Good morning, Longview.

Mike McGaughey and Kelly Woods launched the H3 Group for bereaved parents at New Covenant Church’s north campus in Longview; the group met on Oct.

1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for 10 weeks + welcomed parents of any faith while requiring a $20 book.

Hallsville will host its 53rd annual Western Days at City Park tonight — featuring live music, dance, and vendors, with parades and a pageant planned for Saturday.

The chili cook-offs are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at 1112 FM 450 North and benefit the East Texas Angel Network.

The Black Gold Stampede Rodeo will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct.

9-10 at the Rusk County Youth Expo Center in Henderson, featuring professional rodeo action + a debut Miss Black Gold Stampede Queen contest, children’s events including mutton bustin’, petting zoo, and a community scholarship program.

Pharmacist Shawn Sams, now chair of the Independent Pharmacy Academy, said he hopes Texas lawmakers will pass legislation to rein in pharmacy benefit managers—ensuring independent pharmacies receive fair reimbursement rates.

He said the change is needed to keep locally owned pharmacies thriving in Longview.

Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton privately said the midterm convention hurt his campaign numbers during a fundraiser, a remark his team calls manipulated nonsense (his internal poll shows him leading by 3 percentage points as he prepares for upcoming Texas events).

Christus Health celebrated the opening of its new $40 million cancer care center in Longview on Wednesday — the 35,000 sqft facility will welcome patients Monday, Oct.

5.

Texas high school players were named Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Week for Week 5.

Randle High School’s Landen Williams-Callis and Argyle Liberty Christian’s Cooper Witten (son of former Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten) were among six awardees honoring both on-field performance and classroom leadership.

NTCC will host the third rodeo of the NIRA Southern Region from Oct.

8-10 at the Mount Pleasant Rodeo Association Arena on Greenhill Road — college teams compete to qualify for the Collegiate National Finals in Casper. Admission is $10 for ages 12 and up, with free slack sessions offered.

Pine Tree football will play Palestine at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Wildcat Stadium (1600 S.

Loop 256). Pine Tree won a key game over Kilgore last week and will try to keep up their strong play in a tough road game.