Texas, Beaumont | featured news

Cindi Gipson wiped away tears as she looked down at a makeshift memorial for Madalyn "Gracie" Griffin on Monday morning.
A red, heart-shaped balloon with the words "I Love You" danced in the wind as Gipson sidestepped crash debris that still littered the ground.
"It's heartbreaking," said Gipson, whose son was friends with Griffin.

The City of Port Arthur is facing its fourth lawsuit related to officers involved in a 2015 investigation of a missing person's disappearance.

A Groves man was arrested after allegedly stealing a car and leading officers on a 6-mile chase, Beaumont Police said.

In the kitchen of his Hardin County home, Perry Viator filled and heated small bottles, while 6-month-old Hannah and Lucy hopped back and forth through the living room, their long tails sliding across the carpet behind them.
He bent down to feed them the mixture of "Wombaroo" milk, scooping up Hannah and placing in her in a fleece-lined totebag, where she happily settled in, her ears and noes poking out above the opening.

Two men were arrested in Beaumont last night and charged with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, BPD said.

Less than 24 hours after learning they'll share a home court and high school campus next season, Central and Ozen students and fans filled the Central gym Friday night, cheering their basketball teams on in a hometown rivalry game.
This season will be the last for the Panthers and Jaguars to meet, after Beaumont ISD's board of managers voted Thursday to consolidate the two high schools next school year.

Holidays, afternoons, weekends and vacation time could be wiped from school calendars this spring as Southeast Texas districts scramble to make up for lost time after flooding, snow and most recently ice took away days in the classroom.
Local schools were closed for at least two weeks in August and September after Tropical Storm Harvey hit. Althought the Texas Education Agency approved waivers for some missed days, districts had to find a way to make up some of the lost minutes.

Marchers chanted as they made their way up Calder Avenue during the Women's March hosted by Golden Triangle Indivisible in Beaumont Saturday. The event is one of many taking place throughout the nation, following in the footsteps of last year's marches. The march aims to unite the community in support of women's rights and equality. Saturday's event started outside Betty Smith's Studio and proceeded up the road to Fourth and down to Eleventh before ending back at the studio. Participants were also encouraged to register to vote and were given information on regional candidates.