The Beaumont
Government
State finds Polk County Jail noncompliant, took too long to get inmate an inhaler
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has found the Polk County Jail out of compliance because of a delay in processing an inmate's medical forms and getting him an inhaler.Sheriff Byron Lyons shared the information fol...
State Rep. Phelan says GOP losses linked to Trump and losing touch with voters
Texas Democrats scored sweeping victories in key statewide races, dealing Republicans a major setback across the state.Democrats won the governor’s race and the...
Young Southeast Texas voters cite everyday costs as key factor in midterm votes
Everyday costs such as food, rent and gas helped drive young voters in Southeast Texas to the polls in the 2026 midterm election, with some students saying the...
That sinking feeling after another large sinkhole opens in Beaumont
Another large sinkhole has opened in Beaumont only months after a giant hole in the ground made international headlines.Ward 1 City Councilman Cory Crenshaw shared video of the sinkhole that developed this afternoon in t...
Voters reject school funding proposals, forcing SETX districts to reassess budgets
Two Southeast Texas school districts are weighing their next steps after voters rejected proposed school funding measures, forcing leaders to reassess budgets a...
Lumberton ISD responds to failure of tax rate election
Lumberton ISD is responding to voters rejecting the tax rate election, saying it's disappointed and will have to evaluate financial options.A Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) is a special election that allows sch...
Waste Watch: Crenshaw digs into city's $795,000 new dozer purchase, asks why not buy used?
A nearly $795,000 dozer will replace an older machine at Beaumont’s landfill after a City Council debate over whether buying new was the best option.
Jefferson County justice of the peace race pits incumbent Ben Collins Sr. vs. Joe Evans
Voters in Jefferson County are weighing a closely watched Justice of the Peace race as incumbent Democrat Ben Collins Sr. faces Republican challenger Joe Evans...
'We appreciate H-E-B': Beaumont mayor, Chamber president weigh in on big expansion
The $29.3 million planned expansion of H-E-B plus! on Dowlen Road is already drawing rave reviews from many customers, as well as Beaumont's mayor and Chamber president, even before any dirt is turned.The supermarket cha...
Councilman urges injunction, possible demolition of Tonahill Building
Concerns about falling debris from Beaumont’s 89-year-old Tonahill Building have resurfaced after a City Council member posted that a piece of the downtown buil...
Early voting total now approaches 35,000 in Jefferson County
Early voting turnout is now approaching 35,000 after six days in Jefferson County, and voters still have until Friday if they want to cast ballots ahead of the November 3 election.The total Saturday night of 34,932 is 10...
Early voting now tops 30,000 in Jefferson County
Early voting turnout has now surpassed 30,000 after five days in Jefferson County, and voters still have one week to go if they want to cast ballots ahead of the November 3 election.The total is 9,642 votes more than dur...
Early voting tops 25,000 in Jefferson County
Early voting turnout has now surpassed 25,000 after four days in Jefferson County, and voters still have one week to go if they want to cast ballots ahead of the November 3 election.ClickHEREfor information about locat...
Teachers, students press BISD board for changes, voice concerns about superintendent
Major concerns about leadership in the Beaumont Independent School District spilled into a tense and emotional school board meeting Tuesday night, as students,...
60-day plan could delay $5M in water fund revenue; current cycle is 30 days
Beaumont City Council members are considering whether to give water customers more time to pay their bills or dispute charges before service is disconnected, bu...
Turnout tops 20,000 after three days of early voting
Early voting turnout has reached a milestone after three days in Jefferson County, with the numbers topping 20,000 and nine days still to go if voters want to cast ballots ahead of the November 3 election.Total votes (20...
'I will skip that race': Dade Phelan goes on CNN to attack Senate nominee Ken Paxton
Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan says he will not vote for Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton.Phelan made the remarks during an interview with Erin...
Beaumont councilman calls for more accountability, transparency from Beaumont ISD
A Beaumont City Council member is calling on Beaumont ISD to provide more transparency and accountability as questions persist about student performance, curric...
George W. Bush's brother votes for Talarico in Texas Senate election
Neil Bush announced Tuesday he cast a ballot for the Democrat.
Beaumont council approves $190,000 study of underground voids near City Hall, Civic Center
Beaumont City Council has approved nearly $190,000 for an assessment aimed at addressing underground openings between City Hall and the Civic Center.The city pl...
Beaumont-Port Arthur jobless rate down, still among highest in Texas
The September unemployment rate in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area dropped more than half a percentage point from August, and it's also down year-to-year, according to the monthly report the Texas Workforce Commission rele...
Sparks fly during Press Club of SETX candidates debate
Jefferson County voters got an up close and personal chance tonight to hear from candidates in a number of key races in the November 3 election.The Press Club of Southeast Texas hosted a debate for candidates in five key...
Incumbent Benjamin Collins faces Joe Evans in Jefferson County Precinct 1 JP race
Voters in Jefferson County will soon decide who will serve as justice of the peace for Precinct 1, Place 2, as Democratic incumbent Benjamin Collins faces Repub...
Dispute over damaged mail-in ballots raises voter access questions in Jefferson County
A disagreement over rain-damaged mail-in ballots is raising questions about voter access in Jefferson County, as the local Democratic Party calls for more actio...
Sheriff Chuck Havard appointed to serve on Border and Homeland Security Committee
Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard was recently appointed by the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas Board to serve on the Border and Homeland Security Committee.His role on the committee, along with the other members, will...
Keeping score on election night will be easy in Hardin County with new HC Election Center
Keeping track of up-to-the-minute election results in Hardin County will be easy now with the new HC Election Center.County Judge Wayne McDaniel unveiled the center in an online post tonight.He says voters are excited ab...
Registrar: DPS backlog processed; voters can use provisional ballots if needed
The Jefferson County registrar's office was faced with the difficult and tedious task of processing more than 3,000 applications connected to the DPS backlog.Ta...
26 years later, Silsbee still mourns Vickie Swartout as killer faces execution
More than two decades after Vickie Swartout was shot and killed in Silsbee, the city’s mayor says the case still stands out as a shocking act of violence in a s...
Port Arthur rescinds Boil Water Notice issued following water main leak
The City of Port Arthur has rescinded a Boil Water Notice issued after a water main leak.On October 4, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the City of Port Arthur public water system to issue a Boil Wa...
Waste Watch: Flock cameras start at $1,500 each, so who's paying for the ones in Beaumont?
Beaumont taxpayers are not currently footing the bill for the city’s Flock license-plate camera system, according to Mayor Roy West.
Have you registered? Today is the final day to register to vote in the November 3 election
The Texas Secretary of State is reminding you that today is the last day to register to vote in the November 3 general election.ClickHEREfor everything you need to know from the Texas Secretary of State's office.TEXAS...
Lumberton ISD seeks 1-cent net tax hike to help close projected $1.5M budget shortfall
Lumberton ISD voters will decide next month whether to approve a one-cent tax rate increase that district leaders say is needed to help close a projected $1.5 m...
Texas DPS blames third-party software update for Jefferson County application backlog
Voters in Jefferson County are being urged to double-check their registration status as county officials work through a backlog of voter registration applicatio...
BREAKING: Grand jury no bills Mike Getz in robbery case linked to sign dispute
KFDM News has learned the Jefferson County grand jury no-billed, or chose not to indict, former city councilman Mike Getz in a robbery case linked to a dispute involving an organization’s signs placed in the median on Ph...