http://www.seminolesentinel.com Get the latest local news coverage. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227838-Senate-panel-approves-immigration-bill http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227838-Senate-panel-approves-immigration-bill Far-reaching legislation that grants a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227720-Mom-talks-about-missing-cheerleader-found-dead http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227720-Mom-talks-about-missing-cheerleader-found-dead The mother of a 13-year-old West Texas cheerleader found dead in March said Tuesday that since her daughter went missing more than two years ago she had feared the worst, including that the girl was chained and tortured or had fallen victim to traffickers http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227596-Teachers-credited-with-saving-students-in-Okla http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227596-Teachers-credited-with-saving-students-in-Okla The principal's voice came on over the intercom at Plaza Towers Elementary School: A severe storm was approaching and students were to go to the cafeteria and wait for their parents to pick them up. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227479-Okla-residents-come-home-to-pick-up-the-pieces http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227479-Okla-residents-come-home-to-pick-up-the-pieces With her son holding her elbow, Colleen Arvin walked up her driveway to what was left of her house for 40 years. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227405-Safety-Board-ATF-blocking-plant-blast-probe http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227405-Safety-Board-ATF-blocking-plant-blast-probe Federal agents and the state fire marshal have effectively barred a federal safety panel from the site of a Texas fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people and injured about 200 others http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227305-Search-for-Okla-tornado-survivors-nearly-complete http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227305-Search-for-Okla-tornado-survivors-nearly-complete Helmeted rescue workers raced Tuesday to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of 9 children. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369141929-WCS-Secures-Contract-with-Dept-of-Energy http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369141929-WCS-Secures-Contract-with-Dept-of-Energy A contract with the U.S. Department of Energy was recently secured by Waste Control Specialists that will enable the company to bid on contracts throughout the DOE complex. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369141737-Lizard-Protection-Bill-Caught-in-Oil-Politics http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369141737-Lizard-Protection-Bill-Caught-in-Oil-Politics Texas Comptroller Susan Combs and major oil and gas interests are fighting hard to stop reforms of the species protection program that was used in the oil-rich Permian Basin to keep the feds from listing a lizard as endangered, several top Republicans say http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227904-Huge-tornado-hits-Oklahoma-City-suburb-kills- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369227904-Huge-tornado-hits-Oklahoma-City-suburb-kills- A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow... http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369138761-Seminole-OAP-Earns-A-State-RunnerUp-Honors http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369138761-Seminole-OAP-Earns-A-State-RunnerUp-Honors The elusive University Interscholastic League's Class 3A State One-Ace Championship once again found itself just out of the grips of the Seminole High School's theatre department. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369078333-Matters-of-Record--May-- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369078333-Matters-of-Record--May-- The following are police incident reports as released by Gaines County's law enforcement agencies through a standing open records request. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369066538-New-Physician-to-Join-Seminole-Hospital-District http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369066538-New-Physician-to-Join-Seminole-Hospital-District A new medical doctor will join the ranks of the Seminole Hospital District later this calender year, according to sources associated with the local medical district. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369063416-Seagraves-ISD-to-Hold--Graduation-Exercises-Sunday-PM http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369063416-Seagraves-ISD-to-Hold--Graduation-Exercises-Sunday-PM The Seagraves High School graduating Class of 2013 will be the first of Gaines County's three public high school classes to receive their diplomas, as commencement exercises for the 34 graduate candidates will be held this coming Sunday afternoon. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369060348-Gaines-Jobless-Rate-Rises-Slightly-to--Pct-in-April http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369060348-Gaines-Jobless-Rate-Rises-Slightly-to--Pct-in-April Gaines County's April jobless rate rose slightly -- by one-tenth of a percentage point -- when compared to one month prior, according to information released last week by officials with the Texas Workforce Commission. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369140457-Hospital-Bond-Election-Results-to-be-Canvassed-Thursday http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369140457-Hospital-Bond-Election-Results-to-be-Canvassed-Thursday Almost two weeks removed from their narrow victory at the election polls for the passage of a $48.5 million general obligation bond request, members of the Seminole Hospital District will officially canvass the votes of the May 11 general election. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369057032-Seminole-ISD-Trustees-Canvass-May--Election-Results http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369057032-Seminole-ISD-Trustees-Canvass-May--Election-Results Trustees with the Seminole Independent School District's Board of Directors unanimously approved of the May 11 general election results in a canvass of votes conducted in a special meeting held Friday morning. