KTBB News, Weather, Talk

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed three persons to the Stephen F. Austin State University Board Of Regents. The governor reappointed David Alders to the post. He also appointed to the board Judy Olson of Conroe and Jennifer Winston of Lufkin. Their terms are set to expire on January 31, 2025. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

AUSTIN –The 2016 election brought us “fake news,” but what we will see in 2020 will be a lot worse — and the Texas Legislature is trying to get ahead of it, with an East Texan leading the charge. It’s called a “deep fake.” It is a video produced using artificial intelligence that makes it very convincingly appear that a person is saying something outrageous — like Donald Trump endorsing the Green New Deal. East Texas state Senator Bryan Hughes says his bill would punish any candidates or activists who post “deep fake” videos within 30 days of the election. Hughes says the bill would “allow us to hold that person accountable criminally and hopefully deter someone from doing this in the future.” But since deep fakes are so hard to spot, some senators asked whether the law would be used by candidates to make allegations against an opponent right before Election Day.

HARRISON COUNTY — A fiery wreck on I-20 in Harrison County leaves three people dead, one injured. The two vehicle crash happened just after 11:00 Monday night on I-20 east, about 8 miles east of Marshall. According to the Department of Public Safety, a semi-trailer was traveling east when it was struck by an eastbound car. The impact caused the car to flip, landing upside down, and catching on fire. The front passenger and the two rear passengers were killed in the wreck. The driver was transported to LSU Health in Shreveport in serious condition. Names have not been released. An investigation is underway.

EAST TEXAS – A juvenile has been arrested in connection with social media threats against area high schools. Through the work of numerous agencies, the juvenile was identified. Working with the Rusk County DA’s Office, a pick up order was signed by the Judge Chad Dean. The suspect was arrested by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and released to Rusk County juvenile authorities. Despite the threat being deemed not credible, there were extra security precautions taken Monday at all five school districts involved — Henderson, Overton, West Rusk, Chapel Hill, and Kilgore. Classes were in session as normal on Monday in all five districts. Continue reading Social Media Threat Suspect Arrested

TYLER – A Van Zandt County Jail captain is free on bond today after her arrest. Captain Winnifred Boles, 54, of Ben Wheeler, is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an inmate. She was booked into the Smith County Jail on Friday, then released on a $50,000 bond. According to a statement from the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department, “The matter was turned over to the Texas Rangers for independent investigation.”

ABILENE – And East Texas fisherman has landed the last ‘Legacy Class’ ShareLunker of 2019. Brad Scott of Gun Barrel City caught the lunker bass on Lake Leon near Abilene during the final weekend of the 2019 donation season. The lunker entered in the Toyota ShareLunker program is the first ever caught in Lake Leon. The fish weighed in at exactly 13 pounds, the absolute minimum requirement for a “Legacy Class” ShareLunker entry. Although the “Legacy Class” donation season has ended, anglers can still enter their 8 pound or larger largemouth bass catches into the Toyota ShareLunker Program through December 31.

LONGVIEW – It is time for the annual Taste of Longview. You will get to sample a wide variety of food and drinks from various Longview restaurants. Plus, there will be live entertainment along with raffle tickets and prizes. Tickets for adults are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets for children 4 to 10 years old are $6. The event serves as a fundraiser benefiting the culinary and hospitality students of East Texas presented by the East Texas Restaurant Association and the Longview Pilot Club. Doors open Tuesday night at 7:00 at the Maude Cobb Convention Center.

LONGVIEW – At student at LeTourneau University has been accepted to participate in the Texas Joint Admission Medical Program. This guarantees sophomore biology major Benjamin Tebbe-Trujillo’s acceptance into one of the nine medical schools in Texas once he completes his undergraduate degree. The award enables him to begin his medical school education this summer with his first medical school internship. Once he completes his remaining requirements of the JAMP program, he will have interviews at all nine of the medical schools in Texas, with guaranteed acceptance into at least one.

LONGVIEW – Crews with Union Pacific are working to clean up after nine cars derailed in Longview Sunday afternoon. According to the Longview News Journal, the derailment occurred between Second and Third streets on the railroad tracks between Methvin and Cotton streets. No streets were blocked and no injuries were reported. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.

TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has up held the conviction of a Tyler woman for Injury to a child. The court affirmed the conviction of Taylor Nicole Skinner, 25. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison last June for the injuries sustained by her 15 month old child. The youngster was admitted to a Tyler hospital with severe injuries in September of 2017, and later transferred to a Dallas hospital for surgery, and has since recovered. Skinner was the second person convicted in the case. Terral Deshon Carter, 27, of Tyler, the woman’s boyfriend, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the youngster’s injuries.

