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SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said they are looking for a man who reportedly carjacked a vehicle on Monday and pulled a knife on the driver. According to our news partner KETK, around 4:30 a.m. the driver of a white over gold 2003 Ford Expedition saw a person walking down SH 110 and decided to give them a ride. The man, described as a white male in his late 20s or early 30s with dark sandy blonde hair, entered the vehicle and allegedly pulled a knife on the driver and ordered them to get out of the car, a release said.

The sheriff’s office said the last place the stolen vehicle was located was in Terrell on East I-20, but the Terrell Police Department were unable to locate it or the suspect. The owner of the vehicle was able to call police after walking to a Valero station because the man reportedly took their cell phone.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 903-566-6600.

PALESTINE — The Palestine Police Department arrested a wanted man who reportedly hid drugs inside a washing machine at a laundromat. According to our news partner KETK, police were patrolling the area of North Queen Street and West Spring Street on May 31 where they saw Cordero Smith driving a vehicle and recognized him due to numerous outstanding warrants for his arrest. Police reportedly observed Smith enter the County Rub laundromat with another person.

When police attempted to arrest Smith after he left the laundromat, he allegedly attempted to evade them. Officers at the scene used their taser and took Smith into custody. Continue reading Wanted Palestine man jailed; meth hidden in laundrymat

MARSHALL – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting in which one person died and two others were injured. According to our news partner KETK, deputies found 25-year-old Derrick Jamison shot to death late Sunday morning on Mitchell Road in rural Marshall. Two others, Bryan Jamison and Audrey Jamison were taken to local hospitals for treatment for their injuries. Authorities are continuing to investigate.

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man who reportedly carjacked a vehicle on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, officers say the driver of a 2003 Ford Expedition saw a person walking on SH 110 early Monday morning and offered to give them a ride. The person, once inside the vehicle, pulled a knife on the driver and ordered them out of the car. That person is described as a white male in his late 20s or early 30s with dark sandy blonde hair. Sheriff’s deputies say the vehicle was last seen on I-20 East in Terrell, but Terrell PD couldn’t find the vehicle or the person suspected of stealing it. Smith County Sheriff’s Office asks if anyone has information on the carjacking, to contact them at 903-566-6600

TYLER – The City of Tyler is accepting applications for City Boards and Commissions until Friday, Aug. 2. The City Council will make appointments at the Wednesday, Sept. 11 meeting. Those appointed will serve voluntarily and without pay for two-year terms. The boards and commissions include: Continue reading Tyler accepting applications for City Boards and Commissions

SHELBY COUNTY – Authorities are searching for a fisherman who went missing in the Toledo Bend area Sunday according to our colleagues at KETK. According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, John Martin, JR. of Joaquin took a boat out on the water in the Huxley Bay area Sunday but has yet to return. The SCSO and Texas and Louisiana Game Wardens are continuing to search the north part of Toledo Bend on land and water to find him. If you have any information on where he is, contact Chief Deputy Chad Hooper at 936-572-5045 or the SCSO at 936-598-5601.

HENDERSON – One person is dead after a shooting in Henderson on Saturday according to our news partners at KETK. An emergency shots fired call came in around 10:30 p.m. and officers arrived to find the victim and an alleged suspect still on scene. The suspect was taken into custody without incident, police said, and the victim was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. The case remains under investigation. Details are being withheld pending notification of family members.

TYLER – Dr. Harrison Ndetan, distinguished teaching professor at The
University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, has been selected as a Piper Professor by the
Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. Ndetan is the second faculty member to be selected for this
recognition in UT Tyler history. Continue reading UT Tyler professor selected as a Piper Professor

LUFKIN – A man is now in custody following an hours-long standoff with Lufkin authorities. Jason Penick, 47 of Lufkin, was arrested for aggravated assault of a public servant after he reportedly shot at arriving officers before barricading himself inside a home. According to our news partner KETK, the situation started as a disturbance call but then escalated when Penick reportedly fired at responding police officers. The man then barricaded himself inside the home and the other residents were safely evacuated, according to a Lufkin PD press release.

Additional reports were made about shots being fired but these are actually gas canisters being shot into the home, Lufkin PD explained. The Lufkin PD Swat Team, Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the situation.

