KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TEXARKANA – According to a press release from the acting U.S. Attorney’s office, a Mount Vernon man has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations.

According to court records, Zachary Arzola, 28, met a minor victim online in September 2022 when he was 26 years old, and the minor victim was 14 years old. Arzola communicated with the victim through social media applications and eventually traveled to Ohio to meet her in December 2022. Once in Ohio, Arzola presented the victim’s family with an altered driver’s license to falsely represent that he was 16 years old. Continue reading Man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for child exploitation

TYLER – With summer heat quickly approaching, our news partner KETK reports that East Texans will have the opportunity to donate fans to those who need some relief from the scorching summer temperatures.

People Attempting to Help (PATH) is currently hosting the “Beat the Heat” Fan Drive and is hoping to provide hundreds of East Texas families with a box fan. The fans will help families reduce energy costs while keeping their homes cool during summer.

According to PATH, heat is the number one weather-related killer in Texas. During the summers, older people and children are at higher risk of being impacted by the heat, and many are currently living without an AC unit in their homes.

Those who are willing to donate fans can do it through the PATH website. Up to 10 fans can be donated through the website with each fan costing $25.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Game Wardens rescued construction workers that were trapped in Wednesday’s rising floodwater in Henderson County according to our news partner KETK. The heavy rain stranded two construction workers at a job site near Malakoff after water started rising quickly.

Game wardens said instead of trying to get to safety by driving into the high water, they made the right choice and called for help.

“The area where they were working was completely flooded with swift water flowing pretty rapidly in the area,” Christ said. “So we were able to call out our swift water team, Texas Parks and Wildlife, swift water team, and we’re able to patrol up to and rescue those individuals off their pipe and get them back to dry land.”

Christ said thankfully everyone was rescued without any injuries, but warns others to take care and stay aware during heavy rainstorms. Continue reading Game wardens rescue workers from Henderson Co. floodwater

TYLER — Every year around this time, the Sahara Desert in Africa experiences peak emissions that sends dust particles across the Atlantic Ocean, causing air quality changes in East Texas.

According to our news partner KETK, East Texans could experience higher dust levels from the annual Sahara air layer that is heading this way. Its unknown exactly how much dust East Texans should anticipate, but they will likely see changes in visibility and air quality.

Professor and Center Director for Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Amarillo Brent Auvermann Ph.D. talked about this environmental occurrence.

“It really is more of a general haze, things will change colors, sunlight will look different. the sun itself may look more red,” Auvermann said. “At various times of the day, the clouds will be dingier in all likelihood and visibility will be somewhat reduced, depends on the intensity of the event. It is likely that air monitors that are monitoring air pollution at the ground level in East Texas will pick something up this time around,” Auvermann said.

Continue reading Sahara dust is making its way to East Texas

TYLER – A flash flood warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for several cities, this includes the Sabine River near Mineola, in Wood and Smith County from late Thursday night until further notice.

LUFKIN — According to our news partner KETK, the Lufkin ISD Board of Trustees has unanimously agreed on a 5 percent increase for all teachers and a new pay scale to ensure every LISD teacher will make at least $50,000 a year. The new pay scale for all teachers, librarians and registered nurses working for Lufkin ISD was approved June 2. The amendment was discussed in a special call board meeting.

Although the adjustment is only meant for some positions, raises for other district members are still being discussed. The new pay scale would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Continue reading Lufkin ISD unanimously approves 5 percent raise for teachers

HALLSVILLE – Our news partner KETK reports that the Hallsville Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying an individual believed to be involved in a theft at a Dollar General.

According to the Hallsville Police Department, the theft occurred on Tuesday around 1:15 p.m. at the Dollar General on Main Street. Officials said they obtained footage of the suspect along with a red vehicle he was driving at the time of the incident.

Anyone with any information regarding the suspect or the robbery is asked to contact Chief Scott at 903-746-3235 or 903-668-2313. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can do so by contacting Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that as Henderson County battles flash flooding, some roads have been shut down for the safety of East Texans.

According to Henderson County, flash flooding is possible with heavy rains, so the county encourages residents to turn around if they encounter a flooded road.

“Never walk, swim, or drive through still or moving floodwaters,” the county said. “The water may be hiding dangers such as debris, tree branches, power lines or damage to the road. As little as six inches of fast-moving water can cause motorists to lose control of their vehicle, even a pickup truck or SUV.”

Emergency Management said they received reports of stranded vehicles due to high water this morning, but all has cleared out as of now and no injuries were reported. County Road 3715 has since reopened.

A flash flood warning has been issued till June 8 at 9:25 p.m. in Henderson County. KETK has compiled a list of road closures in Henderson County. To view the complete list, click here.

TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that East Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) attended a town hall in Tyler on Friday to discuss the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

The town hall event was hosted at Tyler Junior College by the Texas chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a conservative political advocacy group backed by the billionaire Charles Koch.

In Jan. 2025, The Hill reported on AFP’s newly announced a $20 million nationwide campaign to push Congress to renew the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was passed under President Donald Trumps first term in office.

Moran supported renewing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Friday by warning about how much taxes could go up next year. Continue reading Tax discussion at a town hall with Representative Moran

UPDATE: On June 3rd at approximately 11:30pm the Tyler Police Department was notified and confirmed that Donald Harter had returned home. He is unharmed and safe at home.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department is searching for 81-year-old Donald Harter who went missing from a Tyler residence around 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to our news partner KETK. Tyler PD said Harter left the residence on Loop 323 in a 2005 silver Ford F-150 with the Texas license plate number 8124DV. According to Harter’s family he cannot care for himself and it is not confirmed what he was last wearing.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 22-year-old Alto woman for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and endangering a child after an altercation on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, deputies were sent to the 5400 block of FM 1638 just north west of Nacogdoches at around 12:40 p.m. on Sunday following a reported altercation.

Rayla Eleigha Upshaw, of Alto, allegedly crashed the back of her vehicle into the front of another vehicle. Upshaw reportedly had a one-year-old child in her vehicle at the time of the crash.

Upshaw was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and endangering a child. She’s currently being held at the Nacogdoches County Jail on a total bond of $60,000.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court received a progress report on the courthouse construction project on Tuesday, June 3. According to a news release from Smith County, Brandy Ziegler, partner with Fitzpatrick Architects, has been working on the project for more than two years and said, “it’s wonderful to watch this plan come to life,” as the 100-plus-year building is constructed. She noted that the Hoar Construction team moved with their families to Tyler for the project.

“We want you to understand the hard work and dedication that goes into this project every day,” Stephen Flournoy, project executive for Hoar Construction, said, adding that the project is 35 percent complete.

“We are one-third of the way there,” he said, adding that the cost and timing of where the project is right now is where they want to be.

Bradley Barr, Senior Superintendent for Hoar Construction, gave some “high-level statistics” about the construction project. They include: Continue reading Smith County Courthouse construction update

GILMER – Our news partner KETK reports that the Texas Department of Public Safety has issued a Silver Alert for Jay Lindsey, 73 of Gilmer, who was last seen on May 27.

Lindsey is a white man with a bald head, grey facial hear, blue eyes, weighing around 167 pounds and standing at 5’8″. He was last seen in the 4000 block of FM 555 in Gilmer at around 12 p.m. on May 27, according to DPS.

His vehicle is a gray 2016 GMC Canyon four-door pick-up truck with the Texas license plate number: JSD5270. Anyone who’s seen him is asked to contact the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office at 903-843-2541.