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TYLER — The City of Tyler is launching its first on-demand MicroTransit route for South Tyler to complement existing fixed route services. Starting Monday, May 13, riders utilizing the South Tyler route will be able to book a ride by calling Tyler Transit at (903) 533-8057 from a bus stop. The ride will take them directly to the doorstep of a destination within three-tenths of a mile of the closest bus stop on the existing South Tyler route.

“Our goal is to improve our current customers’ experience riding with us and attract new users by providing a more convenient, reliable and efficient transportation option,” said Russ Jackson, Tyler Transit manager. “By tailoring our services with the MicroTransit pilot, we hope to meet the community’s needs without imposing additional financial burdens on our riders. We’re trying to make public transportation more accessible and flexible.” Continue reading City of Tyler launches MicroTransit pilot program

LONGVIEW – More than a dozen East Texas school districts asked voters for millions of dollars in bond measures. After two failed bond proposals, Longview ISD was able to get their $456 million bond passed. The last time Longview residents approved a district bond was in 2008.

“That it’s 10 dollars a year increase on your taxes for every 200,000 dollar evaluation on your home,” Karen Haas, Longview PAC, said. But for renters and other homeowners, the district said they won’t be impacted at all. Continue reading Longview ISD passes $456M bond after failed attempts

EAST TEXAS – Multiple school districts and counties held multi-million dollar bond elections along with municipal elections. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of results that can be found here.

TYLER – UT Tyler has announced that they’re partnering with U.S Dermatology Partners in order to start a new Department of Dermatology. According to our news partner KETK, they plan to start offering courses within next year, hire a department chair and program director before applying to become a Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited dermatology residency program. The aim of the department is to help create a generation of dermatologists and physicians trained in dermatology to serve local communities. The department will also engage in clinical research with U.S. Dermatology Partners, one of the largest private dermatology practices in the United States. U.S. Dermatology Partners has 11 locations across East Texas where they do surgical, medical and cosmetic dermatology. Continue reading UT Tyler starts dermatology department

LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, the city of Longview has announced downtown road closures for construction of a new parking garage indefinitely. Methvin Street between Center and Fredonia Streets, directly in front of the Gregg County Courthouse, will be closed. Additionally, the northbound lane of Center Street between Bank Alley and Methvin Street will also be closed.Starting next Monday, a shuttle will run from the City of Longview parking lot at the intersection of Cotton and Center streets from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said a pedestrian died at a local hospital after a crash on Wednesday according to our news partners at KETK. According to a release, police were called to a crash at the 900 block of Pine Tree Road involving a Ram pickup truck and a pedestrian at around 8:40 p.m. The pedestrian, an adult woman, reportedly tried to cross the road and failed to yield the right of way to the pickup truck that was travelling northbound in the inside lane, police said. “The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital and later died from injuries,” the police department said.

SMITH COUNTY – The Cities of Tyler, Lindale and Arp have races on the ballot for the Joint City Election on Saturday. There will be six polling locations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 4.

Arp First Baptist Church, 304 W. Front St. in Arp
Heritage Building, 1900 Bellwood Road in Tyler
The Hub, 304 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler
Lindale Kinzie Community Center, 912 Mt. Sylvan St. in Lindale
St. Louis Baptist Church, 4000 Frankston Highway in Tyler
Three Lakes Middle School, 2445 Three Lakes Parkway in Tyler

For those voting Saturday at the Hub, Ferguson Street has been closed this week but it is being reopened in front of the Hub Saturday for voter parking only. Only 660 people voted during the seven days of early voting.

Early voting numbers are expected to be posted at 7 p.m. on Saturday, and Election Day results will be posted once all six Election Day locations have delivered their ballots. To find out the results Saturday evening, visit http://www.smith-county.com and click on the red banner at the top of the page. If you need information on Election Night, please call the Elections Office at 903-590-4777.

