KTBB NEWS

TYLER (AP/Staff) - A Tyler woman has pleaded guilty to murder in the July 2007 strangling of her 2-year-old son. State District Judge Kerry Russell on Friday then sentenced 39-year-old Catherine Alana Stevens to life in prison as part of the plea agreement. Stevens was charged with capital murder in the death of her son, William. Police say she had confessed. Stevens was placed under psychiatric care while in the Smith County Jail as her attorneys prepared an insanity defense, which was later dropped. According to KETK, District Attorney Matt Bingham said, "She did have a long history of mental illness, but at the time of the offense...she was not insane." Stevens will be eligible for parole in 30 years.

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ATHENS (AP/Staff) - A jury in Athens has turned in a capital murder conviction of 48-year-old Randall Wayne Mays, blamed for the 2007 shooting deaths of two Henderson County deputies. Paul Steven Habelt and Tony Price Ogburn were shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance call at the Mays house. Mays, who did not testify, was convicted over the killing of Ogburn. The next step is the penalty phase; according to KETK, that's been scheduled for today. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. The shootout, last May 17 near Payne Springs, also left a third deputy injured.

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EAST TEXAS -- Local elections take place today in a number of East Texas communities. Tyler residents will select a new mayor and pick members of the Tyler school board and Tyler Junior College Board of Trustees. Voters in Tyler's city limits will decide if the private club membership for local clubs and restaurants will be eliminated. Voters in Longview's City Council District 3 (Southeast Longview) will head to the polls to choose who will represent them on the Council. You can go to
http://www.smith-county.com and http://www.CityofLongview.com for additional election information.

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TYLER -- Tyler club and restaurant owners pushing for today's local option proposition want to alleviate confusion about what it entails. Roger Lumley of Papacita's says if the measure passes, drinkers in clubs and restaurants will no longer have to flash a Unicard or buy a private club membership when buying a drink. Besides the customer convenience, Lumley adds that the change would eliminate a large amount of costly paperwork for him and his colleagues. Lumley hopes authorities will continue to enforce other drinking laws. He notes that the club and restaurant owners are against underage drinking and over-drinking

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TYLER -- One person has been killed in a two-vehicle Tyler traffic accident. Police responded at 8:27 Friday night to the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Carlyle Street. Witnesses said a motorcycle was heading east on Martin Luther King at a high rate of speed, and an SUV heading west on MLK was making a left turn onto Carlyle Street when the two vehicles collided. The driver of the motorcycle succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The driver of the SUV was not injured. There was no immediate positive identification of the motorcycle driver, and the investigation continues.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Louie Gohmert's Space Shuttle Memorial Study Act has been signed into law. The measure directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service, to study at least four areas of East Texas land to determine the feasibility of such a memorial. The land to be studied is in Lufkin, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, and Hemphill, where large amounts of shuttle debris fell. The shuttle exploded over East Texas in 2003, killing all on board. Gohmert calls the signing "a tremendous step" in honoring the Columbia crew, their families, and East Texans who helped in recovery efforts. He's also lauding Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for helping the legislation through the Senate.

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TYLER -- Tyler's federal courthouse has been formally renamed in honor of the late U.S. District Judge William Steger. It's now known as the William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse. Steger served as a judge in the Eastern District of Texas for 35 years, until his death on June 4, 2006. Steger's widow, Ann Steger, said she's overwhelmed" by the honor because all the things that might have led to it "were just normal actions in our lives." Mrs. Steger says the judge "was very humble about what he was doing." UT Tyler President Dr. Rodney Mabry was among speakers at the dedication ceremony. Ann Steger has donated her husband’s official documents, papers, and personal items to the university.

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EAST TEXAS -- It's commencement time for area colleges. Tyler Junior College has scheduled its ceremony for today at 10 a.m. UT Tyler, which kicked off its commencement activities Friday, put three more on the docket for today. The College of Business and Technology scheduled its ceremony for 10 a.m. The College of Education and Psychology honors its graduates at 1 p.m., as does the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The College of Arts and Sciences rounds out the series at 4 p.m. Kilgore College and Trinity Valley Community College held their ceremonies for Friday.

