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GREGG COUNTY — The driver of a pickup that led Gregg County officers on a chase earlier this week has been arrested. He is identified as Preston Wade Graham, 17, of Gladewater. He was released on bond from the Gregg County Jail on Thursday. He is accused of leading Gregg County Deputies on a pursuit in a pickup reported stolen in Longview. The chase started around 7:45 Monday night after sheriff’s deputies spotted the pickup. It ended on Commerce Street in Kilgore when the truck stopped after crashing through a traffic circle. The driver and a passenger both fled on foot. The passenger was arrested that evening.

FORT HOOD — The new Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood is Tyler native Major General John C. “JT” Thomson III. A change of command ceremony took place at the central Texas Army post on Thursday. Major Thompson is replacing Major General Michael A. Bills. This will be Thomson’s second tour of duty at Fort Hood. He commanded the 41st Fires Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood from 2009 to 2011. Most recently, he served as the 75th Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy from August 2014 to December 2015.

MARSHALL — A Marshall woman has been arrested after her car hit the rear of a Marshall school bus. Charged with driving while intoxicated 3rd offense or more, is Margarette Cartheryn Judy, 35, of Marshall. The accident happened shortly before 7:15 Thursday morning in front of William B. Travis Elementary. Students were getting off the bus when the accident occurred. No injuries were reported.

TYLER – Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics announced Thursday that it has signed a letter of intent to become part of CHRISTUS Health, an international, faith-based, not-for-profit health system headquartered in Irving. According to a news release, the move “will greatly strengthen both organizations, improving access to care for patients and expanding each organization’s service offerings.” Lindsey Bradley, President and Chief Executive Officer of TMFHC, says in the release that CHRISTUS “shares our faith-based values and dedication to quality care.” TMFHC CEO Ray Thompson adds that the move “will solidify world-class healthcare in East Texas for decades to come,” according to the release. Ernie Sadau, Chief Executive Officer for CHRISTUS Health says the teamup “will forge a stronger Catholic healthcare system East Texans will depend on for years to come.” Continue reading Trinity Mother Frances to Become Part of CHRISTUS Health

TYLER — Internationally-known economist Dr. Ray Perryman Thursday offered a Tyler audience a varied message in his annual national, statewide, and East Texas economic outlook. Perryman remains relatively upbeat about East Texas, Tyler in particular. As in the past, he points to continued economic diversification, saying the health care industry remains “very very strong, continuing to grow and prosper.” Perryman also mentions company expansions as well as new companies coming into the market, singling out investments in the manufacturing sector. He says though East Texas has some dependence on the oil and gas industry, there’s not nearly as much in our region as in parts of the state where there’s been a lot of fracking activity. According to Perryman, the Tyler area will probably grow faster than the state or the country in general over the next 4 to 5 years. Continue reading Perryman Shares Economic Forecast

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department is seeking witnesses to a fatal December 22 crash on US 259 B, a short distance south of I-20. KETK reports Jerriell Lewis, 33, of Longview died in the two-vehicle wreck. Based on the statements obtained from witnesses, investigators believe there may have been additional witnesses to the crash who were not questioned by police. Police ask anyone who saw the crash to contact Det. John Rowe.

LONGVIEW — TxDOT re-opened FM 2087 in Longview to traffic Thursday morning. A portion of the roadway was closed to through traffic on New Year’s Eve due to high water. The water started receding a few days ago. TxDOT inspected the roadway and conducted needed repairs Wednesday.

TYLER — Trinity Mother Frances Health Systems will be bought out by another medical group, sources close to the hospital have told KETK. According to the sources, Christus Health is buying the Tyler-based hospital and clinic system. The formal announcement is expected to be made this afternoon.

BIG SANDY — Big Sandy police say officials are investigating a train car derailment that occurred shortly before midnight Wednesday. Officer Noe Delacruz told the Longview News-Journal the derailment happened along tracks near the intersection of South Tyler Street and West T&P Avenue in Big Sandy. None of the cars tipped, and there were no reports of leaks or damage. “It happened at around 11:00pm, when approximately ten cars popped off the tracks. Fortunately it was in a location where they workers were able to unhook the cars and then get them back on track,” he said.

