KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE – The Kilgore Police Department is increasing officer presence on Stone Road after two vehicles crashed on Wednesday, leaving two people injured. The crash in east Kilgore happened in front of the Dollar General near the intersection of Highway 259. Law enforcement said the collision was caused by dangerous speeds, when a vehicle towing a trailer rear-ended another vehicle as it was attempting to turn into the store and pushed it into oncoming traffic.

Kilgore Police Chief Todd Hunter told KETK News that in the month of February there were 15 speeding stops on Stone Road, and more than 200 in all of 2025. The speed limit on Stone Road drops from 50 to 45, but many residents feel like drivers go much faster.

The hope is that the additional police presence can slow drivers down, but that the changes shouldn’t stop there. Kilgore PD confirmed that both drivers involved in Wednesday’s crash are recovering.

ANDERSON COUNTY — A $16 billion natural gas project is headed to East Texas following a Thursday meeting between President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, marking one of the region’s largest energy investments in recent years. East Texas Rep. Cody Harris, whose district includes Anderson County—the planned site of the new natural gas generation hub—said the project would create roughly 3,000 long term, high paying jobs and give local taxing entities room to lower property taxes.

According to our news partner KETK, the jobs will be high paying positions and since the project is entirely within their school tax district, it will generate a significant boost for their education funding.

The $16 billion Anderson County natural gas project is a part of a larger $550 billion that the United States and Japan negotiated in 2025. As part of the deal, Japan will invest $550 billion into projects across the United States in exchange for a reduced 15% tariff on all U.S. imports of Japanese products, rather than the 25% tariff that President Trump proposed in July 2025. Continue reading Agreement brings major energy project

RUSK COUNTY — The man accused in the killing of a Rusk County woman has waived extradition in Arkansas and is expected to be returned to Texas soon to face charges, according to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities confirmed that the case is rooted in domestic violence, with family members confirming several instances of violence. While investigators are not releasing specific details about what led up to the murder, According to our news partner KETK, a concerned family member contacted law enforcement after becoming worried about the victim’s safety.

Deputies were dispatched to conduct a welfare check at a home off County Road 3122 on Wednesday afternoon. When deputies arrived, they knocked repeatedly but received no answer. They then forced entry into the home and discovered the victim, identified as Amanda Thompson, deceased inside.

Investigators quickly identified a suspect who had left the residence shortly before deputies arrived. Surveillance footage helped authorities determine the vehicle he was driving, and they were able to obtain his phone number. Tracking data indicated he was traveling toward Arkansas. Continue reading Suspect waives extradition in murder hearing

LUFKIN – A man was arrested on Sunday after more than 11 pounds of marijuana were found during a traffic stop in Lufkin. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), said a DPS trooper did a traffic stop on a 2021 Kia at around 1:30 a.m. in Lufkin on U.S. Highway 59. The officer searched the vehicle found around 11.5 pounds of marijuana in bags during the stop.

An unidentified 27-year-old man from Moulton was arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana. He is in the Angelina County Jail. The investigation is being continued by DPS and local law enforcement.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department is searching for a suspect who shot at a man on Thursday afternoon. According to Tyler PD Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh and our news partner KETK, the shooting occurred at the intersection of North Border Avenue and Morris Street at around 4:20 p.m. The suspect, who reportedly knew the victim, shot at him and the victim’s vehicle from with in a nearby residence.

The victim sustained minor injuries from the shooting and was transported to a local hospital for treatment by EMS. Erbaugh said the department is following leads and the case is still under investigation.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been given 10 years in prison for violating his parole from a 2021 dog attack case after he was found guilty of a 2024 dog attack case in February. Martin Gilbert Rodriguez was found guilty of a 2024 fatal dog attack on Feb. 11 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. When 46-year-old Kenneth Pierson was killed in the 2024 dog attack, Rodriguez was on probation from a non-fatal dog attack that happened in 2021.

According to our news partner KETK, Rodriguez’s probation for his 2021 attack by dog causing serious injury case was revoked in light of his Feb. 11 sentence. Rodriguez was then given an amended 10-year prison sentence for that 2021 case.

His 10-year sentence will be served after the completion of his 15-year sentence which started on Feb. 22.

