Germans take to social media to create traditions for national holiday

Germans have reason to celebrate Tuesday, as the country marks 27 years since East and West Germany were peacefully reunified, forming the Federal Republic of Germany. Though the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, the task of joining two countries didn’t go into effect until nearly a year later, with the adoption of the German…

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Pay to pray: Understanding Germany’s church tax

A so-called church tax in Germany may be behind a steady decline in the European nation’s church membership numbers. The Pew Research Center, a non-profit, non-partisan public opinion group based in Washington, DC, cites the tax as a factor behind an exodus of Germans officially leaving their religious communities. Germany is among several European countries…

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E. Texas high school experiment rocketing to International Space Station

A SpaceX rocket carrying an East Texas high school’s science project is heading to the International Space Station. An experiment created by Bullard High School students was launched Tuesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6,400 pounds of science experiments, supplies, and equipment were launched aboard the SpaceX CRS-12, a commercial…

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Lane Luckie selected to become Fellow for RTDNF German/American exchange

Lane Luckie, a news anchor, producer, and reporter at KLTV in Tyler, Texas has been selected to join a group of 14 producers, reporters, editors, and online journalists from across the country to become Fellows the middle of September during the height of the German election campaign. It will be the largest group of American…

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WATCH: Briarwood Nature Preserve, a natural wonder

Briarwood Nature Preserve, located near Saline, Louisiana, is the birthplace and home of Caroline Dormon, a world renowned naturalist, author, artist and the first woman hired by the United States Forest Service.

WATCH: East Texas tornado outbreak

Multiple tornadoes touched down in East Texas — leading to fatalities, dozens of injuries, and extensive damage. Click here to watch live coverage.

My Instagram Top 10: Flowers and foliage

My Instagram account features anything and everything that captures my attention.

I’m curating some of my favorites in a series of posts featuring my favorite Instagram shots.

Astronaut carries friends’ wedding rings to Space

This Summer a special couple will receive a wedding gift that’s truly out of this world. European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who has been aboard the International Space Station since November, posted photo to social media of two wedding rings floating in micro gravity. The flight engineer from France tweeted that he carried in…

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Police: Rocket debris washes ashore on Texas beach

Debris that washed ashore along the south Texas coast has been identified as part of a rocket, according to law enforcement. A police officer made the discovery last week while investigating a report of possible airplane or boat debris being found at a Brazoria County beach. The large rectangular object is believed to be debris…

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Sewing Hope: The extraordinary woman called the ‘Mother Theresa of Africa’

Wednesday, I had the opportunity to spend time with an extraordinary woman who has changed the lives of thousands of young girls, who otherwise would remain on the fringes of society. Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe is gaining worldwide attention for her humanitarian work to rescue children from a notorious rebel army in Africa. She’s helping mend…

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Project aims to stabilize, restore Civil War-era Sabine Pass Lighthouse

A witness to history, the 1857 Sabine Pass Lighthouse stands sentinel at the point where the Sabine River empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Rising 75-feet above coastal marsh land, the brick tower, located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, has survived a half-dozen hurricanes, including monsters Audrey and Rita. Six brick buttresses form its unique octagonal…

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WATCH: My Vine rewind

As mobile video app Vine prepares for its planned phase-out in January, click here to watch some of my favorite moments.

WATCH: My family’s Christmas ornament tradition

Each Christmas until I turned 21, my Godmother gave me a keepsake ornament. I’ve amassed quite the collection of Christmas figures, cartoon characters, and even a Magi lantern. Click here to check out all of these special memories on my tree!

Discovering history beyond the books

History isn’t as bland of a subject as it’s sometimes portrayed. Many people probably think of a stack of dusty books taking up space in a classroom or library, but I envision a vibrant picture of stories preserved by people, places, and culture. My fascination with learning and preserving the past is the reason I…

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WATCH: Spotting the Supermoon

The November 2016 Supermoon provided quite the show in the night sky. Click here to get a glimpse of the Supermoon from downtown Tyler, Texas.

A chance to chat with the next generation of journalists

Learning is a lifelong adventure for any committed journalist, a journey shaped by academic studies, real world application, and experiences shared by those working in the field. There’s always an opportunity to grow for those open to it. Looking back on my college years, I was fortunate to have been exposed to constant advice from professors…

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