KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation is continuing to host a virtual public meeting regarding the six-lane widening project on FM 2493, more commonly known as Old Jacksonville Highway, with an in-person option set for Tuesday. Officials encourage you to participate and share your comments on improving safety and mobility along the highway from Loop 323 to FM 2813. The virtual public meeting remains available through Wednesday, April 12. The in-person public meeting will be held in a come-and-go format March 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the Regional Training and Development Complex on the Tyler Junior College West Campus. Click this link for all the details.

TYLER — The railroad crossing on E. Line St. between Spring and Center Avenues in Tyler will be closed for maintenance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 29. Officials say Union Pacific Railroad and the City of Tyler Streets Department will be doing routine maintenance on the railroad crossing and the roadway near the intersection. Detours will be in place at North Spring and North Center. The City of Tyler urges drivers to use caution and obey all traffic signs and detours in the area.

MARSHALL — The Texas A&M Forest Service is conducting a controlled burn in Harrison County, northeast of Marshall, and officials say wind conditions have caused smoke to hover within Marshall’s city limits. Authorities say this will be a two-day controlled burn. Representatives from the Forest Service have indicated that workers will complete the burn Tuesday after ceasing operations Monday.

TYLER — Portions of the roadways at the South Broadway Avenue and Grande Boulevard intersection will be closed nightly beginning March 29. Officials say lane closures are needed while contractors work on sewer lines in the area. Contractors will be working at night to minimize the impact on traffic, according to a news release. The construction is scheduled for March 29 through March 31 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers can expect traffic delays in the area. The City of Tyler urges motorists to use caution and obey all traffic signs in the area.

MARSHALL — The East Texas Council of Governments last week honored regional citizens who exemplify excellence in performance, innovation, and contributions to the community, according to a news release. The awards were handed out at ETCOG’s 103rd Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting at Bear Creek Smokehouse in Marshall. Top first responders, the Citizens of the Year, and the Corporate Citizen of the Year were recognized, along with recipients of honors for statesmanship and committee service. Click here for the full report.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College will host its 12th annual “50 Gallon Challenge” Monday-Friday, March 27-31, at various TJC locations. All donors will receive a free T-shirt and a Carter BloodCare water bottle, and will be entered to win prizes each day. Since TJC and Carter BloodCare teamed up for the “50 Gallon Challenge” 12 years ago, the event has raised more than 500 gallons of the blood and potentially saved more than 13,000 lives, according to a news release. “Tyler is a very giving community, and we rely on their support to help us reach this big goal,” said TJC Director of Student Life Lauren Tyler as quoted in the release. “Each year we’ve held the blood drive, we’ve had great support from our students, faculty and staff and the great people of Tyler.” Click this link for more information.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District for the week of March 27. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance will have a ditch maintenance crew on FM 850 at various locations. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. Once complete, the crew will move to FM 15 for mill operations and leveling. Traffic will be controlled by flaggers. In Gregg County, Longview maintenance, with assistance from Special Crews, will be conducting fog seal operations on FM 2011, from FM 2087 to SH 322. Traffic will be controlled by flaggers and a pilot car. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

AUSTIN – A Flint resident claimed a top prize winning ticket worth $1 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game 200X Cash Blitz. According to a news release, the ticket was purchased at Uncle’s 130203 in Midland. The claimant elected to remain anonymous. This was the second of four top prizes worth $1 million to be claimed in this game. 200X Cash Blitz offers more than $145 million in total prizes. Overall odds of winning any prize in the game are one in 3.68, including break-even prizes, according to the release.

MARSHALL — Marshall Police Department announced that officers shot a man in downtown Marshall on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, officials said they received reports about a man who was dressed in a trench coat and walking in the middle of the road carrying a rifle, around 11:23 p.m. on Saturday. According to Marshall PD, the responding officers found the man, Shimon Faggett, 43, and repeatedly asked him to drop what they thought was a rifle. The officers then shot Faggett after he allegedly pointed what turned out to be a replica weapon at them, officials said. Continue reading Officer-involved shooting in Marshall under investigation

TYLER – A 2023 report said that recreational fishing created $117.9 million in business for Texas’ first congressional district. According to our news partner KETK, this includes Texarkana, Longview and Tyler. The American Sportfishing Association’s 2023 Economic Contributions of Recreational Fishing: U.S. Congressional Districts report shows 110,100 district one anglers made $117.9 million in purchases support over 1,310 jobs throughout the district. Across Texas, 4,313,700 anglers spent $4.6 billion on fishing, supporting 51,380 Texas fishing jobs, meaning that Texas has the second largest recreational fishing industry in the United States, according to the American Sportfishing Association. ASA said the report’s data is based upon angler participation and spending from 2021 data.

KARNACK – The Texas Department of Public Safety says a suspect died following an officer-involved shooting in Harrison County on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office says the Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting. The suspect’s name was not immediately released. Authorities said deputies were called Thursday due to a fight on Lotta Road in Karnack and that led to the officer-involved shooting. The sheriff asked the Texas Rangers to investigate, which is part of law enforcement protocol. Authorities said they will share more information when it becomes available.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Parks and Recreation Department has re-scheduled a grand opening at Noble E. Young Park. The event, previously set for April 6, will now be held Saturday, April 15, at 1 p.m. According to a news release, the purpose is to bring the community together to celebrate updates to the park. Officials say the new and improved features include restrooms, an art mural, a parking lot with a new location, a mile-long and eight-foot-wide walking trail, picnic tables and benches, a pavilion, a children’s bike park, and an outdoor gym. The park is located on Towne Park Drive in southwestern Tyler. Funding for the project was provided through the Community Development Block Grant program. For more information about Tyler Parks and Rec improvement projects, visit this link or call (903) 531-1370.

TYLER — Two people are arrested and jailed in a double homicide in Tyler. Police say Aaron Johnson, 20, is charged with capital murder with a $2,000,000 bond. Nicholas Hudson, 18, faces two counts of murder, each with a $1,000,000 bond. Authorities say police responded to the Royal Crest Apartments on Sybil Lane Thursday night and found a vehicle in the parking lot with two people dead of multiple gunshot wounds. They were later identified as Donovan Dodd, 19, and Ladarius Jackson, 17, both from Athens. A short time later, police got a call from another victim on Park Place who had been shot at the apartment complex. Police now say that person was Aaron Johnson, who was taken to the hospital and released before police announced his capital murder charge. We’ll provide further details as they come in.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Road 188, east of the Emerald Bay Lake subdivision, is back open to drivers after a bridge was replaced. According to a news release, County Engineer Frank Davis said contractor Reynolds & Kay completed the bridge replacement and paving. Officials say work crews will remain in the area over the next two to three weeks to install the guard rail and stripe the pavement. The portion of the road that was closed since February 27 was located between FM 344 and FM 346. A narrow bridge was replaced with a concrete box culvert.