Latest News
Texans can save money on tax-free purchases of most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — selling for less than $100 — during the Tax-Free weekend, a yearly event begun in 1999, the state comptroller’s office says. Qualifying items can be purchased...
Day in, day out for nearly a decade, volunteer drivers with Families to Freedom have shown up at hospitals, police stations and carefully arranged meeting spots to transport people escaping abuse. Sometimes the passenger is a woman carrying little more than a purse...
With two weeks before the start of classes, the Plano ISD held a crowded back-to-school fair in the Plano Center on Wednesday, July 29. Bob Wieland/Murphy Monitor Thousands of Plano ISD students and their families swarmed the Plano Center for the district’s annual...
Lowes operates five Flock Safety automated license plate readers in the parking lot of Murphy Marketplace on the northeast corner of FM 544 and North Murphy Road. Murphy PD has access to vehicle data uploaded to Flock from the cameras. Bob Wieland/Murphy Monitor...
The Murphy City Council will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 4, and consider and/or Act on an ordinance approving a Specific Use Permit for a bank on property described as Lot 2R, Block A, Walmart Addition Replat, and located at 205 W. FM 544. The...
Sports
Plano East incoming senior Bilal Habib earned fifth place at 106 pounds at the Class 6A state wrestling tournament. Photo by Niall Morga Media By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East remained one of the premier athletic programs in Plano ISD during the...
Plano East alum Myles Dennis (16) helped lead the Panthers' boys soccer team to a 2-1 win over Plano and their first playoff berth since 2018. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East remained one of the premier athletic...
Plano East incoming junior Arianna Robinson scored 14 points in an 82-73 win for the United States over Spain in the championship game of the FIBA U17 World Cup in Brno, Czechia, to secure the gold medal for the Americans. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By...
Former Plano East head football coach Johnny Ringo will be inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor on Saturday in Houston. Photo courtesy Johnny Ringo By David Wolman [email protected] Former Plano East head football coach and athletic director...
Plano East sophomore running back Treyce Seldon (28) is raised in the air after scoring a touchdown during an Oct. 3, 2025, home game against McKinney Boyd. Seldon finished the 2025 season with 870 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media...
Education
With two weeks before the start of classes, the Plano ISD held a crowded back-to-school fair in the Plano Center on Wednesday, July 29. Bob Wieland/Murphy Monitor Thousands of Plano ISD students and their families swarmed the Plano Center for the district’s annual...
The countdown to a new school year has begun, and for many families, the final days of summer are filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. While children may be eager to reunite with friends, join a sports team or move up to a new grade, they also may feel...
The Plano ISD Board of Trustees will meet next month to set a 2026-27 tax rate after receiving certified taxable property values from the Collin Central Appraisal District. The school board will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and a work...
By Andrew Norsworthy Wylie ISD trustees approved the district’s 2026-27 budget during their June 16 meeting, adopting a spending plan that projects a nearly $15 million deficit while providing pay increases for teachers and staff and maintaining the current tax rate....
Murphy Chamber of Commerce scholarship winners were presented to City Council. From left, Steve Dault, vice-chair, Chamber Scholarship Foundation; Sevy Wang, a graduate of Wylie High School; Syan Tecuatl, a Plano East grad; Suri Wang, a Wylie High grad; Roheemat...
Life & Style
The countdown to a new school year has begun, and for many families, the final days of summer are filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. While children may be eager to reunite with friends, join a sports team or move up to a new grade, they also may feel...
By Carrie Dunlea Retirement often brings more freedom, but it can also mean fewer daily opportunities to connect with others. Whether you're newly retired or simply looking to expand your circle, building new friendships can improve both physical and mental well-being...
Few things are as delicious and refreshing as watermelon on a warm day. Watermelon grows quite readily in summer and is often ready to pick after three months of growing time. Harvesters look for a pale buttery yellow spot on the bottom of watermelon (the ground...
The rusted water tower is one of the last visible reminders of the Princeton POW Camp, which briefly housed German prisoners of war during World War II. The Stories Collin County Forgot to Notice Every time I drive through Princeton, I pass the same brown sign. You...
How misinformation may be undermining cancer prevention Photo courtesy of Shutterstock Despite its wide recognition as an effective tool for skin cancer prevention, many Americans still say they aren’t sure how sunscreen works. In fact, confusion about its use and...
Opinion
Columnist John Moore (bottom left) is pictured with his father, mother, and sister in 1965. Photo: Moore Family Photos By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com In 2014, I was contacted by a newspaper in Tyler, Texas. Unbeknownst to me, the publisher of said...
Columnist John Moore rarely went out to eat when he was young. But when he did, he had a pretty good idea where his family was going to dine. Photo: Moore Family Photos By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com “Are we going out to eat?” was not a phrase my...
Columnist John Moore bought a lot of books when he was young. He still has many of them. Photo: John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com I’m not sure what fundraisers try to sell to grade school kids today, but when I was a kid, it was books. The...
Columnist John Moore still listens to vinyl on the types of stereos on which he grew up. Photo: John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com Transistor radios were a breakthrough in entertainment. Especially for young people. When they debuted in the...
Columnist John Moore still writes letters. His latest went to his mom while she was on vacation. Photo: John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com When I was about 10, I wrote a letter to my aunt, who lived in Oklahoma. I’d never written a letter to...
