By Scott Harvey

– The disputed TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline is now before a congressional committee in the U.S House of Representatives.

A Canadian company wants to build a 1,900-mile pipeline to carry crude oil extracted from tar sands in Canada, through East Texas to refineries on the gulf coast.

Representative Jeb Hensarling said he understands the concerns of East Texas landowners but supports the pipeline because he says it would provide fuel for Americans from a friendly source.

By Scott Harvey

Bonham – By a 3-2 vote, Fannin County Commissioners Monday abandoned plans for a countywide animal control facility.

Judge Spanky Carter cast the deciding vote, indicating that while there was enough money to build a facility, it was unclear how to afford to maintain it. Carter tells KETR he was unwilling to raise taxes, which was one of the suggestions during public meetings held earlier this month.

"It comes down to priorities and there are other more important projects to move forward with."

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – James Earl Lemons, the Rains County man whose aggravated assault conviction was overturned in February, learns he'll receive a new trial.

A judge Monday ordered the trial for October 24.

Lemons was convicted by a Hunt County Jury in 2010 and sentenced to 17 years in prison for a shooting near Merit two years earlier, in which he allegedly shot the husband of his girlfriend.

Mary travels to West Texas.  Not to be confused with West, Texas.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – A Lamar County jury has sentenced 41-year-old Timmy Heath Lester to four-99 year prison terms for sexual assault of a child.

The 10-woman, 2-man jury took only 50 minutes last week to find Lester guilty of all four counts. The sentences will run concurrently. Lester was accused of sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in the summer of 2010.

He must spend at least 30 years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole.

By Ashley Johnson

Commerce – The University Police Department at Texas A&M University-Commerce will join local and national law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country for the 2011 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization, May 23-June 5.

During the mobilization, officers will be cracking down on motorists who fail to wear their seat belts both day and night.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A former Greenville assistant city manager has been subpoenaed in connection with the city's dispute with L-3.

The subpoena calls for Barbara Trego to produce any document between her and L-3 concerning the proposed re-plat of Majors Field Municipal Airport, the airport's tax exempt status and the lease agreement between the company and the city. She is required to produce all the records by May 31.

By Brad Kellar

Austin – The Texas Legislature on Saturday passed new voting maps for the state House and Senate, which would change the district lines for local lawmakers.

State Senate District 2, represented by Bob Deuell, of Greenville, stayed pretty much intact.

But State House District 2, represented by Dan Flynn, of Van, would undergo major changes. The plan would still include Hunt and Van Zandt County in District 2, but drop Rains County and add Hopkins County, currently represented by Erwin Cain as part of House District 3.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – A weekend accident just west of Commerce sends three people to hospitals after a horse reportedly got loose and wandered into the roadway.

A vehicle traveling eastbound along Hwy 224 hit the horse just after midnight early Saturday morning, and as it came to rest, was struck by a second vehicle.

Two of the victims were taken to Hunt Regional Healthcare in Greenville and one was careflighted to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. The extent of their injuries was not given.

By Scott Harvey

Wood County – An investigation is underway in Wood County after authorities found a body in the back seat of a burned out vehicle north of Winnsboro.

The body of the unidentified person was been sent for an autopsy to determine a positive I.D. and exact cause of death.