KTBB News, Weather, Talk

Tyler — The Charles Butt Foundation, a non-profit pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships, has selected Bethany Moody, Principal of Kissam Intermediate, as one of 30 principals from traditional and charter school districts across Texas to attend a weeklong summer institute at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, led by Harvard faculty and other national and international experts.

The Raising School Leaders program is designed to inspire, challenge and empower school leaders to bring lasting impact to their campuses and communities, the entire state of Texas, and beyond. Following the Harvard institute, attendees remain a part of the program’s statewide network of school leaders, work together to create change at the campus and district levels, and receive continuous support and professional development.

TYLER — UT Health East Texas announced Monday  the launch of virtual nursing across its hospital network. Partnered with care.ai, the UT Health East Texas virtual nursing program is the first in the region. According to a news release, virtual nursing empowers care teams to work more efficiently and drive improved clinical outcomes.

Enabled by video communication with credentialed registered nurses (virtual nurses) and in-room smart sensors, the platform allows virtual nurses, who are employed by UT Health East Texas, to manage a wide variety of patient care tasks that do not require physical proximity, such as routine monitoring or providing education and discharge instructions. This enables bedside nurses to focus more time and attention on crucial hands-on care that only they can provide. Together, virtual and bedside nurses optimize admissions, rounding, discharge and other workflows, which aims to improve patient experience, staff retention and job satisfaction for the bedside caregiver. Continue reading UT Health launches virtual nursing

TYLER — The rash of bomb threats against Brookshire’s Grocery Stores continued this weekend. The Brookeshire’s in Bridgeport was evacuated shortly after noon on Sunday following a bomb threat, the latest in a number of similar threats made at the chain’s stores across the state. The Denton County Fire Department’s Bomb Squad searched the building and found nothing. The grocery store reopened later that afternoon.

Bridgeport Police say the threat came through the Brookshire’s corporate office, like the other recent threats. Other Brookshire’s stores receiving threats over the weekend included Brownwood, Azle and Aledo. Two Tyler Brookshire’s locations were evacuated Friday due to a bomb threat.

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank is holding a Summer Feeding Program Fun Day for children on Tuesday, June 25 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Glass Recreation Center at 501 W. 32nd street, in Tyler. Activities include face painting, games, a petting zoo, Tyler fire and police department, and free Kona Ice.

“It’s so important to make sure children do not go hungry in the summer just because school is out,” said David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “Here in East Texas, 1 in 4 children are food insecure so it’s up to our community to make sure we fill that meal gap when the school year ends and kids lose access to free and reduced-price meals they depend on.” Continue reading East Texas Food Bank holds Summer Feeding Program Fun Day

TYLER — A Tyler man was arrested on Wednesday after reportedly assaulting and taking a weapon from an officer. According to our news partner KETK, an affidavit revealed a detective with the Tyler Police Department clocked a vehicle traveling 60 mph in a 40 mph zone in the 300 E Southeast Loop 323 area. The detective pulled over the driver, 20-year-old Cordrell Smith Radway, where he reportedly ran from the officer “while still being detained and not free to leave.”

After a short chase, the detective caught up to Radway and “ended up on the ground” where Radway reportedly actively resisted arrest and repeatedly tried to stand up. The affidavit said the detective then used his pepper spray. Continue reading Man reportedly bites officer, takes weapon during traffic stop

UPDATE: A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened for Smith County on Saturday, June 22 at the R.B. Hubbard Center (The Hub) at 304 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler.

SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, the center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Staff from the Small Business Administration, Lone Star Legal and Crisis Response Ministries will also be at the center along with FEMA to help residents, according to Smith County officials.

“We are here, we are your one-stop shop to come out and see how we might be able to assist you, we are trying to meet the survivor where they are in their situation,” said Nikki Gaskins Campbell, FEMA media relations specialist.

“If you’re uninsured or underinsured, please still reach out to us because you could be leaving money on the table and this is grant money from FEMA that does not have to be repaid,” said Campbell. Continue reading Smith County FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opens in Tyler

KILGORE – The Kilgore Police Department said that one man has died and another was injured during a shooting at the corner of Thompson Street and Myrtle Street on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, their 911 Communications Center started getting calls about the shooting shortly after midnight on Sunday morning. When officers arrived they found one man dead and another man who had to be airlifted out to a local hospital.

