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TYLER — A man was sentenced to one year in prison for his role in an attempt to sell elephant tusks. According to our news partner KETK, Dusty Caudill was sentenced to one year in prison and three years supervised release on Tuesday for conspiracy to transport wildlife in interstate commerce. Caudill was charged alongside two other men. Their federal indictment claimed Caudill posed with the African elephant tusks in Ardmore, Oklahoma for photo and video recordings to promote the sale of the tusks. Another man then sent three photos and two videos to an undercover United States Fish and Wildlife special agent to negotiate the sale of the tusks. Prosecutors said that the tusks had been stolen in a burglary of a home in Ardmore in late 2020. Continue reading Man sentenced for tusk trafficking scheme

LONGVIEW — In a program that started Tuesday, Longview ISD is awarding more than $7.3 million in incentive pay for achieving teachers,. Some of its highest-performing teachers are projected to receive more than $20,000 extra in their December paychecks. The district noted in a press release that 11 of their classroom teachers will make over $100,000 this year.
Continue reading Longview teachers to get big bonus pay

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler received a $300,000 grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for lab research. According to our news partner KETK, the research is going to be headed by Dr. Shashikant Srivastava, a tenured associate professor for the department of medicine and the department of cellular and molecular biology at UT Tyler School of Medicine.
Continue reading UT Tyler gets cystic fibrosis research grant

TEXARKANA — Our news partners at KETK report that one person is dead after a three vehicle wreck on Monday at 7:20 p.m. in Texarkana. According to a release from the Texarkana Texas Police Department, Linda Reed, 66, died when her car was reportedly struck as she attempted to cross North Stateline Avenue from East 9th Street to Hazel Street. The two other drivers were reportedly driving southbound on Stateline. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, police said.

VAN – A former Van police officer was indicted after an investigation into allegations of official oppression. Santos Rodriguez was indicted on Friday for one count of official oppression. According to our news partner KETK, Van Police Chief Melissa Davis “received information regarding the conduct of an officer” on July 10. After gathering information on the incident, Davis confronted the officer about the allegation. “He immediately resigned from the Van Police Department, and although the complainant requested that the discipline be minimal, all information collected to that point was turned over to the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office by Chief Davis,” according to Van The investigation is ongoing. Official oppression, a Class A Misdemeanor, carries a punishment range of a fine up to $4,000 and/or one year of jail for those found guilty.

SHELBY COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK a 28-year-old woman was arrested after turning herself into authorities on Tuesday. The sheriff reported Sarah Ramon, of Joaquin, was arrested for indecency with a child, sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between educator and student after a lengthy investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation is ongoing, and officials said no further information will be released at this time.

EAST TEXAS — Texas senators are ranked from most liberal to most conservative in a new study. The Texas Tribune bases the rankings on the 31 senators’ votes during this year’s regular session and four special sessions. Among the Republicans, Senator Bryan Hughes (pictured), of Mineola, is ranked as the most conservative. Senator Robert Nichols, of Jacksonville, is the most liberal Republican, but he’s still more conservative than the most conservative Democrat, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, of McAllen. Senator Sarah Eckhardt, of Austin, and Senator Roland Gutierrez, of San Antonio, who is running in the primary next year for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Ted Cruz, are the most liberal Democrats.

TYLER — Nicholas Pet Haven is raising money to buy a transport van that can take some of their animals in Tyler to their partner shelter in Chicago. According to our news partner and Nicholas Pet Haven, their partner shelter has agreed to accept some of their long timers and that will allow Nicholas Pet Haven to help Smith County Animal Control and Tyler AC by taking in some of their urgent pets while they also continue to manage their own strays. Illinois has a mandatory spay and neuter law so they don’t have as many strays as Texas, meaning their shelters sometimes have room to take other state’s dogs. Nicholas Pet Haven said that they’ll easily be able to send their partner all of their puppies and cats and they plan to send a van load of animals every other week once they get the van. Click here to visit Nicholas Pet Haven online.

TYLER – After having its sanctuary closed for nearly a year, Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Tyler reopened their sanctuary Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, on Christmas Eve 2022, a busted water heater flooded the church and the church had to hold services elsewhere. For the Colonial Hills congregation, this has been in the church gymnasium while repairs were being done. Sunday, after 51 weeks, parishioners returned to worship in the cleaned-up and renovated sanctuary.
Continue reading Colonial Hills Baptist Church reopens its sanctuary

LONGVIEW — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said that a man and a woman were injured in shooting on Juanita Road in Longview on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, officials said that around 10:53 a.m. on Sunday, dispatchers got a call from a distraught woman who said she needed help on Juanita Road. During the call, the dispatcher reportedly heard a man’s voice say “no, no” before a struggle happened and the call ended. The dispatcher called back and determined the address where the phone was located. Later they called back a second time and reportedly spoke with an “emotionally distraught” man who stated that he wanted to kill himself before he hung up the call. Continue reading Two injured in Harrison County shooting

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK Tyler Police responded to a shooting in the 3200 block of Copeland Road around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. According to Tyler PD, a man was loading his car onto a trailer when someone on Tech Plaza shot at him. It’s unknown if anyone was injured in the shooting at this time. Tyler PD is continuing to investigate.