in Tyler, Lufkin, Longview, Jacksonville, Center, Henderson, Kilgore and other Texas towns.

TYLER — Due to the reconstruction of the Oncor power line from the Elkton substation to the Bullard substation, a portion of the South Tyler Hike and Bike Trail will be closed temporarily to allow for work to be completed. The portion of the trail that will be most impacted is between Shady Oaks Drive and Broadway Avenue. The contractor for Oncor will close the trail to pedestrian traffic at the pole locations for extended periods of time. The section of trail that crosses under the bridge on Grande will also be barricaded as work progresses on a pole near this location. Pedestrians will be able to cross Broadway at the signalized intersection or they can utilize the tunnel under Broadway.

The Oncor construction project involves replacing the wire and structures that support transmission lines from the substation off Old Noonday Road, just south of Grande Boulevard, to the east for 2.4 miles to the substation at the southwest corner of Broadway Avenue and Grande Boulevard.

Construction is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks. Chapman Construction, the contractor for Oncor, will start at the substation near Old Noonday Road and move east. The crew pouring the deep foundations will begin around the beginning of March. The contractor will require daily single lane closures on Grande Boulevard at various locations for construction equipment such as cranes to perform the work. The construction should be complete in late April and clean up could last into May. For questions regarding reconstruction of the power line, call Oncor at 888-313-6862.

TYLER — It’s time to get those City of Tyler warrants cleared up — and quick. In an effort to bring closure to unresolved warrants, the Tyler Municipal Court is participating in the annual statewide warrant sweep. In Tyler, the sweep is continuing through at least the end of March — considerably longer than the statewide effort, which ends March 4. Court Administrator Cam McCabe says that’s so the city can do some special enforcement. She says arrests are going on right now — so you need to get unresolved warrants settled up as soon as possible.

The Court will be open Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. to accommodate the increased number of persons needing to appear at the Court window to pay their warrants. “Similar sweeps held in past years have been very effective,” said McCabe. “In a concentrated amount of time we have cleared several thousand warrants.”

Arrests during the statewide sweep will focus on warrants from all of the participating jurisdictions. Although the concentration is on Class C charges, which include traffic, criminal parking, penal code and City ordinance violations, higher charge warrants will also be served. Affected persons are urged to contact the appropriate jurisdiction to dispose of their cases voluntarily.

For assistance with resolving an outstanding warrant, contact the Municipal Court at (903) 531-1266. Warrants can also be paid online at http://www.CityofTyler.org under the “I Want To” menu at the top of the page. A kiosk in the lobby of the Municipal Court is also available for those paying with credit cards.