TYLER, Texas (East Texas News) – East Texas has not escaped the recent economic slowdown, according to economist Dr. Ray Perryman, who unveiled his latest forecast to civic and business leaders on Thursday.

A native of Lindale and often regarded as the state’s unofficial economist, Perryman spoke to a crowd at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center about the economy’s strengths and its challenges.

Perryman stated that many construction projects across the state, including in East Texas, have stalled due to a shortage of workers.

“There are projects all over the state right now, even here in East Texas, construction is basically paralyzed because they can’t secure workers,” Perryman said.

He attributed the issue to tighter immigration policies, noting that the effects reach beyond sectors such as construction, agriculture, and hospitality.

“About 25% of doctors and health care professionals are immigrants. If you look at leading tech companies, half of the engineers with doctoral degrees are immigrants,” Perryman said. “In other words, this isn’t a problem of low skills. It affects all sectors because we’re simply not producing the same number of people we used to.”

Perryman pointed to a decline in birth rates since 2007, meaning fewer people enter the labor market. The challenge is compounded by an aging population and a large wave of retirements.

“The longest-running economic advantage Texas has is the fact that we have a large pool of young people at a moment when the nation will face a labor shortage,” Perryman said. “And the biggest challenge we face is making sure we educate that workforce and turn it into a productive labor force for the future.”

Perryman asserted that East Texas is well positioned for future growth.

“I believe a lot of this comes down to the resilience and diversity we’ve intentionally fostered in Tyler-Smith County and the way we build our economy,” said Scott Martinez, chief executive of the Tyler Economic Development Council. “Healthcare and education, historically, have been remarkably resilient and have kept their employment levels.”

While some believe that the emerging artificial intelligence will eliminate jobs, Perryman argued that history shows there can be short-term drawbacks but long-term gains. “There was a time when people said computers would replace all jobs. Then robotics. And later, the Internet,” Perryman noted. “We can even go back to the invention of the wheel 5,500 years ago. There has never been a major invention for which that forecast wasn’t made.”

Regarding tariffs, Perryman contended that Texas has borne the brunt, noting that whenever trade is disrupted, Texas pays a steep price.

He forecasts substantial growth for Texas over the coming five years, outpacing the rest of the country. He also projects expansion around Tyler, where the health care and social services sector is expected to generate the most jobs, with more than 3,500 new positions.

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According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the product may have become contaminated with a cooling liquid due to a leak in the equipment during the filling process.

Haleon, the maker of the medication, says there have been no reported poisoning cases related to this issue.

Gas-X Extra Strength Softgels, a medication designed to quickly relieve pressure, bloating, and discomfort caused by excess gas in the stomach and intestines, are distinguished by their green color and packaging that features a green stripe.

The recall affects only the following lots:

No other lots of Gas-X Extra Strength, Gas-X Ultra, Gas-X Maximum, or Gas-X Ultimate are affected by this recall.

If you have a Gas-X product included in the recall, stop using it immediately and contact Haleon’s Consumer Care team to request a refund.

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SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas — Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies arrested three people and seized a large cache of illegal drugs during a drug enforcement operation in Sulphur Springs, according to an announcement on Monday from the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office.

During a search of an apartment, officers recovered 309 grams of cocaine, more than 1,600 grams of THC vape cartridges, 73 grams of psilocybin, 15 pounds of marijuana, two AR-style platform rifles, a handgun, and more than $73,000 in cash, according to the sheriff’s office.

As of now, the identities of those arrested, the charges filed against them, and information about bail have not been released.

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JASPER COUNTY, Texas (East Texas News) – A pickup owner decided to take matters into his own hands to prevent the theft of his vehicle Tuesday morning in Jasper County.

Verónica Melvin, 31, of Bon Weir, is charged with robbery, possession of a controlled substance, and illegal possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to a sheriff’s office report, a deputy responded to a roadside altercation on U.S. 96 near County Road 907 involving Melvin and a man. Melvin left the scene, but was detained shortly afterward, the report states.

