Texas A&M University-Commerce

Jim Anderson, Texas A&M-Commerce theater professor, will direct "Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming," at 8 p.m. Tuesday night (April 25) through 3 p.m. Sunday, April 30 in the University Playhouse.  It's set in the period immediately after World War II and features many gospel songs.  Cumby singer-songwriter Lou Ann Price plays a major role.

Scott Cason, chief marketing officer of Texas A&M University-Commerce, relates plans for the "Our Century as Lions" observance that takes place today (Friday, March 10) on the campus.  It observes the day in 1917 when East Texas Normal College became a state institution.  A telegram sent to President and founder Dr. William Mayo arrived 20 minutes after Dr. Mayo had died of a heart attack.   The event begins at 8:30 with a reception on the lawn of the Heritage House, the home of president Dr. Ray Keck and his wife Patricia.

Friday, March 10th, 2017, will mark nearly one hundred years since a telegram arrived in Commerce indicating that the Texas legislature had voted to purchase the town's college from it's founder, William L. Mayo. (The date was March 14, 1917.)

Texas A&M University-Commerce music student Malik Heard will be performing tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Finney Concert Hall on campus. Heard received national attention as a finalist on the television program "The Voice."

Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams says citizen groups that have recently been brainstorming ideas for the city of Commerce, Commerce ISD and Texas A&M-Commerce will make reports  at 6 p.m., Tuesday, February 7 in the Rayburn Student Center at A&M-Commerce.  Also, the mayor discusses the activation of the new pedestrian stop lights on Highway 24 and Culver Street, allowing A&M-Commerce students to cross more safely.

Jeremy Gamez, business technical analyst for the Texas A&M University-Commerce provost's office, and our personal technology commentator, comments on a New York Times article, "Tech Resolutions for 2017."  To help you keep up with your many passwords, there are some apps, LastPass and 1Password.  It's recommended that if you haven't upgraded your wi-fi router in three years, it's probably time to do so.

Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams says the state of Texas is installing stop lights at the Highway 24 and Culver Street student crossings.  Students will be able to push a button, and a light will turn red, stopping traffic while the student crosses.  The mayor also discusses recent planning meetings involving the Commerce ISD, Texas A&M University-Commerce and the city, and progress on the proposed faculty housing development in the neighborhood south of the campus.

Jeremy Gamez, business technical analyst for the Texas A&M University-Commerce provost's office and our technology commentator, reflects on the use of IBM's Watson artificial intelligence technology as an instructor in a Georgia Tech classroom.  Students did not realize one of their instructors in an online class was, in fact, Watson.

Sarah Hobbs is living her dream. From humble beginnings in Jefferson, to attending college at Texas A&M University-Commerce, she's now making a name for herself as a strong voiced, independent Texas singer and songwriter.

Jeremy Gamez, business technical analyst with the Texas A&M University-Commerce provost's office, will be our commentator on new technology for the Blacklands Cafe.  In this program, we discuss the emergence of robots as a substitute for humans in the workforce.  One report says robots will take up six percent of the jobs in the U.S. by 2021.

Hunt County Historical Commission Chairman Carol Taylor relates the story of Etta Booth Mayo, the wife of Texas A&M University-Commerce founder Professor William L. Mayo, who in 1916 led her two daughters and a group of Boy Scouts on a hike from Commerce to Greenville, then Wylie, and on to Dallas and back.