News

Council backs $98,000 bond consultant linked to voided election

Beaumont Mayor Roy West tilted the scales of a City Council tie vote, electing to once again hire Gap Strategies to provide consulting services at a cost of nearly $100,000 during the elected officials’ Sept. 2 meeting.

Setting the record straight: Free lunch expansion to benefit SETX school districts

Contrary to false reports in other local media outlets, not all Texas students will be receiving free lunch starting Sept. 1.

Seven years after first suspected, Beaumont police jail alleged serial rapist

Beaumont resident Eric J. Gipson Sr., 40, was indicted Aug. 21 by a Jefferson County grand jury on four felony sex charges stemming from crimes reported from 2018 through 2024.

Park reopens as shell of former self, city wants another $12.5M

Boasting bathrooms, a walk-down amphitheater, children’s playground and covered benches for community gatherings, downtown Beaumont’s local Riverfront Park was a sight to see before it was shut down in 2017 due to flooding from Hurricane Harvey.

Judge Stevens sentences woman to 5 years for assaulting nurse

Today Criminal District Court Judge John B. Stevens sentenced 33-year-old Jena Horn to five years in prison for assaulting a registered nurse at Baptist Hospital.  Horn assaulted the nurse with her fists back in February while she was trying to render medical care to Horn as a patient.

Council rejects ordinance on child custody interference penalties

After months of discussion and a passionate public plea Aug. 5, the Beaumont City Council ultimately voted to deny an ordinance that would have imposed civil penalties on individuals found to be interfering with child custody orders.

Beaumont fundraising continues with proposed added taxing

Taking a cue from major metro areas like Houston, the city of Beaumont is proposing to expand its Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) rate for overnight visitors to the city.

‘Love thy neighbor:’ Shared area code unites community for disaster relief

She had long suspected it, but Jesi Jones was left with zero doubt that Southeast Texans are generous to an immeasurable degree as she reflected on the full-fledged support shown for the “409 Cares” initiative that culminated in roughly $300,000 raised for disaster relief this past week.