By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The Commerce City Council Tuesday approved a second and final reading of its amended sex offender ordinance, but not without long deliberation over how to enforce the law on the university campus.

The City will seek the Texas Attorney General's opinion on whether there's a statute in place that gives the City enforceability of their ordinance on the university campus.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Major improvements are coming to portions of the City of Commerce's aging water system.

The City Council Tuesday approved the authorization for tax and revenue certificates of obligation to the Texas Water Development Board, totaling $6.2 million.

By Scott Harvey

Bonham – An initiative aimed at stopping texting while driving earned positive response from students at the Bonham ISD.

The district had 450 students, or 89 percent sign a petition last week stating they would promise to buckle up and stop texting when behind the wheel. The goal was 90 percent.

Additionally, 50 individuals donated blood to help raise awareness for the dangers of drinking while driving.

The BISD's school nurse, Kelly Bowen, gave a presentation to the school board Monday.

By Scott Harvey

Hopkins County – A child from Cooper has been placed with a family member after his parents were arrested on drug charges.

Hopkins County deputies arrested 43-year-old Raymond Bruce Aaron and his 36 year old wife Sheila after stopping them for a traffic violation.

A search of their vehicle turned up a quantity a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Traveling in the car at the time was their 23-month-old child. The couple was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Major improvements could soon be coming to portions of the City of Commerce's aging water system.

The City Council Tuesday night is scheduled to consider authorizing tax and revenue certificates of obligation to the Texas Water Development Board, totaling $6.2 million.

By Scott Harvey

Bonham – Fannin County authorities are reporting the arrest of a 46-year-old man on charges related to a fake murder-for-hire plot.

Eddie Wayne Williams is alleged to have attempted to extort money from a man by claiming he had been hired to kill his daughter.

Williams was taken into custody when he met with his intended victim at a Bonham restaurant.

Williams reportedly told the man if he gave him $36,000 he would not kill the daughter.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The City of Greenville may be getting a new assisted living center. The center has won the approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The panel voted unanimously Monday on a final plat for the project, one of the final steps needed before a building permit can be issued.

A preliminary plat was approved in September 2009 for the 2.4 acre tract of land to be constructed along Wellington Street.

By Scott Harvey

Hopkins County – An investigation into the death of a Hopkins County man last week will be conducted by Texas Ranger Kenneth Bond of Mt. Pleasant.

William Keith White of the Divide Community was shot dead by law enforcement after he allegedly fired several shots at deputies and members of the Sulphur Springs PD swat team. No officers were injured.

An autopsy report for White is pending

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The Commerce ISD Monday night honored outgoing Board Member Donna Tavener for her years of service. She had chosen not to seek a third term on the board. A resident of the city since 1977, Tavener currently works as the director of educator preparation at A&M-Commerce and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the past four years.

By Scott Harvey

Austin – More than a dozen households in Northeast Texas will be awarded funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

$225,000 will be dispersed among the nine county region of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments, which includes Delta, Hopkins and Lamar counties.