KTBB News, Weather, Talk

HENDERSON COUNTY — A second person was arrested for murder on Wednesday in connection to a shooting death on April 21 near Gun Barrel City. According to an arrest warrant obtained by our news partner KETK, Chelsey White, 31 of Mabank, gave her husband Chaz White a bulletproof vest and firearm he used in a shooting near Gun Barrel City on April 21. The warrant said Chelsey told investigators in an interview that while at home she heard her husband Chaz talk to other people about how a man they knew was passed out in his truck. Chelsey said Chaz was excited about robbing him, according to the warrant, and witnesses told authorities Chaz and the man had problems with each other. Continue reading Second person arrested for murder in shooting near Gun Barrel City

TYLER — One of the animal ambassadors from the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler is set to be featured in a new set of Forever stamps by the USPS. The collection was released May 19th and will feature an image of an Attwater’s prairie chicken from the Caldwell Zoo, according to our news partner KETK. The rest of the collection will display photos of endangered animals selected from Joel Sartore’s National Geographic Photo Ark project, which has documented over 13,000 different species. Attwater’s prairie chickens are native to the southern parts of both Texas and Louisiana, but they are so endangered, they can only be found in two places within our state: the national refuge and the Goliad private reserve. Continue reading Caldwell Zoo’s prairie chicken to be featured on endangered species stamps

TYLER — The City of Tyler is growing and the growth isn’t limited to just one area. “We’re seeing growth in residential and industrial and retail growth,” said Scott Martinez, CEO, Tyler Economic Development Council. According to our news partner KETK, Mayor Don Warren says keeping up with the growth means tackling several major initiatives at the same time.“There’s a lot of rabbits in the hat, and we just got to figure out which one we’re going to pull out next, but there’s going to be something that comes out of that,” said Mayor Don Warren, City of Tyler. Continue reading Mayor Warren talks growth, Tyler’s future

LONGVIEW – Longview High School moved up their graduation date an hour due to the possibility of severe weather Friday night. On May 19, doors will open at 5 p.m. and commencement will begin at 6 p.m. Doors were previously supposed to open at 6 p.m. with graduation to start at 7:30 p.m. Students are recommended to arrive early and be in the Coliseum no later than 5 p.m. Graduates should park in student parking lots or have parents drop them off in the breezeway before they park. Seating is first-come, first-served. Individual seats or sections of seats cannot be reserved.

MARSHALL — Logging crews discovered human skeletal remains while working in Marshall, according to Harrison County officials and our news partner KETK. On Tuesday morning, deputies responded to a call from workers reporting they had found skeletal remains in the area of Harris Lake Road and Stagecoach Road in Marshall. Officials searched the area and confirmed that the bones were those of a human. The remains were sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification’s Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology in Fort Worth. The investigation is ongoing. “I am very proud of our Patrol Deputies, Criminal Investigators, and Crime Scene Investigators for their long hours and commitment to recovering the skeletal remains,” Sheriff BJ Fletcher said.

EAST TEXAS – On Wednesday, several law enforcement organizations worked together in serving search warrants related to a year long investigation involving federal financial crimes. According to our news partner KETK and the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, they have been working with the Department of Homeland Security Dallas Investigations Office for the past year on an investigation throughout East Texas involving crimes that include illegal gambling, conspiracy and money laundering. The targets of this investigation have been several individuals and illegal game rooms being run in Upshur County as well as other locations throughout East Texas. The release stated that this is an “ongoing and fluid case.”

LONGVIEW – A man was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries early Wednesday morning after being shot by Longview police. According to our news partner KETK, police responded to a report of assault family violence around 1:30 a.m. in the 800 block of Ownings Street. “Officers began talking with the involved parties and then attempted to contact the suspect,” officials said. “The suspect then lunged out of a room armed with hammers in each hand and charged at the officers.” Officials said due to the advancing threat, shots were fired and the suspect was shot. Officers on the scene administered first aid and contacted EMS. Charges are pending for the suspect. “The safety of the community is paramount to the Longview Police Department, and the men and women of the department will continue working diligently to protect the community while providing professional policing,” officials said.

TYLER — Tyler police continue to seek your help investigating a homicide. Officers responded to a residence on W. Mims near the Gaston Avenue intersection on February 6th. A person was found inside, dead of a gunshot wound. Police identified the victim as 61-year-old Warren Edward Rogers. Anyone with any information that may assist in this case is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or call Tyler-Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.

