East Texas News for Friday, September 26 2025

Your KRRB East Texas News for Friday, September 26, 2025 — good morning, East Texas. From a steadfast Conservative Evangelical Christian perspective—unapologetically Pro-Bible, Pro-America, and Pro-Israel—this single, continuous report turns the spotlight on our people and our places, with special emphasis on Grand Saline and full coverage stretching across Mineola, Canton, Van, Lindale, Tyler, Longview, Kilgore, Henderson, Jacksonville, Palestine, Athens, Quitman, Emory, Sulphur Springs, Gilmer, Gladewater, Marshall, Nacogdoches, and Lufkin. The end of the workweek opens with porch coffee, school bells, and shop lights flicking on along Highway 80, US-69, I-20, and the farm-to-market grid that stitches our towns together. In Grand Saline, merchants on and off the square are setting out “Open” signs, sweeping doorways, and greeting familiar faces; the bakery case is full, the quick-lube lane is already rolling, pharmacies are checking refill queues, and the hardware counter has the bins stocked with bolts, anchors, garden hose washers, paint rollers, and the small fix-it items folks grab before the weekend. Parking uptown tightens around lunch and again before kickoff tonight; leave a few extra minutes, be patient with trucks and trailers that need the corner spaces, and choose kindness over hurry—because one courteous wave can keep five vehicles from stacking up. Local ministries continue their quiet work: rides to appointments for seniors, meal trains for new parents, a fuel card discretely slipped to a working dad who got shorted on hours; if you can lend a hand, today is a fine day to put yes behind your good intentions. Mineola and Canton start the morning with a practical cadence—invoice follow-ups, service calls to close out, and supply orders to place before afternoon traffic; hair salons and barbers have steady Friday chairs, small engine shops are finishing tune-ups for fall lawns, and feed stores are moving mineral, cubes, and dewormer as ranchers eyeball pastures and water. Van and Lindale churches are confirming nursery rotations and volunteers for Sunday; youth leaders have Bibles and notebooks laid out for midweek, and men’s breakfasts are penciled for early Saturday so guys can eat, pray, and then jump to honey-do lists before the first whistle. Tyler’s medical district hums with appointments, imaging, rehab, and routine procedures; clinics ask patients to arrive ten minutes early with ID and updated medication lists, and receptionist desks—often bearing the brunt of public stress—appreciate a simple “thank you” spoken with sincerity. Longview’s industrial backbone rolls with fabrication, logistics, and oilfield support; safety talk this morning is again the predictable list that saves fingers and eyes—gloves, guards, lock-out tags, harness checks, clean floors, and co-workers empowered to speak up; shortcuts invite injuries, and injuries steal paychecks from families. Kilgore and Henderson highlight the trades pathway that works for young adults who want to earn while they learn—electrical apprenticeships, pipefitting, welding, HVAC, diesel tech—real careers that put food on the table without chaining a graduate to decades of debt. Jacksonville and Palestine blend agriculture, manufacturing, and small retail; ranchers are checking fence lines at daylight, shop crews are staging parts for afternoon pickups, and boutiques are tagging fall arrivals in time for Saturday walk-ins. Athens, Quitman, and Emory keep to the small-town rhythm that’s healthy—breakfast early, school drop-off without phone screens, a stop at the feed-and-seed or pharmacy, then back to the work that keeps households strong: repairs done, bills paid, relationships tended. Sulphur Springs, Gilmer, Gladewater, and Marshall report routine patrols this morning, with law enforcement repeating the seasonal counsel to lock vehicles, remove valuables, and call in suspicious behavior immediately rather than posting about it later; efficient policing relies on timely information from level-headed citizens. Nacogdoches and Lufkin hold steady with education, healthcare, and timber; shop floors run best when folks arrive on time, tell the truth, and help the next person without being asked—virtues that never go out of style and never stop producing fruit.


