By Scott Harvey

Paris – The local economy took another hit Thursday, as Sara Lee Bakery Group announced plans to lay off more than half its employees at its Paris plant later this year.

The Paris News reports approximately 260 employees will lose their jobs, but a specific time frame for their release was not given.

This comes on the heels an announcement by Smackers', who plan to close its Folgers plant in Sherman next spring, leaving 100 people out of work.

By Brad Kellar

Quinlan – A baseball bat is alleged to have been used in an assault in Hunt County.

Steven Bryan Wells, of Quinlan, pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The incident in question took place in May 2008.

Wells was the subject of an indictment issued sealed in February by the Hunt County Grand Jury. He was alleged in the indictment to have struck another man with a baseball bat during the incident.

An interim hearing has been set for April 21.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A not guilty plea is heard in a felony criminal mischief case where a vacant Greenville hotel and multiple vehicles were damaged.

18-year-old Christopher Gutierrez, of Greenville, was arraigned on the charge Thursday in the amount of more than $1,500, but less than $20,000.

According to the indictment, Gutierrez removed two sections of roof tiles from a building at 2612 Washington Street in Greenville in June, 2008 and then struck four motor vehicles with the tiles.

By Brad Kellar

Commerce – A former City of Commerce employee has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming he was fired and his constitutional rights violated because he supported the city manager.

Richard C. Huie had been employed as public utilities director between October 2006 and his termination in February.

The suit was filed Monday. The city had not filed any response as of Wednesday.

Texas A&M University-Commerce President Dan Jones welcomes Honors College Dean Ray Green and Honors College student Rachel Evans.

President's Table, Monday March 22

Bob Aiken joins us in studio for his Thursday segment.

Click above to hear full audio.

By Scott Harvey

Greenville – State Representative for District 2 Dan Flynn has scheduled a Town Hall Meeting next month to discuss the federal takeover of healthcare and Texas' plans to oppose the socialization of medicine.

Flynn will appear with Representative Wayne Christian (R-Center) and key staff of the Texas Conservative Coalition.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The death of a Dallas man, shot and killed by law enforcement officers following a chase in Greenville last month, has drawn the attention of the National Chapter of the NAACP.

The chapter is now conducting its own investigation into the death of Edward Markeist Wheaton.

The investigation underway by the Texas Rangers determined Wheaton was not armed at the time of the shooting on February 20, which occurred near the intersection of Wesley and Stanford Streets.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Commerce Mayor Quay Throgmorton is calling for the immediate reinstatement of City Manager Dion Miller, claiming Miller's March 4 suspension was illegal.

The council voted 3-2 that day to suspend Miller indefinitely with pay, a move Throgmorton feels doesn't fall in line with the City's Charter or governing document. According to the Charter, it takes a four-fifths majority vote to remove a city manager. But Miller's contract states only a three-fifths majority is needed to suspend him.

Greenville – Greenville ISD's Board of Trustees, meeting in regular session Tuesday evening, voted unanimously to name Chawn C. Cooper as Greenville High School's new Head Football Coach/Athletic Director.

Cooper, an assistant coach at GHS from 1996-2001 and 2002-2006, was named to succeed Jim Phillips, who left the district for a position at Pasadena ISD. Cooper has most recently worked as an assistant coach at Caddo Mills ISD.