Texas Legislature Considering Restrictions on What SNAP Can Buy
April 2, 2025 – Senate Bill 379, passed by the Texas Senate, seeks to restrict food stamp recipients from purchasing certain non-essential items such as soda, chips, and candy. The bill is part of a broader initiative to ensure that government assistance is directed towards healthier and more nutritious food options. If enacted, the legislation would modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides financial aid to low-income individuals and families to purchase food.
Supporters argue that the bill will encourage healthier eating habits among Texans who rely on food assistance. They believe it could reduce the rates of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related health issues that disproportionately affect low-income communities. By limiting purchases to more nutritious food, proponents assert that the bill could foster long-term public health benefits.
Critics, however, contend that the bill infringes on personal freedom and may unfairly stigmatize low-income individuals. They argue that food assistance programs should provide recipients with the flexibility to choose what they eat based on personal preferences. Additionally, some question whether the bill will truly address the root causes of poor health, such as limited access to fresh food in certain areas.
The bill now awaits further consideration in the Texas House of Representatives.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Coverage Ends For Many North Texas Hospitals
April 2, 2025 – Contract negotiations between major healthcare providers failed ahead of the April 1 deadline, leaving thousands of North Texans without in-network access to Texas Health Resources and UT Southwestern System. As two of the largest hospital networks in North Texas, the breakdown in negotiations affects a significant number of patients who must now search for new medical providers or face higher out-of-pocket costs.
Both healthcare systems have assured the public that negotiations are ongoing and that they are committed to minimizing disruptions. They have pledged to assist affected patients by providing guidance on transitioning to alternative in-network providers and ensuring continuity of care where possible. However, many patients with scheduled procedures, ongoing treatments, or primary care relationships are now in a difficult position.
Such disputes often arise over reimbursement rates and coverage agreements between insurers and healthcare providers. While negotiations may still lead to a resolution, patients are advised to check with their insurance providers for updates and potential exceptions for continuity of care. In the meantime, the uncertainty has created frustration and concern among North Texans, who now face difficult decisions regarding their healthcare access and affordability in an already complex system.
A Mother’s Plea: Put Down the Phone, Save a Life
April 1, 2025 – Distracted driving was the second-most common factor in traffic crashes last year
PARIS – Maria Espinoza never imagined a routine walk to school with her 6-year-old son would turn into a life-altering tragedy.
But in an instant, a distracted driver jumped the curb, striking her son and trapping him beneath the vehicle. He spent six months in a coma, with doctors warning he might never walk or talk again.
Years later, Maria’s son has defied the odds – relearning how to walk, talk and even eat. He’s studying to become a physical therapist, determined to help others recover just as he did. And Maria is on a mission: asking everyone to pay attention behind the wheel.
“We don’t want this to happen to any other family. We want to save lives and create responsibility,” Espinoza said. “If I take the responsibility and you take the responsibility today, that will make a difference.”
The alarming truth about distracted driving
In 2024, distracted driving contributed to more than 91,000 crashes in Texas, leading to more than 370 deaths – all preventable tragedies.
- The number of motor vehicle traffic crashes in the Paris District in 2024 that involved distracted driving (distraction, driver inattention, or cell phone use) totaled 1,646. These crashes resulted in 17 fatalities and 88 serious injuries.
- Counties in the Paris District: Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Rains, Red River
That’s why the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is launching its Talk. Text. Crash. campaign this April during Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The goal? To remind Texans that when you’re driving, nothing is more important than the road ahead.
“Everyone knows they should focus while driving, but too many people still take their eyes off the road to check a text, fiddle with their dashboard or grab a bite to eat,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. “We want to make it clear: no text or call is worth a life.”
It’s not just dangerous – it’s illegal
Texting while driving isn’t just risky—it’s against the law. In Texas, anyone caught reading, writing, or sending a text while driving faces a fine of up to $200. Many cities have even stricter laws, banning all handheld device use while driving.
