KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department is responding to a vehicle and a train collision causing several crossings to be blocked. According to our news partner KETK, the train collision occurred at the railroad crossing on North Center Street. The police department said no injuries have been reported at this time. Several crossings including Lake Lamond, North Center Street and North Fredonia are blocked by the train. People are asked to find an alternate route at this time.

SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a Bullard man accused of impersonating an officer has pleaded guilty Tuesday in the 7th District Court. Jason Fears, 36, was arrested in January 2023 after officials said he flashed red and blue lights and made a hand signal at someone to pull over in Chandler. The person Fears attempted to pull over, followed Fears into Tyler.

Fears was pulled over in Tyler for speeding and when the Tyler police officer learned about the incident in Chandler, he was arrested and charged with impersonating a public servant. Fears was sentenced to 10 years at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

ANDERSON COUNTY – The Texas Department of Transportation said that FM 3224 in Anderson County is closed due to much of the ground beneath the road being eroded due to heavy rains and flooding. According to our news partner KETK, the Anderson County Emergency Management Office said that FM 3224 between Highway 287 and County Road 422 is closed until further notice.

County officials also add that County Road 103 at County Road 108 near Elkhart is closed because of standing water in the roadway. Westside Fire Department reports that FM320, CR2212, CR425, CR2202 also has water covering the roads.

TxDot advises when approaching standing water, always do so carefully.

TEXARKANA – The Texarkana Police Department said that they were a part of a multi-day sting that resulted in the arrests of five men. According to the Texarkana PD, and our news colleagues at KETK, they participated in a sting alongside the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, Miller County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. The police department said that the purpose of the operation was to arrest individuals attempting to solicit sex with a minor. The operation led to the arrest of three men, Dylan Dickens, Jesus Rosales and Keith Godfrey for online solicitation of a minor after they allegedly communicated with an officer “they believed to be an underaged girl”. The Texarkana PD said that there were two additional arrests made as a part of the operation that were not related to solicitation of a minor, Henry Oller and Lance Bradshaw were arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution. All five of the men have been booked into the Bi-state County Jail, Dickens has been released after posting bail on Friday.

TYLER – The parents of a baby were arrested  Sunday night after a Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy discovered suspected fentanyl in the 6-month-old’s diaper. According to our news partner KETK, arrested were 27-year-old Dre-Darian Taerondrick Ester and 22-year-old Jada La Nae Speight, both of Tyler. The pair were driving on Loop 323 and the Van Highway when an officer pulled their vehicle over for a traffic violation. The deputy reported the vehicle smelled of marijuana. As the deputy did a probable cause search, they discovered a 6-month-old baby girl in a car seat. The deputy then reportedly saw a “bottle of pressed fentanyl” that was being held inside the baby’s diaper.

The pair were charged with Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance between four and 200 grams, possession of marijuana between four ounces and five pounds and abandonment/endangerment of a child in imminent danger.

Ester and Speight are being held in the Smith County Jail on $105,000 bonds. Child Protect Services has taken custody of the child.

SMITH COUNTY – Sunday afternoon, human remains were found on an oil well service road near Troup. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a call about human remains being located off of FM 346 East, between Troup and Whitehouse. When deputies arrived, they found the remains about 100 yards off of FM 346.

Official commented that, “This investigation continues and investigators are confident in having investigative leads to follow which will ultimately lead to the identity of the suspects. This continues to be an active investigation.”

Authorities added that the remains haven’t been identified and have been sent to Dallas for an autopsy. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that foul play is suspected .

LONGVIEW – Kristen Ishihara has won the race to become the next mayor of Longview according to our news partners at KETK. Ishihara won with 4103 votes against Temple Carpenter’s 1393 votes. “I am just truly humbled by the support,” said Ishihara. “The trust of the voters, that means so much to me.” Both Carpenter and Ishihara have served the city of Longview as members of city council. Ishihara for nine years, before leaving the seat in 2023. She will now rejoin Carpenter on the council as Mayor.

TYLER — The City of Tyler is launching its first on-demand MicroTransit route for South Tyler to complement existing fixed route services. Starting Monday, May 13, riders utilizing the South Tyler route will be able to book a ride by calling Tyler Transit at (903) 533-8057 from a bus stop. The ride will take them directly to the doorstep of a destination within three-tenths of a mile of the closest bus stop on the existing South Tyler route.

“Our goal is to improve our current customers’ experience riding with us and attract new users by providing a more convenient, reliable and efficient transportation option,” said Russ Jackson, Tyler Transit manager. “By tailoring our services with the MicroTransit pilot, we hope to meet the community’s needs without imposing additional financial burdens on our riders. We’re trying to make public transportation more accessible and flexible.” Continue reading City of Tyler launches MicroTransit pilot program

LONGVIEW – More than a dozen East Texas school districts asked voters for millions of dollars in bond measures. After two failed bond proposals, Longview ISD was able to get their $456 million bond passed. The last time Longview residents approved a district bond was in 2008.

“That it’s 10 dollars a year increase on your taxes for every 200,000 dollar evaluation on your home,” Karen Haas, Longview PAC, said. But for renters and other homeowners, the district said they won’t be impacted at all. Continue reading Longview ISD passes $456M bond after failed attempts

EAST TEXAS – Multiple school districts and counties held multi-million dollar bond elections along with municipal elections. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of results that can be found here.

TYLER – UT Tyler has announced that they’re partnering with U.S Dermatology Partners in order to start a new Department of Dermatology. According to our news partner KETK, they plan to start offering courses within next year, hire a department chair and program director before applying to become a Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited dermatology residency program. The aim of the department is to help create a generation of dermatologists and physicians trained in dermatology to serve local communities. The department will also engage in clinical research with U.S. Dermatology Partners, one of the largest private dermatology practices in the United States. U.S. Dermatology Partners has 11 locations across East Texas where they do surgical, medical and cosmetic dermatology. Continue reading UT Tyler starts dermatology department

LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, the city of Longview has announced downtown road closures for construction of a new parking garage indefinitely. Methvin Street between Center and Fredonia Streets, directly in front of the Gregg County Courthouse, will be closed. Additionally, the northbound lane of Center Street between Bank Alley and Methvin Street will also be closed.Starting next Monday, a shuttle will run from the City of Longview parking lot at the intersection of Cotton and Center streets from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.