MARSHALL – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said that a 25-year-old man was killed and two others were injured during a shooting on Sunday according to our colleagues at KETK. The sheriff’s office responded to a reported shooting on Mitchell Road at 11:31 a.m. on Sunday. When deputies arrived they found Derrick Jamison, 25, dead and two others who were injured. Bryan Jamison and Audrey Jamison were taken to local hospitals to be treated for their injuries. Deputies and crime scene workers are currently at the scene investigating the shooting.

MARSHALL – UPDATE: Robert Eugene Wood, 74 of Marshall, has been found after being reported missing on Sunday, according to the Marshall Police Department.
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Our partners at KETK report the Marshall Police Department is asking the community to help them find a 74-year-old man with dementia and Alzheimer’s who went missing on Sunday. Robert Eugene Wood, 74 of Marshall, was last seen in the 3200 block of Elysian Fields Avenue around 5 a.m. on Sunday. According to Marshall PD, Wood may be disoriented since he suffers from both dementia and Alzheimer’s. They added that he can be recognized by his distinctive hat. Continue reading Missing 74-year-old found in Marshall

TEXARKANA – A 79-year-old man was recued on Friday after accidentally driving his car into Bringle Lake, the Texarkana Police Department said. According to our colleagues at KETK, a local angler heard commotion at the Bringle Park boat ramp and saw a man sitting in the drivers seat of a sinking car. The angler, identified as Ricky Dumas, was able to get the elderly man out of his Honda Accord before it went underwater. Continue reading Man rescued after driving car into Texarkana lake

TYLER – Our colleagues at KETK report that severe weather that hit Tyler for the past few weeks has left damage in their path across East Texas, including the Tyler Berry Farm that saw damage across the property raising concern for the blueberry season rose. “Lots of trees are down, matter of fact when you come down our driveway, it’s kind of a mess, it’s cleaned up, you can drive through there, you can make it through there,” Tyler Berry Farm general manager Nancy Wiggins said. Unfortunately due to storms, the Tyler Berry Farm had to close down for a few days, but thankfully no harm was done to the blueberries. Continue reading Tyler blueberry season prospers despite storms

LAKE TYLER – The Jonathan Holland and Addison Shepherd Memorial Bass Tournament took off at the Boulders at Lake Tyler on Saturday according to our news partners at KETK. “We had 39 boats that registered for the tournament,” Jonathan Holland’s mother Karen Holland said. After losing her son Jonathan and her neighbor’s daughter Addison Shepherd, known as Addi, in a Rusk County crash, Karen Holland decided to give back to the community that helped her. Continue reading Community honors two at memorial bass tournament

AUSTIN – Homeowners and renters in Coryell, Falls, Leon, Smith and Van Zandt counties are now eligible for FEMA
assistance after the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding April 26-June 5. Eligible applicants may qualify for serious needs assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other
eligible expenses related to storm damage. Continue reading FEMA Assistance available

TYLER – As East Texans continue to clean up damage from recent storms, the next step for many is to file an insurance claim according to our news colleagues at KETK. The Insurance Council of Texas said before a claim is filed to take advantage of the few days of sunshine and document the damage to your property. The documentation can be photos and videos and then you have to set up temporary repairs to avoid further damage. Continue reading Storm damage advice for filing insurance

TYLER – As East Texas cities continue to work through large debris after storms hit earlier this week, some people have grown concerned about the number of trees uprooted, according to our news partners at KETK. “With 70-60 mph winds, it’s kind of just a recipe for disaster,” Luke Alfaro, the City Of Tyler arborist. said. After strong winds and excessive rainfall, trees across the City of Tyler were uprooted and toppled over. Continue reading Cleanup continues after heavy rain and strong winds

TYLER – The City of Tyler Friday, released a summary of clean-up and recovery operations ongoing due to the severe weather that pummeled East Texas earlier this week. Officials are asking residents to report personal property damages to the Texas Division of Emergency Management through the iSTAT Damage Surveys. iSTAT reports could release funding from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management System directly to those affected. To find the survey, click here. Tyler/Smith County’s Heat Response Plan is now available with this link. Authorities also provided information for those needing phone charging, garbage service operations, solid waste disposal and city park conditions.
Continue reading Recovery and storm clean-up continuing across Tyler

