Jacksonville Progress

DALLAS (AP) — A Texas man who fatally shot a convenience store clerk is set to die by lethal injection on Wednesday in what would be the nation's 30th execution this year. Jamaal Howard, 46, was found guilty of capital murder in the 2000 killing of Vickie Swartout, 42, who was shot once in the chest. He is set to receive a lethal dose of pentobarbital in the first scheduled execution in the U.S. since Tennessee’s failed attempt at putting Christa Pike to death last week.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Axel Rodríguez Olivas nervously steps on stage, carrying a violin. He raises his bow and begins to play, his nerves melting away. Mariachi music explodes throughout the room as violins, trumpets, the guitarrón, and a stringed instrument called the vihuela launch into an upbeat melody. There they are joined by a warm voice as a tenor begins to sing. kAm“x E9:?< ;@J :D H92E x 766= F=E:>2E6=J[” D2:5 #@5Cí8F6K ~=:G2D[ 5C6DD65 :? 2?

DALLAS (AP) — Lawyers for a Texas man who fatally shot a convenience store clerk are asking a judge to stay his execution by lethal injection set for Wednesday, citing the failed execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee last week. This would be the first execution scheduled in the U.S. since Pike. kAmq642FD6 E96 D2>6 5CF8 FD65 :? 96C 2EE6>AE65 6I64FE:@? — k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A6?E@32C3:E2=\E6??6DD66\6I64FE:@?\A:<6\h3`e_77`b4b5aehca5`h4_a6db322c65QmA6?E@32C3:E2=k^2m — H@F=5 36 FD65 :?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The acting secretary of the U.S. Army said Tuesday that the man convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, will be executed by firing squad on Dec. 3. In a post on social media, acting Secretary Adam Telle said the execution of Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan will take place at Fort Hood. kAm!6?E28@? DA@<6DA6CD@? $62? !2C?6== 925 D2:5 |@?52J E92E !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A 925 2AAC@G65 E96 6I64FE:@?

Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists indicate hunters can expect good harvest numbers and opportunities for quality bucks during the 2026-27 season. Following three above-average years of fawn survival, the Texas white-tailed deer population has climbed to an estimated 5.64 million. “Texas leads the nation in terms of number of deer hunters, annual harvest and deer population,” said Blaise Korzekwa, TPWD white-tailed deer program leader.

Texas has just received $30,146,655 in federal funding through the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to continue providing voluntary home visiting programs that support parents and improve outcomes for families and young children. “MIECHV reflects a simple idea: supporting parents early gives children a stronger start.

A central issue in the 2026 campaign is becoming a conversation about education, and really, it should be. Education is one of the biggest things the State of Texas does and one of the biggest things it pays for. State leaders are telling us they put a historic $8.5 billion more into public education last session; let’s break down exactly what that means.

The Penn Law Firm hosted its grand opening and an open house Thursday, celebrating its new location at 2256 E. Rusk. The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce provided a ribbon cutting. The new facility consists of three buildings on a 4.8-acre lot. kAmtC:4 !6?? 6DE23=:D965 %96 !6?? {2H u:C> :? a_`a] %96 AC24E:46 DA64:2=:K6D :? :?;FCJ 244:56?E 42D6D[ 6DA64:2==J E9@D6 42FD65 3J EC24E@C EC2:=6CD] %96 7:C> 92?5=6D 42D6D 24C@DD E96 ?2E:@?]k^Am kAm%96 7:C> 42?

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