Government
County, city, and state government coverage including commissioners court, city council, elections, and policy decisions.
Top stories
- Residents put up $26,400 to pave Cooke County roads9 hours ago
- Grayson renews Cooke jail beds at $70 a dayYesterday at 7:36 AM
- Commissioners to revisit burn ban during fire safety weekTuesday
Residents put up $26,400 to pave Cooke County roads
Cooke County commissioners accepted $26,400 from four residents on Sept. 14 to help pave parts of County Road 131 and County Road 134. Another…
9 hours ago
Grayson renews Cooke jail beds at $70 a day
Grayson County has renewed its agreement for Cooke County to house Grayson inmates as needed, and the new contract raises the daily rate to $70 per…
Yesterday at 7:36 AM
Commissioners to revisit burn ban during fire safety week
Cooke County commissioners will meet in a special session Friday, Oct. 9, to take up the county burn ban, while Gainesville Fire-Rescue uses this…
Tuesday
Lindsay ISD weighs eminent domain for campus access road
Lindsay ISD trustees meet Oct. 6 on negotiations and possible eminent domain for a public road to improve campus access.
Friday
Valley View tax-rate vote leads Cooke's Nov. 3 ballot
VALLEY VIEW, Texas — Valley View ISD is asking voters on Nov. 3 to ratify a tax rate of $0.87861 per $100 of taxable value. The ballot labels the
Sep 30
Abbott pitches affordability plan during Gainesville visit
GAINESVILLE, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott used a campaign stop in Gainesville on Tuesday to promote an affordability plan that includes reducing school pr
Sep 23
I-35 Valley View reconstruction registered at $301.9 million
GAINESVILLE, Texas — A newly registered $301.896 million TxDOT project will reconstruct I-35 from FM 3002 to Spring Creek Road in southern Cooke County, with w…
Sep 21
Gainesville ISD to weigh Phase 2 bond pricing, Edison mold work
GAINESVILLE, Texas — Gainesville ISD trustees will weigh pricing for the next phase of the district's 2025 bond program and a package of Edison Elemen
Sep 15
Gainesville ISD Construction Projects Total $27.9 Million
State records show three Gainesville ISD campus additions totaling $27.9 million, with classroom space and storm shelters at Edison, Intermediate...
Aug 26
What's on the Ballot: Cooke County's Nov. 3 Election
Cooke County voters will head to the polls Nov. 3 for a general election, early voting and a Valley View ISD tax-rate question.
Aug 24
Cooke County Burn Ban in Effect; Special Court Set Aug 14
Cooke County Commissioners Court has instituted a burn ban effective immediately due to increased fire activity. A special court meeting is...
Aug 18
Gainesville Fire-Rescue Rescues Two in Fourth-Alarm Fire
Firefighters rescued two adults from a fully involved structure fire on Hillside Drive August 6. The residence was a total loss.
Aug 17
Is Cooke County under a burn ban? Current status and what to know
Current burn ban status for Cooke County, Texas, including what's prohibited, penalties, and how to stay informed when conditions change.
Aug 12
TxDOT Lowers Speed Limit to 40 MPH on Portion of US 82
TxDOT has reduced the speed limit on a 1.7-mile section of US 82 in Gainesville from 45 mph to 40 mph following a traffic engineering study.
Aug 10
Cooke Fire Marshal Issues Heat Warning as Callisburg VFD Adds Tender
The Cooke County Fire Marshal issued a summer fire warning as Callisburg VFD put a newly acquired 3,500-gallon water tender into service.
Aug 7
Rep. Brandon Gill Tours NCTC, Honors Medal of Honor Museum Founder
U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill toured North Central Texas College in Gainesville and presented museum founder Don Pettigrew with congressional recognition.
Aug 4
Valley View Water Repairs Limited to City System
VALLEY VIEW, Texas — Cooke County Emergency Management and the Fire Marshal’s Office say ongoing water-system repair work in Valley View affects...
Jul 29
Gainesville Advances $21M Moss Lake Pump Grant Bid
GAINESVILLE, Texas — Gainesville City Council has authorized submission of a $21 million grant application to replace the Moss Lake raw-water pump...
Jul 27
GTUA Seeks Bids on Gainesville Clements Water Line
GAINESVILLE, Texas — The Greater Texoma Utility Authority is taking sealed bids through July 29 for about 1,100 feet of new water line on Clements...
Jul 24
How to find Cooke County public records: Which office handles what
GAINESVILLE, Texas — If you need a county record in Cooke County, the first step is making sure you ask the right office.
Jul 14
Lawmakers press Texas to lock in funding for Gainesville's Amtrak stop
North Texas lawmakers are pressing Texas to commit lasting funding for the Heartland Flyer, the Amtrak line that makes Gainesville one of only two Texas stops.
Jun 26
Gainesville Council gets breakdown of hotel tax funding rules
As budget planning season begins, the Gainesville City Council got a detailed breakdown of what the tightly restricted Hotel Occupancy Tax can legally fund.
Jun 25
Gainesville water plant earns state honor for 15th straight year
The City of Gainesville's Water Treatment Plant has earned the TCEQ's Texas Optimization Program Award for the 15th consecutive year, placing it among just 22 …
Jun 22
Budget season opens across Cooke County: what to know
County commissioners, the city of Gainesville and area school boards are setting 2026-27 tax rates and budgets. Here's where things stand and how to take part.
