On the Line

Kristina Rivas-Jones is director of 100 Families Alliance, a new project of the Literacy Council of Miller and Bowie Counties.

100 Families seeks to coordinate services available to families in crisis — and as you'll hear, there are already some local success stories.

Gazette reporter Mallory Wyatt joined Karl in talking to Kristina about how 100 Families works, why she felt called to take on the job, how her personal background prepared her for it, and more.

LINKS

100 Families on Literacy Council website

100 Families on Facebook

Just hours after a Bowie County, Texas, jury found Taylor Parker guilty of capital murder, Gazette reporter Lori Dunn commented on the trial so far. The sentencing phase will begin Oct. 12.

Texarkana native Carl Finch founded Brave Combo more than 40 years ago.

Yeah, it's a polka band. But as you'll hear, Brave Combo is more than that.

The group stands for independent thinking and creativity free from peer pressure.

You could say the Brave Combo philosophy is that there's no such thing as a guilty pleasure.

And it all started in a Woolworth store in downtown Texarkana.

Brave Combo will be the musical headliner for Main Street Texarkana's Oktoberfest on the Line on Saturday, Oct. 15, downtown.

LINK: Brave Combo official website

Texarkana Gazette crime and courts reporter Lori Dunn summarizes the second week of testimony in the capital murder trial of Taylor Parker.

Parker could face the death penalty in the Oct. 9, 2020, killing of expectant mother Reagan Simmons Hancock of New Boston, Texas, and the taking of her unborn child, who also died. Parker has pleaded not guilty.

FULL COVERAGE

Capital murder defendant called ‘actress of highest order’

Second day of testimony in Taylor Parker trial focuses on online searches

TAYLOR PARKER TRIAL, DAY 3 | Witnesses describe ‘dome of craziness’ with murder defendant

TAYLOR PARKER TRIAL, DAY 4 | Ex-husband labels defendant a ‘con artist’; investigator alleges web of fake phone calls

RECAP | Taylor Parker trial

PODCAST | On the Line Special Report: Taylor Parker trial week one

TAYLOR PARKER TRIAL, DAY 5 | Witnesses testify about odd finances, pregnancy doubts

TAYLOR PARKER TRIAL, DAY 6 | Mother of Parker’s boyfriend testifies about estrangement from son

TAYLOR PARKER TRIAL, DAY 7 | Jurors hear frantic 911 call, testimony from victim’s husband

TAYLOR PARKER TRIAL, DAY 8 | Relatives describe horrors of crime scene; medical workers put pieces together

RECAP | Taylor Parker trial, week two

Texarkana Gazette crime and courts reporter Lori Dunn summarizes the first week of testimony in the capital murder trial of Taylor Parker.

Parker could face the death penalty in the Oct. 9, 2020, killing of expectant mother Reagan Simmons Hancock of New Boston, Texas, and the taking of her unborn child, who also died. Parker has pleaded not guilty.

FULL COVERAGE

Capital murder defendant called ‘actress of highest order’

Second day of testimony in Taylor Parker trial focuses on online searches

TAYLOR PARKER TRIAL, DAY 3 | Witnesses describe ‘dome of craziness’ with murder defendant

TAYLOR PARKER TRIAL, DAY 4 | Ex-husband labels defendant a ‘con artist’; investigator alleges web of fake phone calls

After singing together since childhood, Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin gained fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s with hits such as “All the Gold in California” and “Houston.”

And The Gatlin Brothers are still performing. Ahead of their Sept. 25, 2022, show at Texarkana's Perot Theatre, Karl checked in with Rudy Gatlin about what keeps the trio going and what their audience can expect.

LINKS

Gatlin Brothers official website

The Perot Theatre

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and for this week's episode host Karl Richter spoke with some of the people leading the regional and local efforts of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

First, you'll hear a phone interview with Jacqueline Sharp, Arkansas Area Director for AFSP, and Sarah Allen, the group's North Texas and Oklahoma area director.

Then you'll hear Karl's conversation with Betty Jackson Carpenter, lead organizer of Texarkana's AFSP events, including two coming up in September and the annual Out of the Darkness Walk in November.

Betty shared the story of her daughter's suicide and how she chose to begin helping others in its aftermath.

You'll hear how to get involved, as well as what to do if you or a someone else is having thoughts of suicide and how to support those coping with the suicide of a loved one.

Recorded in September 2021. 

WHERE TO GET HELP, LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

800-273-8255

The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

 

Crisis Text Line:

Text HOME to 741741

Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.

 

Links:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

AFSP Arkansas

AFSP North Texas

AFSP Texarkana

Texarkana Out of the Darkness Walk on Facebook

Dr. Chris Jones is this year's Democratic nominee for Arkansas governor. During a recent campaign stop in Texarkana, he came by the studio to talk about his story, his platform and his strategy to win votes in a deep red state.

He and Karl spoke about his views on Southwest Arkansas, broadband internet access, education, marijuana legalization, church/state separation, the January 6 insurrection and more.

The unsolved murders of young Karen and Gordon Alexander have haunted Texarkana for more than 40 years.

In April 1981, Karen, 14, and Gordon, 13, were found brutally stabbed to death in their Arkansas-side home.

Infamous serial killer Henry Lee Lucas later claimed to be the murderer, but his confession was found to be false.

The case went cold, but interest has recently increased, in large part because of a Facebook group focused on finding justice for Karen and Gordon.

That new spotlight on the case attracted the attention of this episode's guest.

Texarkana native Cheryl Hester is an expert in the emerging science of forensic genealogy.

Karl and Cheryl talked about what that means and how her skills just might lead to a breakthrough in the Alexander case.

LINK: AdvanceDNA

In May, Texarkana native Jrmar “JJ” Jefferson won the Democratic nomination to represent Texas' 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

With about 12 weeks until voting begins, we offered Jefferson the opportunity to share his story and views. As you'll hear, he had a lot to say.