Stay safe: simple steps to avoid distractions
TxDOT urges all drivers to follow these safety tips:
- Stay focused – Keep both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
- Put your phone away – Use “Do not Disturb” mode while driving.
- Pull over if needed – If you must send a message, stop in a safe place first.
Experience the dangers firsthand
To drive this message home, TxDOT’s Talk. Text. Crash. campaign will be hitting the road, bringing a driving simulator to cities across Texas. This interactive exhibit lets visitors experience just how quickly distractions can lead to disaster.
Talk. Text. Crash. is an important part of TxDOT’s Drive like a Texan: Kind. Courteous. Safe. initiative. Drive like a Texan is about embracing the pride, camaraderie and responsibility of being a Texan on the road. By making thoughtful choices, we can all help keep each other safe. Learn more at DriveLikeATexan.com.
For more information, please contact [email protected] or 903-737-9213.
The information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3). This information was received and processed by the department as of January 13, 2025.
Old Saltillo Methodist Church Plans Special Pre Easter Program
April 1, 2025 – Old Saltillo Methodist Church will hold a special pre Easter program Sunday, April 6th, 2025. The church is located at 664 County Road 3357, Saltillo, Texas, 75478. Such a wonderful season to step back in time with a pre-Easter program at the Old Saltillo Methodist Church, Rev Dan Hoke pastor. Beautiful children will be under the direction of Sue Barker, a Mt. Vernon resident and member of the Sulphur Springs Choral Society for years. The small Choir will take on the angelic roll to depict the memories of the Old Rugged Cross in song and actions while praising the 1850 Church. The church is a perfectly maintained place of worship dating back to the 1800’s.
Please join us while this service takes you back visually and mentally to times long past. Everyone is invited.
Sulphur Springs Native Takes Gavel as State Democratic Party Chair
April 1, 2025 – Kendall Scudder, a 2008 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School, has been chosen to chair the Texas Democratic Party. In a decisive win on the first ballot, Scudder received 65 out of 121 votes eclipsing the next challenger who received 27 votes. Scudder said upon taking the gavel. “Let’s build a party that the working men and women of this state can be proud of.”
Scudder will take over as chair of the state party at a moment when Democrats are grasping for a way forward after blowout losses up and down the ballot last year, including President Donald Trump’s victory and a surge to the right by traditionally Democratic groups, such as Hispanic voters in South Texas.
After proclaiming Texas a competitive state where Democratic candidates had a fighting chance of winning statewide for the first time in three decades, party leaders instead watched as Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz trounced their Democratic challengers by roughly 14 and 9 percentage points, respectively. Democrats also ceded ground in the state Legislature and lost nearly every contested state appellate court race, in addition to 10 judicial races in Harris County — eating away at years of Democratic dominance in Texas’ largest county.
Scudder graduated from Sulphur Springs High School before attending Sam Houston State and receiving a degree in Politcal Science. Scudder moved on to attending Cornell University, and George Washington University where he recieved his Masters Degree in Political Management.
Trump Executive Order Takes Aim at Ticket Scalpers
On March 31, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at combating ticket scalping and enhancing price transparency in the live entertainment industry. The order directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce existing laws against the use of automated bots by scalpers, which are employed to purchase large quantities of tickets for resale at inflated prices.
Additionally, the order instructs the Treasury Secretary and the Attorney General to ensure that ticket scalpers comply with Internal Revenue Service regulations. The FTC is also tasked with promoting price transparency throughout the ticket-purchasing process and taking enforcement action against unfair or deceptive practices in the secondary ticket market.
The signing ceremony featured musician Kid Rock, a longtime supporter of President Trump, who emphasized the need for fair ticket pricing and criticized the use of bots that acquire tickets in bulk for resale at exorbitant prices.
This executive order builds upon the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016, which prohibits the circumvention of online ticket purchase controls and the resale of tickets obtained through such means.
The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to address issues in the ticketing industry, highlighted by incidents like the controversy surrounding ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s 2023 Eras Tour, which drew attention to monopolistic practices and consumer dissatisfaction.
