The Omicron variant of COVID is showing to have mild symptoms, and some think now is the time to catch it to develop natural immunity. However, Dr. John Carlo with the Texas Medical Association says that’s a tricky proposition. He says the COVID parties are a flashback to chickenpox parties, …

The FBI identified a 44-year-old British national who took four people hostage. It happened at Congregation Beth Israel, a Colleyville synagogue, ten hours before an FBI SWAT team stormed the building as Malik Faisal Akram. Akram died after the last of the hostages got out, and an FBI SWAT team …

Texas’ state health department will no longer report the number of COVID-19 cases in the state considered recovered or active. The change went into effect Friday and several other updates to the Texas Department of State Health Services’ COVID-19 dashboard. Case totals fluctuated somewhat with Friday’s new update because of …

Photo courtesy of oha.com COVID-19 has infected a record number of Americans because of the surging Omicron variant. Some states’ health care systems have nearly total out intensive care units. Texas is one of 19 states with less than 15% remaining capacity in their ICUs. Kentucky, Alabama, Indiana, and New …

Lamar County is considering moving heating, air conditioning, and other equipment from the courthouse roof. A broken pipe and damage caused by lightning and maintenance led to a longtime problem with courthouse leaks. They could do the project during already scheduled maintenance on the courthouse.

The website for the newly established federal effort to distribute COVID-19 rapid tests by mail across America will launch for requests Wednesday. Americans will be able to request tests at COVIDTests.gov. The initial program will allow four free tests per residential address, and you can expect the tests to ship …

Marc Oneil Hutchings Sulphur Springs Police woked a suspicious vehicle and arrested Marc Oneil Hutchings. He also had a female passenger. The officer detected the smell of marijuana, and a subsequent search turned up marijuana, cocaine, Xanax, other pills, and a pistol. Hutchings’ bond was $60,000. Evan Clay Chapin Officers …

Hopkins County canceled the 62nd Judicial District Jury summons for Monday morning in Sulphur Springs. Therefore, those receiving a jury duty summons do not need to report.

Darla Ann McCurry Upshur County Jail A woman arrested for DWI in Upshur County now faces a serious felony charge as well. Ore City Police transported Darla Ann McCurry to the jail, where she reportedly told a jailer that she had COVID. She then allegedly coughed intentionally in the jailer’s …

Texas Rangers will investigate the death of a female inmate in isolation at the Harrison County Jail. Authorities say the woman was having trouble breathing, and they provided medical assistance by staff and EMS. They transported her to a Longview hospital, where she later died.