Jun 18
Gainesville advances water, rail and industrial infrastructure
At its June 16 meeting, the Gainesville City Council moved on a $21M water-grant application, utility work at the GAF plant, and rail financing at Camp Howze.
Jun 17
Amateur radio club to set up emergency repeater in old Cooke County jail
Cooke County commissioners approved letting the local amateur radio association use the old jail radio room to support weather spotting and emergency communica…
Jun 16
Gainesville Breaks Ground on First Project of New Parks & Trails Master Plan
A fully state-funded $4.6 million sidewalk project will connect Gainesville High School, NCTC, the Frank Buck Zoo, and downtown with more than two miles of new…
Jun 15
17 acres on North I-35 seek industrial zoning at Gainesville P&Z
A 16.91-acre stretch at 1303 and 1305 N. I-35 is before Gainesville's Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone from Commercial to Industrial — a change that wo…
Jun 11
Cooke County property tax appraisals: how values and protests work
How the Cooke County Appraisal District sets your property value, when notices arrive, how to protest, and the exemptions that can lower your tax bill.
Jun 4
Gainesville seeks federal grants for $57M railroad crossing plan
The Gainesville City Council votes June 2 on seeking federal grants for a $57 million plan to eliminate five rail crossings and build a grade separation at FM …
Jun 1
After 20 years, Gainesville is rewriting its airport master plan — here's what's at stake
Gainesville Municipal Airport hasn't had a fresh master plan since 2005. A new $660,000 study, mostly TxDOT-funded, is now studying whether the WWII-era field …
May 11
Unofficial May 2 results: Lewis, Hill, Scruggs lead council races; Clegg leads GISD
Voters in three Gainesville City Council wards and one Gainesville ISD school board seat decided contested races Saturday. Results remain unofficial until canv…
May 5
Gainesville voters choose council members in three races Saturday
Polls open at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Gainesville Civic Center for contested races in Ward 1, Ward 3, and Ward 5. Ward 6 and the municipal judgeship are unconte…
May 1
Cooke County Court at Law judge retiring after 24 years on the bench
Judge John Morris, who has presided over Cooke County Court at Law for nearly a quarter century, will retire May 31. Andrea Townsend will serve as interim judg…
Apr 22
Army Corps searching former Camp Howze for WWII munitions
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is actively searching 3,735 acres of the former Camp Howze for undetonated WWII munitions.
Apr 17
Gonzalez sworn in as Ward 5 interim; council approves parks plan
Angel Gonzalez was sworn in as Ward 5's interim council member Tuesday. The council also approved the Parks and Trails Master Plan.
Apr 8
Gainesville charter review commission weighs November elections
A proposed shift from May to November municipal elections split the Gainesville Charter Review Commission in a tied vote at its second meeting Wednesday.
Apr 1
Cooke County government offices: A complete directory
A comprehensive guide to Cooke County government offices, elected officials, phone numbers, addresses, and hours of operation.
Mar 26
Emergency alert test set for April 2 in Gainesville, Cooke County
Residents may receive test alerts on their phones April 2 as Gainesville and Cooke County participate in a statewide emergency communications drill.
Mar 26
Texas bans smokeable hemp products starting March 31
New state rules eliminate natural smokeable hemp products and sharply raise licensing fees, taking effect at the end of the month.
Mar 25
Council appoints Whiteman to GEDC, Gonzalez to Ward 4
The Gainesville City Council appointed Safran Industries manager Jacob Whiteman to the GEDC board and Angel Gonzalez as temporary Ward 4 representative at its …
Mar 23
Muenster seeks contractors for AMPI site demolition
The City of Muenster is accepting qualifications from contractors for the demolition of the former AMPI site, with submissions due March 15 at City Hall.
Mar 13
Cooke County Commissioners lift burn ban after rainfall
Cooke County Commissioners voted Monday to lift the burn ban following recent rainfall and improved fire safety conditions, though officials urge residents to …
Mar 10
Charter Review Commission begins first update in decades
The Gainesville Charter Review Commission held its inaugural meeting, launching the first comprehensive review of the city charter in nearly 50 years with term…
Mar 9
Council tables asphalt zipper purchase, wants cost clarity
Gainesville City Council postponed a letter of intent to purchase an asphalt zipper machine Tuesday, citing cost uncertainties despite supporters calling it a …
Mar 7
Haiman wins County Judge Republican primary
Fred Haiman captured the Republican nomination for Cooke County Judge with 1,368 votes, more than double each of his two challengers in Tuesday's primary.
Mar 7
Cooke County burn ban extended as dry conditions persist
Cooke County Commissioners Court extended the countywide burn ban for at least two more weeks after Emergency Management Coordinator Rand Brown warned that fir…
Mar 5
Gainesville Charter Review Commission holds kickoff meeting
The City of Gainesville's Charter Review Commission held its first meeting Tuesday evening at the Civic Center, beginning a review of the city's governing docu…
Mar 4
Gainesville post office weighs drive-thru to improve access
Postmaster Vallarie Taylor has asked the Gainesville City Council for support before taking a drive-thru window proposal to U.S. Postal Service leadership.
Mar 3
TAPS seeks to expand transit service across Cooke County
The Texoma Area Paratransit System presented expansion plans to Cooke County commissioners Monday, targeting underserved seniors, veterans and residents with d…
Feb 18