SMITH COUNTY – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department awarded $6.17 million in statewide recreational trails grants to improve 21 parks and trail projects across the state. According to our news partner, KETK – $354,000 is set to be distributed between parks in East Texas. The parks will receive the grant money for much needed upgrades. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — As summer temperatures reach a high in East Texas, it’s important to stay safe and keep yourself protected in extreme heat. Our news partner KETK has put together a guide to staying safe and cool in these hot temperatures. Extreme heat is defined as a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days, according to Ready, a U.S. government campaign designed to educate the American people. Children, those older than 65, and people who are sick or overweight, are at a greater risk of heat-related illness. Humidity helps to increase the feeling of heat, experts say.
UT Health Sports Medicine physician, Dr. Robert French, said to prevent heat cramps, “Hydrate in the morning, hydrate during activity, hydrate after activity. Having that pre-hydration part down before you start practice is the more important thing.” Dr. French said. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said Monday state sales tax revenue totaled $4.5 billion in May, 6.6 percent more than in May 2025. The majority of May sales tax revenue is based on sales made in April and remitted to the agency in May.
“State sales tax collections showed solid growth well above the rate of general price inflation last month, driven in large part by strong increases in certain sectors influenced by business spending,” Hancock said. “Results from nearly all major economic sectors were positive.”
Receipts from the sectors mainly affected by business spending were overall very robust compared with a year ago, with the manufacturing and construction sectors both exhibiting growth of more than 15 percent. Remittances from the wholesale trade sector came in nearly 6 percent more than their May 2025 total. Collections from the mining sector were down slightly.
Among the large sectors driven primarily by consumer spending, remittances from the largest sector, retail trade, were up more than 3 percent compared with last May, and remittances from the services sector increased by more than 8 percent. Within the retail trade sector, collections from electronic shopping outlets were up more than 13 percent and general merchandise stores remitted nearly 2 percent more than in May 2025.
Receipts from restaurants were up 4.3 percent from a year ago, above the rate of inflation for food away from home.
Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in May 2026 was up 8.7 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 58 percent of all tax collections.
Texas collected the following revenue from other major taxes:
• motor vehicle sales and rental taxes — $599 million, down 13 percent from May 2025;
• motor fuel taxes — $333 million, down 2 percent from May 2025;
• oil production tax — $677 million, up 64 percent from May 2025;
• natural gas production tax – $217 million, down 4 percent from May 2025;
• hotel occupancy tax — $74 million, up 6 percent from May 2025; and
• alcoholic beverage taxes — $156 million, up less than 1 percent from May 2025.
Compared with collections through May 2025, year-to-date franchise tax collections were down 0.5 percent, lower than was projected in the Comptroller’s 2026-27 Certification Revenue Estimate. Franchise tax entities may request an extension until November 15. Accordingly, franchise tax revenue from the most recent report year will continue to be received through November 2026.
For details on all monthly collections, visit the Comptroller’s Monthly State Revenue Watch.
LAKE CHEROKEE – An elderly person was found dead in Lake Cherokee on Saturday after they were reported missing, according to the Elderville-Lakeport Fire Department and our news partner KETK. Elderville-Lakeport Fire Department firefighters were sent out to the south part of Lake Cherokee at around 3:45 p.m. on Saturday to help look for a potential missing person.
After they arrived at the scene, they learned that an elderly person may have entered the lake. The Longview Fire Department Water Rescue Team, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens, the Lake Cherokee Lake Patrol and Christus EMS were then brought out to the lake to help search for this missing elderly person.
The Longview Fire Department Water Rescue Team started looking for the person underwater and a short time later, they found the missing elderly person dead in the lake. Their body was recovered from the lake and officials are currently waiting to release their identity to the public.
“The Elderville-Lakeport Fire Department extends its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic loss,” the Elderville-Lakeport Fire Department said.
SMITH COUNTY – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department awarded $6.17 million in statewide recreational trails grants to improve 21 parks and trail projects across the state. According to our news partner, KETK – $354,000 is set to be distributed between parks in East Texas. The parks will receive the grant money for much needed upgrades. (more…)
Stay cool during extreme summer heat
Posted/updated on:
June 2, 2026 at
9:41 pm
TYLER — As summer temperatures reach a high in East Texas, it’s important to stay safe and keep yourself protected in extreme heat. Our news partner KETK has put together a guide to staying safe and cool in these hot temperatures. Extreme heat is defined as a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days, according to Ready, a U.S. government campaign designed to educate the American people. Children, those older than 65, and people who are sick or overweight, are at a greater risk of heat-related illness. Humidity helps to increase the feeling of heat, experts say.
