By Scott Harvey

– Hopkins County officials are confirming yesterday's storm that pushed through the county was in fact a tornado.

Two people were reported injured from flying debris and were transported to Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. Interstate 30 near Sulphur Springs was closed for awhile after winds damaged three mobile homes and toppled two tractor-trailer rigs. In a press release, Hopkins County Judge Cletis Millsap noted the need for a weather warning system in the Miller Grover area.

Bobby sits down with The Morning Blend to share his take on movies on Thursday, Jan. 21.

Bobby Aikin Breakdown

By Brad Kellar

Commerce – Damon DeShawn Brown is charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit assault.

A judge Wednesday set Brown's total bond at $150,000.

Reports show a female Commerce resident alleged Brown sexually assaulted her at her apartment on two separate occasions earlier this month; one case involved her being threatened with a box cutter.

No additional hearings have been set.

Tyler – Federal authorities are continuing to investigate a rash of church fires in East Texas, where seven such blazes have been reported since Jan. 1.

Police said the latest Tyler-area fire at Fellowship of Prairie Creek church in Lindale was quickly contained Wednesday morning. No injuries or deaths have been reported. The Lindale fire came after two weekend church fires in Tyler.

By Scott Harvey

Greenville – A stolen vehicle is recovered and a suspect in custody following a high speed chase through Greenville Tuesday night.

Christopher Lamont Anderson was charged with multiple counts including evading arrest and three counts of abandoning a child as one adult and three children were in the vehicle at the time of the chase. No one was injured.

Dr. Hines speaks with The Morning Blend on his visit to the Commerce ISD January 19-20 to share his three-part approach to building positive behavior and academic success within African American students.

Dr. Mack Hines

Parents are encouraged to attend his workshop at 6 p.m., Wednesday, January 20 at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. A light meal will be served and childcare will be provided for children under six.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The Commerce ISD Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Blake Cooper's contract through June, 2013.

Cooper joined the district in January 2009 after serving as assistant superintendent at Kaufman ISD.

He was principal at Edgewood High School for five years and was a teacher and head football coach there for two years.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Noted author, educator and consultant Dr. Mack Hines speaks with The Morning Blend on his visit to the Commerce ISD January 19-20 to share his three-part approach to building positive behavior and academic success within African American students.

Parents are encouraged to attend his workshop at 6 p.m., Wednesday, January 20 at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. A light meal will be served and childcare will be provided for children under six.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – An Arkansas man with a violent criminal past faces up to life in prison if convicted of cocaine possession in Hunt County.

Earl Williams entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, namely cocaine.

A tentative trial date has been scheduled for September 27.

Williams was reportedly one of two people arrested by the Highway Patrol last January while in possession of between four and 200 grams of cocaine.

By Brad Kellar

Hunt County – A new grand jury is expected to release more indictments this week.

The latest edition of the Hunt County grand jury begins its service Friday, as local prosecutors are scheduled to present evidence in felony cases for consideration by the 196th District Court.

The jury will begin a six-month term running through June, with hundreds of new indictments expected to be presented during the period.

The previous grand jury returned 359 indictments during its term between June and December of last year.