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369140654-Hospital-Board-to-Consider-Place--Appointment-Thursday http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369140654-Hospital-Board-to-Consider-Place--Appointment-Thursday For 82 days, the Place 2 seat upon the Seminole Hospital District's Board of Directors panel has been vacant. On Monday evening, SHD officials could consider the appointment of a representative to the seat, according to an agenda obtained by the Sentinel. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369055266-Texas-Capital-Highlights--May-- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369055266-Texas-Capital-Highlights--May-- With 10 days to go until the end of the 140-day 83rd regular session of the Texas Legislature, a committee of House and Senate negotiators on May 17 agreed on a proposed state budget for fiscal years 2014 and 2015. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054716-Texas-bill-would-drastically-revamp-water-agency- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054716-Texas-bill-would-drastically-revamp-water-agency- New revisions to a major water bill calls for ousting the six-member Texas Water Development Board and its top official before the state embarks on a new $2 billion fund to provide low-interest loans for projects. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054636-Hundreds-remember-Hailey-Dunn-in-Sunday-Memorial http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054636-Hundreds-remember-Hailey-Dunn-in-Sunday-Memorial Hailey Darlene Dunn was a cheerleader, saxophonist, on the softball and basketball teams, a doer and a leader. But it all ended mysteriously in December 2010 when the 13-year-old WestTexas girl disappeared. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054462-Cartel-towns-pose-challenge-for-immigration-reform http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054462-Cartel-towns-pose-challenge-for-immigration-reform Just across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, stands a dormitory-style shelter filled with people recently deported from the U.S. and other migrants waiting to cross the border. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054337-Up-to--injured-after-car-drives-into-Va-parade http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054337-Up-to--injured-after-car-drives-into-Va-parade An elderly driver plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Saturday parade in a small Virginia mountain town and investigators were looking into whether he suffered a medical emergency before the accident. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054268-What-do-we-eat-New-food-map-will-tell-us http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054268-What-do-we-eat-New-food-map-will-tell-us Do your kids love chocolate milk? It may have more calories on average than you thought. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054109-Tornadoes-slam-Plains-Midwest--dead-in-Okla http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369054109-Tornadoes-slam-Plains-Midwest--dead-in-Okla Hearing on the radio that a violent storm was approaching her rural Oklahoma neighborhood, Lindsay Carter took advantage of the advanced warning, gathered her belongings and fled. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368801210-Gaines-County-Public-Records--May-- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368801210-Gaines-County-Public-Records--May-- The following are public records as obtained by the Seminole Sentinel through requests to the Gaines County Clerk's and 106th District Clerk's offices. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368796248-Matters-of-Record--May-- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368796248-Matters-of-Record--May-- The following are police incident reports, as released by Gaines County's law enforcement agencies. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368793384-Authorities-Crime-not-ruled-out-in-Texas-blast- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368793384-Authorities-Crime-not-ruled-out-in-Texas-blast- One month after a fire triggered a massive blast killing 15 people, officials on Thursday had to declare the cause of the blaze as "undetermined." http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369012415-Former-West-Texas-mayor-admits-stealing-K http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1369012415-Former-West-Texas-mayor-admits-stealing-K The former mayor of a tiny West Texas town has pleaded guilty to stealing about $100,000 from the town treasury. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368793234-Texas-tornado-devastation-includes-Habitat-homes http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368793234-Texas-tornado-devastation-includes-Habitat-homes Habitat for Humanity spent years in a North Texas subdivision, helping build many of the 110 homes in the low-income area. But its work was largely undone during an outbreak of 16 tornadoes Wednesday night that killed six people and injured dozens. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368793077-Latest-Texas-budget-offer-B-back-to-classrooms http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368793077-Latest-Texas-budget-offer-B-back-to-classrooms A breakthrough on a new Texas budget could be for real this time. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368793006-ExLubbock-banker-who-embezzled-gets--years- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368793006-ExLubbock-banker-who-embezzled-gets--years- A now-former West Texas banker who embezzled about $385,000 from customers has been sentenced to more than three years in prison. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368801349-Oil-falls-below--a-barrel-amid-high-supplies http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368801349-Oil-falls-below--a-barrel-amid-high-supplies The price of oil slipped below $94 a barrel Thursday as traders digested discouraging economic data from the United States and Europe and U.S. oil supplies remained high. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368792727-Mom-in-NM-chases-down-child-abductor-man-arrested http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368792727-Mom-in-NM-chases-down-child-abductor-man-arrested A mother whose 4-year-old was being abducted chased the suspect down and crashed her vehicle into his car, triggering a manhunt and the arrest of the suspect, Albuquerque police said Thursday. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368728588-International-Migration-is-Projected-Primary-Driver-of-US-Population http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368728588-International-Migration-is-Projected-Primary-Driver-of-US-Population International migration is projected to surpass natural increase (births minus deaths) as the principal driver of U.S. population growth by the middle of this century, according to three new series of population projections released by the U.S. Census. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368721280-US-House-Committee-Approves--Year--Billion-Farm-Bill http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368721280-US-House-Committee-Approves--Year--Billion-Farm-Bill A Republican-controlled panel in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the biggest cuts in food stamps for the poor in a generation and a potentially expensive expansion of federally subsidized crop insurance. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368717898-GC-Library-Gears-Up-for-Annual-Summer-Reading-Program http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368717898-GC-Library-Gears-Up-for-Annual-Summer-Reading-Program It’s time for Gaines County Library System’s Annual Summer Reading Program. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368717265-Xcel-seeks-increase-in-fuel-cost-collections-from-Texas-customers http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368717265-Xcel-seeks-increase-in-fuel-cost-collections-from-Texas-customers Earlier this week, officials with Xcel Energy filed a proposal with the Public Utility Commission of Texas to increase its fuel cost factors to reflect higher prices for fuel http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368924994-Natural-gas-export-plans-stir-debate- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368924994-Natural-gas-export-plans-stir-debate- A domestic natural gas boom already has lowered U.S. energy prices while stoking fears of environmental disaster. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368714797-Tougher-drunken-driving-threshold-recommended http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368714797-Tougher-drunken-driving-threshold-recommended States should cut their threshold for drunken driving by nearly half -- from .08 blood alcohol level to .05 -- matching a standard that has substantially reduced highway deaths in other countries, a federal safety board recommended Tuesday. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368714504-Seminole-HS-OAP-to-Participate-in-State-Performance-Monday http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368714504-Seminole-HS-OAP-to-Participate-in-State-Performance-Monday For the fourth straight year, and 13th time in program history, the Seminole High School's Theatre Dept. will be searching for the school's first ever State One-Act Play title on Monday. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708711-Texas-House-defeats-term-limits-referendum http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708711-Texas-House-defeats-term-limits-referendum A proposed constitutional amendment that would have let voters decide whether to limit statewide officeholders to two consecutive terms ran into a buzz saw in the Texas House late Wednesday http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708602-Officials-to-give-Texas-explosion-probe-results http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708602-Officials-to-give-Texas-explosion-probe-results Federal and state officials say they're poised to announce findings of their investigation into a deadly Texas fertilizer plant explosion that killed at least 14 people. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708514-Most-people-accounted-for-after-Granbury-twister http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708514-Most-people-accounted-for-after-Granbury-twister A leader of a North Texas city devastated by a tornado that left six people dead thinks most missing residents have been located. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708443-Oil-falls-below--on-Europe-US-economic-news http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708443-Oil-falls-below--on-Europe-US-economic-news The price of oil fell below $93 on Wednesday after disappointing economic reports from Europe and the U.S. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708347-ExEMT-in-Texas-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708347-ExEMT-in-Texas-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges A first responder who helped evacuate people ahead of a deadly explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge he possessed bomb-making materials. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708275-No-Powerball-winner-jackpot-soars-to--million http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708275-No-Powerball-winner-jackpot-soars-to--million So you didn't win Wednesday's $360 million Powerball jackpot? Make that you and everyone else. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708159-Comparing-Senate-and-House-farm-bills- http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368708159-Comparing-Senate-and-House-farm-bills- The Senate and House agriculture committees approved separate versions of the farm bill this week, and the full Senate is expected to take up the bill next week. A look at some similarities and differences between the two versions of the legislation: http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368707788--Confirmed-Dead-in-CenTex-Tornado-Outbreak http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368707788--Confirmed-Dead-in-CenTex-Tornado-Outbreak A rash of tornados slammed into several small communities in North Texas overnight, leaving at least six people dead, dozens more injured and hundreds homeless. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368625521-TxDOT-Launches-Annual-Click-It-or-Ticket-Campaign http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368625521-TxDOT-Launches-Annual-Click-It-or-Ticket-Campaign Earlier this month, Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT) officials launched their annual Click It or Ticket campaign. http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368625011-Brace-Yourselves-Hotter-Weather-is-Coming-into-West-Texas-Region http://www.seminolesentinel.com/news_article.php?link=1368625011-Brace-Yourselves-Hotter-Weather-is-Coming-into-West-Texas-Region Temperatures will be much warmer today (Wednesday), as an upper level ridging begins to build into the West Texas region, according forecast models from the National Weather Service.