The community newspaper that keeps the areas around Bullard,
Flint, Troup, Whitehouse & South Tyler connected & informed.
ETX Shine Podcast Network Launches to Expand Local Storytelling New podcast network will spotlight East Texas voices, stories, and conversations in 2026 ETX Bell in the beginning wanted to create a way to reach various age groups with the information and news in our communities. Our hope from the beginning was to create a a […]
Before I ever started the ETX Bell, I spent time sitting down with leaders across our communities, pastors, business owners, city officials, educators, and longtime residents, asking a simple but uncomfortable question. Does starting a local newspaper in this area, in 2025, actually make sense? I had read the data. I had heard the studies. […]
Before I ever started the ETX Bell, I spent time sitting down with leaders across our communities, pastors, business owners, city officials, educators, and longtime residents, asking a simple but uncomfortable question. Does starting a local newspaper in this area, in 2025, actually make sense? I had read the data. I had heard the studies. […]
Am I Crazy for Starting a Newspaper in 2025? By Shawn Larson Let’s be honest—when people hear I’m launching a local newspaper in 2025, the most common response is somewhere between a raised eyebrow and a full-blown chuckle. “A newspaper? Now?” they say. “Isn’t print dead?” But here’s the thing: I get it. On the […]
TROUP, Texas (July 5, 2025) — Troup residents once again have a newspaper that prioritizes their hometown stories. ETX Bell, launched in 2025, is a community newspaper serving Troup, Texas, bringing back consistent local news coverage through both print and digital formats. Each edition of ETX Bell features a dedicated Troup section alongside hyperlocal coverage […]
WHITEHOUSE, Texas (July 5, 2025) — For the first time since the Tri County Leader shut down in 2018, Whitehouse once again has a consistent hometown news source. The ETX Bell, a new community newspaper serving Whitehouse, Texas, launched earlier this year to bring back local reporting with a modern twist. Founded in 2025, ETX […]
BULLARD, Texas (July 5, 2025) — Bullard has a newspaper to call its own again. ETX Bell, a newly launched community newspaper in Bullard, Texas, has stepped up to serve the town and surrounding areas after the closure of the Bullard Banner in 2018 left a noticeable void in local news coverage. Founded in early […]
Shawn Larson We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone in the community for the incredible support you’ve shown. Your encouragement fuels our efforts as we continue building something we believe will become a vital part of local life. While it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day challenges of bringing back […]
Mickey Smith, 68, is a lifelong Tyler resident who recently joined ETX Bell after a five-year hiatus to focus on family and health. Smith has long been a familiar face in the East Texas sports scene. He previously served as a coach and coordinator for several area youth leagues and held two separate terms as […]
We asked ChatGPT what happens when a community loses its local newspaper, like ours did in 2018, and why it’s worth holding on to if you still have one. The answers reminded us exactly why we’re bringing a local paper back in 2025. ChatGPT said: When a community loses its local newspaper, it often faces […]
