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LONGVIEW — A Gregg County grand jury has indicted 36-year-old Jessie Clifford Brown in the 2015 murder of John Allen Franco. Brown was arrested in October at his Kilgore home, more than two years after 24-year-old Franco was fatally shot in his car on a county road in Liberty City. Brown was booked into the Gregg County Jail on $125,000 bond.

SMITH COUNTY — A suspended Smith County constable has been released from prison and has entered a halfway house. According to KTBB’s news partner KETK, Henry Phillip Jackson, 66, was placed in a halfway house, which is overseen by the Houston Residential Reentry Management field office. On May 16, 2017, Jackson pleaded guilty to four counts of willful failure to file federal income tax returns and was sentenced to six months in federal prison in September. Jackson was also ordered to pay $157,489 in restitution. Jackson has served as an elected constable since 1999. Continue reading Suspended Smith County Constable Released from Prison

LONGVIEW – In state district court in Longview Monday, Aaron Castile Bowling, 28, of Longview, pleaded guilty to the murder of his 2 year old daughter. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison by District Judge Alfonso Charles. Alanis Bowling was taken by her mother, Jamie Lee Nelson, 26, to the hospital in December, 2015. Because of the severity of her injuries, she was later flown to a Dallas hospital, where she died. As officers began to investigate the case, the parents provided a story that was not consistent with the child’s injuries. Her mother is charged with negligence and endangering a child. The case against her is still pending.

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is now using a new radio system. The department is addressing some misunderstandings about the changeover. They stress that the changeover does not put the public at any risk in the event of a major incident. They still are able to communicate with the sheriff’s department.They can even use an analog channel that was once used by the Marshall Fire Department. That channel is monitored by both police and sheriff’s department dispatchers. And they added, since they switched to the new system, there has been no emergency situation that required direct communication with the sheriff’s department.

TYLER – The trial of Jessica Lauren Vass, who is charged with killing two persons in a traffic accident a year ago, has been rescheduled. In an appearance in state district court in Tyler Monday, the Lindale woman’s trial was rescheduled for May 21. She was indicted last September on two counts of intoxication manslaughter. The wreck Killed Gary McCrary, 62, of Flint and Annette Burkhart, 56, of Garland. McCrary was assisting Burkhart in changing a flat tire on her car when the Vass vehicle hit the back of his pickup, which then hit the Burkhart car. Her car then hit the couple as they stood on the shoulder of Loop 49 just north of Highway 64.

LONGVIEW – The cause of a weekend fire in Longview remains under investigation. A woman in the home when the fire started was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and minor burns. Several of her pets died in the fire. The fire was reported shortly before 2:30 Sunday morning on Sandlin Street, west of Willow Park.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of April 16th. Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

The Legacy Trails – Hike and Bike Trail Development:
The contractor continues sidewalk construction on the West Trail, which runs from Three Lakes Parkway to FM 2813. Sidewalk construction also continues along the Oncor easement between Dueling Oaks and Cumberland Road. No lane closures are planned. This project consists of constructing 4.4 miles of hike and bike trails in Southwest Tyler. It includes the construction of parking lots, driveways, landscaping, pedestrian ramps, crosswalks and drainage structures along the 10-foot wide hike and bike trails. The anticipated completion date is the spring of next year. Continue reading TxDOT Road Projects Update

HOUSTON (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review an appeal from a Hopkins County man on death row for strangling his girlfriend 18 years ago. The high court decision, without comment, upholds a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling last year rejecting arguments that Daniel Acker, 46, was innocent of the March 2000 killing of Marquetta George, 32, of Sulphur Springs. Attorneys also contended Acker’s trial court erroneously excluded evidence of his innocence, that appeals he previously lost were based on false evidence and that he had poor legal help in earlier appeals. Prosecutors said Acker killed George and dumped her body on a Hopkins County road. Trial attorneys said she jumped from Acker’s truck and then was hit. Acker doesn’t yet have an execution date.

LONGVIEW — Spring Hill ISD has approved adding and paying off-duty Longview police officers for extra campus security. Our news partner KETK reports the move is in response to the February 14 Parkland school shooting. Longview officers make money doing off-duty work at various places. Since officers have various off days, the district says it could have up to nine officers around during the week. District officials say having more officers familiar with the campuses keeps students safe.

LAS VEGAS (ABC/Staff) — Lindale’s own Miranda Lambert scored big again at the 53rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards — and set an all-time record in the process. Lambert took home the Female Vocalist of the Year award — her ninth consecutive win in that category and her 30th ACM overall, making her the winningest artist in ACM history. During her acceptance speech Sunday night, she said she would never take the honor for granted. She told the Las Vegas audience, “I love country music. It is my entire life. I dedicate everything I have to it.”

