80 years after the U.S.S. Texas bombarded the Normandy coast in support of the Allied invasion on D-Day, artifacts from the historic battleship will return to France as part of the commemorations planned on June 6. In 1944, the U.S.S. Texas provided critical support for the landings at Pointe du Hoc and at Omaha Beach….
Tag: Texas
WATCH: Walking in an inflatable Winter Wonderland
Click here to watch this yard come alive with Holiday inflatables.
WATCH: Germany In Focus coverage from Cologne & Munich, Germany
Click here to watch my special reports from Germany this Fall.
Texas orders review of efforts to educate K-12 students about atrocities of Holocaust
A newly-enacted Texas law calls for a survey of the state’s 1,200 public school districts to review efforts to better educate students about genocide and the Holocaust. On September 1, HB 3466 took effect, directing the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC) to review school districts’ implementation of requirements related to observances of…
Diedrich A.W. Rulfs: the German immigrant who became Nacogdoches’ master architect
Few names are as widely known in Nacogdoches as Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, or Thomas J. Rusk. But there’s one lesser-known figure whose lasting impact is plainly visible in every corner of the city – Deidrich Anton Wilhelm Rulfs. “As far as local history is concerned, belongs even higher than these people,” said Nacogdoches…
East Texas pastor guided spiritual healing after America’s first mass shooting in a church
As gun violence in America has many churches taking a closer look at security plans, one East Texas pastor has a unique perspective on the matter. Brother Norman Crisp’s congregation at First Baptist Church in Daingerfield knows tragedy firsthand. On June 22, 1980, a gunman opened fire there, ultimately killing 5 people and wounding 10…
Poland relationship among oldest, most active of Tyler’s sister city partnerships
The City of Tyler’s partnership with Jelenia Góra in southwestern Poland is among the most active of its five current international sister city relationships. As one of the oldest cities in Poland, Jelenia Góra’s 900-year history includes nearly three decades of collaborations with East Texas. Jelenia Góra, Poland ‘Twinning’ ceremonies to formalize the sister city…
East Texas children send message to Ukrainian refugees through original artwork
Young artists from East Texas are sending a message of hope to Ukrainian refugees a world away. Students of the Tyler Art School, a private studio located in southeast Tyler, have created artwork that reflects their concern for the millions of Ukrainian children forced to flee their homes due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine….
Last-minute moves set up exciting race finish at Texas Motor Speedway
The first day of Spring provided perfect weather for IndyCar racing at Texas Motor Speedway. Click here for highlights.
Donna McCollum: 44 Years as the Voice for Deep East Texas
In our industry, a tenure this long is uncommon. But that’s Donna — truly exceptional — both as a journalist and as a person. Retirement is a bittersweet moment for a beloved collegiate. KTRE and KLTV veteran reporter Donna McCollum is retiring after an amazing career of 44 years telling the stories of Deep East…
COVID-era changes you’ll notice at DFW International Airport and some you won’t
Travelers flying out of Tyler Pounds Regional Airport or East Texas Regional Airport connect through Dallas Fort Worth International Airports, one of the busiest in the world. Passenger figures show people are taking to the skies again, nearing pre-pandemic levels. The latest available totals show 6,866,796 people traveled through DFW in the month of July,…
WATCH: Nighttime flight from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
DFW International Airport lights up the night sky like few other airports. Click here to see why.
Texas weathers historic winter storm
The effects of a week below freezing and record-setting winter weather will certainly be felt long after East Texas begins to thaw. Starting Sunday, February 14, much of Texas faced a period of historic cold. Snow, freezing rain, and ice triggered the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Storm Warning lasting several days. In…
WATCH: Discussing Texas’ historic winter storm on the BBC
Click here to watch my report on the historic winter storm in Texas.
WATCH: Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy 18th anniversary coverage
Click here to watch my reports from the ‘Remembering Columbia’ NASA Museum.