TYLER — Paving on Donna Drive, Melinda Lane and Elm Street in Tyler is scheduled to begin today and last through the end of the week. The city is asking residents to refrain from parking vehicles on the roadways while the work is done. Drivers can expect traffic delays in the area. Flaggers will be present. Drivers are reminded to obey the signs and flaggers and drive with caution.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler Houston Engineering Center placed second overall in a NASA design challenge. According to our news partner KETK, they competed against 16 other teams from around Texas including teams from UT Austin and Texas A&M University. They placed first in model/display and peer evaluation, and placed second in oral presentation and design. The team was awarded scholarships in the amount of $750 each. The annual Texas Space Grant Consortium’s NASA Design Challenge attracts collegiate teams from across Texas to propose, design and fabricate a solution towards solving NASA’s research objectives. Continue reading UT Tyler engineering team takes second place in NASA challenge

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Nathaniel Moran and Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, of Georgia, introduced the Proportional Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act. The act is meant to remove the additional permitting process for upgrades that are made to wireless towers. According to a release, with the current law, any changes made to existing wireless towers “must undergo a burdensome environmental and historic preservation reviews.” Moran and Carter believe that this delays broadband improvements which they say makes a difference in getting high-speed internet to rural communities. “Closing the digital divide for those living in rural America is long overdue,” Moran said. “This commonsense legislation reforms the burdensome permitting process that holds back American communities from broadband improvements and access. I am proud to work alongside Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) to introduce this essential piece of legislation that will connect our communities to the rest of America by reducing regulatory barriers needed to make necessary broadband upgrades.”

PITTSBURG – Texas Oncology is set to open a new location in Pittsburg this July, and close their Mount Pleasant location at the end of June. According to our news partner KETK, the new location will occupy nearly 4,000 square feet of space at 408 Quitman Street with renovations slated to start in late May. When it opens, the Texas Oncology Pittsburg location will have a new infusion suite and four exam rooms that give patients medical oncology and hematology services, chemotherapy and specialty infusion, radiation oncology consultation, access to relevant clinical trials and genetic risk evaluation and testing. Continue reading Texas Oncology to open new Pittsburg cancer center

ATHENS – Two Athens police officers were hurt while chasing a suspect after a traffic stop. According to our news partner KETK, the traffic stop happened Monday afternoon. Officer Matthew Halbert and his training officer, Cpl. Melissa Goss, stopped a silver four-door sedan driven by 41-year-old Jonathan D. Cumby with 39-year-old Glendon Armstrong as a passenger. During the stop, officers reportedly found that Armstrong had an outstanding warrant and suspected Cumby could be in possession of narcotics. Authorities said Cumby fled the scene while the officers investigated. Goss pursued him and reportedly broke her femur while trying to apprehend him. Halbert suffered a sprained knee during the altercation, but detained Cumby with the help of nearby onlookers. Armstrong was arrested on his outstanding warrant and Cumby was charged with aggravated assault against a public servant, evading arrest and resisting arrest. Both officers were taken to an Athens hospital for treatment. Goss was held overnight and Halbert was treated and released.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A man was arrested on Monday for murder in connection to a shooting that left a 25-year-old woman dead near Gun Barrel City on April 21. According to our news partner KETK, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said Chaz White, 32, of Mabank, was arrested after a tactical team came to his home and took him into custody based on arrest and search warrants that were issued. About a week after the shooting, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said the shooting that killed a woman, identified as Alexis Garoutte, was believed to be drug-related. “We located methamphetamine, we located heroin and we located a pretty large amount of fentanyl,” Hillhouse said. “We’ve been working on this case ever since.” The sheriff’s office said more arrests could come in connection to their ongoing investigation.

LONGVIEW – A man was arrested for intoxication manslaughter early Saturday morning after a single-car crash left a 23-year-old passenger dead, according to our news partner KETK. Longview police responded to the crash on West Methvin Street around 2 a.m. and found that Hunter Tigert, 22, of Lone Star, was driving a black Dodge Charger at a high speed with three passengers inside. Officials say the car failed to navigate a curve and left the roadway, and struck a brick building. Sydney Van Rijn, 23, of Longview, was taken to a local hospital where she later died of her injuries. The other two passengers were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Tigert, who sustained injuries in the crash, was taken to a local hospital before being arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail. He was released after posting a $30,000 bond.