KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Keep Tyler Beautiful’s annual Great Tyler Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 1. KTyB is inviting volunteers to show pride in their city by coming together for this community-wide cleanup, according to a city news release. As part of the Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off and the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup, this is a nationwide event occurring in April. The Great Tyler Cleanup will be hosted from Southside Park, and volunteers are encouraged to meet at the tent for registration. Sign-up will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the cleanup will begin at 9 a.m. Click here for more information.

TYLER — Two iPads with electronic copies of the City Council meeting agenda now sit outside the doors of the Tyler City Council Chambers. The new technology is available where dozens of note cards and a pen previously sat in a basket. The iPads allow residents to electronically sign in if they wish to speak on an agenda item during the bi-weekly City Council meeting or the monthly Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. According to a news release, Chief Information Officer Benny Yazdanpanahi challenged the City’s IT technicians to automate the sign-in process and eliminate the cards and stack of papers that used to sit by the doors. “We did this with zero funding,” said IT Specialist Khaled Elsayed as quoted in a news release. “We used tools available to us through our Microsoft licensing.” Continue reading City’s IT Department automates meeting sign-in process

TYLER — The City Council voted Wednesday to enter into an advanced funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for two Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Projects. The first project is an LED curve warning system and profile pavement markings, which will be installed through the reverse curve on West Grande Boulevard. The LED curve warning system and profile pavement markings were safety improvements recommended in the West Grande Boulevard Reverse Curve study. The total construction cost of the project is currently estimated at $134,704.79. Continue reading City, TxDOT to implement safety measures

TYLER — A second restaurant on South Broadway in Tyler has temporarily closed due to a mishap. According to our news partner KETK, 32-year-old Zachary Clark was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, third offense, after police say he crashed into the dining room of Jason’s Deli Monday night. The vehicle reportedly went through the front door of the restaurant into the dining room and crashed into the wall between Jason’s Deli and Marble Slab. No one was injured, and Clark was released from jail on Tuesday. The restaurant shared on social media that it will be closed for some time. “We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to reopen as soon as possible,” Jason’s Deli said. The Sonic on South Broadway remained temporarily closed following a fire that broke out Monday morning.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO) is seeking public input in an effort known as Advance Longview. According to a news release, Advance Longview is a planning initiative underway to identify strategies that will lead to continued economic development success in the community. Officials say the effort will explore a variety of issues related to job creation and retention in Longview. Residents have the opportunity to participate in the study through an online survey. According to a news release, the survey takes only a few minutes to complete, and a broad range of participants is needed. Advance Longview also includes interviews and surveys of employers. Click here for more detailed information.

TYLER – A Tyler man was arrested on multiple charges over the weekend after an eight-month search related to a child injury case in which he is alleged to have hit his infant son. According to our news partner KETK, Lasabien Ford, 26, was arrested Saturday for assault family violence, assaulting a public servant, obstruction, possession of a controlled substance between three and 28 grams, resisting arrest, failure to identify as a fugitive, evading arrest, and on a felony warrant. In May, Tyler police announced they were searching for Ford, and that he had an open warrant for his arrest. According to his arrest warrant, Ford allegedly held down the infant’s mother on his bed while she was holding the child after she came to pick him up from Ford, who had been watching him. Continue reading Tyler man wanted for injury to child arrested after eight-month search

TYLER – A Houston woman has been sentenced in Tyler federal court to 18 months prison for illegal transport of aliens. According to a news release, Maria Elizabeth Lopez, 48, pleaded guilty on August 18, 2022, to engaging in a conspiracy to transport certain aliens for commercial and private financial gain. According to information presented in court, on October 3, 2021, deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office stopped Lopez for a traffic violation and discovered 24 Hispanic individuals in the Chevrolet Suburban she was driving. Federal agents responded to the scene and determined that each of the passengers in the Suburban had illegally entered the United States and that Lopez had been hired to transport the individuals to destinations in Mississippi and Florida. Lopez also admitted during the investigation that she had previously transported illegal aliens in the same manner.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Board of Trustees Monday voted to approve the District and Boshears calendars for the 2023-2024 school year. The first day of school for students will be Wednesday, August 16, 2023, and the last day of school will be Friday, May 24, 2024. Officials say that fulfills a prominent request among families and District staff to wrap up the school year before Memorial Day. The first day of school for students in the Boshears Center for Exceptional Programs will also be Wednesday, August 16, 2023, and their last day will be Friday, July 12, 2024. The newly adopted district calendar continues to feature the nine-week grading periods. Click this link for more information.

