On May 16, I met with Brad Morin to discuss my opinion article on his mailer. It was a constructive meeting.

While Mr. Morin did not dispute the numbers I reported from the Texas Office of Court Administration website. He pointed out that the numbers were only for 2011. He felt that I should have looked at the data from 2009 through 2012.

I said that I agreed that it would be good to review data for a longer period of time but I thought that the data should be weighted toward the present since there is a start up time for any job  particularly since the Judge and the District Clerk were new to the job in 2009.

We agreed to disagree on this point.

Since that meeting I have taken another look at the data  in particular at a longer reporting period.

I used the same source: the Texas Office of Court Administration -- District Court Performance Measures - Clearance Rate and Backlog Index from September 1, 2010 to April 30, 2012. This is the longest time period that is available on the website since the categories changed in 2010.

This is what I found:

Occupy Wall Street is not known for the precision of its economic analysis, but new research on income distribution in the United States shows that the group's sloganeering provides a stunningly accurate picture of the economy. In 2010, according to a study published this month by University of California economist Emmanuel Saez, 93 percent of income growth went to the wealthiest 1 percent of American households, while everyone else divvied up the 7 percent that was left over. Put another way: The most fundamental characteristic of the U.S. economy today is the divide between the 1 percent and the 99 percent.

It was not ever thus. In the recovery that followed the downturn of the early 1990s, the wealthiest 1 percent captured 45 percent of the nation's income growth. In the recovery that followed the dot-com bust 10 years ago, Saez noted, 65 percent of the income growth went to the top 1 percent. This time around, it's reached 93 percent - a level so high it shakes the foundations of the entire American project.

Rafael, who hails from the town of Golden, near Tyler, is a student at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, home of many famous alumni, including Quincy Jones and Dave Mayer.

In 2011, prior to starting school in Boston, Rafael travelled to Linden to see Marshall's legendary Omar Sharriff perform at the T-Bone Walker Blues Festival. Amazed with the performance, Rafael subsequently attended another Sharriff performance at the OS2, and was invited to sit in. Mr. Sharriff was impressed with Rafaels guitar talent, and so were the guests.

Now on a break from his college studies and back home in Golden, Rafael said he was excited for the opportunity to perform on the Telegraph Stage. "It's great to bring my Texas blues back to Texas," he said. "And it's an honor to perform in the birthplace of boogie woogie."

Boogie Woogie program co-director Nancy Canson called Rafael "a wonderful talent and a great kid."

After reviewing all of the sample ballots in both the Democratic and Republican primaries, I see no reason to vote in the Democratic primary unless you are a candidate running in the Democratic primary.

Over the past couple of years people thinking about running for office have looked in the mirror and seem a big letter stamped on their forehead. No the letter was not R; it was E  for "Electability".

Data shows that it is almost impossible the be elected to office in Harrison County if you are running as Democrat so almost everyone seeking office has switched to the Republican party. They may say the switch was made for more lofty reasons. That may be true but there was also a practical reason  they want to get elected.

This has put the voter in an interesting position.

Since almost no position in the Democratic primary are contested, and almost all in the Republican primary are being contested, a voter can use their vote more effectively by voting in the Republican primary.

Take a look at the pictures from Saturday.

Remember to tag the photos with the names of people in the picture. This is a new feature on ETT. Now your friends will be able to find your pictures on the internet. click here to learn how to tag photos

Prior to R.D. Moses passing in 2009, he established and endowed a Family Trust to ensure that his T & P Railway would continue in existence, stipulating that the layout be donated to a worthy, non-profit organization that would continue to maintain and operate the layout for years to come. After several months of consideration of proposals from New York to California, the Moses Family Trust chose Jefferson as the best location and new home for the R.D. Moses T & P Model Railroad.

Last weekend a friend said, "Boy! Brad Morin really nailed the judge."

I asked him what he was talking about. He said that he had received a mailer from Mr. Morin.

I did not receive the mailer but told him I would like to see the document.

Had I known what I know now I would have said, "the document is full of misinformation and contains statements that are inconsistent with data that is available from the state."

Over the next few days I will cover several components of the document but let me start with this:

TOKYO  Bass player and songwriter Donald "Duck" Dunn, a member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame band Booker T. and the MGs and the Blues Brothers band, has died in Tokyo. He was 70.

Dunn was in Tokyo for a series of shows. News of his death was posted on the Facebook site of his friend and fellow musician Steve Cropper, who was on the same tour. Cropper said Dunn died in his sleep.

Miho Harasawa, a spokeswoman for Tokyo Blue Note, the last venue Dunn played, confirmed he died alone early Sunday. She had no further details.

Dunn, who was born in Memphis in 1941, performed on recordings with Eric Clapton, Neil Young and many others, and specialized in blues, gospel and soul. He played himself in the 1980 hit movie The Blues Brothers.

He received a lifetime achievement Grammy award in 2007 for his work with Booker T. and the MGs.

Take a look at the pictures from Saturday.

Remember to tag the photos with the names of people in the picture. This is a new feature on ETT. Now your friends will be able to find your pictures on the internet. click here to learn how to tag photos

IVOR, Va. (WTKR)  Two letter carriers are taking action against what they call a hostile working environment. They say they are forced to deliver packages to unclothed customers.

It's a culture clash between those who enjoy being naked and workers who don't want to see their nakedness.

