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SMITH COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, a contractor from Bullard was arrested on Tuesday for misappropriating approximately $400,000 of his neighbors’ money. He used these funds for personal expenses and to finance his trips to the casino after being hired to rebuild their home, which had been destroyed by a fire.

In January an investigator was contacted by a couple who said that their home had been struck by lightning in early 2024, causing a fire that destroyed a majority of the home. The home was determined to be a total loss by the insurance company, which, in return, settled with the homeowners. Officials said the homeowners then hired their neighbor, 51-year-old Brian Christopher Glass of Bullard, who operates the business, Glass Limitless Homes and Design, to rebuild their home.

“Between April 2024 and July 2024, Glass was paid over $500,000 by the homeowners for the construction,” the sheriff’s office said. “Around July 2024, the victims learned that the subcontractors had quit working due to not being paid by Glass. When the homeowners contacted Glass, he informed them that he needed more money above and beyond the agreed construction price in the signed contract. At this point, the homeowners began paying the subcontractors and businesses owed money for construction materials. This placed a significant strain on their financial situation.” Continue reading Bullard contractor misuses $400K rebuilding funds

SMITH COUNTY – In January 2025, a Smith County Investigator was contacted by a husband-and-wife who informed him that their home had been struck by lightning in early 2024. The lighting strike caused a fire which destroyed a vast majority of their home. The structure was deemed a total loss by the insurance company who, in turn, settled with the homeowners.
The homeowners contacted a neighbor, Brian Christopher Glass – 51 of Bullard, who operates a business by the name of Glass Limitless Homes and Design. Glass was subsequently hired to rebuild their home. Between April 2024 through July 2024, Glass was paid over $500,000 by the homeowners for the construction. Around July 2024, the victims learned that the sub-contractors had quit working due to not being paid by Glass. When the homeowners contacted Glass, he informed them that he needed more money above and beyond the agreed construction price in the signed contract. At this point, the homeowners began paying the sub-contractors and businesses owed money for construction materials. This placed a significant strain on their financial situation.
A lengthy investigation ensued which showed where Glass had appropriated approximately half a million dollars from the homeowners with approximately $400,000 used for personal reasons to include casino visits to Oklahoma and Louisiana. Continue reading Suspect arrested for fraudulent activity

TYLER – Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc. is proud to announce that the 2025 winner of the Artie Lee Hinds Award presented at the recent WorkQuest Annual Awards Banquet is Christopher Gates, a program participant of the Commercial Services Division of Goodwill. WorkQuest Texas is a catalyst for employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This private non-profit agency links individuals with disabilities to meaningful career options, through its partners like Goodwill Industries of East Texas. Continue reading Goodwill participant wins award

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that Smith County authorities are looking for Johnny Shane Wells. He’s accused of stealing more than $3,000 from an elderly person after he failed to complete an asphalt project for them. The victim reportedly paid Wells $1,700 for a project, and only a small portion of asphalt was poured. He then received an additional $1,400 from the victim to complete the job, but never returned. Authorities say Wells might be driving a red Ram pickup truck or a black newer-model Chevy pickup truck. The 34-year-old is described as Five feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 250 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Wells has a criminal history for several felony offenses out of multiple states.

OVERTON – A teen has been hospitalized and a woman has been arrested after a 13-year-old girl was hit by a vehicle twice on Overton ISD property on Saturday. Our news partner KETK and a press release from the Overton Police Department (OPD) reports that the victim was accidentally struck by a vehicle, which resulted in her becoming trapped under the car. OPD published a press release that illustrated the situation. Continue reading Overton teen hospitalized after being hit by vehicle twice

TYLER – Tyler ISD Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Hines announced Wednesday morning that no students were injured after a crash involving a TISD bus occurred around 6:50 a.m. in the 500 block of West 32nd Street. No further details from the district or on-scene first responders were given.

SMITH COUNTY, Texas – Gaye Boynton announced her intention to run for district clerk. Boynton’s multiple leadership roles include her time as President of the Tyler Area Association of Legal Professionals, as well as over a decade in the Women’s Ministry at Green Acres Baptist Church. The role of district clerk is important in maintaining the official records of the district courts, which handle felony criminal and family law cases. Boynton will be on the ballot in the March 3, 2026 election as a Republican primary candidate.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said that officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Johnson Street Monday night after a shooting report was made. Our news partners at KETK report that officers found a male victim who was shot when they arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The shooter is still at large and anyone with information is being urged to contact the Longview Police Department.

TYLER — .S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, voiced his opinion on Senate Democrats rejecting a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government until Nov. 21. According to our news partner KETK, Democrats defeated the proposal with a 44-48 vote after initially trying to pass their own government fund resolution earlier this month. Now, the government faces the possibility of going into a shutdown on Tuesday if both parties cannot come to an agreement by midnight EST on Tuesday.

“House Republicans are standing tall with our military, veterans, families and first responders,” Moran said. “House Republicans passed a clean CR to fund the government, but Senate Democrats are blocking it from becoming law, just like the House Democrats tried to do. Democrats would rather shut down the government in pursuit of unreasonable demands like their $1 TRILLION partisan wish list.”

“We are doing well as a country so the last thing we want to do is shut it down, but a lot of good can come from shutdowns, we can get rid of a lot of things we didn’t want,” Trump said. Continue reading Rep. Moran criticizes Democrats for blocking funding

WINNSBORO – A Winnsboro High School teacher has been suspended by the district she reportedly struck a student in the back of the head last week. Our news partners at KETK report that WISD said they reported the alleged incident to law enforcement, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the State Board for Educator Certification and the Texas Education Agency. Interim Superintendent Aaron Nation said an investigation is pending.

MARSHALL – James Patrick Bailey, 41, has been charged with possession of visual material depicting sexual assault and possession of a controlled substance by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). This comes after Bailey reportedly possessed “disturbing and inappropriate” videos and photos of children and uploading that material to a social media platform. The HCSO received the case assignment from the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce on June 23. A search warrant was also conducted at Bailey’s home, which revealed 23 electronic devices, 3.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.

PANOLA COUNTY, Texas – Lawrence Williams was arrested by the Panola County Sheriff’s Office and charged with theft of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, with additional charges expected. Search warrants were conducted at multiple homes connected to Williams and an investigation into multiple thefts. It was determined that a weapon used in an aggravated robbery from Sept. 19 had not been pawned yet. Investigators said the gun was brandished by Williams during a theft of a radiator. Also found was a handgun, a magazine for another firearm, digital scales, multiple game cameras, assorted ammunition and an air compressor.

Marshall – On Friday, September 26, the Marshall Police Department’s Special Response Team (SRT), working in conjunction with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, arrested a man
wanted on serious charges. Florencio Scott Sauceda, II, 23, was taken into custody in Diana, Texas, and transported to the Harrison County Jail. Sauceda was wanted on warrants for Sexual Assault of a Child and Continuous Violence Against Family. Continue reading Marshall Police arrest man for sexual assault of a child

LUFKIN – A vehicle chase in Lufkin resulted in a two-vehicle collision that left one person dead. Our news partners at KETK reported Tuesday that that Wells ISD Superintendent Friday Wright lost his wife, Morgan, in the crash. Morgan was a staff member in Lufkin ISD and a mother to two children. Lufkin Police Department officers received reports of a stolen Chevrolet truck being driven by a 16-year-old minor from Trinity County at around 1 p.m. Monday. Police the minor driving the truck towards downtown Lufkin, leading to a pursuit. Continue reading Lufkin ISD employee dies during chase