The report indicates that Melvin had stolen the pickup, but the owner climbed into the bed of the truck as she drove away. While they were traveling on U.S. 96, the owner managed to break the rear window and caused the pickup to leave the roadway and roll into a ditch. A rifle was found on the driver’s seat.

According to the report, Melvin asked the deputy if she could retrieve her Altoids from the passenger seat; the container contained a small bag of methamphetamine.

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ATHENS, Texas (East Texas News) – A woman from Athens accused in the death of her stepson after years of neglect appeared in court on Tuesday.

Shonna Pickle, 32, was arrested in May 2023 on charges of injury to a child after the death of her 10-year-old stepson who had nonverbal autism, in December 2022. An arrest affidavit revealed testimony from witnesses and video evidence showing Pickle verbally abused the boy, denied him water and medical care, and kept him locked in his room at night.

On Tuesday, the court announced that the trial is slated for 2027. Pickle, who remains free on bond, must address her medical issues.

Another pretrial hearing was scheduled for August 18.

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TYLER, Texas (EAST TEXAS NEWS) – A Tyler man who pleaded guilty to homicide by driving while intoxicated after a crash that killed his parents has returned to jail after Smith County prosecutors said he had violated the conditions of his probation.

Jose Luis Bravo Jr., 23, remains jailed without bond in the Smith County Jail on detainer warrants charging him with homicide by driving while intoxicated, according to jail records.

He was arrested on April 23 by the Smith County Adult Probation Office.

In a motion filed before the 7th District Court, Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman and a Smith County probation officer said Bravo Jr. had violated several terms of his ten-year probation which had been imposed as part of a suspended sentence.

The motion alleges Bravo Jr. drank and possessed alcohol on multiple occasions, did not submit to the requested drug tests, did not complete the two hours of monthly community service, did not attend a life-skills program, and did not comply with a home-based alcohol monitoring program.

The Smith County plaintiffs asked the court to revoke Bravo Jr.’s probation and mandate that he serve the original ten-year sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, according to the motion.

No date has been set yet for the hearing on the probation revocation, Putnam said on Tuesday.

Bravo Jr. pleaded guilty in June 2025 to homicide by driving while intoxicated in the crash that killed his parents, Jose Bravo Delgado and Santa Lucia Bravo.

Last year, District Judge Kerry Russell approved the plea deal, which included a 120-day jail term.

Testimony at the trial revealed that Bravo’s parents had been at a party and called Bravo because his sister was unavailable to drive them home. Bravo told them that he had also been drinking but believed he could drive them home.

While traveling southwest on FM 2767, Bravo asserted that he swerved to avoid a dog on the roadway, causing his vehicle to flip multiple times across several driveways before landing on its roof.

Neither of Bravo’s parents were wearing seat belts at the time.

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The sun hung low as Bad Bunny emerged from the sugar cane fields of Puerto Rico during his halftime show, surrounded by jíbaros wearing pavas (traditional straw hats), old men playing dominoes, and a piragua stand—shaved ice—undeniable symbols of Puerto Rico.

From a small Caribbean island with a complicated colonial history to the world stage: the artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, brought Puerto Rican culture to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, for his Super Bowl 60 halftime show, a moment that from the outset promised to be historic for Latinos.

He opened with his big reggaeton hits, “Tití Me Preguntó” giving way to “Yo Perreo Sola,” as he reappeared atop the little house that stood as his Puerto Rican residence. Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Karol G, Young Miko, Ronald Acuña Jr., Alix Earle, and Dave Grutman were invited to his marquee party, a house party vibe.

Then he punched through the roof of the house, briefly reviving “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee, a clear shout-out to the Puerto Rican artists who helped pave the way for trap to go global.