SMITH COUNTY — A wreck on Highway 271 in Smith County has been cleared after stalling traffic for a time. DPS troopers say an 18-wheeler and SUV collided at the Brookshire’s warehouse entrance around 7:30 this morning. One driver was seriously injured.

GREGG COUNTY — No criminal charges will be filed in a March standoff between a Kilgore man and SWAT agents, according to Gregg County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cpl. Joshua Tubb. The Longview News-Journal reports, Tubb said the investigation into the four-hour standoff at a Kilgore residence on March 26 is inactive and concluded that criminal charges would not be applicable. Officials said at the time the man was apprehended on a mental health warrant and was taken to a hospital for evaluation after firing multiple shots inside of his home. No one was injured in the incident.

EAST TEXAS — The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes touched down in Harrison County, Caddo Parish and Caddo and Bossier Parishes Friday evening. According to our news partner KETK, the first was an EF-0 tornado reported in Waskom at around 11:50 p.m. It touched down along FM 9 near FM 451 where it broke several large branches. It continued east-northeast just north of CR 1220. The tornado blew the roof off a small barn before it crossed into Caddo Parish. It was on the ground for a total of 14 minutes and traveled more than 10 miles. Continue reading Tornadoes Confirmed in Texas and Louisiana

EAST TEXAS — The Dallas Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Tania Robinson, 52, listed as a “critical missing person.” According to KTBB’s news partner KETK, on Friday around 4:00, Ms. Robinson left the hospital on Gaston Avenue possibly heading to Van. She’s said to be driving a white 2008 Ford Escape with Texas plate number: FLC-9643. Robinson is described as 4’11”, 300 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. If you see Robinson or know of her whereabouts, please call 911 or contact the Dallas Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit at (214) 671-4268.

EAST TEXAS — Severe storms with high wind and hail moved through the area Friday night and early Saturday morning leaving many residents and businesses in East Texas without power. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office said there were 13 reports of trees and or power lines blocking roadways. The Gregg County Emergency Management Coordinator has been assessing the damaged areas Saturday. No injuries have been reported. Continue reading Severe Storms cause Power Outages, Damage across East Texas

TYLER – Tyler Junior College has announced Presidential Honors Scholars Ebony Griffin and Jairo Tec as the recipients of its annual Rotary Young Citizens Award. Selected by a vote of TJC faculty and staff, each received a $500 scholarship from the TJC President’s Circle fund. Griffin is a biology major from Rusk, and Jairo Tec is a general studies major from Henderson. Both plan to transfer to the University of Texas at Tyler.

LONGVIEW – The University of Texas at Tyler recently announced the new Laura B. Jackson Endowed Nursing Scholarship, which will provide financial assistance to nursing students who are taking classes at the UT Tyler Longview facility. Laura Blanche Jackson died of cancer at age 29 in 1992. Prior to her death, she requested that some type of recognition be made to nurses. Laura’s cousin, Leah Killingsworth Darby, fulfilled her wish, and in 1993 a charitable trust was created by the Darby Family with Leah, husband John, son Miles, and daughter Beth as Trustees.

KILGORE – Kilgore College is accepting applications for two board appointments to fill the vacant seat of the late James Walker and the seat of Bob Heath, who is retiring. Heath represents the South Zone, Voting Unit #1, Place 7. The remainder of the term for this seat lasts until May of 2019 when a regular election will be held. Walker’s vacant seat is Voting Unit #2, Place 2, North Zone. Anyone interested in being appointed to serve in one of these two vacant board seats can submit a letter of interest to Nancy Law, located in Office 100 on the first floor of the Stewart McLaurin Administration Building on the Kilgore campus. Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm on Monday, April 30.

TYLER – A San Antonio law firm is filing a claim against CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital and the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital. The action is planned following the arrest of a former nurse who has been charged with murder.The Crosley Law Firm, with the assistance of a Tyler firm, is filing the action on behalf of a man who is said to be one of the victims of William Davis, 34, of Hallsville. Tyler police arrested Davis on Tuesday in connection with the death of a decorated army veteran. Davis was fired by the hospital in February. Davis’ license was suspended last month by the Texas Board of Nursing. The law firm contends the hospital knew of its Davis’ improper and dangerous conduct, but failed to intervene, causing further harm and injury to their patients. After the hospital receives notice of the claim next week, the lawyers will be able to file a lawsuit in 60 days.

