Why it matters: Impaired driving deaths consistently spike over Labor Day weekend in Texas. A mother shares her story of loss, while TxDOT travels the state encouraging everyone to get a sober ride during increased law enforcement efforts.

With time running out to make cuts, the latest running tally indicates that Fannin County's fiscal year 2026-2027 budget is $1,078,698.25 in the red, and that includes $250,000 the county is forced to budget for legal expenses to defend against four countersuits brought on by indictments that were dismissed for Lack of Probable Cause. Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham warned that the county's legal expenses may be far greater "if it plays out."

United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced today the launch of Project Safe Schools, a federal initiative aimed at protecting students, enforcing accountability and restoring transparency in public schools across North Texas. According to the Texas Education Agency, more than 9,720 educator-misconduct investigations have been opened in the past two years, resulting in hundreds of disciplinary actions and placements on the Do Not Hire registry. Yet, districts across North Texas continue to underreport abuse and retain educators with known misconduct issues.

Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home proudly announces the promotion of Ellie Mosley Wells to Assistant Manager of Funeral Home Operations.

North Texas’ most popular Latin music festival, the Vitruvian Salsa Festival, will showcase its final performance of the season with the Dallas-based Latin orchestra, Havana NRG. The band will take the stage on Saturday, Aug. 22 at the beautiful Vitruvian Park Amphitheater in Addison.

1895 – death of John Wesley Hardin, American Old West outlaw, gunfighter. John Wesley Hardin (May 26, 1853 – August 19, 1895) was an American Old West outlaw, gunfighter, lawyer and controversial folk icon. Hardin often got into trouble with the law from an early age. He killed his first man at the age of 15, claiming he did so in self-defense. Hardin was born in 1853 near Bonham, Texas, to James Gibson "Gip" Hardin, a Methodist preacher and circuit rider, and Mary Elizabeth Dixson. He was named after John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist denomination of the Christian church. Pursued by lawmen for most of his life, in 1877, at the age of 23, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison for murder. At the time of sentencing, Hardin claimed to have killed 42 men, while contemporary newspaper accounts attributed 27 deaths to him. The actual number, while unknown, is believed to be in excess of 20. While in prison, Hardin studied law and wrote an autobiography. He was well known for exaggerating or fabricating stories about his life and claimed credit for many killings that cannot be corroborated. Within a year of his 1894 release from prison, Hardin was killed by John Selman in an El Paso saloon.