TYLER -- State Representative Leo Berman of Tyler had been eyeing a run for governor. At a news conference yesterday afternoon, with Governor Rick Perry at his side, Berman announced he was supporting Perry in the next governor’s race. At the same time, Berman announced he would seek re-election to the Texas House. That will pit Berman against former mayor Joey Seeber in the Republican primary.

"Today I gladly drop my candidacy for governor and strongly endorse my friend of 11 years Governor Rick Perry," Berman told the crowd. Perry told the news conference at U.T. Tyler, "Because he and I share those same values, because he's a man of principle, devoted to public service. I'm pleased to support Leo in his bid for re-election to the state House of Representatives."

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EAST TEXAS -- The July 4 weekend sees plenty of celebrations around East Texas. Two communities took it on themselves to lead the charge with a pair of Friday evening events: the City of Bullard's "Blast in the Sky” Celebration, at Bullard High School, and the Freedom Celebration and Fireworks Festival at Maude Cobb Activity Complex in Longview. Among the activities in Jacksonville is Saturday's Water Parade on Lake Jacksonville. The Tyler Jaycees hold their big 4th of July Celebration beginning this afternoon at 4:00 at Lindsey Park. Much more on all of the above on the ktbb.com Calendar of Events. And don't forget the big fireworks show on the dam at Lake Tyler July 4 at 9:30 p.m. Keep it on 92.1, KTBB-FM, for more details, and a live broadcast.

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TYLER -- Because of the 4th of July activities at Tyler’s Lindsey Park, there will be some route changes at the park and on Spur 364.

Beginning at 8:30 tonight, Spur 364 at Loop 323 will be closed to all eastbound traffic. At the same time the right lane of the southbound traffic on Loop 323 near Spur 364 will be closed. Officers are requesting any resident who lives off Spur 364 between Loop 323 and Greenbriar Road, who needs to get to their residence during this time, to present their drivers license showing proof of their residency to the officers stationed at this location. Officers will allow residents only to proceed westbound on Spur 364.

At the completion of the program, the two left turn lanes eastbound on Highway 31 at Loop 323 will be closed. Traffic will not be allowed to turn left, north, onto Loop 323 from the eastbound lanes of Highway 31. Please be aware of officers in the roadway directing traffic.

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TYLER -- Two persons have been wounded following a disturbance around Hillsboro and Emerson Streets. It happened just before 11:00 last night. Being treated at Mother Francis Hospital are Anselmo Cornelio, age 26, and Omar Sosa, age 25. According to Sgt. Jeffery Rackliff, their injuries are not life threatening. The mean say they have no idea who shot them. Investigators are asking anyone who has information relating to this case to contact them or call Crimestoppers.

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TYLER -- A Tyler woman has been treated at East Texas Medical Center for stab wounds to her upper body and leg. LaTease Ross told officers she was stabbed by her live in boy friend David Rockmore. He was arrested and placed in the Smith County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The incident is said to have occurred around 7:30 last night in the 400 block of Thomas.

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EAST TEXAS -- Concerned citizens in at least three East Texas towns are using the Fourth of July as a follow-up date for the "Tea Party" movement that kicked off nationwide April 15. As before, the events will focus on what's termed out-of-control government spending, tax concerns, and related topics.

Tea parties will be held in Tyler and Longview this morning at 11:00. Tyler's event, featuring State Representative Leo Berman, is set for Bergfeld Park. The Longview gathering will be held at the Gregg County Courthouse. A Longview tea party spokesman notes that there won't be any elected public officials featured in his town's event, in a bid to keep it non-partisan.

A spokesman says the Tyler event was organized by a new group that grew out of the community's April 15 gathering on the downtown square. The Longview tea party, geared towards grassroots organizing and education, is being assisted by Grassroots America - We the People (GAWTP). That's a Tyler-based group that's already initiated similar efforts in the Tyler area. The Tyler tea party spokesman says his group's event will involve some members of GAWTP but is not part and parcel of GAWTP's efforts.

Along with the Tyler and Longview events, there's Upshur County Grassroots Tea Party, which kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on the County Courthouse lawn in Gilmer. You can go to http://www.tylerteaparty.com for more information on the Tyler get-together. To learn more about the Longview tea party, email krothra@att.net call 903-445-7706. You can also check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for information about all three gatherings.

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TYLER -- The Smith County Bar Association (SCBA) received a Star of Achievement at the recent 2009 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting in Dallas. According to an SCBA news release, the award recognizes an outstanding project that incorporates a high percentage of bar membership and greatly impacts the community and the bar association. The release says the project must also educate the public on the judicial system and legal profession, and must be original. Only five such awards are given each year.