On roads and infrastructure, expect the standard assortment of weekday crews and a lighter presence late today as teams clear for weekend events. Along I-20 and the arteries tying our towns together—US-80, US-69, and the web of state highways—watch for mowers in the medians, striping paint that needs a minute to cure, shoulder work on culverts, and short stretches with flaggers near small bridge repairs; leave early, merge cleanly, and give workers a lane when you can. City utilities from Tyler to Jacksonville are scheduling routine maintenance on water and sewer lines; a few blocks might see rolling closures or alley access limits, so keep trash bins placed correctly and bulky items off alleys unless it’s your pickup week. In Grand Saline and Mineola, small bridge and culvert checks after scattered showers are ongoing; don’t drive around barricades, mind weight limits on rural crossings, and double-check field entrances before towing a loaded trailer.

Civic life today sits squarely in the practical lane: city councils and county commissioners continue to prioritize street repairs, drainage projects, park maintenance, nuisance abatement that targets real problems without harassing ordinary families, and budget execution that funds deputies, teachers, and road crews first. Citizens who speak briefly, respectfully, and with solutions in hand earn a hearing; if you can’t attend a meeting, email a concise statement, then be ready to volunteer in the very area you want improved. Biblical citizenship is not complaint-based; it is service-based, grounded in truth and expressed in love for neighbor and community.

Faith is the spine of East Texas culture, not a hobby. Churches from Grand Saline through Longview are pressing into Scripture, prayer, and personal discipleship rather than chasing spiritual fads. Midweek moments have been marked by a sober hunger for the Word, and pastors are encouraging families to recover Sabbath rhythm—church first, then chores. Men’s ministries are rotating service projects for widows and single moms—gutters, porches, oil changes, and fence fixes—and women’s groups are leaning into hospitality, intercession, and mentoring younger families in the art of building homes that honor Christ. Youth leaders continue calling students to carry physical Bibles, to speak truth with gentleness and courage, and to show integrity that refuses to cheat, vape, bully, or follow the crowd off a cliff just to belong. Many congregations are praying weekly for Israel’s security and the peace of Jerusalem, confident that standing with God’s covenant people is both right and wise; we add our voice to that chorus today.

Agriculture remains the pulse out past the subdivisions. Hay producers are taking the temperature of the weather windows, testing moisture before stacking, and keeping air moving in barns; one cautious hour now can prevent a ruinous hot spot. Cattlemen are maintaining mineral and checking fences and water gaps after showers push debris; they’re also watching calf crops, shade and water access, and fly pressure as we round out September. Gardeners are harvesting late okra, peppers, and tomatoes; local pantries and church food ministries can always use fresh produce, and a bag of garden goods delivered with a five-minute porch visit can anchor a neighbor’s entire weekend. Hunters are walking stands, swapping camera cards, and testing safety harnesses and pull-ropes; a preseason checklist with a second set of eyes is worth the time, and no buck is worth a broken back.

Friday high school sports bind our towns together. Football stadiums from Grand Saline to Longview will glow under the lights tonight, and the call is the same: arrive early, obey traffic control, stand for the anthem, cheer with class, and tip the booster club twice—once at the gate and once at the concession window. In Grand Saline, the Indians have emphasized line play, ball security, and fourth-quarter conditioning; band, cheer, and drill teams have sharpened sets with choreography and safety spotters, and the student section is being urged to keep it loud and clean. In Mineola, Canton, Van, and Lindale, coaches are drilling tackling leverage and special teams lanes, knowing that one disciplined play can swing a two-score game; Tyler programs are calling for early energy from the stands to fuel fast starts; Longview players understand the standard—the Lobos play fast, finish strong, and honor a tradition built by generations who paid the price at practice. Across the region, volleyball squads continue district battles where serve-receive and back-row communication make the difference; cross-country teams squeeze in pre-dawn mileage on quiet county roads; bands and drill teams chase clean sets for halftime; cheer teams lock in safety for pyramids and tosses; and trainers ask parents to verify braces, mouthguards, tape, and water bottles before the car leaves the driveway. If you attend, remember that your words and your social-media posts can help or hurt teenagers who are giving everything they have within the bounds set by their coaches; character outlasts the scoreboard.