Letter carriers are a devoted bunch. They live by the pledge "neither rain, snow, nor gloom of night would deter it's couriers from their appointed rounds."

Darden Gillette says he is willing to deal with natures weather, but not unclothed customers who greet him up-close and butt naked.

The 'in your face' nudity happens at White Tail Resort  a family nudist community in Ivor, Virginia.

Letter carriers Darden Gillette and Yoder Starr think its crazy talk to expect them to encounter nudity while on the job. The federal workers are fed up and went to a law office to file a complaint to make it stop.

"We are alleging this has created a hostile working environment for themworking conditions no one should be subjected to," says Attorney Neil Bonney who represents the workers.

"I've been married 38 years this year and until I went into that park, I had never seen another man nude except for my husband," says Star.

TYLER - Special Wish Child, Inc. was formed in 1987 as a community service project of the Tyler Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors to provide wishes to terminally ill or permanently disabled children in the East Texas Area. Funds to provide the "Special Wishes" were to be raised through an annual golf tournament. In 2005, the East Texas Association of Health Underwriters joined TAIFA in presenting the tournament.

The Special Wish Child, Inc. Board and Tournament Committee is comprised of 100% Volunteers of professionals from the insurance and financial organizations as well as other community leaders such as doctors and CPAs, so all of the money raised goes to grant the wishes of the children. During the past twenty years, over eighty children and their families have benefited from having their wishes grantedplus Special Wish Child, Inc. has provided equipment to St. Louis School for a new therapy center to benefit all the students who attend the school.

Wishes range from trips to Disney World, Branson, MO, NASCAR races, Six Flags and Sea World, to a therapy horse, birthday parties and shopping sprees. Special Wish Child, Inc. is also able to provide equipment to children to make everyday living easier. Some children have requested items such as a PowerLink 3 switch to enable a child to turn a TV or light on and off without assistance using the head, special chairs and therapy gyms have also been given.

Take a look at the pictures from Saturday.

Remember to tag the photos with the names of people in the picture. This is a new feature on ETT. Now your friends will be able to find your pictures on the internet. click here to learn how to tag photos

Sheriff McCool stresses that this is not the end of this investigation and other previously interviewed persons of interest will be re-interviewed. Names ofother people who may be involved in this investigation will not be released until this investigation is complete.

Due to the nature of this investigation, there will not be any other informationreleased at this time. Sheriff Tom McCooland District Attorney Coke Solomon will continue to update any information whenit becomes available.

The victim was transported to Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview whereshe was pronounced deceased by the emergency room physician.

A review of the city's audit reports show that the city did not do well financially during Buddy Power's time as Mayor. The city finances in 2007 and 2008 were solid. Things again to slide in 2009 and in 2010 they went over the cliff. In 2010 the General fund lost almost a million dollars.

"General Government" a contributor to General Fund expenditures shows an increase each year  particularly in 2009 and 2010.

The 2010 lose came when after an inter-account transfer of more than $1 million dollars from the Utilities account.

TYLER - On Friday, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Special Wish Child, Inc., Samsung will donate $40,000 to help grant the wishes of 25 local children in need. Items to be purchased with Samsung's monetary donation include some of the following items: therapy equipment, patient lift, sensory toys, medical strollers, medical beds, computers, tablets and a wheelchair lift. In addition to medical equipment, children will also receive wishes such as a Trip to Disneyland, bedroom makeover, horseback riding therapy, shopping spree, tickets to Six Flags theme park and attend a country music concert.

"Without the generous donations from Samsung, we would not have been able to provide Ava with the medical devices she needs to function on a daily basis, and we thank Samsung and Special Wish from the bottom of our hearts to make this wish come true for our child," said Katelyn Pilgram, parent of Ave Pilgram- Brown, Special Wish donation recipient.

"We are honored to collaborate with Special Wish Child, Inc. and to help them grant the wishes of 25 East Texas children in need," said Grace Lee, PR Manager on behalf of Samsung. "Samsung learned about these families who live in challenging circumstances through Special Wish and we are dedicated to providing developmental tools to assist in their future educational and personal development."

Positive identification through forensic fingerprints confirmed the body to be that of Ms. Rivers. The clothing that was found at the location was similar to the clothing that was listed in the missing persons report. The cause of death has been ruled a homicide.

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Harrison County 911 dispatchers received a call at 10:30 AM on April 30, 2012 regarding the discovery of a deceased person on Marks Hill Rd. and Frierson Rd in Marshall, Texas. When Deputies arrived they were met by the witness who stated she was looking for plum trees and smelled a strong odor in the area. Deputies were unable to identify the body due to advanced decomposition of the body.

Judge Kent Alford pronounced the body as deceased and ordered an autopsy to determine the identity and cause of death. The body was removed to Forensic Services in Tyler.

Sheriffs Investigators and Marshall Police are reviewing all missing person records to aid in identifying this body.

If any person has information to add to this incident they are encouraged to contact the Harrison County Sheriffs Office Investigation Section at 903-923-4000.

Jay Webb -- AdministrativeDeputy

An on going investigation revealed that an individual who sexually solicited someone whom the individual believed to be a 14-year old female in an internet chat room. The individual was later identified as Raymond Earl Cooper. Cooper is currently employed as the pastor of the 1st Church of the Nazarene located inside the city limits of Marshall, Texas.

Raymond Earl Cooper, DOB 12/24/1969 was arrested for Online Solicitation of a Minor which is 3rd Degree Felony.