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CHEROKEE COUNTY – According to a press release from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office, a former Cherokee County correctional officer has been arrested.

Kayley Garcia, 34 of Alto, had previously worked in the Cherokee County Jail from June 2025 until August 2025. During this time, it was discovered that she was bringing items of contraband to inmates while on duty. The investigation found that Garcia was providing tobacco products to inmates, as well as providing her personal cell phone to an inmate for his personal use. Continue reading Correctional officer arrested for giving contraband to inmates

PALESTINE – The Texas Senate late Tuesday stripped a key provision from a bill meant to stop large-scale exports of water from East Texas.

Senators approved the legislation that also requires the state to study how much water is under East Texas. However, the original bill — House Bill 27 by Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine — sought to prevent approval of new export permits in the meantime. The bill that left the Senate Tuesday night allows water exports to continue while the study is ongoing. Harris said that he would not accept those changes. If Harris makes good and rejects the changes to the bill, the House can call for negotiations. However, time is running out on the special session, which must adjourn by Sept. 13. And lawmakers in both chambers have signaled a desired end before then. Continue reading Texas lawmakers dispute ending water exports from East Texas

MARSHALL – Our news partner KETK reports that the Marshall Police Department is asking people to avoid the intersection at MLK Boulevard and Ward Street on Wednesday afternoon while they work on an 18-wheeler accident.

According to the police department, an 18-wheeler overturned at the intersection, causing traffic delays in the area. Emergency crews are currently on the scene, working to clear the accident to ensure everyone is safe.

Officials encourage people to avoid the area, and seek alternate routes to prevent any further congestion.

Update: Boil water notice was rescinded Friday, September 5, for a portion of Rusk by the Rusk Rural Water Supply Company

RUSK – A boil water notice was issued on Wednesday in Rusk by the Rusk Rural Water Supply Company (RRWSC) due to a main line leak, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Any households or businesses under a boil water notice should bring any water for cleaning or consumption to a vigorous rolling boil for at least two minutes before use. RRWSC said customers will be notified when the notice is no longer in effect.

“Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice,” the RRWSC said.

Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of affected areas. To view the full and updated list, click here.

SMITH COUNTY – According to a press release from Smith County, despite having 113 “weather days” during the yearlong construction of the courthouse, the project is still on time.

Bradley Barr, senior superintendent of Hoar Construction, gave a progress report to the Smith County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, September 2. Barr said since the start of the project through June 2025, they have seen 66 inches of rain, which is 23 inches above average, but the crews work overtime and/or bring in more staff to make up for rain delays. According to Barr, they are still looking at project completion in the end of 2026.

“We can’t control the weather, but we can control how we respond to it,” Barr said. “We keep a positive attitude and do whatever it takes.” Continue reading Smith County gives an update on courthouse construction

TEXAS – The start of September marks a new slate of laws, over 800, that are now in effect in Texas. A majority of them take place in the classrooms of public schools. Among the marquee of classroom-centered laws include Senate Bill (SB) 10, which requires schools to post a “durable poster or framed copy” of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. SB 11 allows for students and staff to have allocated time to pray and read religious texts.

One of the most notable laws passed include House Bill (HB) 33, which has been deemed The Uvalde Strong Act. The Act opens the door to better police training and coordination for events similar to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. One major footnote of the last legislative session is the lack of action regarding THC. For months, heated debate took place led by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to implement a blanket ban on THC products. But that plan stalled earlier this week.

You can find the full list of every single bill passed here.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Demolition of the former county jail, 113 N Second Street will begin  Monday, September 8, and is projected to be complete within 30 days, according to a news release from the City of Lufkin. The release adds that due to safety concerns, the city will close the alley on the south side of the jail beginning September, 8. It is anticipated that the alley will be closed for approximately 3 weeks, and it will re-open as soon as it is safe to allow vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

TYLER — The northern portion of Rose Rudman Trail is expected to be closed for the next couple of days. According to the City of Tyler, the trail is closed so that they can conduct construction on nearby sewer lines. The road is expected to be reopened by Sept. 5.

