The department currently has 16 openings among its 340 sworn positions, a vacancy rate that Ocnaschek described as routine movement within the force.

BEAUMONT, Texas — The Beaumont City Council has voted no to changing its rules to allow gaming sites and gaming machines only in industrial areas. They are planning to revisit the issue on July 29.

A swirl of police activity was seen around noon in downtown Beaumont on Tuesday after a call of a robbery in progress at the ...