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HAWKINS -- Jarvis Christian College President Dr. Sebetha Jenkins has announced her retirement, effective December 31. Jenkins, Jarvis's tenth president, has headed the Hawkins school since January 1991. She says she'll miss her job and is offering her thanks to alumni and trustees for their support. Board of Trustees Chairman James Atkinson says Jarvis has exhibited noteworthy growth, development, and stability during Jenkins's tenure. Atkinson will head the search committee for a new chief executive. Jenkins has been granted a sabbatical effective August 1 to plan for her new status. A college news release says she'll be available to ensure a smooth transition to the new leadership.

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TYLER -- Brookshire Grocery Company has donated some $30,000 in grocery products to the East Texas Food Bank to kick off today’s National Association of Letter Carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. Brookshire’s also donated thousands of grocery bags that letter carriers delivered to area households on Thursday. Residents are asked to place non-perishable foods -- such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal -- in those bags or others, and place them next to mailboxes today, to be picked up by letter carriers. Food items should be in non-breakable containers. Food Bank director Robert Bush encourages everyone to donate. He says the cost of food is up, so the food drive comes at a critical time.

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TYLER -- The City of Tyler Neighborhood Services Department held an open house Friday to celebrate the grand opening of its new location at Gentry and Palace. Neighborhood residents were invited to visit the new location, enjoy lunch, and learn more about the myriad of services offered by the department. The event also featured an inflatable castle for the kids, as well as an art show displaying works by area youth. The open house was preceded by a ribbon cutting. The new location is the former Regions Bank building. City staffers say the building has been renovated for the reuse and demonstrates a commitment toward reinvesting in the neighborhood. You can log onto http://www.cityoftyler.org to learn more.

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CRAWFORD (AP) - President Bush will be celebrating what he calls the "joyous occasion" of his daughter Jenna's wedding to Henry Hager this evening at the family ranch in Crawford. In his weekend radio address, Bush says it's a "special time" for his wife, as she watches her daughter walk down the aisle on Mother's Day weekend. More than 200 Bush family and friends are in Texas for the private ceremony.

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HOUSTON (AP) - A federal district judge has determined that a woman who says she was raped by co-workers while employed by a Halliburton Co. subsidiary in Iraq in 2005 can take her claims to trial. Washington-based attorney Stephanie Morris said her client, Jamie Leigh Jones, is pleased that she will have the opportunity to bring attention to the case.

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DALLAS (AP) - The Justice Department is monitoring today's municipal elections in Irving and Farmers Branch -- two Dallas suburbs that have drawn attention in the illegal immigration debate. The department is designed to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act. Dallas County is obligated to provide all election information, ballots and voting assistance in Spanish and English in accordance with the act.

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HOUSTON (AP) - A prosecutor in Houston quit just weeks after losing her GOP bid to replace embattled Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal. Rosenthal earlier resigned over an e-mail scandal. Kelly Siegler submitted her resignation letter to interim District Attorney Ken Magidson.

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Another soldier from Fort Hood has been killed in an attack in Iraq. The Defense Department says 21-year-old Specialist Alex D. Gonzalez of Mission died on Tuesday in Mosul. The DOD says Gonzalez succumbed to wounds suffered in a small arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

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DAISETTA (AP) - A state disaster declaration will be sought over a massive sinkhole threatening the town of Daisetta. Mayor Lynn Wells, whose house is about 300 yards from the opening, said he and Liberty County officials met yesterday and decided to seek state help. Wells also told The Associated Press that the sinkhole was stable most of the day.

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FREDERICKSBURG (AP) - A Texas museum devoted to telling the story of Pacific battles during World War II is about to get a lot bigger. Governor Rick Perry joined museum leaders in Fredericksburg to break ground for the 40,000-square-foot expansion of the National Museum of the Pacific War. The addition will triple the size of the museum. Completion is scheduled for December 2009.

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