TYLER — The City of Tyler will be working with a contractor to perform traffic signal maintenance at the intersection of Troup Highway and Lindbergh Drive on on Thursday, Sept. 4. The intersection will be dark with no signal indications. To ensure safety and minimize disruptions, most of Lindbergh Drive from Southpark Drive to Troup Highway will be closed to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternative routes and drive with caution through the intersection. In addition, entry and exit points into the Super One shopping center from the intersection have been closed completely to increase safety during the work.

TYLER – Our news partner KETK is reporting that Texas House Bill 2000, also known as Audrii’s law, went into effect on Monday, ending a loophole that kept convicted child groomers off the sex offender registry. The bill was named for Audrii Cunningham, an 11-year-old girl from Polk County who was kidnapped and murdered in Feb. 2024.

Audrii was the subject of a Feb. 15, 2024 Amber Alert after she never showed up to school. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Trinity River Authority found Audrii’s body five days later in the Trinity River on Feb. 20.

Don McDougal lived in a camper on the Cunningham’s property and was supposed to drop Audrii off at the bus stop on the day she went missing.

McDougal, who pleaded guilty to Audrii’s murder, was previously accused of indecency with a child in 2007 but he pleaded down to the charge of enticing a child and that kept him off the Sex Offender Registry. Continue reading Audrii’s law goes into effect, ending loophole

TYLER — UPDATE: As of Wednesday afternoon, Tyler PD PIO Andy Erbaugh said the department is no longer looking for a suspect in Tuesday’s lockdown at UT Health East Texas. All possible efforts to contact possible witnesses have not led to an arrest at this time.

The lockdown at UT Health East Texas in Tyler was lifted at around 1 p.m. after reports of a person carrying a gun at the Olympic Plaza.

During a press conference at around noon on Tuesday, Officer Erbaugh said witnesses saw an argument between two people and one of them displayed a gun. At that point, the active shooter alarm was activated. According to our news partner KETK, law enforcement responded within seconds. The original call came from the Olympic Plaza on Beckham Avenue. Other reports stated the person was heading to the main hospital using the skyview over the chapel area on the second floor; however, officials did not locate the person.
Continue reading Search for suspect called off after UT Health lockdown, no shots fired

TYLER – A lockdown at UT Health East Texas in Tyler was lifted at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday after reports of a person carrying a gun at the Olympic Plaza. At a press conference that afternoon, Tyler Police Department public information officer Andy Erbaugh, said witnesses saw an argument between two people, when one of them flashed a gun. That’s when the active shooter alarm was activated.

Erbaugh said law enforcement responded to the alert within seconds. While the original call came from the Olympic Plaza, there were reports of a person going to the main hospital using the skyview over the chapel area on the second floor. But, officials didn’t not locate that person. Erbaugh stated the person wanted is a black man wearing green hospital scrubs. He noted, no shots were fired and no injuries have been reported. The hospital is functioning back to normal. Tyler Police asks residents if you see or know something about Tuesdays events, to call law enforcement.

RAINS COUNTY – NET Health received confirmation of a travel-related positive case of measles in an adult resident of Rains County, Texas. The individual has voluntarily remained isolated at their residence throughout their contagious period and has recovered from their case of measles. Persons who have been fully vaccinated against measles with two doses of the MMR vaccine have a very low risk of contracting the disease. However, unvaccinated individuals remain at higher risk, as do those in some other groups, including:

Children too young to have received both doses of the MMR vaccine yet
Anyone who have received only one dose of MMR
Those with compromised immune systems Continue reading Confirmed adult case of measles

EAST TEXAS — NET Health received confirmation of a travel-related positive case of measles in an adult resident of Rains County, Texas. The individual has voluntarily remained isolated at their residence throughout their contagious period and has recovered from their case of measles.

Continue reading Confirmed adult case of measles