Texarkana Gazette
Liberty-eylau ISD announces five teachers of the year
TEXARKANA, Texas — Liberty-eylau Independent School District surprised five teachers on Wednesday afternoon by announcing them as teachers of the year. Each teacher received a bouquet and a certificate to commemorate the honor. The teachers of the...
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Texarkana rallies for Hoop Heroes
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Texarkana Resources for the Disabled honored its Hoop Heroes basketball team Wednesday with a parade celebrating the athletes’ advancement to the Special Olympics state competition. Community members lined East 19th Street to cheer...
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FLOWER POWER
WASHINGTON, Ark. — Thousands of blooming jonquils, historic building tours and live entertainment will welcome visitors to the 58th annual Jonquil Festival this weekend at Historic Washington State Park. The two-day festival, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5...
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War rages on multiple fronts as Israeli attacks in Lebanon grow
BEIRUT, Lebanon — The war in the Middle East raged on multiple fronts Monday, as the U.S. and Israel pummeled military targets in Iran's capital, Israel stepped up its campaign against Iran-backed militants in Lebanon and Iran retaliated with a drone...
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‘Rescuing’ baby animals can do more harm than good
TEXARKANA — Spring and early summer are the most common time for wild animals to be born. Game wardens and wildlife rescues also start receiving a lot of calls from well-meaning people who have found a baby animal in the wild and want to “rescue”...
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Iran war enters third week
Plumes of smoke rise Saturday after debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility, according to authorities, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Iran urged people Saturday to evacuate the Middle East’s busiest port and two others in...
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Texarkana Regional Airport opens relief area for service animals
Oakley, center, and Astrid take in the sights in the newly opened service animal relief area Friday at Texarkana Regional Airport. The dogs were there with paw pal Bones and a crew from Muttworks in the Barklatex to test out the room, which is on the...
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Iran’s supreme leader resolves to keep fighting in first public remarks
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s secretive new leader issued his first public statements Thursday, resolving to keep fighting, promising more pain for Gulf Arab states and threatening to open “other fronts” in a war that has already disrupted world...
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Pentagon tells Congress first week of Iran war cost $11.3B
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran fired on commercial ships Wednesday and targeted Dubai International Airport, escalating a campaign of bottling up the oil-rich Persian Gulf as global energy concerns mounted and American and Israeli airstrikes...
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Local winterguard teams perform at Four States competition
TEXARKANA, Texas — Six local teams as well as several regional teams performed at the Four States Performing Arts Association Winterguard Competition on Saturday. The junior varsity and varsity teams for Arkansas High School, Pleasant Grove High...
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Local foundation awards nearly $8K in teacher grants
TEXARKANA, Texas — The Liberty-eylau Independent School District Education Foundation awarded nearly $8,000 in teacher grants Monday for projects ranging from phonics programs to adaptive learning tools for students receiving in-home...
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Texas judge orders Camp Mystic to preserve grounds hit by deadly flood
AUSTIN — A Texas judge on Wednesday ordered Camp Mystic to preserve damaged cabins and other parts of the grounds hit by last year’s catastrophic floods that swept away and killed 25 girls and two counselors. The order follows a lawsuit by the family...
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‘Made for more’
TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M University-texarkana softball player Lauren Cox remains in the classroom and on the field as she undergoes treatment for a rare type of ovarian cancer. During her sophomore wife, Heather, who is TAMUT’S year, 20-year-old...
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Service celebrates Jesse Jackson’s legacy
Former President Barack Obama speaks Friday during the Public Homegoing Service for the Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope in Chicago. From former presidents to an NBA Hall of Famer to prominent pastors, stories of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.'s...
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Education Foundation distributes nearly $107K in grants to PG educators
TEXARKANA, Texas — Several teachers at Pleasant Grove Independent School received grants Thursday from the district’s Education Foundation. The foundation distributed over $106,000 to 16 teachers and administrators. Education Foundation members,...
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Main Street delivers loan, grants
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Two downtown businesses and the Arkansas Municipal Auditorium on Wednesday got no-interest loans and incentive grants from local nonprofit Main Street Texarkana. Southern Grace Baby Boutique, GQ Look and the auditorium received a...
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PGISD honors teachers of the year
TEXARKANA, Texas — A select few teachers across Pleasant Grove Independent School District were surprised in the middle of the day with a big announcement. Four teachers were voted as their campus’ teacher of the year by their peers, according to...
