KTBB News, Weather, Talk

PALESTINE – A man has been arrested after leading police on a chase that ended in a crash and a seizure of drugs and a firearm according to our news partners at KETK. On June 26, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office alerted the Palestine Police Department that a Nissan Altima driven by a Black male in a white shirt had been involved in an assault on a peace officer that led to a pursuit. An officer found the reported vehicle by confirming the license plate number and attempted to stop it on East Palestine Avenue near Gardner Drive. The release stated that the vehicle did not stop and a pursuit continued down Highway 155 before the driver left the roadway after trying to turn onto North Loop 256 at a high speed and crashed. Continue reading Drugs, synthetic urine seized after police chase through East Texas ends in crash

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department will be adding additional officers on the street utilizing STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) starting on Friday, June 30th through Wednesday, July 5th. The program is based on crash data in the city limits of Tyler that allows Tyler officers to pin-point target problem areas. Officials said with increased traffic in Tyler for the 4th of July holiday, officers will be specifically watching for hazardous violations such as speeding, intersection enforcement, seat belt violations and impaired drivers.

KILGORE – Wednesday morning all the work paid off as the 84th Kilgore College Rangerette Line was revealed. According to our news partner KETK, 32 freshmen have earned a spot on this years team. With 9 of the Rangerette’s hailing from East Texas. The new freshmen for the 84th line are:
Continue reading The 84th Kilgore College Rangerette line is introduced

MARSHALL — The cause of a train derailment at Marshall Depot Wednesday morning, involving a Union Pacific train carrying a cargo of vehicles remains under investigation, officials said. No one was injured and no environmental issues were reported when eight freight cars of a train derailed Wednesday morning, according to the City of Marshall via the Marshall News Messenger. Union Pacific officials said the derailment occurred about 8 a.m. “At about 8:00, an estimated eight rail cars on a Union Pacific train derailed in Marshall, Texas,” Robynn Tysver with Union Pacific media relations told the Marshall News Messenger. “The incident occurred west of the intersection of Van Zandt Avenue and N. Franklin Street,” she said. Continue reading No injuries in Marshall train derailment

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK are reporting that a pedestrian is dead after being struck by a truck on SH 110 Monday night just north of Tyler. According to a DPS report, Harold Hagler, 52, of Longview, was walking across the road around 9:30 p.m. when he was struck by a Ford F-150. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver of the truck was reported to not have been injured. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER – The City Council approved new regulations to manage utilities in the City’s Right-of-Way (ROW) and easements on Wednesday, June 28. The updated Chapter 15 Code of Ordinance Article VI includes provisions for ROW cleanliness, removing old and abandoned facilities, and insurance and bonding requirements. The amendments are needed to reduce resident complaints and ensure the removal of unused poles and boxes and set more permitting requirements. Continue reading City implements more stringent rules to manage utilities in the right-of-way

LONGVIEW — A man has been arrested after an apartment shooting in Longview left a woman injured. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday morning, around 7:20 a.m. Longview officials responded to reports of a shooting that took place at an apartment complex located on Young Street. Upon arrival, police said they found a female victim with a gunshot wound and had her taken to a local hospital by EMS with a non-life threatening injury. During their investigation, police said they identified Larry Anthony Jr., 26, as the suspect and detained him before taking him to the Longview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division. The release stated that detectives obtained a warrant for Anthony’s arrest, charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon – family violence and booked him into the Gregg County Jail.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – U.S. authorities have announced the arrests of four men they say were part of a human smuggling effort last year that ended in the deaths of 53 migrants, including eight children, who were left in a tractor-trailer in the scorching Texas summer. The four new arrests were made Monday in Houston, San Antonio and Marshall. Authorities said on the anniversary of the June 27, 2022, tragedy that the four Mexican nationals had a planning role in the smuggling operation, and were aware that the trailer’s air-conditioning unit was malfunctioning and would not blow cool air to migrants trapped inside during the sweltering three-hour ride from the border city of Laredo to San Antonio. Continue reading US arrests 4 Mexican nationals in deaths of 53 migrants trapped in hot tractor-trailer

TYLER — It has been years in development, a food truck park will be in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the plans for the park were started in 2016, but when the downtown project was put on hold, so was the park. In January, city officials approved the South Broadway location for the food truck park. It will be in the parking lot of the old Shogan restaurant. The current plan has this location for up to eight food trucks. Food truck owners can use the Shogun kitchen for food prep. Lot planners say they feel having all the trucks in the northwest corner of the location will give better parking to customers on the property. Special use permits will be available for one year and subject to renewal for all food trucks participating. At this time, there is no set date when the Tyler food truck park will be opening.

