J.W.’s News Update-Thursday March 31, 2011

Good Thursday-Here are some stories making headlines today:

Pleasant Grove Road in Texarkana,  Texas is closed today from north of Oak Creek Road to around 1,000 feet south of Cooper Lane.  The Texas-side engineering department says pipe is being laid across the roadway in conjunction with the extension of Gibson Lane west of University Avenue.

Thru traffic is being detoured around Cooper Lane to North Kings Highway or through University Avenue. Work should be complete and roadway completely re-opened by 5 pm today.

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Despite complaints about the taste and color, Texarkana officials say the city's water is safe to drink. Officials are blaming the problem on algae in Wright Lake Patman in Northeast Texas . They're making changes to get water from Millwood Lake in Southwest Arkansas. They say currently algae is not a problem at Millwood.   

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Texarkana Texas Ward 4  Council member Bob Bruggeman is hosting a Town Hall meeting this evening at 6:30pm inside the Dan Haskins Student Center of Texas High School at 2112 Kennedy Lane.

Mr. Bruggeman will give a brief update on topics of interest to Ward 4 residents, but all Texas side residents are invited to attend. There will be an opportunity for citizens to discuss any issues or concerns they may have with Council member Bruggeman and other city leaders who may be present.

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An Arkansas State Senate panel has rejected a bill that would have allowed the Bible to be taught in public high schools in Arkansas. The Senate Education Committee rejected the proposal by Republican Representative Denny Altes of Fort Smith on  a voice vote.

Altes bill would have allowed districts to create elective, nonreligious courses on the Bible as literature. The bill did not provide for other religious doctrine to be explored in class. The Arkansas State House had approved Altes proposal last week.

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Take me out to the ball park.........  Yes Major League Baseball begins its 2011 Regular Season with 6 games on tap across the country weather permitting. Cold temperatures with rain and snow may wash out some of the games scheduled. The defending American League Champion Texas Rangers are slated to begin defense of their title starting tommorrow with a season opening series against the Boston Red Sox at the Ball Park at Arlington.