The Northeast Texas Regional SWAT team was called out to the first scene but then responded to a second scene where the suspect reportedly was. The suspect exited the second location after negotiations and was reportedly taken to the Kilgore Police Department. Kilgore PD said their investigation is ongoing.

TYLER – With summer here, it is the time of year where one little spark could potentially cause a devastating wildfire. According to our news partner KETK, experts at the Texas A&M Forest Service, say, although East Texas has experienced an excessive amount of spring rainfall, a stretch of hot and dry temperatures can call for a fire risk.

“We can go into elevated fire risk,” Sean Dugan, with the Texas A&M Forest Service, said.

Officials explained even with the saturated grounds, East Texans need to be mindful while burning. July and August are historically when the state sees the most fires.
Continue reading Hot, dry temperatures, equal wildfire risk

KILGORE – Authorities in Kilgore said that one man has died and another was injured during a shooting early Sunday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Kilgore Police received several 911 calls shortly after midnight in regards to a shooting. When officers arrived the corner of Thompson and Myrtle Streets, they found one man dead and wounded. She was taken to a local hospital.

The Northeast Texas Regional SWAT team was called to the location where the shooting suspect reportedly was. After some negotiations, the suspect was taken to the Kilgore Police Department.

At this time, the names of the shooting victim have not been released. The suspects name has not been released either. Kilgore PD said they are continuing the investigation into the shooting.

CANTON — FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Centers in Van Zandt county June 21 to provide one-on-one help to Texans affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding and straight-line winds April 26-June 5. The center is located at Canton Intermediate School on Highway 243 West. It will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. To find the center location nearest you go to fema.gov.

Residents affected by storm damage can visit the DRC and meet with representatives of FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed.
Continue reading Disaster Recovery Center is open in Canton

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday announced that a man who is a “wanted fugitive from multiple counties” and a woman were arrested after a narcotics search. According to our news partner KETK, HCSO narcotics investigators and Henderson County Crimes Against Children Task Force officers, searched a residence in Eustace, on County Road 2938.

Officers there arrested 49-year-old Richard Slay and 51-year-old Katie Wiggins, both of Eustace. They were arrested for possession of suspected methamphetamine’s. The sheriff’s office said that Slay is a wanted fugitive in multiple counties. Both were then taken to the Henderson County jail and charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance.

TYLER – The City of Tyler has announced that traffic signal cabinets at six intersections will be replaced starting on Tuesday, June 25, and running through Thursday, June 27. During this time crews will be out between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. replacing signal cabinets at the following intersections:

• Grande Boulevard and Hollytree Drive
• Loop 323 and South Broadway Avenue
• Loop 323 and Frankston Highway
• Loop 323 and Old Bullard Road
• Old Bullard Road and Rice Road
• Beckham Avenue and Hospital Drive
  Continue reading Six Tyler traffic signal cabinets being replaced starting Tuesday

HENDERSON COUNTY – Marijuana packaged in gallon size bags, rifles and large amounts of money were discovered on Thursday during a home search, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said. According to a release, a narcotic search warrant was executed at around 3:34 p.m. at an Athens home where 25-year-old Jordi Pereira was taken into custody.

According to our news partner KETK, Pereira was found to be in possession of “large amounts” of suspected cocaine and marijuana. Reportedly the marijuana was found in gallon size bags and a large amount of THC wax and THC vape cartridges were also located. Pereira was booked at the Henderson County Jail for two charges of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and delivery of marijuana. According to records, Pereira’s bond amounts totaled $450,000 and he was released on Friday after posting bail.

“Rifles with high-capacity magazines were recovered during the execution of the search warrant along with a large amount of United States currency,” a release said.

The sheriff’s office said Pereira is currently waiting arraignment.

TYLER — A Tyler man was arrested on Wednesday after reportedly assaulting and taking a weapon from an officer. According to our news partner KETK, a detective with the Tyler Police Department clocked a vehicle traveling 60 mph in a 40 mph zone in the 300 E Southeast Loop 323 area. The detective pulled over the driver, 20-year-old Cordrell Smith Radway, where he reportedly ran from the officer “while still being detained and not free to leave.”

After a short chase, the detective caught up to Radway and “ended up on the ground” where Radway reportedly actively resisted arrest and repeatedly tried to stand up. The affidavit said the detective then used his pepper spray. During the altercation, Radway reportedly grabbed the detective’s hand while pepper spraying him, took the can away and bit the detective’s left forearm, leaving a visible bite mark. Continue reading Man bites officer, takes weapon during traffic stop