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PALESTINE — East Texans may soon have a new opportunity to change careers without returning to school. The Bitcoin Mining Institute (BMI) has announced plans to establish a location in Palestine, where they will hire technicians to repair computers used in bitcoin mining. According to our news partner KETK, Chief Executive Officer Tyler Schmill announced that their offices will undergo construction for the next six months. They will begin hiring at least 20 technicians and plan to hire a total of 350 employees over the next five years.

Schmill said people do not need prior experience in cryptocurrency, information technology or data center management before starting work there. Continue reading BMI develops job opportunities

LONGVIEW – Longview firefighters responded to a fire that left three people displaced from their home on East Marshall Avenue on Sunday night. According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Fire Department, responded to a report of structure fire in the 2000 block of East Marshall Avenue, near Sonic at around 9:23 p.m. The firefighters arriving at the scene found a home fully on fire and Longview FD said the fire did around $94,000 in damage before it was put out.

Three occupants from the home and three dogs were displaced because of the fire. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation but fire officials said investigators do not suspect foul play was involved. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Longview Fire Department at 903-237-1119.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center is asking for the public’s help finding whoever trapped four cats in a crate and dumped them along Cargill Long Park Trail. According to the center, the bright pink cage the cats were zip tied was first reported to the center by walkers on the Cargill Long Park Trail on Friday morning. Adoption center officers found the crate in a ditch off of the trail in an area between Hollybrook Drive and Eden Drive.

The crate was found upside down and locked shut with a zip tie. The four cats were cramped inside with no way out, leaving them covered in their own waste, according to the adoption center. The center said two of the cats are around a year old and the other two are around eight months old. The cats, which are now named Ginger, Sporty, Baby and Posh, are currently receiving medical care are not available for adoption yet. Continue reading Cats found trapped in crate, dumped

MARSHALL — Peregrine Energy Solutions is building a battery energy storage facility in East Texas. The $400 million facility will be built on 42 acres near the intersection of 3251 and Fyffe Cutoff near Marshall. Peregrine will also provide specialized fire safety training for local first responders.

According to our news partner KETK, Marshall Economic Development is touting the project as one of the largest private investments in county history.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, and operations are slated to begin in 2028.

Although the project is outside Marshall’s city limits, Peregrine’s property tax contributions will support Marshall ISD. Continue reading $400M battery storage project planned

TENNESSEE COLONY – Five staff members from the George Beto Unit state prison near Tennessee Colony have been relieved of duty after a recent altercation left a prisoner injured. According to our news partner KETK and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), an inmate allegedly assaulted a correctional officer on Jan. 6. After the assault, a second altercation occurred between staff members and the inmate.

The correctional officer assaulted was then medically treated at a facility outside of the prison while the inmate was given medical care from inside of the prison. The extent of those injuries was not publicly released. Five staff members from the Beto Unit were relieved of their duty after the incident, according to the TDCJ. The unit was not placed on lockdown following the altercation but the TDCJ did state that part of the prison restricted movement for a time.

WINNSBORO – The Winnsboro ISD school board met on Saturday and unanimously decided to place superintendent Aaron Nation on leave after he was arrested on Monday. Nation was arrested on Monday along with former Winnsboro ISD superintendent Brian Wilcox and former teacher Ashley Wilcox for allegedly neglecting to report child abuse and attempting to hide related allegations of child abuse involving educators and students.

According to our news partner KETK, Nation has been charged with failure to report child abuse with intent to conceal and tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair in connection to these allegations. The school board met at the Winnsboro Memorial Intermediate School Cafeteria on Saturday and unanimously agreed to place Nation on administrative leave. The board also voted to name Dr. Holloway as their newest interim superintendent. Continue reading Superintendent placed on leave after arrest

LUFKIN – A man and a dog died in a crash on College Drive in Lufkin on Saturday morning, according to our news partner KETK and the Lufkin Police Department. Demarcus Hadnot, 26 of Pollok, was driving west on College Drive near the Texas Bible College when a Mercedes crashed into Hadnot’s Kia at around 10:15 a.m. on Saturday. A passenger from the Kia has been flown to a local hospital to be treated for injuries while the 65-year-old driver of the Mercedes received non-life threatening injuries.

Lufkin PD added that a dog riding in the Kia also died at the scene.

TYLER — Residents across East Texas will have the opportunity to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through marches, church services, educational programs and community gatherings. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of events taking place across East Texas, including dates, locations and what each event will offer. You can view that list here.

TATUM – Following a search that revealed drugs, including more than 60 grams of meth, two individuals were taken into custody in Tatum on Tuesday. A Ford Escape SUV with a damaged windshield was seen traveling south on North Hill Street when an officer made a traffic stop, according to the Tatum Police Department and our news partner KETK. A probable cause search was conducted after the officer reported smelling a strong marijuana odor coming from the vehicle during the traffic stop.
Continue reading Two arrests made in Tatum after car search

ANDERSON COUNTY – Following a recent altercation that left a prisoner injured, five employees of the George Beto Unit state prison near Tennessee Colony were relieved of their duties. According to our news partner KETK, on January 6, an inmate was accused of assaulting a correctional officer. Staff members and the prisoner got into another alltercation after the assault. While the prisoner received medical attention from within the prison, the assaulted correctional officer received treatment at a facility outside the prison. It was not made public how serious those injuries were.
Continue reading Staff members let go from local prison

RUSK – Rusk city officials announced on Friday that Police Chief Scott Heagney is no longer employed by the city. According to our news partner KETK, Heagney was placed on administrative leave twice in 2025, once in April after a complaint was filed against him and for the second time in December because of an “internal personnel matter.”

“The City does not comment on personnel matters. However, City officials emphasize that the decision was made following appropriate administrative review and in the best interests of the City and the community it serves,” Rusk city officials said on Friday

The City of Rusk said public safety services will continue and that they’re trying to keep leadership stable after Heagney’s departure. Rusk officials added that they’ll release more information when it’s appropriate.

TYLER – Starting Tuesday, Jan. 20, and continuing through Tuesday, Feb. 10, the intersection and sidewalk at West Elm Street and South Bois D’Arc Avenue will be closed. Oncor crews will be working in the area to improve the electrical infrastructure to the Fair Building at 109 West Elm Street. 

Traffic control signs and devices will be in place. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area.