LUFKIN — An AI-technology company based out of Nevada entered a purchase and sale agreement with Jefferson Enterprise Energy, LLC for a 132-acre property in Lufkin, according to a filing from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The purchase of the property cost the AI-company, 1606 Corp., a total of $11,168,864, consisting of $7 million in cash that must be paid at closing on April 15. Included in the purchase are associated development rights, improvements and equipment.

A press release filed with the SEC said the property has a 50,000-square-foot warehouse, which is capable of supporting large-scale data center infrastructure.

1606 Corp. believes the purchase of the site is “attractive” for potential partnerships with data center operators looking to develop new data centers in the area.

MARSHALL – The City of Marshall remains in a full-scale water emergency as crews continue struggling to repair a major break in one of the city’s largest water transmission lines.

Efforts to fully restore water service across the city are progressing more slowly than expected. Current water demand continues to exceed production capacity.

Water production resumed at 11:45 p.m.,Thursday, March 19. However, the system-wide loss during the shutdown has changed the timeline for full restoration. As of this morning, water service is expected to return to normal operational levels by approximately 6 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, March 21.

Most residents should now have access to water for essential needs, including hygiene, toilet flushing, hand-washing, and food preparation with boiled water.

Residents are strongly urged to conserve water to allow the system to recover and return to normal operational levels. The Stage 4 Emergency Status, Outdoor Burn ban, and Boil Water Notice all remain in e

TROUP – Troup City Council has decided to call off their May 2 elections, calling two city council seat elections and the mayor’s race. The city council unanimously decided to declare Mayor Jeff Hale, Council Place 2 Nelson Darden and Council Place 4 Susan Adams as the winners in their individual races since they’re all running unopposed following the recent primary elections.

Since the three candidates are running unopposed, the council decided there would be no need to go ahead with the May 2 election. The City of Lufkin also recently cancelled their May 2 election for similar reasons.

JACKSONVILLE – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed David Broom to serve as the new District Attorney for the 2nd Judicial District in Cherokee County. Before being appointed, Broom served as an assistant district attorney in the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office and is a member of the Texas State Bar and the Cherokee County Bar Association.

Broom was appointed to the position after Abbott named the now former Cherokee County District Attorney, Jonathan Richey, to be judge of the 369th Judicial District Court. Broom holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from UT Tyler and a law degree from the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law.

SMITH COUNTY – One person is confirmed to have been injured following a crash in Smith County on Wednesday afternoon involving an ATV. The crash occurred in rural Tyler at around 4:40 p.m. and involved an ATV and a Honda. Smith County ESD 2 confirmed that one person was injured in the crash but could not confirm whether they were the driver of the Honda or the ATV.

SMITH COUNTY — A woman has been arrested after reportedly stealing more than $100,000 from an East Texas nonprofit. According to our news partner KETK, Palestine Police said they received a report of a possible embezzlement on Friday involving 75-year-old Jo Ellen Walley, the former treasurer of Harvey Women’s Club, a nonprofit.

During the investigation, detectives learned that Walley had made several transactions paying herself or personal bills from the club accounts amounting to more than $100,000 throughout the last few years.

Walley was taken into custody on Monday after officers executed a search warrant of her home on Chaparrel Run. She was booked into the Smith County Jail and charged with misapplication of fiduciary property.

 

HENDERSON COUNTY – A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board has been released, providing more details on what may have caused the plane crash in Henderson County earlier this year that killed two people. According to our news partner KETK, two holes were found in the engine crankcase after examining the plane following the crash. Additionally, oil was found above the windscreen on the fuselage. The plane was later transported to a secure location for further examination.

The crash occurred on Feb. 11 after the plane was traveling from Orlando, Florida, to Dallas and was piloted by Ron Timmermans, who was accompanied by his wife, Barbara, and their dog. During the flight, Ron contacted traffic control after crossing Lake Palestine, declaring an emergency, stating that there was oil on the airplane’s windscreen. Ron later informed traffic control that he was planning to land at Echo Lake Airport in Murchison, the report said. During the landing at around 5:15 p.m., the plane struck a power line pole and nosedived on the eastern side of the airport on the front lawn of a private residence, killing Ron and Barbara.

Timmermans’ family said that prior to the flight, Ron held an airline transport certificate and a flight instructor certificate. Ron was also an active flight instructor in Florida and Texas.