LUFKIN — The father of an East Texas toddler who drowned in a motel pool has filed a lawsuit against the motel and its parent company. According to KTBB’s news partner, KETK and the Lufkin Daily News, Rondarius Smith, the father of 3-year-old Arianna Smith, is seeking $1,000,000 from Motel 6 Inc. and G6 Hospitality LLC after the child was found at the bottom of the motel pool on South Timberland Drive, Tuesday, March 20. Authorities say Rondarius had fallen asleep while watching television in a room with his daughter. Arianna wandered away from the room and was able to access the pool area due to a faulty lock on the gate. She was pronounced dead the next day at a Houston hospital. Rondarius’ lawsuit claims “the incident occurred because of a lack of security on the motel’s part.

EAST TEXAS — A former nurse charged with murder in a patient’s death at a Tyler hospital this past year also is a former nurse at Good Shepherd Medical Center, according to the Longview News-journal. William George Davis, 34, remained jailed Thursday in Smith County on $2 million bond, charged in the death of Christopher Greenaway, 47, and with causing at least two other patients to enter vegetative states at a Tyler hospital. Seven patients were reported as experiencing “profound and unexplainable incidents resembling stroke-like symptoms” after being visited by Davis, according to a warrant for his arrest issued this week. Continue reading Nurse Charged in Patient Death Former Good Shepherd Employee

2017 was a strong economic year for Tyler and Smith County. That was the message presented Thursday at the annual appreciation luncheon of the Tyler Economic Development Council. Council president and CEO Tom Mullins said, last year, over $200 million in new investments and over 1,900 jobs were announced. The biggest project last year was announced by Sanderson Farms, which will have facilities in the Lindale and Winona areas. And Mullins said he feels 2018 will be even stronger than last year.

KILGORE – High school students in the Kilgore area will soon have access to new dual credit courses in agriculture thanks to a partnership between Northeast Texas Community College and Kilgore College. The two schools held an official signing for the formal agreement late Thursday morning in Kilgore. The new dual credit courses will be available for the fall semester. The courses will lead to certificates and associate’s degrees in Farm and Ranch Management and Conventional and Sustainable Agriculture. Career opportunities for graduates of these programs include: equipment retail sales and service, farm operations, crop production management and agribusiness opportunities such as farm insurance, commodity marketing and more.

MARSHALL – A video showing a Marshall teacher’s altercation with a student last week is getting a lot of social media attention. The video shows a girl arguing with her teacher because she took her phone. The argument then turns physical as the student pushes the teacher and she falls to the floor. Her injuries were said to be minor. School Superintendent Jerry Gibson told the Marshall news Messenger, the student was placed under arrest by the school district’s police department and has been charged with assault of a public servant and injury to the elderly. Both are third-degree felonies.

TYLER – The Tyler police department could soon be using a drone to help them with their work. The Tyler city council on Wednesday gave approval for the police department to seek a drone permit from the Federal Aviation Administration. With the help of a private donation, the police department has purchased a $6,000 drone. It can help officers in many ways, including assisting in finding lost persons. And you don’t have to worry about your privacy. The commercial model drone purchased by the police department is noisy, it can’t sneak up on you. It should take several months before they get the FAA approval.

LONGVIEW — A Gregg County commissioner candidate has filed suit against her opponent. According to our news partner KETK, Kasha Williams claims her opponent, Shannon Brown, was involved in vote harvesting. Williams lost her Democratic primary bid by a five-vote margin. Williams’s suit claims the vote was tainted by manipulating mail-in ballots — and now 231 ballots are being called into question. Her filing names five people, one of whom is Brown’s wife. Brown’s campaign expenditures reveal over $4,000 in personal loans with no explanation of what was purchased. Brown’s campaign finance director declined to comment on the lawsuit.

TYLER — Due to high winds in Smith County today, the Fire Marshal’s Office is urging residents to refrain from doing any outside burning. You’re urged always to use caution when burning outside. Officials say you should never burn during windy days and never leave a fire unattended.

TYLER — Tyler city crews have put a temporary barrier in a curve on Grande Boulevard near the Old Jacksonville Highway intersection. According to our news partner KETK, it’s a first step to improve safety, with an eye on eventually constructing a median. City officials say three people have lost their lives on the curve in recent years. They say the best solution is a raised median with a guard rail. Reflective barriers have been put in place to get drivers used to the idea of a separation in the roadway.

TYLER (AP) – The man police say was killed by a former nurse at a Tyler hospital was a pilot and a decorated veteran. Police have identified the victim as 47-year-old Christopher Greenaway, who died Aug. 6. According to his obituary, Greenaway was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and had worked as a pilot for medical transport. He served in the U.S. Army and had received several awards. Authorities have charged 34-year-old William George Davis with murder in Greenaway’s death when he was a patient at a Tyler hospital. Davis could face assault charges for injuring other patients. Tyler police spokeswoman Jenny Wells says there are “not any indications” that this could be a case of assisted suicide.