Today is
Monday March 31, 2025
The years of Stefon Diggs being one of the most prolific receivers in the NFL have probably passed.
But the 31-year-old believes he still has plenty to offer as he prepares to embark on his latest stop: New England.
“I look forward to getting back on track,” said Diggs, who was introduced with the Patriots on Friday after signing a free-agent deal that is reportedly for three years and $69 million, with $26 million guaranteed.
After posting six straight 1,000-year receiving seasons for Minnesota and Buffalo, the one-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler was dealt to Houston in a blockbuster trade from the Bills last April. He had 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games in his first season in Houston, but his lone year with the Texans was cut short when he tore the ACL in his right knee in October.
Asked about the status of his rehabilitation after undergoing surgery on the knee, Diggs deemed himself on track to get back to the field.
“Right now I’m ahead of schedule and trying to stay ahead of schedule,” he said. “We’ll keep playing it by ear. … Stay healthy and the rest will take care of itself.”
Diggs is one of the Patriots’ biggest free-agency acquisitions in what has been an offseason of many moving parts.
One of the top priorities for new coach Mike Vrabel and New England’s front office was to improve the talent around quarterback Drake Maye heading into his second season. The Patriots had only two players — tight end Hunter Henry and Demario Douglas — tally at least 60 receptions and 600 receiving yards last season.
Diggs has had five seasons with at least 100 receptions and feels he’s got the skillset to still fill the role of a No. 1 receiving option.
“I’m excited. I really look forward to it,” Diggs said of working with Maye. “It’s crazy, because when you ask around he has a lot of similarities and what people say through the grapevine is he acts a lot like (Bills quarterback) Josh (Allen). That was my guy. So I look forward to meeting and connecting with him.”
The fact that the Patriots were willing to make a three-year commitment to Diggs appears to be a sign that they are comfortable that he’ll be able to be healthy contributing soon.
He said his initial interactions with Vrabel have been positive.
“I had to figure out where I wanted to be for myself and where I wanted to be for my legacy,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Vrabs, what he’s done as a player and what he’s done as a coach.”
Diggs also has at least some tangential connections to Vrabel’s coaching staff. Texans receivers coach Ben McDaniels is the brother of New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
But like everything, as he prepares to get to work with his fourth NFL team, Diggs said he’s ready to attack his new situation head on.
“Football is football. … I’ll get used to it. I’ll figure it out. Whatever it is,” he said.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
NEW YORK (AP) — Cuba had a record 26 players on Major League Baseball’s opening day rosters and Japan had 12 for its most since 2012.
The percentage born outside the 50 states remained at 27.8%, matching its lowest level since 2016.
There were 265 players from 18 nations and territories outside of the 50 states among 954 players on opening day active rosters and injured, restricted and inactive lists, the commissioner’s office said Friday.
Cuba’s total topped its previous high of 23 in 2016, 2017 and 2022. Japan’s total was its most since 13 in 2012.
The overall percentage matched last year and was down 28.5% in 2023, which was the lowest since 27.5% in 2016. It has remained in the 26-29.8% range since 2002, peaking in 2017.
The total international players was the fourth-highest behind 291 in 2020 (when there were expanded 30-man active rosters), 275 in 2022 (when there were expanded 28-man active rosters) and 270 in 2023.
The Dominican Republic led countries outside the U.S. with 100, down from 108 last year and 110 in 2020. Canada’s 13 matched last year for its most since 17 in 2013.
Venezuela was second at 63, followed by Cuba (26), Puerto Rico (16), Canada (13), Japan (12), Mexico (11), Curacao and Panama (four), South Korea (three), Aruba, Australia and Colombia (two) and Bahamas, Brazil, Germany, Honduras, Nicaragua and South Africa (one apiece).
Atlanta catcher Chadwick Tromp joined San Diego infielder Xander Bogaerts to give Aruba two players for the first time.
San Francisco’s Jung Hoo Lee and Philadelphia’s Jesús Luzardo were listed as miscellaneous, Lee as born in Japan of South Korean descent and Luzardo as born in Peru of Venezuelan descent.
Houston and San Diego topped teams with 16 international players each, with the Astros having a share of the lead for the fifth straight season. They were followed by Atlanta (14), the New York Mets (13) and Baltimore and Miami (12 each).