Pictured with the Star of Achievement are Cristy Keul (SCBA Executive Director) ,Andy Tindel (SCBA Board Member), Harper Estes (State Bar of Texas President) , Hon. Diane DeVasto (SCBA Past-President), Shannon Dacus (SCBA Board Member), and Mike Patterson (Smith County Bar Foundation Past-President)

The award recognized the local bar association for their work on the 75th Anniversary Gala, which honored the milestone of serving the community for the past 75 years. The news release says the event, held last November, united a diverse group of attorneys -- and raised over $105,000 for legal outreach programs, educational projects, and other important community programs. In addition, says the SCBA, the event helped the community learn of the rich history of the local bar association.

325 guests attended the event. SCBA President David Hudson says, “It’s a real tribute to the many legal professionals who have been serving in our county for the past 75 years. We’re proud of how attorneys serve, not only in the judicial system, but everyday throughout communities in Smith County.”

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LUFKIN -- Lufkin Police, along with the FBI and a Texas Ranger are investigating the robbery of Commercial Bank on Tulane Drive. It happened around 2:00 yesterday afternoon. The suspect, said to be a white male in his mid 40s, handed a teller a note, took an undetermined amount of money and then ran away. No injuries were reported.

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MINEOLA -- A so-called "Mineola child sex ring" is back in the news. Thursday the Children's Advocacy Center was accused of making taped confessions of the child witnesses and not turning them over to the defense. According to KETK, one source says the agency is required to keep the original copies of any tapes made for the trial. At least four of those tapes reportedly disappeared. The hearing resumes on Monday.

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GILMER -- A Gilmer man is accused of rape, but his accuser is missing. Forencio Sarmiento, 34, allegedly raped a woman in a hotel in Missouri. The woman's been missing since leaving the hotel and being treated at a hospital for dehydration. Missouri Police were notified by Texas Law Enforcement that the suspect is an illegal immigrant.

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HENDERSON -- A Rusk County drug bust sends three men to jail. Wednesday, deputies arrested Carlos Jerome Dews, Kalendrick DaLeon Reddic and Jason Don Starks on FM 2089. According to KETK, deputies confiscated a large amount of cocaine that was reportedly packaged for sale along with other drug paraphernalia.

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LONGVIEW -- Texas Department of Transportation contract crews have opened both westbound lanes on Interstate Highway 20 at State Highway 31, eliminating a bottleneck created by one-lane traffic to accommodate the construction project there in time for Fourth of July holiday traffic.

"We're pleased about the timing," said TxDOT public information officer Larry Krantz. "And I'm sure we're not the only ones." While both lanes are open in that location, the shoulders on the bridge structure remain closed.

The project, which called for replacing the bridge decking on the SH 31 overpass as well as some pavement repairs on Interstate 20 and some exit ramps, began in April 2008, and is scheduled for completion this fall.

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FORT WORTH (AP/STAFF) -- A student who will be a junior at Lufkin High School this year has been crowned Miss Texas Teen. Taylor Lowery, 16, was a runner-up in last year's contest when she competed as Miss Teen Plano. She represented Frisco at this year's contest. And Kristen Blair, competing as Miss North Texas, has won the Miss Texas crown and will represent the Lone Star State at the Miss America pageant. Blair, 22, a junior studying vocal performance at the University of North Texas, won a $12,000 scholarship at the competition. The Miss America pageant is scheduled for January in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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FORT WORTH (AP) -- Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief is asking federal prosecutors to review findings of a police inquiry into a recent gay bar raid. Chad Gibson suffered a severe head injury when Fort Worth police and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents inspected the Rainbow Lounge on Sunday. Both the TABC and the Fort Worth Police Department are currently investigating to find out exactly how the 26-year-old was injured.

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BEAUMONT (AP) -- Relatives of a slain sailor are calling the 29-year-old's death a hate crime. Rose Roy of Beaumont said her nephew, U.S. Navy Seaman August Provost III, had complained a year before about being harassed for being gay. The Houston native was found dead Tuesday at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego.

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DENTON (AP) -- The name of a taxi driver found stabbed and burned in rural Denton County has not been released yet. Investigators believe robbery was the motive in his death. Justin firefighters found the man's body last night about five miles west of the Texas Motor Speedway.

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GALVESTON (AP) -- Officials are looking for the culprit in a bizarre palm tree torching spree. Since May, 30 trees have been set ablaze on the island. Galveston Fire Marshal Gilbert Robinson said calls of burning palm trees have increased recently. Now, tree service owner Greg West is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to charges.

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FALFURRIAS (AP) -- Rene Saenz, 52, is expected to leave a South Texas hospital today. Saenz was gored by a 900-pound bull at a rodeo in Falfurrias Thursday night. The bull charged him when he was trying to open a gate. The animal punctured his lower left abdomen.

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HOUSTON (AP) - This week's Triple-A Texas gasoline price survey shows the average price of regular unleaded self-serve fell by four cents this week. It averages $2.49 per gallon going into the July 4th holiday. It also fell four cents nationally to an average of $2.63. Texarkana has the cheapest gasoline in this week's survey at $2.43, seven cents below last week. The highest was in El Paso, where the average price fell three cents to $2.58 per gallon.

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