AUSTIN — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $617.2 million in local sales tax allocations for January, 0.1% less than in January 2015. These allocations are based on sales made in November by businesses that report tax monthly. Hegar also said that sales tax revenue for the state in December was $2.33 billion, down 1.1% compared to December 2014. Tyler’s sales tax revenues for the period came to $3,065,758.51. That is down 1.46% from the same period last year. Longview’s drop was a little steeper. Their sales tax revenue was $2,555,989.23. This is down 14.1% from the same time last year. Continue reading Tyler and Longview’s Sales Tax Revenues Down Slightly.

TAMPA, FLA. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired coach Lovie Smith on Wednesday night. Smith, A Gladewater native who was raised in Big Sandy, went 6-10 this season and 8-24 over two years in charge of the team. The announcement came as a surprise to many because Smith’s job was not considered to be in danger.

TYLER – The East Texas Communities Foundation is currently accepting applications from East Texas students for 39 scholarships. ETCF officials say the deadline for submission is March 1 at 5:00 p.m. unless noted otherwise. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted online. A student may apply for every scholarship for which he or she meets the eligibility requirements. Applicants should complete a unique application for each scholarship. Go to http://www.etcf.org/pages/scholarships/students/student-guide-and-available-scholarships for detailed eligigility criteria.

TYLER — After receiving approval by the state, Smith County will use voting centers for all future county-wide elections. In a news release, county Elections Administrator Karen Nelson says she and her colleagues are “very excited to be able to give convenience and flexibility to voters.” The voting centers allow residents to vote at any of the 34 polling locations in Smith County on Election Day instead of being restricted to their precinct. Continue reading Voting Centers Deemed Successful by the State

TYLER — A big change is on the way for what many consider a downtown Tyler landmark, as it’s learned that Jakes Tyler will no longer be a publc restaurant. Co-owner Kalma Utz tells KETK the venue will be refocusing its business with a new concept. Utz says the business will not be open Tuesday through Saturday, but will hold private events such as wine dinners and cooking schools via reservation only. The business, located at 111 E Erwin St., is owned by Alan and Kalma Utz, who took it over in 2008 from Rick Eltife. The historic building the restaurant resides in is 125 years old. Employees said ownership announced the surprise decision on Tuesday. Utz didn’t immediately provide further details on what went into the decision.

TYLER — UT Tyler Police Chief Mike Medders announced Wednesday that Randal Duke has been named the university’s new emergency management coordinator. Duke has been a member of the UT Tyler police department since 2012, serving as a telecommunications operator and a public safety officer. Prior to that, he was a high school teacher and coach for 22 years. In a news release, Medders says Duke’s experience makes him “extremely familiar with crisis management” and “has given him a better perspective of law enforcement responsibilities during an emergency situation.” Continue reading UT Tyler Appoints Emergency Management Coordinator

QUITMAN — Investigators with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office say they recently wrapped up an eleven-month probe into a large scale methamphetamine distribution network. KETK reports the multi-agency investigation resulted in 55 federal indictments of multiple defendants the county. The indictments were for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for the use of firearms to further that crime. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with DPS CID Special Agents, worked jointly with sheriff’s investigators. As a result, officials say over a pound of methamphetamine was seized and taken off the streets. In a news release, Sheriff Jim Brown says his office “remains committed to using all necessary resources to make sure the streets of our county remain safe.”

LONGVIEW — There’s new information on the two Longview parents who were arrested in the death of their 2-year-old daughter. According to KETK, an arrest warrant revealed the child’s maternal grandmother called after the mother, Jamie Nelson, 24, told her the child was having seizures after hitting her head. The police say the child’s injuries were inconsistent with the parents’ story. The child had marks all over her body, and police are now saying the parents failed to act after the child was unresponsive for two hours. Aaron Bowling (pictured), 26, is being held on charges of injury to a child with intent to commit serious bodily injury. Nelson posted bond.

TYLER — It has been said of the U.S. Postal Service, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” But it says nothing about a postal truck on fire. A Tyler mail truck caught fire Tuesday afternoon on Holly Lake Circle. The Tyler Fire Department responded to the blaze shortly after 12:15. The truck was carry around 2,000 pieces of mail, around 90% of which was destroyed. No injuries were reported. No word on how the fire started.