The 18 nations and territories outside the U.S. matched last year and were three shy of the high, set in 2018 and matched in 2022.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jonah Heim hit two solo homers and rookie Jack Leiter allowed one run over five innings for his first big league win as the Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Friday night.
Heim’s second homer was a 417-foot drive to right-center that put Texas up 2-1 in the fifth, after Leiter (1-0) had thrown the last of his 82 pitches. Heim led off the third pulling a pitch just over the right field wall against All-Star Tanner Houck (0-1), who gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Leiter struck out four with one walk while allowing five singles. The second overall pick in 2021 amateur draft, and the son of former big leaguer Al, made his big league debut last season going 0-3 with an 8.83 ERA in nine games (six starts).
Luke Jackson, the fifth Texas reliever, worked a perfect ninth for his first save.
Wilyer Abreu’s RBI single was the third consecutive Red Sox hit in the fourth. That tied the game at 1 before Connor Wong grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Boston also had two on in the second when Wyatt Langford made a running and lunging catch of Wong’s liner to deep left field.
Key moment
Boston had the bases loaded in the seventh when Rafael Devers struck out, then third baseman Josh Jung made a backhanded stop on Alex Bregman’s chopper and a strong throw to get him for the final out. Jung then exited with neck stiffness.
Key stat
Devers, now solely the Boston DH after the offseason addition of third baseman Bregman, struck out in all four at-bats. He is 0 for 7 with six Ks this season.
Up next
Two-time All-Star right-hander Walker Buehler makes his Red Sox debut on Saturday night, after going 47-22 for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2017. Tyler Mahle goes for Texas after three starts last August in his comeback from Tommy John surgery.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
HOUSTON (AP) — After slugging his first home run with the New York Mets on Friday night, Juan Soto insisted he isn’t burdened by the lofty expectations to perform after signing his record deal.
“Just thinking about what we can do and what we can be capable of doing as a team I think it takes all the pressure off,” he said. “Because we are here. We are the New York Mets. I mean we’re not here as the Juan Soto Mets. We’re here as a team.”
Soto’s homer helped the Mets to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros.
The shot came in the third. With two outs and no one on, Soto drove a 1-2 pitch from Hunter Brown deep to right to give New York a 3-0 lead.
“It was pretty incredible,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Not easy to do. You’re talking about a pitch that’s out of the strike zone, up and in. I think it’s a cutter 96 and he’s able to turn on it and hit it on a line like that — yeah, amazing.”
The 26-year-old Soto watched the ball as it sailed into the outfield and then slowly started walking toward first base before lightly flipping his bat. The homer traveled 390 feet.
Asked if he knew it was gone right away, Soto grinned and said: “100%.”
His first home run of the season comes after he hit a career-high 41 for the Yankees last season.
“It’s always great to have the first one,” he said. “You always want to get the first one out of the way early.”
He smiled slightly as he began to round the bases before pounding his chest and raising both of his hands skyward as he reached home plate.
His big hit came a day after he struck out on a full-count slider from closer Josh Hader that was way outside the strike zone with two on and two out in a 3-1 opening-day loss.
Mendoza wasn’t surprised to see Soto bounce back after Thursday’s tough ending.
“He’s Juan Soto, he’s gonna come through more times than not,” he said. “What you want is to give him and the guys a chance to win a baseball game. We we did that yesterday and we didn’t get the W. Today, he came in and did what he did. He’s a special player.”
Before that, Soto singled and walked twice Thursday in his Mets debut. The slugger signed a $765 million, 15-year contract as a free agent in December.
Soto struck out on his first at-bat Friday night before homering his second time up.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers rookie starter Jack Leiter took a couple of “hits” before getting his first big league victory.
Leiter got hit on the head by a ball while in the outfield during batting practice on opening day. Then when starting in the second game Friday night, he got thumped again — this time by a ball tossed at him when he looked down, and struck him in a more sensitive spot below his waist.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy hopes Leiter has a much better memory after a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.
“That he can win up here, that’s what I hope he takes from this game. He’s a major league pitcher and he can win ballgames up here,” Bochy said. “He can get through a tough lineup, which they have. And, you know, that should really do a lot for his confidence, with what he did tonight.”
Leiter got the win after allowing only one run over five innings. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out four, walked one and allowed five singles. The second overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft and son of former big leaguer Al Leiter made his big league debut last season, going 0-3 with an 8.83 ERA in nine games (six starts).