Arts and entertainment lean family-friendly as festivals, markets, and music fill the calendar. Community theaters in Tyler and Longview are polishing productions where students and grandparents share the same stage; small music halls and cafés from Lindale to Kilgore book country, bluegrass, gospel, and classic rock that doesn’t need vulgarity to pack the room; church auditoriums continue to host Southern gospel groups and student showcases. Weekend festival committees have their maps taped on the wall with booth placements for quilts, woodwork, canned goods, baked goods, children’s games, and ministry tables; when you go, shop local vendors first, tip musicians, know the exits, and keep kids within arm’s reach in crowds. End the night by thanking the volunteers who stay after last call to pick up the trash; quiet servants keep our communities beautiful.

Weather across East Texas today follows a late-September script: a pleasant morning, warm and humid afternoon, a slight chance a few neighborhoods will see a passing sprinkle, and a quick cool-down once the sun drops. Coaches will track heat index for on-field work; parents can help by starting hydration early and packing electrolyte packets for the bus. Drivers should remember that a light shower can float oil on sun-baked pavement; keep following distances generous, wipers in good shape, and tires properly inflated. If thunder rolls near a stadium, administrators will make the right call—games can be replayed, but lives cannot.

Law and order are not clichés here; they are necessities. Prosecutors continue to prioritize repeat offenders and thefts that target families and small businesses; judges maintain dockets that marry accountability with the possibility of true rehabilitation for those who want it; and deputies and officers do the visible and invisible work of keeping the peace. Citizens help when they document clearly, obey lawful instructions at scenes, show up for court when subpoenaed, and resist the impulse to “try” cases on Facebook. A brief thank-you note to a specific deputy, detention officer, or dispatcher by name still matters more than a dozen online rants.

Veterans remain front-of-mind in East Texas. Posts and service organizations are coordinating rides to appointments, checking home repairs for disabled vets and widows, and hosting breakfast tables that cut through isolation with hot coffee and better company. If you’re a veteran who hasn’t plugged in, consider this your invitation; younger families need your perspective, and you need their friendship. Churches can quietly identify veterans in their pews and invite testimonies in Sunday school or men’s breakfasts—stories of faith under pressure build courage in the whole house.

Consumer notes for the weekend are simple. Before burning fuel to drive to a big box, check hometown stores—many carry the same plumbing, electrical, paint, hardware, feed, boots, and gifts you’re after, often at competitive prices, and those dollars stay here to sponsor teams, mission trips, and benevolence funds. Be cautious of scam calls and texts that demand immediate action or request personal details; slow down, verify in person or by dialing a known number, and never click a suspicious link. If you sell or buy locally online, meet in daylight at a police-station safe zone and bring a friend; a good deal is never worth risking your safety. For travel ball and day-trip families, build a five-minute pre-drive checklist: tires, fluids, phone chargers, snacks, water, cash for concessions, and a paper backup for directions in case coverage drops on a county road.

Family discipleship remains the bedrock. Open the Bible at the table tonight, read a psalm aloud, pray for each child by name, and discuss a single proverb that can be lived on Saturday and Sunday. Ask teens what ideas are floating through classrooms and timelines, and train them to test everything by the unchanging Word of God. Bless your spouse with words of life; cancel a petty argument before it starts; and plan Sunday worship right now, anchoring the weekend around the Lord’s Day rather than squeezing church between errands. Add the people of Israel to your prayer list by name—leaders, soldiers, families under threat—and ask the Lord for peace with justice; we stand with Israel not because it is fashionable but because Scripture is clear.

Finally, a word to Grand Saline—the anchor of our coverage and a picture of what’s best about East Texas. Keep doing the small things faithfully: check on a neighbor, support a local merchant, encourage a teacher, thank a police officer or firefighter, and cheer the Indians with class. To Mineola, Canton, Van, and Lindale—build with conviction and neighborly grit; to Tyler and Longview—lead with clarity and courage; to every community stitched along our farm roads—remember that size does not measure significance, faithfulness does. People of conviction, churches alive to the Word, and families settled on truth shape the future more than any headline ever could. Stay tuned to KRRB Revelation Radio for the only unfiltered, uncensored, most truthful News reporting in all of East Texas.