TYLER — Longtime Smith County employee Ralph Caraway Jr. took the oath of office Tuesday after being appointed by the Commissioners Court as Smith County Precinct 1 constable. The appointment followed the resignation of Curtis Traylor-Harris. Caraway was appointed and sworn in as interim constable July 8, 2022, while Harris was awaiting trial on felony charges. He has since been convicted and is awaiting appeal, according to a county news release. Since Traylor-Harris sent a resignation letter to County Judge Neal Franklin and it was approved by the Commissioners Court Tuesday, Caraway will now serve as Precinct 1 Constable until the 2024 Primary and General Elections are held. Click here to read more.

AUSTIN — On Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced Senate committee assignments for the 88th Legislature. Sen. Bryan Hughes was appointed chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence and reappointed chairman for the Committee on State Affairs, our news partner KETK reports. Hughes is serving his second term in the Texas Senate, representing 16 counties in East Texas. Continue reading Senator Hughes appointed Chairman for two committees in 88th Legislature

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Emergency Services District 2 announced on Monday a new fire chief was hired “after an extensive search.” According to our news partner KETK, Fire Chief Eric Greaser assumed the role on Jan. 9. “I am honored to be of service to the citizens of Smith County and the members of Smith County ESD 2,” Greaser said. According to the department, Greaser comes to Smith County with over 30 years of fire service and most recently served as the fire chief for the town of Flower Mound. Continue reading Smith County ESD 2 hires new fire chief

TYLER – Sonic Drive-In on South Broadway Avenue is closed until further notice after a fire started in the kitchen early Monday morning, according to Tyler Fire Marshal Paul Findley. First responders arrived on the scene around 5:30 a.m. According to our news partner KETK, the fire caused traffic delays, with one lane of traffic blocked by first responder vehicles and fire officials. Findley says the fire started at the deep fryer in the kitchen and spread to the attic and through the roof. Initial 911 calls revealed that flames were coming from the roof of the building, and first responders confirmed the claim upon arrival. Continue reading Sonic closed until further notice after fire

TYLER — The University of Texas System and UT Tyler Monday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Monday in Tyler’s midtown medical district for a $308 million Medical Education Building, which will house UT Tyler’s new School of Medicine. Governor Greg Abbott Greg Abbott headed the list of dignitaries offering remarks. He was joined by UT System Chairman Kevin Eltife, UT Chancellor James Milliken, and UT Tyler President Kirk Calhoun. As heard on our news partner KETK, among other things, Abbott said the new medical school “inspires generations of people,” with the groundbreaking ceremony “making a generational change.” Continue reading UT Tyler breaks ground on new medical school building

GRAND SALINE – There is “no imminent danger” to any Grand Saline ISD students after a middle schooler allegedly said he would bring a gun to school, the district’s superintendent said. According to our news partner KETK, Superintendent Micah Lewis said the situation, in which the student allegedly said over the weekend “he might bring a gun to school to protect himself,” is under investigation. According to Lewis, this serves as a reminder to parents to caution their children about what they say on social media. Anyone with questions is asked to call their campus principal or Lewis.

NACOGDOCHES – A second student-athlete at Stephen F. Austin State University has died following a wreck. According to our news partner KETK, officials announced the death of football player Graylan Spring, earlier listed in critical condition. They had previously shared news of the death of baseball player Micah McAfoose. A candlelight vigil in their honor was scheduled for Monday evening at Homer Bryce Stadium on campus. McAfoose, 18, and Spring, 19, died after the Friday wreck just north of Corrigan. Continue reading Second SFA student athlete dies after crash