HENDERSON — The Henderson Police department has joined Kilgore PD in saying that the school shooting threat that spread throughout East Texas on Sunday is “not credible.” According to our news partner KETK, they concluded through multiple interviews that the threat came from a fictitious social media account. Multiple agencies were brought into the investigation, including the FBI. Despite the threat being deemed not credible, there are extra security precautions being taken at all five school districts involved — Henderson, Overton, West Rusk, Chapel Hill, and Kilgore. Classes were in session as normal Monday in all five districts.

HENDERSON – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year-old Dylan Rachel of Laird Hill is jailed after a dead body was discovered Friday on County Road 156. According to our news partner KETK, search warrants executed in Rusk County and Gregg County led to the arrest of Rachel, who has been charged with murder. No bond has been set. Further details on the case are pending.

TYLER – It is time for annual Smith County-Wide Clean Up. The program, which will run throughout April, allows residents to take bulky items to the landfill for free. Smith County residents can use vouchers, available at the Smith County Courthouse Annex and all justice of the peace/constable offices, to redeem at the Greenwood Farms Landfill, at 12920 Farm-to-Market Road 2767, or Old Kilgore Highway, in Tyler. Smith County citizens will be able to take 3 cubic yards of solid waste, which fills the bed of a regular sized pickup, and/or bulk items to be disposed of at the landfill. Items NOT accepted include: hazardous waste, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, gasoline, oils, paint, acid, batteries, Asbestos, wet paint, Freon, whole tires, televisions, computers, refrigerators and freezers.

TYLER – Monday through Friday is Rose City Restaurant Week. The annual event, which helps raise funds for non-profits, also celebrates eating out in Tyler. The goal of Restaurant Week is to encourage the community to support some of the best local restaurants while raising money for he Junior League of Tyler. Nearly two dozen restaurants are participating in this year’s drive. Continue reading Eat Local and Help the Junior League of Tyler

TYLER — TxDOT has another full schedule of construction and maintenance work planned for the Week of April 1 in the Tyler District. Tyler maintenance crews plan to continue base repair operations on SH 110N near FM 3271. Crews will also conduct ditch maintenance on roadways around the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control. Longview crews plan to conduct pothole patching operations on various roadways throughout the county. Lane closures are possible with flaggers conducting traffic control. Go to txdot for a full rundown of work planned throughout the district.

LONGVIEW — The schedule has been revised for the Green Street closure between Nelson Street and Mopac Road in Longview. That stretch will be closed to all traffic Monday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 2, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drivers are encouraged to use Fredonia Street by way of Mopac Road and Nelson Street as an alternate. The closure is due to railroad track maintenance work previously scheduled for March. If you have any questions related to construction, call City Engineer Alton Bradley at 903-237-1067.

TYLER – An unprecedented number of aspiring artists from local schools are getting their first opportunity for a full museum exhibition with the Tyler Museum of Art’s 15th Annual High School Art Exhibition. It opened Sunday and continues through May 5 at the museum, on the Tyler Junior College main campus. Admission is free. According to information from the museum, this year’s juried competition tops the previous record of 2018, featuring 109 students from a best-ever 20 high-school campuses in Tyler and nearby cities. You can check the April 2 entry on the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for additional information.

TYLER – Over 220 churches are preparing for CityFest East Texas, scheduled for October 5 and 6 in downtown Tyler and featuring evangelist Andrew Palau of the Luis Palau Association. One of several events leading up to CityFest is the RE:NEW Gathering on April 4 at Green Acres Baptist Church. According to a news release, the RE:NEW Gathering “is expected to host thousands of people for a special night of inspiration, prayer, worship, and unity.” The free event will start at 7 p.m. You can go to http://www.cityfest.org/renew to reserve tickets. Visit http://www.cityfest.org to learn more about CityFest East Texas, and click on http://www.palau.org to learn more about the Luis Palau Association.

GLADEWATER — A Gladewater resident has been arrested on six felony charges following recovery by Gladewater police of stolen equipment totaling over $57,000 in value. According to our news partner KETK, a total of six utility and assorted trailers were recovered as well as a smoker pit trailer and a welding machine. At least two of the trailers were reported stolen from Smith County. Officers also have in their custody numerous miscellaneous tools and other items believed to be stolen. Investigation continues to determine their status. The suspect was transported to the Gladewater Municipal Jail pending an initial court appearance.

