Texas A&M-Commerce Athletic Director Tim McMurray says a few more fans, including students and donors, will likely be allowed into the Field House for men's and women's basketball games this Friday and Saturday (January 22-23) vs. UT-Tyler. Also, he says the A&M-Commerce soccer and volleyball teams will play spring schedules after their fall games were cancelled because of the coronavirus threat.

Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, professor of psychology at Texas A&M-Commerce, says the usual observances of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day that he leads at churches in Commerce and Sulphur Springs will not take place this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. But his students have been challenged to perform acts of public service on the holiday.

Kim Saenz, director of the Hunt Regional Emergency Centers in Commerce and Quinlan, says after the first delivery of coronavirus vaccines were administered, the county is now waiting for a new shipment of vaccines. A task force is developing a plan for the procedures in providing the next round of vaccines, whenever they may come. According to the Texas Division of Emergency Management COVID-19 Vaccine Availability website, the vaccines will be available at Hunt Regional Medical Center, and the

Dr. Dale Funderburk, long-time Texas A&M-Commerce economics professor, reflects on an article analyzing the manufacturing industry of San Antonio, in particular, but says the slow return of jobs in Texas manufacturing from the coronavirus restrictions will be similar across Texas.

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville says a tranining seminar at the Best Western Hotel from 9 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday (Janaury 16)will teach participants to survive in an active-shooter situation. The seminar is presented by "Protect His House," a group that promotes safety for church congregations. Because of the coronavirus situation, it is uncertain if the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade will take place Monday (January 18).

Dr. Kent Montgomery, head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M-Commerce, considers the major space projects planned for 2021 . One is the DART project, in which NASA and the Japanese space agency are sending a spacecraft to collide with an asteroid, as a way of developing a method of protecting Earth against a disastrous collision. Also, NASA will attempt to land an Orion space capsule on the moon, with plans to send astronauts back to the moon by 2024.

Charlie Alderman, Commerce ISD superintendent, says the Commerce schools will re-open after the holidays on Tuesday (January 12), and will carefully watch the amount of coronavirus infection among students, teachers and staff. He says opening nearly two weeks after New Year's Day has given the district more time to monitor the situation following the holidays.

Derek Price, author of the "Cargazing" column that appears n the Herald-Banner and is nationally syndicated, reflects on reports that Apple is developing a self-driving car in competition with Tesla and others. News reports say Apple is making progress in creating a new, long-lasting battery for the car.

Steve Killian, superintendent of Cooper Lake State Park , says the South Sulphur and Doctors Creek units will be closed this weekend for a youth deer-hunting event. Both units of the park are now offering self-guided hiking tours, with maps provided at the park headquarters.

Dr. Dale Funderburk, retired Texas A&M-Commerce professor of economics, reflects on a recent "D" magazine article by SMU economics professors W. Michael Cox and Richard Alm arguing that despite Texas' reputation as a business-friendly, free-market state, the amount of business regulation is actually too great. The article states that Texas highest the fifth-highest rate of business restructions in the U.S.