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TYLER — Managers of the SPCA of East Texas Facebook account noticed several posts on their page on Saturday, that they did not publish. According to our news partner KETK, the posts, that are still up, include pictures of dogs ready for adoption, but with a catch. The post alleged applicants had to pay a deposit, something the shelter does not require.

“Our main page had been hacked, all of the administrators were taken off the page and nobody was able to access,” Karen Kilgore, with the SPCA of East Texas, said. Those who hacked the account posted several dogs, including French bulldogs and yorkies, and asked for a $400 deposit. “We do not take deposits. We go with best fit, so a lot of people realized something was up, it must not be us, but some people did not. They fell victim and lost several hundred [dollars], one lady I know at least $600,” Kilgore said.

The shelter still does not have access to their Facebook account, a platform they used to promote animals that needed forever homes. Continue reading SPCA East Texas says their Facebook was hacked

UPDATE: The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office said Spykes is in custody.

TRINITY COUNTY – The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a manhunt for a person that was reportedly involved in a shooting on Tuesday. Spykes was allegedly involved in a shooting, in which the victim’s condition is currently unknown. Spykes is described as 6 foot 1 inch, with brown hair and blue eyes. The sheriff’s office said he was wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans and white shoes.

According to our news partner KETK, officials are searching for Shyan Spykes who was last seen at around 12:30 p.m. at the Pine Crest subdivision. Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said they have dealt with Spykes in the past. Continue reading Manhunt ends in Trinity County, suspect in custody

KILGORE – The suspect of a weekend shooting that left one juvenile dead in Kilgore was identified and charged with murder. According to our news partner KETK, Kilgore Police say he is 17-year-old Danyael Munoz of Kilgore, as the person who shot a killed another juvenile early Sunday morning in Kilgore.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found one dead and one wounded. Munoz reportedly fled to a house nearby. A Northeast Texas Regional SWAT negotiator spoke to him until he turned himself in. Munoz was arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail. He’s charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The teenager’s bonds total $250,000.

TRINITY COUNTY – UPDATE: The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office said Spykes is in custody. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a manhunt for a person that was reportedly involved in a shooting on Tuesday according to our colleagues at KETK. According to a release, officials are searching for Shyan Spykes who was last seen at around 12:30 p.m. at the Pine Crest subdivision. Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said they have dealt with Spykes in the past. “Occasionally he gets high on meth and he does something stupid,” Wallace said. “Today he decided to shoot somebody.” Continue reading Manhunt ends for Trinity County shooting suspect

TRINITY COUNTY – A man was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to solicitation of a minor, Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace announced on Tuesday. Steven Myers, 47, was arrested after officials said he made inappropriate advances towards a minor while she was at work. The minor told her parents, who contacted the sheriff’s office, prompting an undercover investigation lasting several weeks. Continue reading Man gets six years in prison for solicitation of minor

Tyler – Tyler ISD is thrilled to announce that four of its schools have been recognized on the prestigious Educational Results Partnership’s (ERP) 2023 Honor Roll list of top-performing schools in Texas. The honored schools are Birdwell Dual Language Immersion School, Caldwell Arts Academy, Early College High School, and Andy Woods Elementary School.
This recognition marks the ninth year ERP has published its Honor Roll, highlighting schools that excel in student achievement. Sponsored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE) and presented in collaboration with the Texas Business Leadership Council, the ERP Honor Roll is part of a national initiative to identify and commend schools and districts that are advancing student outcomes and equipping students with essential skills valued by employers. Continue reading Four TISD campuses make ERP Honor Roll

TYLER — Our news partners at KETK report that insurance rates are rising in Texas and experts said inflation, supply chain issues, lack of labor and cost repairs are contributing factors. The rise in insurance is hurting Texans’ wallets, especially this summer. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, in 2012 the average auto insurance rate increased by 4.6% but in 2023 Texans saw an increase by a staggering 25.5%.

“Insurance rates in Texas are 67% higher than the national average,” Mechele Mills, CEO of the BBB Serving Central East Texas, said. “Since last year, homeowners in our state have seen an increase of about 16% to 22% and car owners 26%.”

Director of communications of the Insurance Council of Texas said destructive weather is also a large factor to higher prices.
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“If we look at Texas as a market, we have so many hazards and perils that we deal with when it comes to hail, wind, tornados hurricanes flooding,” Johnson said.