“Honestly, just winning’s nice,” Leiter responded when asked if a burden had been lifted.
After Leiter got done throwing in the outfield before Thursday’s game, a ball hit by teammate Josh Jung struck him on the head.
“That was a memorable opening day, probably not for the right reason,” Leiter said with a grin.
In the second inning of his season debut, after Leiter made his first opening day roster, Boston had a couple of runners on base in the second inning after a walk when catcher Jonah Heim went out to talk with him.
As Heim approached the mound, he tossed the ball at the same time Leiter put his head down.
“Hey, it made him laugh,” Heim said.
“Just tough timing, honestly,” Leiter said. “I guess he thought I was looking, but I thought he wasn’t going to throw the ball at that point.”
After the batterymates shared a laugh, Leiter got out of the inning without allowing a run. He got help from Wyatt Langford’s running and lunging catch of Connor Wong’s liner to deep left.
Heim hit two solo homers, the second coming in the bottom of the fifth for a 2-1 lead after Leiter had thrown the last of his 82 pitches. Five Texas relievers then finished it off with four scoreless innings.
“This was his day … that was really fun to watch,” Leiter said of Heim.
“It’s good to get Jack a win. Good stuff,” Bochy said. “Just a great job, keeping his poise out there, and I’m sure the nerves were going on his first start out there.”
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings in a ceremony Friday night.
“There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings.
“What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.”
A choir in the left field pavilion sang “We Are the Champions” to open the ceremony hosted by actor Anthony Anderson.
“Nobody was like us last year and I have a feeling that nobody will be like us this year,” said Anderson, a Dodgers fan.
Ohtani, World Series MVP Freddie Freeman and Roberts received some of the loudest cheers walking a blue carpet to a circular stage between home plate and the mound.
Ohtani waved to the fans. They chanted “Freddie! Freddie!” when it was Freeman’s turn.
They were greeted with hugs from owner Mark Walter, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, president and CEO Stan Kasten and general manager Brandon Gomes, who presented the coaching staff and players with blue boxes.
An injured Kershaw didn’t pitch in the postseason last year, which culminated in the Dodgers’ five-game victory over the rival New York Yankees in the World Series. Ohtani’s Japanese countryman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and catcher Austin Barnes were busy warming up in the bullpen and had a clubhouse manager accept their rings.
The Dodgers unveiled their World Series championship flag in center field and a championship emblem on the right field suite level before a 5-4 win over the Tigers in Thursday’s home opener.
“This is the final piece,” Roberts said. “Just to kind of have the fans here to kind of enjoy this with us and close the book on 2024.”
Roberts had not seen the ring ahead of time.
“It’s a symbol for me,” he said, adding that he doesn’t wear rings although he wears a wedding band.
Roberts said he keeps his World Series rings from 2004 (as a player with Boston) and 2020 (as manager with the Dodgers) in a home safe.
Mookie Betts picked up his third championship ring, to go with a 2018 title in Boston and now two in LA.
“This is my favorite one so far,” he said. “Hopefully I can get some more and then we’ll be able to compare.”
The hand-crafted rings by Jostens contain 14-karat yellow gold, diamonds and genuine sapphires.
Inside the box’s lid, a video plays highlights of the World Series. Using a specialized hinge mechanism, the top of the ring opens to reveal Dodger Stadium displayed in detail and features the Commissioner’s Trophy with one diamond to mark the victory. Eight diamonds represent each of the team’s World Series titles and the years 1883 and 2024 mark the franchise’s 142 seasons.
The left side of the ring top interior includes a piece from the bases used in the World Series. Encircling the base are 34 sapphires honoring the Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who died days before the World Series began.
In a personal touch, players’ signatures are on the interior palm of the ring.
“The ring is incredible,” third baseman Max Muncy said.
Former Dodger Jack Flaherty started for the Tigers on Friday night, so he’ll receive his ring Saturday.
“We can go beat him up today and give him the ring tomorrow,” Roberts joked.
Flaherty, a native of nearby Burbank, California, started Game 1 of the National League Championship Series and Game 1 of the World Series, both at Dodger Stadium where he attended games as a kid. He joined the Dodgers at last year’s trade deadline and provided stability to a starting rotation rocked by injuries.
“He was the right person at the right time for our club,” Roberts said. “He delivered.”
Utilityman Kiké Hernández got out of his sick bed to participate in the ceremony after missing the home opener a day earlier.
