Texas
Texas state leaders join Medal of Honor celebration at museum grand opening
GAINESVILLE, Texas (KXII) – Medal of Honor week continued in Gainesville on Thursday with the grand opening of the new Medal of Honor Museum at North Central Texas College (NCTC).
“Let this museum stand as a lasting tribute,” Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson said, speaking to the large crowd and the recipients. “May it inspire future generations to love this country, to serve your neighbors, and to live with the same values that you upheld.”
Leaders from across the region and the state came to salute this major milestone.
“More than 100,000 students, citizens, and visitors will walk through NCTC’s campus each year,” Rep. Brandon Gill said. “That’s 100,000 lives touched, taught, and transformed, and they’ll all remember that the Medal of Honor isn’t given, it’s earned.”
A statement echoed by Sen. Brent Hagenbuch (R-Texas).
“There’s only a precious few that were called and answered the call to the level of warranting a Congressional Medal of Honor, and I so appreciate you all,” he said. “It’s a great, great honor to meet you, and I hope you can see how much we appreciate you.”
Medal of Honor recipient James Taylor said this museum was in the works for over two decades.
“We had a dream about this,” he said. “This here means so much to me, and all the friends that I’ve met down there over 23 years, I can’t replace them and I think about them every day.”
NCTC Chancellor Dr. Brent Wallace said the emotion in the air on Thursday was powerful.
“I’ve seen a lot of tears today,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of the family, especially of our recipients, that are brought to tears seeing their loved one’s memorabilia displayed in a beautiful facility.”
The museum won’t officially open to the public for a few more weeks, but those in attendance got a sneak peek.
“It’s just fantastic that the population of Gainesville and the surrounding area, you’ve got to come, this is the jewel, it is precious and it’s wonderful,” Taylor said.
And for the younger generations, he had a simple piece of advice.
“Live your dream,” he said. “Set your goals, never quit, and never give up.”
A full list of times and events still to come this week is as follows:
- Friday, 10 a.m. — Tree Dedication at Homegrown Hero Walking Trail
- Friday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. — Ticketed Banquet at the Gainesville Civic Center
- Saturday, 10 a.m. — Medal of Honor Parade through Downtown Gainesville
- Saturday, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. — Book Signing at the Gainesville Civic Center
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A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
Watch CBS News
A Texas state trooper was killed in a crash in the Panhandle, becoming the 244th Texas Department of Public Safety officer to die in the line of duty since 1823, according to the agency.
Sergio Romero, 27, died Wednesday after a semi-truck pulled in front of him as he attempted a traffic stop around 4 p.m. on U.S. 287 in Childress County, DPS said.
In a statement, Col. Freeman F. Martin praised Romero’s courage, integrity, and service.
“Today, we grieve the loss of one of our own,” Martin said. “… Our hearts break alongside his family, friends, fellow troopers, and all who loved him. We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice he made in service of his fellow Texans.”
Romero previously served with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office before joining DPS as part of Class B-2025 in Childress, the agency said.
He is survived by his wife, Francisca, and their two young sons.
Funeral arrangements are pending. The crash remains under investigation.
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