HENDERSON COUNTY – A Mabank man has been found guilty and sentenced to three life terms for multiple child abuse-related crimes, according to Henderson County District Attorney Jenny Palmer. Accord to our news partner KETK, Palmer said that 40-year-old of Mabank, received the sentences last week after being convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a young child, aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child.

The charges stem from April 2023, when a mother brought her 13-year-old child to a hospital for medical concerns. The child told medical staff she had been sexually abused by Henley, a family member.

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case. Authorities said DNA evidence confirmed Henley had sexually abused the victim. During the investigation, the victim’s sibling also reported she had been abused by Henley, beginning when she was 9 years old.

Henley’s life sentence for continuous sexual abuse is without parole, making him ineligible for release.

TYLER – The City of Tyler will welcome a delegation from its sister city Yachiyo, Japan, from March 25 through March 30, marking the 30th official trip in a partnership that has spanned more than three decades and resulted in over 780 community members collaborating across the Pacific.

The visit celebrates a relationship first established by twinning ceremonies in 1992, with ties strengthened through educational, cultural, and business exchanges that continue to enrich both communities. 

The delegation of 15 representatives will receive an official greeting at Tyler City Hall on Thursday, March 26 at 8:30 a.m. A welcome ceremony and gift exchange will be led by Mayor Don Warren, members of the Tyler City Council, and City officials. 
Continue reading Sister cities together again

HENDERSON – A corrections officer was arrested on March 12 following the discovery of burritos containing tobacco being smuggled into the Bradshaw State Jail. According to an arrest affidavit and our news partner KETK, Investigator Daniel Johnson from the Office of Inspector General responded to the Bradshaw Unit on March 12 after tobacco was reported to be found in a bathroom trash can.

Immediately before locating the contraband, unit staff reported that James Thibodeaux, a correctional officer, was observed exiting the restroom. Investigators were able to make contact with Thibodeaux, who agreed to speak to them. Thibodeaux reportedly admitted to investigators that he received payment to drop burritos containing tobacco into the bathroom trash can, with the intention of an inmate receiving them. Thibodeaux was booked into the Rusk County Jail with the charges of prohibited substance/item in a correctional or civil commitment facility. He had a $15,000 bond and was released two days later.

UPDATE: The deceased truck driver has been identified as Tammy Lee Asher, a 59-year-old female from Beaumont, Texas. Her family has been notified. All lanes of Loop 49 are open. The scene has cleared, and traffic can resume on Loop 49. This case remains under investigation, according to Tyler Police Department Public information Officer Andy Erbaugh.

The crash between two 18-wheelers occurred Wednesday morning when a westbound truck had careened into the eastbound lanes, colliding with another truck head on. The driver of the westbound truck was pronounced deceased on scene. Traffic at Old Jacksonville Highway and Highway 69 is being diverted and drivers are urged to take alternate routes.

QUITMAN – Following a severe water line break, all Quitman ISD campuses released early on WednesdaY, that according to our news partner KETK. The school announced on Wednesday morning that a broken main water line at the elementary campus was being worked on. A maintenance team assessed the situation and found that repairs would not be completed in a timely manner. Buses began their routes at 11:30 a.m, and parents needing to make arrangements for their child should contact the campus’s front office.

TYLER — The City of Tyler hosted an open house on Tuesday morning to provide updates on the progress of improvements to the downtown square.

During the open house, city officials announced that construction on College Street is expected to be completed by May, when it will transition from a one-way street to a two-way street. Officials used renderings to outline the timeline for the remainder of the development and discussed the expected benefits of the ongoing work. The project aims to improve safety and accessibility in the area through infrastructure changes and updated traffic patterns.

Garnett Brookshire, co-owner of the Plaza Tower, has monitored the construction progress from his office window. He noted that the project represents a significant capital investment that could change the district’s atmosphere. Continue reading Downtown square improvement update

TYLER — A man accused of firing multiple shots at a vehicle during a dispute in Tyler on Monday told deputies that the confrontation stemmed from an argument over unpaid money for porcelain dolls, according to a Smith County arrest warrant. According to our news partner KETK, deputies responded at about 1:40 p.m. to the 2200 block of Montgomery Gardens Boulevard on a report of deadly conduct. Upon arrival, authorities contacted the suspect, identified as Alex Zavalla, who had already been detained by troopers of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to arresting documents, Zavalla told deputies he had taken “porcelain dolls” from a woman’s home because she had not repaid money she owed him. The woman later arrived at Zavalla’s residence with another individual, prompting a confrontation.

