By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – The City of Sulphur Springs hopes to regulate the sale of the controversial substance known as K2.

Council last night approved a first reading prohibiting the sale of K2 to anyone under 21. The item also makes it illegal for the item to be sold within 1,000 feet of protected areas, which include schools, churches, parks, daycare centers or libraries.

By Scott Harvey

Bonham – Area residents are invited to an emergency response team training seminar tonight in Bonham.

The program trains people to become volunteer emergency responders who are called to fight small fires, perform basic first aid, search and rescue and aid with emergency communications.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), is currently made up of nearly 200 volunteers, according to Fannin County Emergency Management Coordinator Darrell Brewer.

By Scott Harvey

Dallas – A Northeast Texas father is dead after drowning Monday in the Trinity River while attempting to help his wife and child exit the water.

47-year-old Richard Walker of Winnsboro reportedly died trying to rescue his wife and 7-year-old daugther, after the girl fell into the water during a family outing at Trinity Park.

A passing cyclist, Jeff Harrison, would eventually pull the two ashore and performed CPR on the woman. She was rushed to Harris Methodist hospital.

– Budget talks for the upcoming fiscal year are planned during Tuesday's Greenville School Board meeting.

The Greenville Herald-Banner reports the district is facing a nearly $200,000 budget shortfall.

Personnel reductions, along with the consolidation of Travis Elementary and the Sixth Grade Center, has allowed for approximately $1 million in cuts to date. It is unclear if the district will look to increase the tax rate through a rollback election, but could ask voters to approve an increase of up to 13 cents.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Crews at Texas A&M University-Commerce are close to breaking ground on a new, 250 plus room residence hall.

The demolition of five dormitories at the northeast corner of Highway 50 and Culver Street are nearly complete, with work on the new facility to begin next month.

By Scott Harvey

Wood County – A Winnsboro resident had died from injuries received following a two vehicle crash last night in Wood County.

State Troopers say 42-year-old Kenneth Lloyd was driving his motorcycle when he collided with a car on CR 4505.

Lloyd was transported to Mother Francis Hospital in Winnsboro but later died.

The cause of the accident was not immediately available.

The 19-year old-driver of the passenger car was not injured.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A trial date is set in a 2008 Hunt County murder case. Jury selection is set Sept. 27 for 22-year-old Tracie Danielle Alphin, of Quinlan, involving the death of Jason Herrington.

Alphin's previous trial date set for earlier this year was postponed as officials awaited DNA test results.

She is one of two people, along with 31-year-old David Earl Hickman, of Royse City, charged in Herrington's death. Hickman is currently set for trial on Aug. 2.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The Commerce Chamber of Commerce this evening, weather permitting, plans to provide fireworks for residents at around 9:30 p.m.

The presentation was postponed from Saturday to today due to rain.

Best viewing possibilities will be from Parking Lot C on the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus.

The lot is located between the Performing Arts Center and Morris Recreation Center along the northbound IH 50 service road.

Crews will begin selling food and beverages at 7 p.m. from the parking lot.

By Scott Harvey

Leonard – More than a dozen animals were seized from a property in Leonard Friday, marking the second such incident in the city this year.

Seven dogs, five of them puppies, and another five cats were reported to be living inside a home with no signs of food or water dishes. The animals were said to be underweight, and the puppies covered in fleas.

All are currently being cared for at Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The Commerce City Council Tuesday is scheduled to hear a presentation from Superintendent Blake Cooper on the district's financial situation.

The item is listed as part of Tuesday's regular agenda.

Last week, CISD called for a tax rollback election to help fund a nearly $700,000 budget shortfall. The 13 cent tax rate hike will go before voters on August 14.