“He’s feeling much better,” Roberts said.
The team gathered behind the mound waiting for everyone to cross the stage and then posed for photos, smiling and admiring the bling on their fingers. A brass band broke into “They Not Like Us.”
“I hope it fits,” Roberts said. “If it ends up on my pinkie, we’ll be in trouble.”
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The race to fill a Texas congressional seat has candidates but no election date more than three weeks after Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death left a vacancy in a stronghold for Democrats, who are eager to cut into Republicans’ narrow U.S. House majority.
Turner, a former Houston mayor, died March 5 just weeks into his first term in Congress. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has the sole authority to call a special election but has not said when he might do so, drawing criticism from some Democrats who have accused him of trying to help protect the GOP’s margins.
The seat is one of four vacancies in Congress, including two in Florida, where voters next week will choose successors in special elections for a pair of GOP-held districts. Republicans currently hold 218 seats, while Democrats hold 213 seats.
“An announcement on a special election will be made at a later date,” Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said in an email, in response to whether the House majority is factoring into the governor’s decision-making.
Elections in Texas are typically held in May and November.
In 2021, Abbott called for a special election two weeks after Republican Rep. Ron Wright became the first member of Congress to die after contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic. Last year, Abbott called a special election for the vacant seat of Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee about two weeks after her death in July.
“This is very clearly playing political games. They know the U.S. majority in the House is on razor-thin margins,” said Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu of Houston, leader of the state House Democratic Caucus.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that he was pulling Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination to the United Nations over concerns that it could threaten Republicans’ tight majority in the House, posting on his Truth Social platform that it was “essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress.”
Trump’s announcement reflects a growing concern among GOP members in the House who are fearful that their already threadbare majority will narrow and jeopardize their control of the chamber and ability to carry out Trump’s sweeping agenda.
New York Democrats had introduced legislation that would have delayed the special election and allowed Stefanik’s seat to remain open for several months but put the measure on ice after intense pushback from Republicans.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards are two of the top candidates vying for the Texas seat. Menefee quickly acquired endorsements from former Democratic Reps. Colin Allred and Beto O’Rourke. Edwards, an attorney, ran for the seat twice last year.
In Arizona, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs called for a special election days after Rep. Raul Grijalva died on March 13.
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Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.
Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An expanse of Gulf Coast federal waters larger than the state of Colorado was unlawfully opened up for offshore drilling leases, according to a ruling by a federal judge, who said the Department of Interior did not adequately account for the offshore drilling leases’ impacts on planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and an endangered whale species.
The future of one of the most recent offshore drilling lease sales authorized under the Biden administration is in jeopardy after District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Amit Mehta’s finding on Thursday that the federal agency violated bedrock environmental regulations when it allowed bidding on 109,375 square miles (283,280 square kilometers) of Gulf Coast waters.
Environmental groups, the federal government and the oil and gas industry are now discussing remedies. Earth Justice Attorney George Torgun, representing the plaintiffs, said one outcome on the table is invalidating the sale of leases worth $250 million across 2,500 square miles (6,475 square kilometers) of Gulf federal waters successfully bid on by companies.
The leases in the Gulf Coast were expected to produce up to 1.1 billion barrels of oil and more than 4 trillion cubic feet (113 billion cubic meters) of natural gas over 50 years, according to a government analysis. Burning that oil would increase carbon dioxide emissions by tens of millions of tons, the analysis found.
The agency “failed to take a ‘hard look’” at the full extent of the carbon footprint of expanding drilling in the Gulf Coast, the judge wrote.
The auction was one of three offshore oil and gas lease sales mandated as part of a 2022 climate bill compromise designed to ensure support from now-retired Sen. Joe Manchin, a leading recipient of oil and gas industry donations. Another of the mandated oil and gas lease sales, in Alaska’s Cook Inlet, was overturned by a federal judge last July on similar grounds.
“If federal officials are going to continue greenlighting offshore drilling, the least they can do is fully analyze its harms,” said Hallie Templeton, legal director at Friends of the Earth, a nonprofit that is of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “We will keep fighting to put a full stop to this destructive industry, and in the meantime, we will keep a close watch on the government to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and mandates.”
The drilling would also threaten the Rice’s whale, a species with less than 100 individuals estimated to remain and which lives exclusively in the Gulf Coast, according to court records filed by environmental advocacy groups.