Hemphill museum to commemorate 18th anniversary of Shuttle Columbia tragedy
The Hemphill museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Space Shuttle Columbia will host its annual memorial service on Monday, the 18th anniversary of the tragedy that trust East Texas into international headlines. On the morning of February 1, 2003, the orbiter broke apart in the skies over East Texas, just minutes before Columbia’s…
Iconic ‘Tiny Target’ razed in remote West Texas
A pile of concrete blocks is all that remains of the so-called ‘World’s Smallest Target Store,’ a popular roadside destination in West Texas. Situated along a remote stretch of U.S. Highway 90 in Brewster County, the iconic desert structure drew curiosity seekers to the town of Marathon, not far from Big Bend National Park. KOSA-TV…
Showing off Tyler, Texas as Lone Star Emmy Awards goes virtual
This year’s Lone Star Emmy Awards show is going virtual due to the pandemic. When my co-anchor Erika Bazaldua and I were asked to be presenters in a taped broadcast, we thought it’d be a great idea to show off ‘The Rose Capital of America’ during our segment. Tyler’s Rose Garden Center and Museum served…
Talking Politics: Analyzing Texas election outcomes with international journalists
With a historic voter turnout in Texas during an unprecedented pandemic, the 2020 general election will likely be studied for years. President Donald Trump garnered roughly 600 thousand more votes in the Lone Star State than Democratic challenger Joe Biden, upending pundits’ predictions that Texas would turn “blue.” Democrats did make in-roads, expanding their reach…
Celebrating Autumn in the Arboretum
With the changing of seasons, Fall colors come alive at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Click here to take a tour.
Why is there a Prada store in the West Texas desert?
Perhaps you’ve heard of Prada Marfa on social media? Not far from the West Texas town made famous by its mysterious lights on the horizon, another landmark is drawing people to the remote desert community. Established in 2005, the single room structure is the vision of artists Elmgreen and Dragset. The art installation has become…
WATCH: Monahans Sandhills, a Texas-sized natural sandbox
Click here to look around dune field with some dunes as tall as 50 feet!
Big Bend Ranch: Where solitude meets adventure
Spectacular scenery and unmatched adventure await visitors to Big Bend Ranch State Park. The 300,000-plus-acre park in Presidio and Brewster counties is the largest in Texas. The West Texas desert landscape’s geological features and recreational opportunities draw outdoors enthusiasts from around the country. One of the easiest ways to take-in the vastness of the state…
A goat has been mayor of this remote Texas town since the 1980s
Every day since the mid-1980s, the mayor of Lajitas has held court on the side of dusty Farm to Market Road 170, just outside Big Bend National Park in remote West Texas. An unassuming pen next to the town’s general store is home of ‘The World Famous Clay Henry Mayor Mayor of Lajitas.” The title…
Big Bend National Park, a Texas treasure and one of the most remote destinations in the U.S.
A jewel in the desert, Big Bend National Park is a bucket list destination tucked away in a remote corner of south Texas. Hours from the nearest major airport, its location restricts the park to only the most dedicated of travelers. As one of the least-visited national parks, last year they counted just more than…
The ‘world’s smallest Target store’ is actually a pop-up art display in West Texas
Blink and you’ll miss it. Situated on a remote stretch of U.S. Highway 90 in West Texas, the so-called ‘Tiny Target’ or ‘World’s Smallest Target Store’ has become a pilgrimage destination for curiosity seekers and art enthusiasts alike. Big Bend Country is known for its dark skies and wide open spaces, but it’s drawing more…
WATCH: A mineral masterpiece, millions of years in the making
Click here to journey below the surface into Sonora Caverns.
In search of the mysterious Marfa Lights
Mysterious and unexplained lights have been reported here in the West Texas desert for more than a hundred years. According to the Texas Historical Commission, the famous Marfa Lights have been theorized as campfires, phosphorescent minerals, swamp gas, or static electricity. The first recorded sighting was by a rancher in 1883. Others say it could…
WATCH: Hiking in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas
Click here to join our recent hike in the country’s second largest canyon!
WATCH: Fall colors in bloom at America’s largest rose garden
Click here to take a tour of the eye-popping colorful blooms at the Tyler Rose Garden.
Frenchie’s Italian Cuisine: A slice of American space program history
As the more than one million visitors pass through the gates of Space Center Houston at NASA’s Johnson Space Center each year, few are aware they’re missing out on an essential stop that’s not on the tour. Three-quarters of a mile away, in a nondescript strip mall in Clear Lake City, Texas, the story of…
WATCH: Exotic butterflies take flight at the Cockrell Butterfly Center
Click here to watch exotic butterflies fly free throughout the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Legendary NASA flight director Gene Kranz discusses Apollo 11, courage under fire
Hundreds of thousands of men and women made contributions to the success of the Apollo moon missions, but Friday night a crowded room listened to every word spoken by someone who never left Earth. Gene Kranz served as flight director during Apollo 11, leading operations inside Mission Control. He delivered a keynote to a theater…
WATCH: Apollo 11 moon mission 50th anniversary coverage
Click here to watch my reports from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA opens $5M Apollo mission control room restoration for public tours
As the country marks 50 years since the history-making Apollo 11 moon landing, visitors to Space Center Houston are getting an inside look at the landmark that helped make the ‘giant leap’ possible. Three weeks ago, NASA and Space Center Houston unveiled a $5 million dollar renovation of Mission Operations Control Room 2, which was…
Lane Luckie 