KTBB News, Weather, Talk

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report a man was arrested in early October for possession of child pornography after a tip from the FBI led to an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 4, investigators received a tip from the FBI about allegations that Jeremiah James Maldonado was in possession of child pornography.

The sheriff’s office then launched a thorough investigation, which helped them uncover that the tip about Maldonado was correct. A month later, on Oct. 4, Maldonado was arrested for possession of child pornography by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office in San Marcos after fleeing from the investigation. Maldonado was then transferred back to Cherokee County on Oct. 7 and booked into the county jail.

TYLER — The Texas Rose Festival’s Rose Queen is visiting Tyler ISD elementary schools to read the Queen’s Tea to students and will be attending the Queen’s Tea event on Saturday, where students of all grades can meet the Queen and her Court. According to our news partner KETK, the annual tradition connects the Texas Rose Festival with local schools, giving students the opportunity to learn about community traditions and meet this year’s Rose Queen, Avery Craft Armstrong.

The Texas Rose Festival Queen’s Tea is a beloved community event where guests of all ages can meet the Queen and her Court in the beautiful Tyler Municipal Rose Garden on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is free. Continue reading Texas Rose Festival Queen visits elementary schools

SMITH COUNTY – New information following a fatal crash in Smith County on Wednesday morning. According to an arrest affidavit and our news partner KETK, the crash took place on FM 2015 south of FM 16 involving a white F250 and another vehicle. The driver of the F-250,  Jeremiah Munoz, 31, drove into the southbound lane and collided head-on with a  vehicle driven by Brandi Carter.

Once deputies arrived at the scene of the crash, they observed the truck facing south and the vehicle driven by Carter in a ditch. When deputies approached Carter’s vehicle, they found her dead beside her car, according to the arrest affidavit.

As deputies spoke with Munoz, they allegedly detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. When asked if he had been drinking, Munoz stated that it was his birthday and he had had a couple of beers. Munoz then agreed to take a sobriety test, which he was unable to pass. Continue reading Driver faces intoxication manslaughter following fatal crash

TYLER (AP) — Millions of Americans with Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance will face higher costs next year if Congress doesn’t extend enhanced premium tax credits that have made the plans more affordable. The tax credits are at the heart of the federal government shutdown, which has entered a third week with no end in sight.

That prospect is forcing Americans to make difficult decisions about their health care and what they can afford. Among the enrollees is Celia Monreal, a mother of five in Tyler, Texas, whose husband has cartilage loss in his knees. The couple won’t be able to afford their health insurance plan next year if the subsidies expire.

Monreal, 47, and her husband, Jorge, 57, rely on the Affordable Care Act marketplace for health coverage. If Congress doesn’t extend certain ACA tax credits set to expire at the end of the year, their fully subsidized plan will increase in cost, putting it out of reach. Continue reading Shutdown could cause health care subsidies to expire

TYLER – Although the Texas House and regular special sessions have ended, the fight for Texas Groundwater hasn’t ended, according to our news partner KETK.

“This is my number one priority, without question. And it will be going into next session as well,” State Representative Cody Harris of Palestine said. Harris, along with several water conservation groups, continues to push back on a proposal to drill dozens of high-capacity groundwater wells in East Texas.

“Yesterday afternoon, we had a water workshop that was really for our water supply corporations,” Harris said. “It also turned into a discussion on groundwater and what’s going on with the Pine Bless and Red Town Ranch proposal.”

Those projects could potentially pump up to 10 billion gallons of groundwater to other parts of the state. Harris says part of the fight is getting Proposition 4 approved.

“It creates a $20 billion fund over the next 20 years for new water supply and to help fix existing infrastructure,” Harris said. Continue reading Groundwater dispute persists after special sessions

GREGG COUNTY — The Texas DPS is investigating a fatal four-vehicle crash, including a school bus, that occurred on I-20 in Gregg County on Tuesday evening.

According to our news partner KETK and the Texas DPS, all four vehicles were traveling westbound on I-20 when a box van collided into the rear of a truck tractor-semi trailer. Following the collision, the van was disabled in the roadway and was struck by a truck tractor-semi trailer, pushing the van into the path of a school bus, which caused damage to the left side of the bus.

Following the crash, the driver of the box van, 42-year-old Zuo Kpogba, was pronounced dead on the scene. The drivers of the other vehicles and the passengers on the school bus sustained no injuries.

