Greenville – A Hunt County judge has ordered 50-year-old Troy Dean Blanton, of Longview to 20 years in prison for felony theft from Greenville businesses.

Prosecutors say he stole items from an auto parts store, an electrical equipment store and several rental stores, all totaling between $20,000 and $100,000 in value.

The indictment against Blanton lists eight prior felony convictions.

By Scott Harvey

Quitman – The murder trial of Jason Tad Payne is to begin in Wood County Tuesday.

He's charged with the 2007 murders of his wife and step-son, who were found shot to death at their home north of Quitman.

Payne is believed by investigators to have killed his wife and framed his step-son by making it appear the boy had committed suicide.

By Scott Harvey

Hawkins – An out-of-service East Texas oil and gas field will soon see new life following a plan to reopen the facility by Exxon Mobil.

The company announced Thursday a project to recover additional oil and natural gas in the Hawkins Field in Wood County.

Exxon expects to extend the life of the field for an additional 25 years.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A popular cable football network will not be seen on some Greenville televisions in about a couple weeks.

The GEUS board of trustees voted unanimously Thursday to drop the NFL network from its cable television line-up, due to a spike in the amount the network is charging.

The contract was up for renewal, with the new contract no longer allowing GEUS to opt out of carrying the Thursday night games.

By Brad Kellar

Commerce – An arrest warrant has been issued for an Eastland County man, charged with aggravated assault in Commerce that involved a hammer. The warrant for 30-year-old James Christopher Simpson was issued Thursday.

Simpson entered a plea of not guilty in November to one indictment for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing bodily injury. Simpson was alleged to have attacked a woman with a hammer in July of last year. He was arrested the next day by the Commerce Police Department.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Administrators with the Commerce ISD are proposing a 2010-2011 academic calendar that would release successful secondary students early for summer.

Middle school and high school students who pass all their coursework, all sections of the TAKS and have good attendance and discipline will be released on May 24 instead of June 2.

Items addressed by Provost Larry Lamanski and President Dan Jones included new and extended university programs, federal initiatives for 2011, legislative items regarding public education, and the university budget.

Spring Assembly at A&M-Commerce

Bobby joins The Morning Blend on Thursday, Jan. 14 to dicuss news from around the world including the situation in Haiti and U.S. banks.

Bobby Aikin Breakdown

By Scott Harvey

Denison – A middle school student at Denison ISD is accused of bringing a loaded handgun to school.

Officials at B. McDaniel Middle School say they do not believe the student brought the gun to school to hurt anyone, but to show it off to friends. It is believed the gun was brought to school in an athletic bag.

The student will be sent to the Denison ISD's Disciplinary Alternative Education Program for at least a year

By Scott Harvey

Kaufman County – Two people have been indicted on murder charges for the deaths of two people, both found dead last year in rural Kaufman County.

Martin McKee, of Farmers Branch, and Virginia Gail Youngblood were indicted for capital murder for the double homicide.

Both could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. A third suspect, Billy Wayne Taylor of Dallas, was charged with tampering and fabricating physical evidence.