Zavalla told deputies he retrieved a black “AK-style pistol” and repeatedly told the pair to leave, but they refused. He also said the male individual threatened to return with others and “shoot up” the home. Continue reading Dispute over dolls ends in shooting

PALESTINE — One person is dead following a Tuesday afternoon crash involving a motorcyclist in Palestine. The Palestine Police Department said that around 3 p.m., police officers were dispatched to Old Elkhart Road near Academy Sports involving an SUV and a motorcycle crash. Once they arrived, they found that the driver of the motorcycle was unresponsive.

According to our news partner KETK, life-saving measures were attempted on the scene, and the 20-year-old motorcyclist was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Based on a preliminary report, the SUV was traveling south on Old Elkhart and attempted to turn into the west entrance of the mall. The motorcyclist was allegedly traveling north on Old Elkhart at a high speed. When the SUV turned, it collided with the motorcyclist, the police department said.

At this time, the police department has not identified the deceased until the next of kin has been notified.

EAST TEXAS – East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran spoke to KTBB on the two major issues dominating headlines: the partial government shutdown and how conflict in the Middle East is affecting Americans.

Representative Moran highlighted how Republicans “[…] certainly want to see this shut down.” He also mentioned how progress is being impeded by Democrats playing politics with an appropriations bill they [Democrats] already agreed to.

Moran said the delay “has now led to almost 100,000 DHS employees missing their paychecks last week, including TSA agents who are legally required to keep working.”
Continue reading Rep. Moran on Iran and shutdown

SMITH COUNTY – When Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy and K-9 Handler Jose Terrazas retired earlier this month, he requested that his longtime partner, K-9 Lobo, be able to retire too. On Tuesday, Smith County Commissioners Court approved that wish, allowing the 9-year-old Dutch Shepherd who served for nearly eight years to go home and rest easy with his partner.

Deputy Terrazas served the Smith County Sheriff’s Office for 16 years. For the last eight, he has been a K-9 handler with the Criminal Interdiction Unit, along with Lobo. For six years, Lobo was assigned to the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team. He was responsible for many large narcotics seizures during his career, including a $250,000 cash seizure on Interstate 20, Lt. Hobson said.K-9 dogs typically work for six to eight years. During their service, they are exposed to a variety of high-stress situations.
Continue reading Deputy and K9 partner retire together

MARSHALL – The City of Marshall has issued a boil water notice for all residents following ongoing repairs to a major water main. Public Works crews have worked through the night to address the issue. A temporary patch has been installed; however, the system has not yet been fully re-pressurized.

Crews are currently testing for additional leaks and working to remove air from the lines. At this time, the water system does not have adequate pressure to support normal operations.

As a precaution, all customers are advised to boil water prior to consumption. This includes water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and making ice.

To ensure safety, residents should bring water to a vigorous boil for at least two minutes and allow it to cool before use. Alternatively, bottled water may be used. Water distribution efforts are being coordinated, and distribution sites will be announced once additional water supplies have been delivered to the city. Continue reading Boil water notice continues in Marshall

MARSHALL – Due to a 24-inch water main break Tuesday morning in the area of High and Spring Street in Marshall. Many areas across the city are are experiencing low water pressure while others are without water. This break is being described as a major transmission line. The City of Marshall has been declared a local state of disaster. The formal declaration allows access to assistance from other state and local agencies, according to Emergency Management officials. In the declaration signed by Marshall Mayor Amy Ware says “extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and protect and rehabilitate property.”
Continue reading City disaster declaration declared

LONGVIEW – The death of a City of Longview employee is being investigated following a “workplace accident” that occurred on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the city said on Tuesday that they are mourning the loss of Buddy Powell, a valuable member of its Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection crew.

Powell died in what the city is calling a “profoundly shocking” workplace incident, which is being investigated. The city is coordinating with counseling services to provide support for staff and those impacted by the loss.

MARSHALL – A water main break in Marshall has impacted the city’s water pressure, prompting a Marshall ISD closure for Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, Marshall ISD said parents may keep their students home or pick them up from the school if they are already there.

The school bus will be running the elementary bus routes at 11:30 a.m. and the junior high and high school bus routes at 12 p.m if parents are unable to pick up their student. The water main break occurred near Spring and Streets Tuesday morning, which crews are now working to repair, the city said.