CHEROKEE COUNTY – A former ER physician has been sentenced to 33 years in state prison for 58 counts of continuous sexual assault of a child. Karl Kauffman was arrested in March 2022 after two warrants for continuous sexual abuse of a child were issued following a search of his home. Kauffman served as an emergency room physician at several Cherokee County hospitals before his medical license was suspended by the Texas Medical Board. In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Agency revoked Kauffman’s DEA Certificate of Registration.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County has only a handful of roads closed from storm damages, as flooded roads have receded as of Friday morning. The Smith County Road and Bridge Department has been working around the clock for the past two weeks, clearing more than a hundred county roads that had trees down from the recent severe weather. CR 452 had been closed this week because of flooding but is now open to drivers. County Roads 429, 1303 and 2133 still have trees down with powerlines in them so they will remain closed until Oncor can safely remove the power lines. Continue reading Smith County roads update

LONGVIEW – Our news partners at KETK report the City of Longview has tabled a vote on a nearly $20 million investment for a proposed biomining facility. If passed, the facility would be built at 2120 E. Loop 281 and used to recover precious metals from broken computers and outdated tech devices. Residents who oppose the proposed location of the facility held a rally on Thursday ahead of next weeks vote by city council. More than 50 people showed up to the rally held just feet away from the property in question, to take a stand against the proposed location. Some residents said they don’t like the idea that chemicals involved would be used so closely to their neighborhoods. Continue reading Rally in Longview against proposed biomining

MINEOLA – The City of Mineola announced that they are beginning budget planning for the upcoming year and want the community’s input, according to our news partners at KETK. The mayor of Mineola, city council and city staff will be holding a meeting on June 20 at 5:30 p.m. to hear from Mineola residents regarding what they would like to see included in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The City of Mineola also has a budget input survey on their website for residents to fill out.

VAN – The SPCA of Texas is offering a cash reward for information that will lead to the arrest of the person or people who abandoned 10 newborn puppies at a Van car wash. According to our news colleagues at KETK, the Van Police Department responded to a call on Wednesday at around 7 p.m. to a car wash on Cedar Street and found the puppies in a wire crate without food or water access. Van PD cared for the puppies overnight and then contacted the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit the next day. The puppies are currently at the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center receiving veterinary care, SPCA of Texas said. Continue reading SPCA offers $5,000 reward after puppies dumped

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue released the cause of a Lindale house fire that resulted in the deaths of a mother and daughter. On Sunday, March 18, 2024, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office was called in by the Lindale Fire Department to investigate a structure fire in Lindale, involving the death of two individuals. They were later identified as mother, Ruby Martinez, 83, and daughter, Gloria Clark, 67.

“After thoroughly investigating the fire scene, autopsy and toxicology results, and lab results of submitted forensic evidence, it was determined that Ms. Clark died from a natural event, causing an accidental fire, which resulted in the death of Ms. Martinez,” Hogue said. “The cause of the fire was accidental in nature. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, in January, Krystle Medeiros, 38 of Tyler, was driving on the wrong side of the roadway causing a head-on crash. Both Medeiros and her 9-year-old daughter were taken to the hospital where her daughter later died from her injuries. A subpoena for Medeiros’ medical records showed her blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.35. The legal limit in Texas is 0.08. Medeiros was originally charged with intoxication manslaughter but a grand jury indicted her with murder on March 28. She’s being held at the Smith County Jail on a bond totaling $250,000.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Judge Neal Franklin issued an Amended Disaster Declaration on Thursday, June 6, to encompass damages from all severe weather during the last two weeks throughout all of Smith County. Beginning May 23, 2024, the entire county has been hit hard by several storms, including severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, excessive rainfall and/or tornadic activity. These storms resulted in widespread and severe damages, injuries and/or loss of life or property. Declaring a disaster allows officials and emergency management personnel to access additional resources to support operational needs, as well as allowing for additional resources to be made available to citizens. Officials asking anyone who suffered property damages from any of these storms to report them here.

SMITH COUNTY — The Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) released expected times for cities to have their power restored after severe weather caused thousands of East Texans to lose electricity.SWEPCO said Wednesday morning’s storms that caused more flooding and ground to be oversaturated that hampered their restorative efforts. Continue reading SWEPCO power restoration times

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler will offer a new Bachelor of Science in construction engineering for students at the Houston Engineering Center beginning this fall. Housed within the College of Engineering, the four-year program will be available in person at the HEC, located on the Houston Community College Alief-Hayes campus at 2811 Hayes Road in Houston. Continue reading UT Tyler Adds New Construction Engineering Degree