By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Jury selection for the first in what is expected to be two capitol murder trials is set for early November involving the 2008 shooting death.

Pretrial hearings begin Thursday.

Tracie Danielle Alphin, of Quinlan, is one of two people indicted for the slaying of Jason Harrington, also of Quinlan. She has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty should Alphin be convicted.

By Associated Press

Austin – Those who know the University of Texas student who police say fired shots on campus and then killed himself say he was intelligent and incapable of hurting anyone.

No one besides the gunman was injured Tuesday on the UT-Austin campus. But police say 19-year-old Colton Tooley fired shots with an AK-47 assault rifle, then went into a library and shot himself to death.

A relative of Tooley's family said Tooley's parents are distraught over losing their child.

By Brad Kellar

Bonham – Arguments will be presented next week concerning an appeal of Brandon Dale Woodruff, of Royse City, convicted of murdering his parents.

It's one of two criminal appeals to be heard next Wednesday inside the Fannin County Courthouse in Bonham.

Woodruff was found guilty last year for the 2005 slayings of Dennis and Norma Woodruff. Brandon Woodruff had pleaded not guilty.

As prosecutors were not seeking the death penalty, he received an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Greenville officials insist they were not behind an effort launched to determine whether the L-3 facility should be exempt from paying property taxes.

During Tuesday's meeting, Mayor Tom Oliver read an April memo from Hunt County Chief Appraiser Brent South. South had made it clear that it was his idea alone to review the exemption status of the property at Majors Field Airport, which L-3 leases from the city.

By Scott Harvey

– Van Zandt County deputies have arrested a suspect in the brutal beating of 89 year old World War II veteran CD Whittington, of Wills Point.

21-year-old Jonathan Coffman is charged with aggravated robbery and was also wanted on a warrant for a parole violation. Coffman, also of Wills Point, was located by authorities in Myrtle Springs.

Investigators say Coffman bragged to his friends about beating up an old man and stealing his medications.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The City of Greenville hopes to locate potentially contaminated sites in the city with grant funding.

The City Council intends Monday to accept two grants from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Earlier this year, the city was approved for $400,000 in Brownfield grants from the EPA. The grant includes $200,000 each for petroleum assessment and hazardous material assessment.

By Scott Harvey

Franklin County – Franklin County Commissioners have lifted the ban on outdoor burning. Officials say the recent rains have significantly reduced the threat from wildfires.

Area counties that remain under burn bans include Collin and Kaufman counties.

Residents are restricted from all outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas.

By Scott Harvey

Cumby – A Cumby man has died from injuries sustained during a fire at his home early Monday morning.

Police discovered the fire after being dispatched to the home of Bernie and Joyce Murray following a 9-11 hang-up call.

Both were evacuated from their home on Commerce Street, and Bernie was transported to Hopkins County Memorial after CPR was administered at the scene. He died shortly afterwards.

The cause of the fire is believed to be a lit cigarette.

By Scott Harvey

Bonham – Bonham City Council member Wayne Moore is appointed to the position of mayor pro-tem.

Moore has been on the council for four terms and has previously served at the post.

The approval came Monday night after the oath of office was administered to H.L. Compton, who was recently appointed to serve out the remainder of former Mayor Pro Tem Brad Underwood's term.

Underwood resigned earlier this month to move to Denison, to be closer to his work at TAPS.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The City of Greenville has a new police chief, effective today.

The City will host a reception for new Police Chief Daniel Busken at the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library. The event, which is open to the public, will run from 4-6 p.m. Monday.

Busken's appointment as Police Chief was announced in late August, and confirmed by the City Council earlier this month.