TYLER – United Way of Smith County president and CEO, Nan Moore has told her board she will retire within the next 12 months. Moore has served in executive nonprofit positions for more than 26 years. She is currently in her twelfth year of service to United Way of Smith County as President and CEO. She has led the organization in successful campaigns along with the move into the new main offices in the Tyler Woman’s Building. Moore has assured United Way’s board, staff and partner agencies that she will stay on until a successor is named. The United Way of Smith County will begin a nationwide search for a new President and CEO and has asked immediate past chairman of the board, Mike Thomas to serve as the Search Committee Chairman.

MARSHALL – A Harrison County man has been charged with killing his wife. Charged with murder is Billy Marsh, 45. He turned himself at the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. He is now in the county jail. Around 7:00 Friday morning, there was a 911 call about a dead person. When officers arrived at the Big Oak Mobile Home Community on Lansing Switch Road, they found the body of Keyocea Marsh, 40. The investigation is continuing.

GLADEWATER – A Gladewater police officer has not been indicted in a shooting that occurred last November. But, while the Gregg County Grand Jury did not indict former officer Jacob Lira, they did indict the man he shot, Matthew Murchison, 30, (pictured) of Gladewater. He is charged with assault of a peace officer. Murchison was shot in the leg when he pulled his hands from his waistband into a shooting position. When he then bit and hit the officer, a taser was used on him. During the investigation, Murchison is said to have told the Texas Rangers that his intention was to commit suicide by cop. Officer Lira is currently a patrol officer for the Kilgore Police Department.

TYLER – The Tyler Fire Marshal’s Office has completed the investigation of a fatal fire that killed three persons. The fire was reported February 8th on Grand Avenue. The fire killed a 60 year old woman, a 40 year old man and a 1 year old girl. Still being treated at a Fort Worth hospital from injuries received in the fire is a six year old girl and a one year old boy. According to fire marshal Paul Findley, the fire began in the front living room area of the home and quickly intensified. He said, while they believe the fire was unintentional and originated as the result of an accident, the official cause of the fire will remain undetermined.

LONGVIEW – A 35 year old man has received life-threatening injuries after jumping from a Longview bridge. Police Lt. Shane McCarter told the Longview News Journal that the incident happened shortly after 4:00 Thursday afternoon at a bridge near Nelson and Green Streets. McCarter released no further information.

LONGVIEW – The city of Longview saw a drop in part 1 crimes in 2018. These offenses are most commonly identified as crimes against a person. These are also the most commonly reported crimes across the country. Longview saw a 7.4% reduction in violent crimes and an overall drop of 7.3% in total part 1 crimes. The largest drop was in robbery. There were 101 robberies in Longview in 2017. Last year there were 58, for a drop of 42.6%. Burglary dropped by 15.5% while forcible rape declined by 12.9%

TYLER – The Tyler city council will hold a called meeting Friday to cancel the special called election for District 6 on the council. The election was called after city councilman John Nix submitted his letter of resignation, effective this past Wednesday. The deadline for candidates to file for the post was this past Monday. The only person to file was Criss Sudduth. At Friday’s meeting, besides cancelling the election, they will also declare Sudduth as the council member for District 6. Later the city council will issue a certificate of election to Suddeth, and he will be sworn into office.

TYLER – A Smith County Jury has found Mark Vanhouten, 55, of Tyler, guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child. The victim told her mother in 2016 what had happened. During the course of the investigation, Vanhouten’s DNA was identified from swabs taken from the victim. Also, incriminating pictures and internet search history were located on his computer. After convicting him the case on Wednesday, the jury in the 7th District Court sentenced him to 25 years in prison, without parole.

KILGORE – Kilgore College will become the first college in East Texas to implement a revolutionary new method of instruction which they say is proven to increase student success. They will be starting 8 week terms, rather than one long 16-week fall and spring semester. Most courses at the school will be divided into two eight-week terms with a short break in between. It begins this fall. A news release from the school says the the new eight-week term model, called “Focus to Finish,” will allow students to work smarter, not harder. Studies show full-time students who take just two or three classes every eight weeks are better able to maintain focus and excel in the classroom. This scheduling method will also give part-time students the opportunity to attend the college on a full-time basis. Continue reading New Method of Instruction at Kilgore College

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has launched a new community outreach program as part of their five-year strategic plan. it’s called the “100 Communities Initiative.” The university plans to visit communities around East Texas to learn about their needs as they work to build new partnerships. It’s all in line with their mission statement, to be the educational and economic driver of East Texas. It’s also geared to drive up the enrollment numbers and to make students aware of their options. The goal is to reach over 100 individual communities in the region.