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Abbott stumps at local restaurant
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas speaks during a campaign event for Chris Spencer at Texas Chuck Wagon restaurant on Wednesday in Nash, Texas. Spencer, a Republican, is campaigning for District 1 in the Texas House of Representatives. Abbott, who is seeking a...
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State of the Union
President Donald Trump arrives before delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
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For Northeast blizzard, everything was just right to roll up a monster snowfall
WASHINGTON — The nor’easter smacking much of the Northeast with nearly 3 feet of snow in places is as classic and powerful a blizzard as you can get, the strongest in a decade and up there with the most intense in history, meteorologists said. The...
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Thousands cast ballots in first week of early voting
More than 6,200 ballots were tallied in Miller and Bowie counties in the first week of early voting in the March 3 primary elections. Bowie County, Texas, posted the higher number, with 5.86% of its 60,472 registered voters casting ballots from...
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Sharks in action at state swim meet
Texas High School senior Fernando Olalde powers through the water as he swims the third leg in the 200-yard freestyle final consolation final at the UIL Class 5A Swimming and Diving state meet on Saturday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center...
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Tigersharks to swim in three races on final day of state meet
AUSTIN — Texas High School advanced in three races after preliminary competition Friday in the UIL Class 5A Swim and Dive State Meet at the University of Texas. The Tigersharks will compete in the consolation finals of 200-yard medley relay, 200...
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Authorities ‘not ruling anything out’ in disappearance of Louisiana man
TEXARKANA, Ark. — A Louisiana family suspects foul play in the disappearance of their brother. Johnny Hamilton, 73, was last seen Jan. 5 at his home in Rodessa, Louisiana. Hamilton’s 2001 red Chevrolet Silverado was discovered Wednesday in Nix Creek...
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Local Amazon facility hosts ribbon-cutting, tour
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Various leaders and officials celebrated the recent opening of Amazon’s local “last-mile” distribution center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday. Amazon and the Texarkana USA Chamber of Commerce organized the invitation-only...
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Pitcher Perfect
TEXARKANA, Texas — Coming off a 35-5 campaign and a state runner-up finish a season ago, state-ranked Pleasant Grove picked up right where it left off Monday in the season opener. And did so perfectly. Hawks starting pitcher Hunter Rose, a University...
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Mural to serve as welcome to downtown
TEXARKANA, Texas — Darlene Taylor has painted a new mural at Texas Boulevard and West 24th Street. The mural, which took about one week to complete, is a mile before the Downtown Arts and Historic District and serves as a guide to the district The...
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Arkansas runner takes prize at Run the Line
TEXARKANA — The 18th Run the Line half-marathon Sunday was one for the books. Nearly 500 runners from as far away as South Carolina and Massachusetts registered for Road Runner Club of America event, which navigated 13.1 miles around the cities...
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Sharks swim into state meet
Assistant Coach Susan Likins and members of the Texas High School Tigersharks swim team watch a replay of practice Friday morning at the Texarkana Independent School District Aquatic Center at Texarkana College. Senior Sharks Jackson Adams, Austin...
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Much of Homeland Security set to shut down as Democrats demand new restraints on ICE
The Department of Homeland Security is expected to shut down early Saturday as congressional Democrats and the White House remain at an impasse over new restrictions on federal immigration agents. The shutdown beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday would...
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Park visitors find 6-carat diamond
MURFREESBORO, Ark. — A pair of veteran gem-hunters recently made a remarkable find at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Jack Pearadin, 35, of Nashville, Arkansas, and Michael Schumacher, 43, of Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, have visited the park countless...
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Run the Line set for Sunday
TEXARKANA — About 500 runners are expected to take part in the Twin Cities’ annual Run the Line Half Marathon on Sunday morning, and officials are asking drivers to be prepared for traffic delays. The 13.1-mile race will begin at 7:30 a.m. at West...
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AHS students flourish in Educators Rising Program
TEXARKANA, Ark. — A select group of Arkansas High School students are flourishing in the Educators Rising Program, which takes them to Trice Academy of the Performing Arts for an apprenticeship. Monica Mclelland, the teacher that presides over the...
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Arkansas’ population growth slows in 2025
Arkansas’ population grew last year at its slowest pace since the start of the covid-19 pandemic, estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show. The state’s population rose by 0.6%, topping 3.1 million for the first time, in 2025, down from a...
