January 5, 2017 LUFKIN – TxDOT contractors are in full swing on many projects throughout the nine-county Lufkin District, as weather allows. Motorists are advised to travel through work zones with caution, reduce speed and obey all signage and/or flaggers as work continues on many maintenance and construction projects in the coming week. Delays should always be expected when traveling near work crews or heavy equipment.

From left: Sharon Rafferty, Bill Rafferty holding Ava Rafferty, Larry Kay, Matthew Rafferty, Judge LeAnn Kay Rafferty, Amanda Kay holding Lila Rafferty, Billie Jean Kay, Father Tom Rafferty, Liz Rafferty, and Robert Rafferty.

January 2, 2017 - Weather Stats for December 2016 prepared and submitted by Ann Forbes, U.S. Weather Service Observer.

Highest Temp was 80 degrees on 12-26-2016
Highest Temp on Record was 84 degrees on 12-06-1956
Lowest Temp was 24 degrees on 12-19-2016
Lowest Temp on Record was 02 degrees on 12-24-1989

Rainfall Recorded was 5.25 inches
Average Monthly Rainfall is 5.43 inches
Below Average by 0.18 inches
Highest Recorded for this Month was 14.23 inches in 2002
Lowest Recorded for th is Month was 0.87 inches in 1980

January 1, 2017 - AUSTIN – A federal court yesterday granted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the Obama administration’s new federal health rules from forcing doctors to act contrary to their medical judgment or religious beliefs. The law, scheduled to take effect today, would force the Employees Retirement System of Texas to amend its insurance coverage for all 500,000 participants to provide for gender reassignment and abortion.