J.W.’s News Update: Thursday August 4, 2011

Good Thursday, Here are some stories making headlines today:

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Texarkana currently has some of the highest priced gasoline on average in the state of Texas. Triple A Texas reports Texarkana, Dallas, and Fort Worth have the highest gas prices at $3.63 a gallon compared to the lowest in El Paso at $3.54 a gallon. Overall gas prices have dropped by 1 penny over the last week in Texas. The association says uncertainty over global debt has affected crude prices in recent weeks.

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Arkansas Lottery officials say players have been on a roll this week. A Little Rock man won $100,000 and another man won $15,000. Meanwhile 21 other players won large prizes totaling $100,000.

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Mortgage rates continue to fall. Freddie Mac says the rate for the popular refinancing rate on a 15 year fixed mortgage has fallen to its lowest level in decades at 3.54%. The average on a 30 year fixed loan also fell to 4.39%.

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The Wilbur Smith Rotary Club along with the United Way of Texarkana will be "Stuffing The Bus" Saturday, August 6th at Walgreens at the corner of Stateline and Texas Blvd. from 10am-2pm. Donations of school supplies and monies will be accepted to help give needed school supplies to area schools. And thanks to METRO PCS, 200 area children will have new backpacks.

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In Sports:

Former NFL player turned actor Bubba Smith has died at the age of 66. Smith spent nine season in the league with the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, and  the Houston Oilers. As an actor Smith the Beaumont, Texas native wast most well-known for playing a police officer in the Police Academy series of movies back in the 1980's.

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