A Department of the Interior spokesperson said the agency could not comment on pending litigation.
The process did not meet the standards of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, which requires federal agencies analyzes the environmental impacts of their actions prior to decision-making around federal lands.
While Joe Biden later sought to ban offshore drilling in his last days in office, President Donald Trump’s administration has pushed a “drill, baby, drill” agenda expanding the fossil fuel industry, withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and rolling back environmental regulations — including for NEPA.
The American Petroleum Institute, or API, an oil and gas trade association representing more than 600 firms and a party to the Gulf Coast case, said it is evaluating its options after this week’s ruling.
API spokesperson Scott Lauermann said the case is an example of activists “weaponizing” a permitting process, “underscoring how permitting reform is essential to ensuring access to affordable, reliable energy.”
Chevron, a defendant in the lawsuit, declined to comment and referred The Associated Press to the API’s statement.
Three offshore oil and gas lease sales are scheduled over the course of the next five years.
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Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96.
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Drenching rains along the Texas-Mexico border trapped hundreds of people in flooded homes and in cars stranded in high waters, scrambling rescue crews to calls for help that continued Friday even as the downpours let up. At least four people died, including some who drowned.
Officials warned that the devastation from the storms — which set records in parts of Texas’ low-lying Rio Grande Valley — was only starting to come into focus. In Mexico, hundreds sought temporary shelter, and videos on social media showed military personnel wading through chest-high waters.
On the U.S. side, officials said at least three people were killed in Hidalgo County, where officials said more than 21 inches (53 centimeters) of rain this week soaked the city of Harlingen. The region is rich with farmland, and Texas’ agriculture commissioner said the damage included significant losses to agriculture and livestock.
“The bed is the only thing dry right now, because the sofas are soaked. Everything is soaked,” said Jionni Ochoa, 46, from his home in Palm Valley, near Harlingen. He and his wife were still waiting to be rescued Friday as the water inside reached their knees.
He said water started coming into their house the previous night and began pouring out of the electrical sockets. They turned off the power and tried to save as much as they could.
“Things I stacked up, the rain, the water made it float, and it knocked it down. So everything got messed up, everything got ruined,” Ochoa said.
Hidalgo County officials said in a statement that they did not immediately have more information about the three deaths except that they involved law enforcement efforts. The Mexican state of Tamaulipas reported that an 83-year-old man drowned in Reynosa, which is across the border from McAllen, Texas.
Earlier Friday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that the driver of a vehicle suspected of taking part in migrant smuggling tried crossing a flooded roadway in Hidalgo County and plunged into a canal. The agency said the body of one person who drowned was recovered and another was missing. It was not immediately known if those were among the deaths reported by county officials.
In Alamo, a small Texas border city, crews responded to more than 100 water rescues, including people stranded in vehicles and trapped in homes, Fire Department Chief R.C. Flores said. Dozens more rescues were made in nearby Weslaco, which was inundated with about 14 inches (36 centimeters) of rain, according to Mayor Adrian Gonzalez.
“It’s a historic rainstorm, and it’s affecting all the Valley, not just Weslaco,” Gonzalez said.
Thousands of power outages were reported, and more than 20 school districts and college campuses canceled classes. Valley International Airport in Harlingen was closed Friday, and all flights were canceled.
Between 7 and 12 inches of rain (20 and 31 centimeters) fell in parts of northeastern Mexico, according to Tamaulipas authorities.
Luis Gerardo González de la Fuente, state coordinator of emergencies, said the most affected city was Reynosa but conditions were also dangerous in the border cities of Rio Bravo, Miguel Aleman and part of Matamoros, south of Brownsville, Texas.
Some 640 military personnel were deployed in the area. Authorities said electricity was being restored as water levels dropped but did not clarify how many people were still without this service.
In Texas, Emma Alaniz was resigned to not being able to leave her home in a colonia, which is an unincorporated neighborhood usually located in a rural area of a county with underdeveloped infrastructure. She described her home as being on “an island.”
“For today, I won’t be able to go anywhere, because I don’t have a big vehicle,” she said. “I have a small car, and I won’t be able to take it out to the flooded street.”
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Lozano reported from Houston. Associated Press writer Alfredo Peña in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, contributed.
TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, a man reportedly called 911 on early Thursday morning after reportedly attempting to rob a Tyler dealership but was unable to leave after sustaining injuries. The Tyler Police Department received a call at around 3:45 a.m. from a man who had broken into the Patterson Dodge dealership.
Officials later identified the man as Jeremiah Megallon. Megallon was taken to a local hospital and later transported to the Smith County Jail, where he was arrested for burglary of a building.
“He said he had broken into the Patterson Dodge dealership in an attempt to steal a car but was unable to get out of the building,” Erbaugh said. “He had cuts from breaking a window at the dealership and crawling through it.”
TYLER – Tyler ISD has confirmed that three former district employees have been arrested for allegedly injuring a student with disabilities. In a statement issued to our news partner KETK, Tyler ISD said the three employees were arrested and fired after an investigation into allegations of injury to a child, elderly individual or disabled individual.
The district’s superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford called the actions of the former employees unacceptable.
“We believe in being transparent with our community while respecting the legal process and student privacy. This situation involved a student with disabilities, and while it did not include sexual acts or severe bodily harm, we take any breach of student safety with the utmost seriousness. As soon as these allegations were brought to our attention, the district took immediate action—launching an internal investigation, notifying Child Protective Services as required by state law, and fully cooperating with law enforcement. These individuals are no longer employed by the district.”
Tyler ISD
HAWKINS – An individual has been placed under arrest after one person was found dead in Hawkins on Friday, according to our news partner KETK.
After receiving a call regarding gunshots on Friday, Hawkins PD responded to the 100 block of N. Beaulah Street where a body was discovered. A suspect is now in custody and officials believe there is no threat to the public. Hawkins PD is not providing any further details at this time. The Texas Rangers have been contacted for assistance with the investigation.
Currently, the Hawkins Police Department consists of one police officer. Back in February, the department’s other three officers were fired by the Mayor of Hawkins Debbie Rushing, after she claims they were not hired appropriately.
TYLER – Our news partner KETK is reporting that State Senator Bryan Hughes, from Mineola, is leading the anti-abortion charge by filing Senate Bill 31, the Life of the Mother Act.
“This bill is to look at our pro-life laws and make the language even clearer, so there’s no question, no excuse when a mom presents with a medical emergency, she gets treated,” State Senator Bryan Hughes said.
In 2022, Texas passed an abortion law authored by an East Texas lawmaker. Over the last few years, doctors and women have expressed concerns and confusion on what’s actually included in the ban, and what the exceptions are. On Thursday, three pro-life bills were heard by the State Affairs Committee, which Hughes chairs. Lawmakers are hearing testimony from people for and against the bills. Hughes also filed Senate Bill 2880, the Women and Child Protection Act, which would try to hold people who send abortion pills to women in Texas accountable. He added that Texas is the first state to take the senders of these pills on through legislation. Read the rest of this entry »
GUN BARREL CITY — According to our news partner KETK, the motive has been revealed in the case of a Mabank man, John Clague, accused of killing his sister. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Dept. is reporting that that Clague had been hysterical after the victim reportedly took $1,500 and 4 ounces of marijuana.
On Monday at around 3:26 p.m., the sheriff’s office dispatch center received a call that John Clague had shot his sister, Samantha Moore, in the chest. When deputies arrived, they saw a woman applying pressure to the victim’s chest, who was lying on the front porch of Clague’s residence near Bonita Point outside of Gun Barrel City. Deputies at the scene said they could not find a pulse on the victim and that Clague had fled the scene with the firearm reportedly used to shoot his sister. A witness told officials that Clague had been hysterical after the victim reportedly took $1,500 and 4 ounces of marijuana. Read the rest of this entry »
ANGELINA COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man has been charged with murder in connection to a missing persons case. Officials said he admitted to killing one of the men by striking the victim in the head and then strangling him.
The Angelina County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1’s Office, the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and the Lufkin Police Department began working on the missing persons case on Jan. 31, and began the search for Robert Saxton, 79, and Michael Allen, 44. In the next two months, an extensive investigation led to the Texas Rangers being called in to assist. John Wayne McCroskey, became a person of interest after officials learned he lived on the property at Saxton Auto Sales, where both victims had been reported missing.
Witnesses placed McCroskey with Saxton on Jan. 27 at around 9:30 a.m. in Saxton’s lime green vehicle. Surveillance video from a Lufkin motel confirmed that Saxton and McCroskey were together earlier that morning. Read the rest of this entry »