Topping Your Pepper Plants From Master Gardener Dave Wall
April 1, 2025 – Topping or pruning for plants such as peppers and cucumbers has been around for many years, but some aspects are seldom followed. Basically, it’s a good practice for getting more and bigger peppers.
Topping is cutting off the topmost portion of the plant not long after transplanting. This stops the plant from putting most of its energy into upward growth, and directs that energy into putting out lateral growth. The result is a bushier plant with more foliage to shade and protect fruit in high temperatures and bright sunlight.
There’s also increased protection from high winds and heavy rains. Finally, the increased shade helps prevent weeds and aids in retaining soil moisture! The ultimate result from a bushier plant is increased fruit.
Something that goes hand in hand with topping is removing the first plant flowers, the ones that show up soon after transplanting. Removing these early flowers will force the plant into producing more flowers, necessary for increasing fruit quantity.
When should pepper plants be topped? The literature suggests shortly after transplanting, but this worries me. Strictly my opinion, but I wait until the plant is 12” tall. Sharp, clean scissors are recommended, but topping can be done by pinching off the top with your fingers. The top portion itself is usually just above or may include a small cluster of newly developing leaves.
Some of you are wondering whether this practice really increases fruit production. My jalapeno jedi hybrid plants, left on their own reach 6’ in height, with some branches being 3’+ long with a handful of fruit on them. Toping them considerably increases fruit production.
Still have doubts? When you transplant your pepper plants, choose two of the same variety. Top one and leave the other alone. Now, keep track of fruit production for both plants.
Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson Presented a Program on Fire Ants, Watering, and Fertilizer March 27th
March 31, 2025 – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office Hopkins County Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson presented a program on Fire Ants, Watering, and Fertilizer on March 27th, 2025, to a group at Heritage Park in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Below is KSST’s coverage of this fascinating presentation. Be sure to check it out!
DOGE to Close Two Texas Social Security Administration Offices
March 31, 2025 – The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has announced plans to close 47 Social Security Administration (SSA) offices nationwide in 2025. Among these, two Texas locations are slated for closure.
- Nacogdoches Office: Located at 1122 N. University Drive, this office is scheduled to close on May 7, 2025. The closure is classified as a “True Termination – Agency Closed Office,” indicating a complete shutdown of operations at this site.
- Victoria Office: Situated at 8208 NE Zac Lentz Parkway, this office is expected to close on May 25, 2025. The closure falls under “Agency approved lease termination,” suggesting that the lease will not be renewed, leading to the office’s closure.
These closures are part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to reduce federal spending and increase efficiency within the SSA. The plan includes restructuring the agency’s workforce by approximately 7,000 jobs, aiming for a staffing target of 50,000 employees, down from the current level of approximately 57,000.
Critics argue that these reductions could lead to longer wait times and decreased access to services for beneficiaries. Former SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley highlighted in March 2024 that budget tightening had brought the agency to its lowest staffing level in 25 years, warning that “combined with office closures, these shortages could worsen delays and limit critical services for beneficiaries.”
Residents in affected areas, including those in Nacogdoches and Victoria, are advised to plan accordingly and seek alternative SSA offices or online services to manage their Social Security needs.
The closest SSA Office to Sulphur Springs is located in Greenville.
2717 TERRELL ROAD, GREENVILLE, TX 75402. 1-888-306-3534
Cockfighting Arrests in Hunt County
March 31, 2025 – Hunt County officials raided a cockfighting ring over the weekend, arresting 21 people. Acting on a tip, deputies arrived at a home on CR 1006, where around 100 people had gathered. Many fled as authorities arrived, leaving behind evidence of an active cockfighting operation, including dead and live roosters. Investigators discovered fighting pits, sharp gaffs, and other paraphernalia. The SPCA of Texas assisted in rescuing 65 live roosters. The arrested individuals were booked into Hunt County Jail, though their identities were not disclosed. The case remains under investigation as officials crack down on illegal animal cruelty.