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Show Your Love Health Fair
Darlene Taylor shows an attendee how to draw using virtual reality goggles as a form of art therapy during the Show Your Love Health Fair held at the Terry Lee Rogers Recreation Center on Saturday in Texarkana, Ark. See related photos online at...
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Taking the plunge for Special Olympics
TEXARKANA, Ark. — The Polar Plunge on Saturday at Big Dam Waterpark raised $1,400 for Special Olympics Arkansas, according to Camie Powell, the agency’s director of marketing and partnerships. The participating teams were Texarkana Funeral Home, Alpha...
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Car seat checks part of weekend health fair
A demonstration doll sits in a car seat on a table as Deanna O’malley, left, and Heather Smith of Arkansas Children’s Hospital eat lunch during a break in car seat safety training Friday at Terry Lee Rogers Recreation Center in Texarkana, Ark....
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Airport to receive $11M in federal funding for construction project
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Texarkana Regional Airport now has what Executive Director Paul Mehrlich described as the final piece to a more than $60 million infrastructure project that could land big planes and more jobs. On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman...
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Pleasant Grove makes school history with 17 athletics signees
Christal Browning takes a photo of son Spencer, center, and grandparents Joann and Charles Hale at a signing day celebration Wednesday at Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas. Spencer was recruited to play baseball at the University of...
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Trump signs bill to end partial government shutdown, setting the stage for the next fight
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a roughly $1.2 trillion government funding bill Tuesday that ends the partial federal shutdown that began over the weekend and sets the stage for an intense debate in Congress over Homeland Security...
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TASD holds town hall to vie for millage increase
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Texarkana Arkansas School District held a town hall meeting at its administration center on Thursday evening to present information about the potential millage increase and answer questions. Superintendent Dr. Lloyd Jackson led the...
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Cold weather advisory issued for the region
TEXARKANA — A cold weather advisory has been issued from midnight Friday to noon Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The advisory includes Bowie and Cass counties in Northeast Texas, Miller, Little River, Sevier, Hempstead and Howard...
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Freezing fog could cause problems on roads this morning
TEXARKANA — Conditions are favorable for more freezing fog Wednesday night through Thursday morning across portions of the region, according to the National Weather Service. Freezing fog is when cold water droplets freeze instantly on contact with...
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Here Comes the Sun
The sun rises behind ice-glazed trees and power lines Tuesday in Texarkana, Texas. The day’s high temperature was expected to be above freezing for the first time since the preceding Saturday, when Winter Storm Fern covered the Twin Cities in freezing...
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Extreme cold warning in effect through today
TEXARKANA —The precipitation is over, but the extreme cold warning remains in effect until noon Tuesday. Temperatures in Southwest Arkansas and Northeast Texas could be dangerously cold with lows Tuesday morning in the single digits, according to the...
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Thousands remain without power
Electricity companies reported more than 5,000 customers without power Sunday afternoon after Winter Storm Fern dumped the last of its wintry mix over the Texarkana area. As of 2:30 p.m. SWEPCO reported more than 2,800 outages in a service area that...
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Envelope program aims to smooth traffic stops
LITTLE ROCK —Arkansas law enforcement officers are hopeful two new programs will result in safer traffic stops for both police and motorists. The Blue Envelope Program and the Green Envelope Program, both passed during the 2025 regular session of the...
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Vance touts the administration’s record against abortion
Vice President JD Vance on Friday encouraged anti-abortion activists to “take heart in how far we’ve come” on the quest to limit the practice, listing the Trump administration’s accomplishments including an expansion of a ban on U.S. foreign aid for...
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By the numbers
Dawn Parker, of Community Healthcare, speaks with Samonte Evans on Thursday at Mission Texarkana in Texarkana, Texas. Evans discussed his plans for staying warm during the winter storm expected to slam the area starting Friday. He said if needed, he...
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Frozen precipitation remains biggest threat for Texarkana region over the weekend
TEXARKANA — The line between snow and a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain is moving north, according to recent forecasts and frozen precipitation could have serious impacts on power lines and roads. “We’re still looking at mainly wintry...
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Lifeshare marks Mardi Gras with blood drive
TEXARKANA, Texas — A low blood supply is prompting Lifeshare Blood Center to host a two-day blood drive in Texarkana this week, encouraging residents to donate to help maintain inventory. Lifeshare officials said the blood donations have slowed down...