The DPS states that the investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available at this time.

UPSHUR COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, former Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Katiland Ariel Gray was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of cruelty to livestock animals /torture. According to Harrison County judicial records, Gray committed two offenses regarding cruelty to livestock animals on Aug. 11, 2024 and was indicted on Nov. 20 the same year.

Judicial records confirm that Gray pleaded not guilty to one count of cruelty to livestock animals and one count of cruelty to livestock animals/torture on Sept. 10, 2025. She was convicted and sentenced on account of both charges on the same day.

Gray will spend four years consecutively in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and is ordered to pay a total of $10,390.

SMITH COUNTY — Officials in Smith County are asking residents to refrain from burning due to increased fire danger. Smith County is not issuing a burn ban. According to the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office and our news partner KETK, the increased fire danger is due to unusually dry conditions this month, which was caused by the county experiencing an abnormally wet spring, early summer and robust grass crop.

“Due to this year’s robust grass crop that is now becoming drought-cured and dehydrated, fire behavior and resistance to control will likely increase,” the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office said.

COLLEGE STATION — On Tuesday, the Texas A&M University announced they are awarding approximately $164 million in grants to Texas volunteer fire departments. According to our news partner KETK, the grants are thanks to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, which was established by Texas House in 2001. The program provides grants to rural volunteer fire departments for essential firefighting equipment and training.

“Texas fire departments are the front line of local response, and their equipment capacity is vital to response time and effectiveness,” Texas A&M Forest Service Director Al Davis said. “This historic funding reflects the strong support of the Texas Legislature and governor. Their investment allows us to continue supporting and equipping firefighters who protect Texas’ lives and property.”

The multimillion-dollar grants will benefit a total of 879 fire departments across Texas. Several East Texas fire departments will receive funding, you can the complete list from KETK, here.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County has seen a 25% increase in DWI charges from 2023 to 2024, largely due to enhanced enforcement efforts, according to a detective with the sheriff’s office. Ryan Edmonds, a DWI expert currently assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, explained to our news partner KETK that the rise in DWI arrests is attributed to increased training and the deployment of task forces during peak times for intoxicated driving.

“The biggest factor behind that increase is probably the enhanced enforcement that we’ve put into place,” Edmonds said. Continue reading DWI arrests rise amid stricter enforcement

UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas – Our news partners at KETK report that Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd announced on Tuesday that he will be retiring from his position at the end of October. Byrd sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday, stating that after serving as the Upshur County district attorney for the past 18 years and serving as a prosecutor in the state of Texas for the last 24 years, he will be retiring from his role on Oct. 31. Byrd’s first assistant, Barry Wallace, will assume duties as district attorney until Gov. Abbott makes an appointment or someone is elected next year.

TYLER – People in the Tyler area are being asked to continue to conserve water this week as city crews make repairs at the Lake Palestine water plant. Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Lake Palestine Water Plant has been offline since Thursday to fix equipment issues and flooding. Over the weekend, the City of Tyler’s water supply was limited to just the water from Golden Road.

Water Utilities Director Kate Dietz advises residents to continue to follow the water restrictions. Outdoor watering is limited to even-numbered addresses on Sunday and Thursday and odd-numbered addresses on Saturday and Wednesday. Watering only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. As of now, four out of the eight filters at Lake Palestine are now up and running once again. Even so, Golden Road is still providing for the majority of the water demand right now.

Prohibited Non-Essential Uses: Washing sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, or buildings (except for fire protection) and using water for dust control.

Dietz is also asking everyone to limit car washing between 8 p.m. and midnight. For a full list of water conservation guidelines, visit the City of Tyler website.

CARTHAGE — The Carthage Police Department has officially relocated its operations to a new multi million-dollar facility. According to our news partner KETK, the new standalone police headquarters was completed Oct. 14, and is located at 453 West Sabine Street. The project, estimated at $3.7 million, was approved by the City Commission in June of 2024, according to the city.

City officials expect the new facility not only to alleviate current space constraints but also to help in recruiting officers, enhancing safety and security, improving evidence processing and offering more suitable work environments.

“All administrative functions, public services, and correspondence will now take place at this new location. The department looks forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Carthage with professionalism and dedication from its updated facility.” the Carthage Police Department said. For more information contact the department directly at 903-693-3866.