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LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that Seth Estes Vanover, aged 52 of Diana, has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan to a period of 12 years and 11 months in federal prison. Additionally, Vanover has been mandated to undergo a 15-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and surrender four phones. In July of 2022, undercover agents began an operation designed to lure people into meeting minors for sexual acts. The FBI arrested Vanover in October of 2022 and he resigned from the police department that same day. His patrol car was searched and a cellphone was found. Procecutors said the device contained, “at least 234 videos and 133 photos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants, toddlers, and other young children.”

HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that six individuals were arrested following the execution of a search warrant at a home in the Tool area of Henderson County. Investigators reportedly discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, a shotgun, an ATV that had been reported as stolen from Parker County, and stolen credit cards. Among the arrested were:
-Robert Hogue – Arrested for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana
-Thad Love – Arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, fraudulent possession identifying information
-Robert Chewning – Arrested for possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon
-Ralph Brown – Arrested for possession of marijuana
They were brought to the Henderson County Jail and are currently waiting for their arraignment.

TYLER – The Tyler solid waste department in association with Keep Tyler Beautiful is providing two Christmas tree drop off locations for those in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the drop off locations will be at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park. Those dropping off trees are asked that the tree be non-flocked, not decorated, natural Christmas trees. The city asks that all lights, ornaments, tinsel and garland be removed as well.
Continue reading Tyler Christmas tree recycling locations

TYLER – In an announcement made on Thursday, UT Health East Texas says patients now have full access to MyChart. Services such as paying bills, scheduling appointments and prescription management are now back online. In the release, UT Health also suggested that users reset their passwords and to still expect some small features to still be unavailable on MyChart.

TYLER — The former Bishop of the Diocese of Tyler Bishop, Joseph Strickland, is speaking out over an historic ruling at the Vatican., our news partner KETK reports. On Monday, in a landmark decision, Pope Francis gave formal approval for priests to bless same-sex couples as long as they do not appear to endorse their marriage. “It’s really the first time that there’s been any sort of opening to blessing same sex couples,” said Father James Martin. Members and supporters of the LGBTQ community and traditional Catholics are both reacting differently to the change. Now, Strickland has shared his reaction to the news. “We really simply need to be a united voice saying ‘no, we will not respond to this, we will not incorporate this into the life of the church,’ because we simply must say no.” Strickland said to LifeSiteNews. Strickland has been critical of the Pope in the past and has kept a low-profile since his removal by the Pope on Nov. 11. Continue reading Former Bishop breaks silence over same-sex couples

LONGVIEW — Our news colleagues at KETK report the Longview PD is investigating a shooting that occurred on Tuesday that injured one person. According to a release, Longview officers responded to a shooting at the Preserve Apartments located at 600 W. Avalon Avenue at around 6:24 p.m. When officers arrived, they reportedly discovered a juvenile male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was reportedly taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Officials said the case is ongoing with detectives still gathering information. The public is asked if they have any information on this case to contact Longview PD at 903-237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP(7867) or online at greggcountycrimestoppers.org.

PRINCETON — Three children have reportedly been abducted in the Princeton area. According to our news partner KETK, an Amber Alert has been issued for 16-year-old Zainab Ali, 5-year-old Umar Ali and 8-year-old Ayesha Ali.
Princeton PD suspects 37-year-old Nazia Ali, the mother of the three, as the person taking them. She was driving a black 2017 Mercedes 300 with a Texas license plate NBV-5334. They say the three children left with Ali, their mother, who does not have the rights to the children because of bond conditions.
Continue reading Amber Alert issued for three kids taken in Princeton

HENDERSON COUNTY– A Henderson County Commissioner’s crew is accused of illegally dumping near the Trinity River. According to our news partner KETK, the Henderson County Fire Marshall received a complaint about County Commissioner Precinct 1 work crews dumping items on the property of the Trinity River Authority. The Trinity River Authority supervises the surface water resources of the Trinity River Basin. Due to the complaint, the Fire Marshall’s office and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality are doing a joint investigation.
Continue reading Henderson County personnel accused of illegal dumping

LONGVIEW – Longview Transit, in partnership with R&K Distributors – Your Local Budweiser Distributor, is preparing to provide a “Safe-Ride-Home” on New Year’s Eve. For the seventeenth consecutive year, Longview Transit will give free rides to anyone within the Longview city limits on New Year’s Eve between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. Rides can be scheduled by calling Longview Transit at 903-753-2287 ext.10. The curb to curb service will be available to any destination within the city limits of Longview. The service is offered to the general public, including individuals that have had a couple of drinks or those that simply do not want to drive that evening. Longview Transit encourages riders to schedule trips in advance, if possible. Advanced reservations will begin December 27, 2023, at, 8 a.m. Continue reading Longview Transit Safe-Ride-Home on New Year’s Eve

TYLER — A man was sentenced to one year in prison for his role in an attempt to sell elephant tusks. According to our news partner KETK, Dusty Caudill was sentenced to one year in prison and three years supervised release on Tuesday for conspiracy to transport wildlife in interstate commerce. Caudill was charged alongside two other men. Their federal indictment claimed Caudill posed with the African elephant tusks in Ardmore, Oklahoma for photo and video recordings to promote the sale of the tusks. Another man then sent three photos and two videos to an undercover United States Fish and Wildlife special agent to negotiate the sale of the tusks. Prosecutors said that the tusks had been stolen in a burglary of a home in Ardmore in late 2020. Continue reading Man sentenced for tusk trafficking scheme

LONGVIEW — In a program that started Tuesday, Longview ISD is awarding more than $7.3 million in incentive pay for achieving teachers,. Some of its highest-performing teachers are projected to receive more than $20,000 extra in their December paychecks. The district noted in a press release that 11 of their classroom teachers will make over $100,000 this year.
Continue reading Longview teachers to get big bonus pay

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler received a $300,000 grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for lab research. According to our news partner KETK, the research is going to be headed by Dr. Shashikant Srivastava, a tenured associate professor for the department of medicine and the department of cellular and molecular biology at UT Tyler School of Medicine.
Continue reading UT Tyler gets cystic fibrosis research grant

TEXARKANA — Our news partners at KETK report that one person is dead after a three vehicle wreck on Monday at 7:20 p.m. in Texarkana. According to a release from the Texarkana Texas Police Department, Linda Reed, 66, died when her car was reportedly struck as she attempted to cross North Stateline Avenue from East 9th Street to Hazel Street. The two other drivers were reportedly driving southbound on Stateline. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, police said.