Johnson also recommends people to do their homework and compare different options available.

JEFFERSON – Our news colleagues at KETK report the Jefferson Police Department is looking for a missing man that was reportedly last seen on Thursday morning. Authorities said they are searching for 41-year-old Donovan Byrd, and anyone with information on his location is asked to call police at 903-665-2432.

TYLER — A bomb threat was called into a Brookshire’s grocery store in Bullard on Monday, marking the third in the span of a week in East Texas and reports of more across the state. According to our news partner KETK, the Bullard Police Department said the threat was “the same report received by numerous area Brookshire’s stores.”

Bullard PD said they conducted a search of the store and found no devices. Managers then decided to reopen the store to the public. The police department also said federal agencies are conducting an investigation regarding the influx of bomb threats made against the local grocery chain.

A spokesperson from the FBI Dallas Field Office told KETK News that they are aware of the threats and are also investigating. “We will continue to work closely with local, state and other federal agencies on these incidents,” the FBI spokesperson said. Continue reading FBI investigates multiple Brookshire’s bomb threats

GREGG COUNTY – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is looking to bring a teenage girl home safely after she was last seen on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, the sheriff’s office is seeking information on 17-year-old Halo Faith Bumstead’s whereabouts after being reported missing. Bumstead is described as 5 foot 7 inches, biracial, has ear and tongue piercings. She was reportedly wearing light blue shorts, white shirt with dark blue pinstripes. Officials said she was last seen near 100 Home Place Circle near Gladewater.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 903-236-8400 or local law enforcement and refer to the case #C24-08991.

HENDERSON – Henderson ISD announced on Monday that they are mourning the loss of an elementary student who would have started first grade next year, that according to our news partner KETK. A release from the district said, “It is with profound sadness that our staff and students mourn the recent passing of Stevee Hale. Stevee was an exceptional student and our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to her family during this incredibly difficult time.”

The school district said that Board President Russell Brown, who knew Hale personally, led trustees in a moment of silence at a recent school board meeting to honor and remember her.

Brown also read a statement where one of her teachers said “to know her was to completely adore her, and she left this world with a little more sparkle than it had before she got here.”

Tyler — The Charles Butt Foundation, a non-profit pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships, has selected Bethany Moody, Principal of Kissam Intermediate, as one of 30 principals from traditional and charter school districts across Texas to attend a weeklong summer institute at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, led by Harvard faculty and other national and international experts.

The Raising School Leaders program is designed to inspire, challenge and empower school leaders to bring lasting impact to their campuses and communities, the entire state of Texas, and beyond. Following the Harvard institute, attendees remain a part of the program’s statewide network of school leaders, work together to create change at the campus and district levels, and receive continuous support and professional development.

TYLER — UT Health East Texas announced Monday  the launch of virtual nursing across its hospital network. Partnered with care.ai, the UT Health East Texas virtual nursing program is the first in the region. According to a news release, virtual nursing empowers care teams to work more efficiently and drive improved clinical outcomes.

Enabled by video communication with credentialed registered nurses (virtual nurses) and in-room smart sensors, the platform allows virtual nurses, who are employed by UT Health East Texas, to manage a wide variety of patient care tasks that do not require physical proximity, such as routine monitoring or providing education and discharge instructions. This enables bedside nurses to focus more time and attention on crucial hands-on care that only they can provide. Together, virtual and bedside nurses optimize admissions, rounding, discharge and other workflows, which aims to improve patient experience, staff retention and job satisfaction for the bedside caregiver. Continue reading UT Health launches virtual nursing

TYLER — The rash of bomb threats against Brookshire’s Grocery Stores continued this weekend. The Brookeshire’s in Bridgeport was evacuated shortly after noon on Sunday following a bomb threat, the latest in a number of similar threats made at the chain’s stores across the state. The Denton County Fire Department’s Bomb Squad searched the building and found nothing. The grocery store reopened later that afternoon.

Bridgeport Police say the threat came through the Brookshire’s corporate office, like the other recent threats. Other Brookshire’s stores receiving threats over the weekend included Brownwood, Azle and Aledo. Two Tyler Brookshire’s locations were evacuated Friday due to a bomb threat.