TRINITY COUNTY – Trinity County declared a local state of disaster on Monday following severe damage caused by tornados and storms. By Thursday, mandatory evacuations were ordered for part of the county. According to our news partner KETK, the county suffered severe damage because of tornadoes, continuous rain, flooding on county roads and damage to infrastructure on Sunday. With more rainfall into Thursday morning, mandatory emergency evacuations were ordered for the end of Doug Bell Road. County officials went door-to-door in boats to collect residents and their pets to take them to safety.

Trinity County Judge Danny Martin signed the disaster declaration after determining that measures had to be taken to “alleviate the suffering of people and to protect and rehabilitate property.”

“You are more than willing to stay at home if you want to, but we are not coming back for you after today,” Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said in a video posted to social media. Continue reading Boat rescues underway as mandatory evacuations continue

LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, an increased police presence was seen Thursday morning at the rheumatology practice of a murder suspect’s son. Dr. Kayvan Kamali’s Rheumatology Association of Longview, located on Judson Road, had several sheriff’s office and DPS vehicles parked outside.

Kayvan’s father, Reza Kamali, was recently charged with the 2016 murder of a beloved community figure. Though sources said Gregg County is leading the investigation, some DPS troopers were called to assist at the scene. A DPS spokesperson said he believes this event is in connection to the murder investigation of Ron Horaney, in which three people have been charged so far.
‘I hope no parent ever has to go through this’: Ron Horaney’s mother reacts to arrests made in case

On May 30, 2016 Horaney was found dead in his home from multiple gunshot wounds. The case went with few new developments until April, when authorities arrested Reza Kamali first. According to Reza’s arrest affidavit, Reza ordered Horaney killed “up close and personal because of a family dispute.”

The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office was not able to comment on the situation because of a pending judge-issued gag order.

TYLER – Road closures will start on Friday, May 3, for the Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival, which will be held on Saturday, May 4. According to a release from the City of Tyler, Broadway Avenue from Erwin Street to Ferguson Street and the left turn lane for the East Ferguson Street and Broadway Avenue intersection will be closed. Portions of North College Avenue, Ferguson, West Erwin Street, and Broadway near the Downtown Square and Courthouse will close at 5:30 p.m. All roads will be opened on Sunday, May 5.

NACOGDOCHES – A professor at Stephen F. Austin State University has been named a Fulbright Scholar for the 2024-2025 academic year. According to our news partner KETK, Dr. Roslyn Fraser, an associate professor of sociology at SFA, was named to participate in the program.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. Government’s flagship program for international educational and cultural exchange. University faculty members and professionals are selected to do research, teach and produce projects in other countries. As a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Fraser will spend 10 months in Port Louis, Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, researching and teaching graduate courses at the University of Technology, Mauritius

Dr. Fraser said this about receiving the recognition, “It is an honor to be selected to travel to another part of the world to represent our university, our country and the discipline of sociology. That level of recognition has real weight to it. It feels like being told ‘You’re doing good things. Keep it up.’”

TYLER – 11 East Texas hospitals have been given “A” safety ratings for the spring of 2024, which has improved from eight A ratings in Fall 2023. The Leapfrog Group is a nonprofit that studies hospitals across the country for errors, injuries, accidents and infections twice a year in the fall and spring. Our news partners at KETK have put together the following list of East Texas hospitals which were rated on an A to F scale, with A being the safest: Continue reading Spring 2024 safety ratings released for East Texas hospitals

LONGVIEW – Thursday morning, law enforcement was seen stationed at the business location of a murder suspect’s son. According to our news partner KETK, vehicles from the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and DPS were parked outside the Judson Road office of Dr. Kayvan Kamali’s Rheumatology Association of Longview. Kayvan’s father, Reza Kamali, was recently charged in the 2016 murder of Ron Horaney.

Sources say Gregg County is leading the investigation, some DPS troopers were called to assist at the scene. A DPS spokesperson said he believes this event is in connection to the murder investigation of Ron Horaney, in which three people have been charged so far. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office was not able to comment on the situation because of a pending judge-issued gag order.