1. Andrews Center cuts funds for mental health deputies in Smith County

Days before grant funding through the Andrews Center for two Smith County Sheriff’s Office mental health deputies is cut, County Judge Nathaniel Moran said he wants to keep the positions in place and hopes there will be savings in other areas of the budget or additional revenue to fund the positions.

“We’re not going to let those guys go,” Moran said. “They’re too important.”

Waymon Stewart, executive director of the Andrews Center, previously confirmed the cuts in funding for the team of two deputies trained to handle mental health crises.

Moran said the county’s budget has the appropriation in there for general revenue for that expenditure.