“My name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio,” he introduced himself to the crowd in Spanish. “And if I’m here today at Super Bowl 60, it’s because I never, ever stopped believing in myself, and you should believe in yourself too—you’re worth more than you think.”

The chords of his song “Monaco” rang out and then, a surprise: Lady Gaga stepped out at a wedding, singing her part of “Die with a Smile,” her collaboration with Bruno Mars, backed by a salsa band. Her dress featured a maga detail—the maga flower, Puerto Rico’s national blossom.

As they performed, the couple exchanged vows and Bad Bunny stood as a witness, signing the certificate.

He also found time for a wardrobe change, appearing in a white suit—classic for a salsa star—for “Baile Inolvidable” and “NuevaYol,” set against a neighborhood party stage where he toasted with Toñita, owner of one of the last Puerto Rican social clubs in New York City, the Caribbean Social Club in Brooklyn.

Ricky Martin, one of Puerto Rico’s greatest artists, performed “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,” a battle cry for Puerto Rican cultural autonomy amid a neo-colonial era. He sat in a plastic chair beside a banana tree; a scene drawn from the cover of Bad Bunny’s 2025 album “Debí tirar más fotos.”

Behind Martin, jíbaros with pavas climbed light poles that exploded, symbolic of Puerto Rico’s frequent blackouts and the faltering electricity grid. This gave way to an emotional rendition of “El apagón” from 2022, referencing Hurricane Maria, its aftermath, and the ongoing anger and frustration at chronic power outages.

Bad Bunny held a Puerto Rican flag in red, white, and light blue, a reflection of the Puerto Rican independence movement.

For about 13 minutes, in the Apple Music and Roc Nation–sponsored halftime show, all eyes on the field—and around the world—were on Benito.

Bad Bunny performed entirely in Spanish, since all his music is recorded in that language, though he has collaborated with English-speaking artists. The only English singing came from Gaga.

Although he did speak English at the show’s end when he said, “God Bless America,” and then named countries across the Americas: “Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil,” and so on, including the United States and Canada—a reminder that while “America” is often used as a stand-in for the United States, it really names an entire continent.

“And my homeland, Puerto Rico, we’re still here,” he said in Spanish.

Behind him, a screen read “The only thing more powerful than hate is love” in English, a direct nod to one of his recent Grammy speeches in 2026.

He closed with “DtMF” as he left the stadium, accompanied by musicians with güiros and tambourines.

For years, Bad Bunny has been one of the planet’s most-streamed artists. And on Sunday, he made clear that his global popularity translates effortlessly to America’s biggest stage. It wasn’t new to him, either. He had previously been a guest at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in 2020 alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. On that occasion, he sang in Spanish with two artists whose bilingual hits helped usher in an era when Latin music cracked US charts and beyond in the 2000s.

Consider the 2026 halftime performance the cherry on top of a watershed moment for the global superstar who, at 31, had spent only a decade earlier working in a supermarket in Puerto Rico.

Last week, he took home the Grammy for Album of the Year for Debí tirar más fotos, an album that fuses Puerto Rican folk traditions—bomba, plena, salsa, and jíbara music—with contemporary styles like reggaetón, trap, and pop. It marked the first time an album entirely in Spanish won the top prize.

As with most big-name halftime shows, details of Bad Bunny’s performance were kept under wraps in advance, though many speculated there would be some political moment. He has long been critical of President Donald Trump, and at the Grammys he said “ICE out” while accepting a televised award. His most recent tour also skipped the U.S. continental mainland; in an interview, he said the decision was partly due to fears that fans could be targeted by immigration agents.

In a Thursday press conference, Bad Bunny told Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden of Apple Music that audiences could expect a big party—and he joked that people didn’t need to learn Spanish to enjoy his set, but they should learn to dance.

“I want to bring to the stage, of course, a lot of my culture,” he said at the time. “I don’t want to give any spoilers. It’s going to be fun.”

And he delivered on that, with a message of hope and a reminder of Puerto Rico’s resilience.

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