By Scott Harvey

Paris – The Paris City Council and Lamar County Commissioners Monday voiced their support of Turner Industries, amid claims of racial discrimination by some of the plant's employees.

An investigation by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission has raised concern for the longevity of the business in Paris.

Dan Smith, board chairman of the city's economic development corporation, told commissioners that Turner provides 700 jobs and a $35 million annual payroll for the area.

Luke Speaks with Steven Ward about bow hunting of all size game.

Outdoors with Luke Clayton 5-12-10

By Scott Harvey

– Drivers will see a few more emissions-sensing vans along North Texas highways throughout ozone season.

The vans are usually parked along freeway entrance ramps, and as drivers accelerate past it, a device records the amount of ozone-forming pollutants emitted from each vehicle. Owners of vehicles shown to be high-emitting or smoking receive a letter emphasizing the importance of vehicle maintenance.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Two more prison sentences have been handed down for a convicted drug dealer from Greenville.

Ernest Lee McFail has received two more prison sentences for dealing cocaine in the city. The 58-year-old pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance.

The 20 year sentences received on each charge will run concurrently rather than stacked on top of the life sentence McFail received last month.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A juvenile curfew is back in place for the City of Greenville.

The Greenville City Council voted Tuesday to renew the city's juvenile curfew for another three years.

Since 1995, juveniles in Greenville have been forbidden from being on local streets between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, between midnight and 6 a.m. weekends and between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. school days. The ordinance does not apply directly to students who are home-schooled.

By Scott Harvey

Greenville – A regional rail group meets Wednesday afternoon to discuss future transportation and plans to rehabilitate a portion of its rail line.

The board of the Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District (NETEX) meets at 2 p.m. in Greenville.

By Scott Harvey

Greenville – After months of pitching to and receiving funding commitments from area cities, a local committee receives final approval for the creation of a hazardous waste facility.

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center will be located in Greenville. Initial construction of the center will run just under $300,000, with $60,000 needed each year to keep it operational.

Hunt County Commissioners Monday unanimously approved the plan.

By Brent Lyday

Commerce – Current and future teachers, along with many other guests, packed the Sam Rayburn Student Center on Friday for the Sixth Annual Bill Martin Jr. Memorial Symposium. Participants enjoyed literature and language workshops, a luncheon and tours of the Bill Martin Jr. Memorial Library and the A&M-Commerce Planetarium.

"The symposium is a special event," said Dr. Dan Jones, A&M-Commerce president. "The university is honored to have so many people wanting to invest in self improvement and teacher preparation."

By Scott Harvey

– The region experienced its first big scare of the severe weather season Monday night, as tornado warnings were issued for Fannin and Lamar counties.

A storm carrying high winds and spots of hail moved east along Highway 82.

At approximately 10:18 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth indicated spotters had noticed rotation within the storm. Nearly ten minutes later, a developing tornado was reported as part of a separate system just northwest of Roxton in Lamar County.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A runoff election is set for next month to decide the Greenville City Council Place 1 seat.

Voters will have a chance June 5 to make a final choice between Tim Stainback and Dan Perkins, as neither candidate received more than 50 percent of the votes. Early voting for the runoff begins May 24.

However, not all area races where a candidate failed to claim a 50% majority will require a runoff based on a rule variance among cities and school districts.