By Scott Harvey

– The annual sales tax holiday kicks off this weekend, and this year Texas residents will be able to purchase more for less, as legislators this spring expanded the number of items that qualify for exemption.

House Bill 1808 added 27 school supply items that, if priced less than $100, join clothes, footwear and some backpacks in being available tax-free.

Among the new additions to the list of tax-exempt items are binders, calculators, notebooks, and lunch boxes.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The Commerce City Council meets in regular session Tuesday night to hear a presentation on a sister city program and consider amending the city's curfew ordinance.

By Brad Kellar

Commerce – The Hunt County Sheriff's Office has made a dent in what they believe is a string of thefts that spans three states.

Three individuals, two men and one woman, were arrested by the Hunt County Sheriff's Office Monday after the alleged theft from the Commerce Wal-Mart.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – A routine traffic stop in Paris leads to a drug bust early Tuesday morning.

Police stopped a vehicle at about 3:30am for not having a working license plate light while in operation at night. Officers would later find the driver, 47-year-old Mark Callaway, of Paris, in possession of cocaine, along with prescription pills without a prescription.

Callaway was booked on and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of dangerous drugs.

This Day in History: Tuesday, August 18, 2009.

This Day in History

This Day in History: Tuesday, August 18, 2009.

By Scott Harvey

KETR Newscast 8-18-09

CISD to provide new initiatives, resources; New Jersey man charged with money laundering in Hunt County; Three people arrested for shoplifting at Commerce Wal-Mart; Humane Society awarded custody of neglected animals seized last week in Kaufman County; Sen. Bob Deuell receives Legislature of the Year award for work on healthcare; Tax free holiday this weekend features new tax-exempt items.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Area school districts are now exploring the benefits of those accountability ratings recently released by the Texas Education Agency.

During its Monday meeting, Director of Curriculum at Commerce ISD Julia Robinson informed board members of sought initiatives and resources to be added.

With stimulus funding, the district has been able to appoint Jeanne Lay as its secondary curriculum facilitator, plus bring in Anne Mills to serve as a response to intervention (RTI) coach, thanks to special education funding.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Following executive session Tuesday night, the Commerce City Council voted 3-2 to reject a settlement agreement resolving John Doe 7 vs. the City of Commerce lawsuit.

This is the second time council has opted not to settle its sex offender lawsuit since a mediation hearing between the two parties was held on April 30. Council took no action on the same proposed settlement on June 2.

By Brad Kellar

Hunt County – A New Jersey man is charged with money laundering for transporting thousands of dollars through Hunt County.

Charles Greenridge has filed a motion seeking a reduction in his $65,000 bond, the appointment of an attorney, or both. A hearing is set for Wednesday in Hunt County.

By Scott Harvey

Kaufman County – A judge Monday awarded custody of hundreds of small dogs, seized last week from a Kaufman County puppy mill, to the Humane Society.

Last Wednesday, over 500 dogs, consisting of Chihuahuas, poodles and yorkies, along with nearly a dozen more cats were seized from the shelter after authorities were tipped off about a possible shortage of food.