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Bridging the Gaps hosts 10th annual MLK Day Parade
As communities across the country on Monday hosted parades, panels and service projects for the 40th federal observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the political climate for some is more fraught with tensions than festive with reflection on the...
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‘James Madison’s nightmare’: Trump is leaning on arcane laws to advance immigration agenda
MINNEAPOLIS — To silence unrest in Minnesota, Donald Trump is threatening to reach all the way back to the early 19th century. On social media last week week, Trump proposed invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy military troops into the Twin...
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President in the Spotlight
President Donald Trump arrives Friday at a dedication ceremony for a portion of Southern Boulevard, which the Town of Palm Beach Council recently voted to rename “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard” at his Mar-a-lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. The...
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‘Remarkable accomplishment’
TEXARKANA, Texas — A Dekalb High School student set his sights toward the highest academic institution and landed right where he wanted to be. Ewan Poole, a 12th-grader at DHS, was recently accepted to Brown University. Poole received a financial aid...
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Event focuses on local homelessness
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Conversations surrounding poverty and homelessness were the topic of discussion during the Bridging the Gaps of Arkansas monthly coalition meeting Tuesday. Guest speaker Vashil Fernandez of the Texarkana Homeless Coalition told...
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Vision board party recognizes resilience, promotes togetherness
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Just days into the new year, community members gathered Saturday downtown for a vision board party under the theme Inferno Bloom: The Garden After the Fire to reflect on resilience and new beginnings after hardships. The event was at...
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About 200 A&M courses could change due to new restrictions on teaching gender, race
Faculty at Texas A&M University were told this week that roughly 200 courses in the College of Arts and Sciences could be affected by a new system policy restricting classroom discussions of race and gender, the implementation of which has already led...
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From Facebook post to front-yard fix
TEXARKANA, AR — What began as a Facebook post from a local business owner quickly turned into a community-led cleanup effort to remove large piles of trash from a local resident’s yard. The trash had been accumulating for months in the yard, drawing...
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Community celebrates Three Kings Day
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Members of the local Hispanic community will continue the Christmas season with the celebration of a traditional holiday this week. Dia de Reyes, Three Kings Day or Epiphany as it is also called, is the feast day celebrating the...
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Congress poised to weigh in on next moves
WASHINGTON — What the United States does next in Venezuela and in the Western Hemisphere more broadly are questions that loom large as the 119th Congress returns to work this week for its second session. On the heels of the U.S. military’s abduction...
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U.S. operation ousts Maduro
CARACAS, Venezuela — Hours after an audacious military operation that plucked leader Nicolás Maduro from power and removed him from the country, President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States would run Venezuela at least temporarily and...
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Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles atop wine bottles ignited fire
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Investigators said Friday that they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited a fatal fire at a Swiss ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling of a bar crowded with New Year’s Eve...
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Welcome to the world, Ivy Fae
Savanna Lewis and Alex Jones are all smiles as they cradle their first child, Ivy Fae Jones, on Thursday afternoon at CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana, Texas. Ivy was delivered at 1:31 a.m. Thursday by Dr. Michael Carozza — making her the...
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Trying to catch them all
TEXARKANA, Texas — Catching them all can be done through a phone or a game, but Pokémon players Brandon and Oriana Fairbanks focus on the game’s original form, cards. The couple have been collecting Pokémon cards for around eight years, and a recent...
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Trainers give tips for making fitness goals
TEXARKANA — As the new year approaches, gyms across the country prepare for the January rush, and local fitness professionals are encouraging residents to set goals that they can maintain beyond New Year’s Day. Courtney “C3” Wright has been a fitness...
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Researchers study maternal, infant health under Texas’ abortion laws
DALLAS — In the more than four years since the state of Texas significantly restricted access to abortion, medical researchers have been studying the health effects of that policy change. A growing body of research indicates that the state’s abortion...
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JAPAN OPENS WAR ON U.S.; HAWAII, MANILA ATTACKED
Further extra will be issued by the Gazette later in the day if developments in the Far Eastern situation warrant. Also, Radio Station KCMC will continue to broadcast bulletins on the Japanese attack throughout Sunday night. DEC. 7, 1941 — WASHINGTON...
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