By Gary Border Capital Highlights Abbott ties voucher passage to teacher pay, school funding Gov. Greg Abbott, just hours after the Senate initially approved a school voucher measure, said he would add teacher raises and increased public school funding to the ongoing special session agenda if the Texas Legislature passes his voucher plan, the Texas

Wildfire chances grow across state The risk for wildfires across the state has risen along with the hot and dry conditions, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. “With the recent uptick in wildfire activity, Texas A&M Forest Service has mobilized additional personnel and equipment to assist with response,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest

Early voting for Lindale and Smith County residents ends today with the polls staying open until 7 p.m. Local voters can cast their ballots for the Nov. 3 General Election at the Kinzie Community Center, 912 Mount Sylvan Road, or other early voter sites. Other county voting locations are the Smith County HUB, 304 E.

The Smith County Elections Office sent out 8,447 mail-in ballots requested by Smith County voters Thursday. If you have applied for a mail-in ballot and are eligible to receive one, it should be on its way to you through the U.S. Postal Service. Be on the lookout for an 11 ½ by 4 ½ green

With only seven races requiring run-offs, as can be expected, voter turnout was low with only 11.61% of voters in Smith County making their way to the polls for either early voting or Election Day voting July 14. The race that garnered the most attention was the race for the 114th District Court Republican run-off

The polls for the runoff election will be open until 7 p.m. today. To vote locally, Lindale residents can cast their ballot at the Lillie Russell Memorial Library while Hideaway residents may vote at Hideaway Member Service. Residents don’t have to vote at only those locations, though. Anyone can vote at any of the polling

  TYLER — Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has appointed Senator Bryan Hughes as Chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee, effective October 1. “I am honored to serve as Chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee and am grateful to Lt. Governor Patrick for the confidence he has placed in me,” Hughes said. “The State

AUSTIN – Deputy Secretary of State Joe Esparza today drew the ballot order for ten proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution that will appear on the November 5th ballot. In order to appear on the ballot, the proposed amendments must be approved by at least two-thirds of the members of both the Texas Senate and the

Smith County recently received the 2018 Excellence in Safety Award from the Texas Association of Counties for maintaining a safe workplace. County Administrator and Human Resources Director Leonardo Brown recognized his staff members Esmeralda Delmas, HR Coordinator; and Jaye Lynn Collins, Administrative Assisant who handles the county’s day-to-day workers’ compensation program, during the Smith County