Texarkana Magazine

Shuffle Up & Sit Down

Over the past few years in Northeast Texas, mahjong has shifted from a niche pastime into a growing social trend, drawing players from a variety of backgrounds and ages. Once predominantly played within older Asian-American communities and at family gatherings, mahjong is rapidly growing in popularity. Players are attracted to the strategy of the game, but also to the social interaction it encourages, making it an activity for both longtime enthusiasts and curious newcomers looking for connection and cultural engagement. … This resurgence echoes broader national trends.

Posted on February 5, 2026 in Community & Culture READ MORE

Heirloom Inspiration

For homeowners Cara and David Cook, this home is more than a new build—it is a heartfelt continuation of a family legacy. The inspiration began nearly a century ago with a home David’s grandfather built in Utica, Mississippi, in 1929. Years later, while helping his mother relocate to Texarkana, David uncovered the original blueprints tucked away in the attic. That discovery became the spark for their own home, guiding both its architectural spirit and emotional foundation.

Posted on February 4, 2026 in Life & Style READ MORE

Nick Martin

Nick Martin was born and raised in Texarkana, Texas. He was the youngest of four brothers and began playing football at the age of five, quickly falling in love with the game. He attended Pleasant Grove High School, where he became a standout linebacker before heading to Oklahoma State University, developing into one of the Big 12’s top defensive players and earning First-Team All-Big 12 honors after leading his team in tackles.

Posted on February 4, 2026 in TXK Roots READ MORE

Meet the Candidates

… As primary election season approaches, local races are bringing important issues into focus. Many of those issues affect daily life right here at home, from public safety to decisions made in Austin on behalf of our region. … We asked candidates in two key races to answer a series of questions directly for our readers.

Posted on February 4, 2026 in Business & Politics READ MORE

Course of a Century

The Life and Lessons of Dorothy Langdon on Her 100^th Birthday … One of my oldest, most vivid memories is sitting on my grandmother’s kitchen counter while my grandaddy holds me gently. Careful, I wouldn’t fall, he slides me side to side and laughingly teases, “My Tutu.” “No, myyyy Tutu,” I’d reply. … “Tutu,” as we call my grandmother, looked on this scene fondly. Even decades and generations later, what she saw in this moment was also the central lesson of all her stories: that the people in your life are the real treasures of this world.

Posted on February 4, 2026 in Life & Style READ MORE

Local Gift Guide

Azaleas, Roses, & Fruit Trees Up to 30% off | Twitty Nursery, Inc. Locally Handcrafted Chocolates ^$35 | Poin de’ Luxe Chocolate Shop … Lafco Products Starting at ^$52 | J Brown for the Home … Georgiana Coleman Fine Jewelry Starting at ^$175 | Gables Gifts & Gratitudes … Florals & Gifts Starting at ^$20 | The Curated Collective … 1 dz. Chocolate Covered Strawberries ^$32 | Julie’s Deli

…

Posted on February 3, 2026 in Business & Politics READ MORE

What You Need to Know About Your Heart Health

Heart disease does not always present obvious warning signs, and risk factors are not always visible. Even individuals who appear healthy, such as athletes or those without known conditions, can experience serious cardiac events. Symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, or discomfort in areas such as the jaw or back are often overlooked, yet they can signal underlying heart problems.

Posted on February 3, 2026 in Community & Culture READ MORE

Good Evening TXK

In 2020, my mom told me I was “firing on all cylinders.” However, I was drunk at lunchtime. That was my introduction to imposter syndrome. … My mom was so incredibly proud of me for landing my first big-boy job, and it was my first month writing for this magazine. But, for a long time before that, I had been spinning out. Directionless. Aimless.

Posted on February 2, 2026 in Sports & Entertainment READ MORE

Publisher's Letter

Over Christmas break, my family and I pivoted from some previous travel plans to a trip to Big Bend National Park on a whim. … I had never explored that corner of Texas, and I was pleasantly unprepared for what awaited us there. The landscape felt worlds away from home, with sunrises and night skies that made you feel as if you had left the state entirely. … But the views, as stunning as they were, ranked second to something better. The pace was different. There was no hustle, no constant connectivity. With minimal cell service came something rare and increasingly valuable:

Posted on February 1, 2026 in Life & Style READ MORE

Living in the After

Jessica Brookes, Reagan Hancock's mother

… When tragedy strikes, it can feel like a bomb exploding—sudden and without mercy. Life moves forward at its normal pace until the blast arrives. Shockwaves shatter, derail, and topple. Sounds become muffled. Time slows. For those at the epicenter, everything has changed. The victims find a new normal, but no one is the same living in the after. … On October 9, 2020, the quiet northeast Texas town of New Boston felt those shockwaves when news spread about the brutal murder of a young wife and mother, Reagan Michelle Hancock, and her unborn daughter, Braxlynn Sage.

Posted on January 5, 2026 in Life & Style READ MORE

Latest Stories

Shuffle Up & Sit Down

Heirloom Inspiration

Nick Martin

Meet the Candidates

Course of a Century

Local Gift Guide

What You Need to Know About Your Heart Health

Good Evening TXK

Publisher's Letter

Living in the After

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