UT Health Sports Medicine physician, Dr. Robert French, said to prevent heat cramps, “Hydrate in the morning, hydrate during activity, hydrate after activity. Having that pre-hydration part down before you start practice is the more important thing.” Dr. French said. (more…)
State sales tax revenue totaled $4.5 billion in May
Posted/updated on:
June 3, 2026 at
4:11 pm
AUSTIN — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said Monday state sales tax revenue totaled $4.5 billion in May, 6.6 percent more than in May 2025. The majority of May sales tax revenue is based on sales made in April and remitted to the agency in May.
“State sales tax collections showed solid growth well above the rate of general price inflation last month, driven in large part by strong increases in certain sectors influenced by business spending,” Hancock said. “Results from nearly all major economic sectors were positive.”
Receipts from the sectors mainly affected by business spending were overall very robust compared with a year ago, with the manufacturing and construction sectors both exhibiting growth of more than 15 percent. Remittances from the wholesale trade sector came in nearly 6 percent more than their May 2025 total. Collections from the mining sector were down slightly.
Among the large sectors driven primarily by consumer spending, remittances from the largest sector, retail trade, were up more than 3 percent compared with last May, and remittances from the services sector increased by more than 8 percent. Within the retail trade sector, collections from electronic shopping outlets were up more than 13 percent and general merchandise stores remitted nearly 2 percent more than in May 2025.
Receipts from restaurants were up 4.3 percent from a year ago, above the rate of inflation for food away from home.
Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in May 2026 was up 8.7 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 58 percent of all tax collections.
Texas collected the following revenue from other major taxes:
• motor vehicle sales and rental taxes — $599 million, down 13 percent from May 2025;
• motor fuel taxes — $333 million, down 2 percent from May 2025;
• oil production tax — $677 million, up 64 percent from May 2025;
• natural gas production tax – $217 million, down 4 percent from May 2025;
• hotel occupancy tax — $74 million, up 6 percent from May 2025; and
• alcoholic beverage taxes — $156 million, up less than 1 percent from May 2025.
Compared with collections through May 2025, year-to-date franchise tax collections were down 0.5 percent, lower than was projected in the Comptroller’s 2026-27 Certification Revenue Estimate. Franchise tax entities may request an extension until November 15. Accordingly, franchise tax revenue from the most recent report year will continue to be received through November 2026.
For details on all monthly collections, visit the Comptroller’s Monthly State Revenue Watch.
Elderly person found dead after search
Posted/updated on:
June 1, 2026 at
10:16 am
LAKE CHEROKEE – An elderly person was found dead in Lake Cherokee on Saturday after they were reported missing, according to the Elderville-Lakeport Fire Department and our news partner KETK. Elderville-Lakeport Fire Department firefighters were sent out to the south part of Lake Cherokee at around 3:45 p.m. on Saturday to help look for a potential missing person.
After they arrived at the scene, they learned that an elderly person may have entered the lake. The Longview Fire Department Water Rescue Team, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens, the Lake Cherokee Lake Patrol and Christus EMS were then brought out to the lake to help search for this missing elderly person.
The Longview Fire Department Water Rescue Team started looking for the person underwater and a short time later, they found the missing elderly person dead in the lake. Their body was recovered from the lake and officials are currently waiting to release their identity to the public.
“The Elderville-Lakeport Fire Department extends its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic loss,” the Elderville-Lakeport Fire Department said.
SMITH COUNTY – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department awarded $6.17 million in statewide recreational trails grants to improve 21 parks and trail projects across the state. According to our news partner, KETK – $354,000 is set to be distributed between parks in East Texas. The parks will receive the grant money for much needed upgrades. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — As summer temperatures reach a high in East Texas, it’s important to stay safe and keep yourself protected in extreme heat. Our news partner KETK has put together a guide to staying safe and cool in these hot temperatures. Extreme heat is defined as a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days, according to Ready, a U.S. government campaign designed to educate the American people. Children, those older than 65, and people who are sick or overweight, are at a greater risk of heat-related illness. Humidity helps to increase the feeling of heat, experts say.