TYLER – It is being reported that an investigation has initiated into the The Catholic Diocese of Tyler and Bishop Joseph Strickland. According to our news partner KETK, the National Catholic Reporter talked to a spokeswoman from the Diocese on Monday, who confirmed there was an apostolic visitation last week. A reason was not given for the visitation. A apostolic visitation is when a papal rep travels on assignment to investigate a situation. A report is then submitted to the Vatican at the conclusion of the investigation. The Pope then decides is any action is deemed necessary. There is speculation from some Catholic news agencies that the papal visitation is due to Bishop Strickland’s strong on-line presence. However, some say it could be the Vatican having questions about management of the Tyler diocese.

TYLER – A Jacksonville, Texas man has been convicted of federal sex trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs Tuesday. Desnique Deshawn Herndon, 27, was convicted of six counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. Herndon was found guilty of all counts by a jury following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker. Continue reading Cherokee County Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking Teens in Tyler Area

WINONA- Winona ISD announced Tuesday the hiring of a new principal for Winona High School. According to our news partner KETK, Mark Hageman is the new principal. He has been an educator for 18 years and comes to Winona from Chapel Hill ISD. Upon his hiring Hageman said, “I am excited about the opportunity to lead such a vibrant and dynamic school community. Winona High School has a tradition of excellence, and I am committed to continuing that tradition while also promoting innovation and growth.” Hageman, earned his Bachelor Of Science at Stephen F. Austin University and is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.

TYLER – The Junior League of Tyler supports Tyler area nonprofits on an annual basis through grant requests voted on by Junior League of Tyler members. Starting now through September 1, 2023, eligible non-profits can apply for grant-based funds from the Junior League of Tyler. The service-based organization has given more than $8 million back to the community since its founding in 1960 and will continue to provide to selected community projects and endeavors. Throughout its history, the Junior League of Tyler has awarded grants to over a hundred community organizations and was instrumental in founding The Discovery Science Place, The Tyler Museum of Art, and Hospice of East Texas, among others. Continue reading Junior League of Tyler Seeks Grant Applications from Community Nonprofits

LONGVIEW — More than a week later, East Texans are still recovering from severe storms. Some may wonder what to do with the debris in their yard or overflowing trashcans of food that went bad. Our news partner KETK checked in with the City of Longview and Upshur County to get some answers about post-storm cleanup.

Upshur County has four dumpster locations for people to throw out their rotten food. “Big Sandy, Ore City, Diana and one in Gilmer at the civic center,” said Nichols, Upshur County Emergency Management Coordinator. Those will be available for county residents until Wednesday, June 28. The City of Longview Sanitation and Recycling shared how they are working through the mess left behind. “Don’t panic, we are actually doing a city-wide sweep, we’re actually going down every street, one by one we will be cleaning up all of the debris from the trees that they put out.” The City of Longview is also taking the recycle bins to the landfill this week, they know many people needed to use them to throw away spoiled food.

HARRISON COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK on June 26, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a male identifying himself as Tyler Martin, an Investigator with Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office sent out a social media notification verifying that this information is false and Tyler Martin does not work for the Sheriff’s Office. The suspect is allegedly cloning the sheriff’s office phone number which is 903-923-4000. He is claimed to be informing individuals that they haven’t appeared to their civil court case that they were summoned for.

The sheriff’s office describes the scam on their Facebook: “In order for the individuals to not be placed in jail they have to deposit cash in a gas station “Bit K” Machine. Once all the cash has been deposited Martin will no longer contact you and you will not be able to contact him on the number he provides due to it being a false number.”

The sheriff’s office would like the public to know not to fall for these tactics and to stay safe. “Please be aware that this is a scam and the Sheriff’s Office will not direct you to do such thing,” said the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.