SMITH COUNTY — Two Smith County roads damaged from heavy rains December 27 have reopened to traffic. Officials say County Road 415, in the New Harmony area, and County Road 2188, outside Whitehouse, are now open to drivers. Smith County Road and Bridge crews replaced culverts on both roads and continue to work on other roads also damaged in December storms.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County detectives have recovered the body of 74-year-old Timothy James Bender of northwestern Smith County. Authorities say a welfare check was issued for Bender during the recent flooding. The welfare concern was initiated by relatives in Michigan. Bender’s vehicle was found parked on the side of the road near Enchanted Lakes in northwestern Smith County. ALERT Academy of Big Sandy assisted the Smith County Sheriff’s Office in the search Tuesday after the vehicle was located. The body was found in a field near the abandoned vehicle. The flood waters had at one time submerged the vehicle.

TYLER — A Smith County grand jury has indicted one of the suspects in an August shootout at a Bunny’s convenience store on Tyler’s northern outskirts. D’Mio Antunez Ingram, 24, of Longview, has been charged with murder and was arraigned Tuesday before 241st District Court Judge Jack Skeen, Jr. Skeen set Ingram’s bond at $750,000. According to a news release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Ingram is a documented member of the 2200 12th Street Gang from Longview. The investigation is ongoing at this time. More than 300 people were said to be involved in the incident, which left one person dead and injured three others. Several others have also been arrested in the case.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the identifies of three burglars who stole several wheels and tires from a local business. According to KETK, the Gregg Count Sheriff’s Office says thieves took 20″ wheels and tires from Custom Auto Sales on FM 449 in Longview. This past Saturday at approximately 11:15 p.m., two men and a woman were seen arriving at the location in what appeared to be a 1980s to early 1990s model Dodge pickup with overhead lights and walk through the lot with a flashlight. Continue reading Authorities Seek IDs of Tire Burglars

LONGVIEW — Longview police are investigating the death of a two year old child. The youngster’s mother took her to Good Shepherd Medical Center on December 30th. Because of the severity of her injuries, she was later flown to a Dallas hospital. As officers began to investigate the case, the parents provided a story that was not consistent with the child’s injuries. The youngster died last Saturday. The girl’s mother, Jamie Nelson, 24, of Winona, was originally arrested for abandoning/endangering a child by omission or criminal negligence. Aaron Castile Bowling 26 of Longview, was arrested for abandoning/endangering a child by omission or criminal negligence. Bowling’s charges have been upgraded to injury to a child with intent to commit serious bodily injury.

KILGORE — A chase through Gregg County has resulted in one person being arrested and one being sought. The chase started around 7:45 Monday night after sheriff’s deputies spotted a pickup reported stolen in Longview. It ended on Commerce Street in Kilgore when the truck stopped after crashing through a traffic circle. A passenger in the vehicle was arrested. The driver remains at large.

GILMER — The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado in Upshur County December 27th. The EF-1 tornado began just over 2 1/2 miles west of Gilmer around 3:30 that afternoon. It ended about 7 1/2 miles north of Gilmer after traveling just over 8 1/2 miles with a width of 1338 yards. Wind speeds were estimated to be between 90 and 100 mph. No injuries were reported, but two homes were damaged by falling trees and some building lost metal roofs and some trees were snapped and uprooted. That makes three tornadoes in Northeast Texas on December 27. An EF-2 tornado was reported at Woodlawn, north of Marshall and an EF-0 tornado was reported in Bowie County near De Kalb.

BEREA, OHIO (AP/STAFF) — Johnny Manziel rejoined his teammates in time to pack up after another dismal season. Manziel, from Tyler, was at the team’s headquarters Monday as the Browns regrouped one day after a loss to Pittsburgh and the firings of coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer. According to several players, Manziel, who was seen in Las Vegas over the weekend, was in attendance as Cleveland’s players were addressed by owner Jimmy Haslam and Sashi Brown, the team’s newly appointed head of football operations. The Browns were unsure of Manziel’s whereabouts on Sunday. Manziel was not required to be at the season finale because he was recovering from a concussion and following the NFL’s protocol on head injuries. Haslam said the quarterback missed a medical treatment at the team’s facility. Manziel did not come into the locker room to speak with reporters.

MARSHALL — A teenager is the latest to be arrested in a Marshall homicide. Devante Thomas, 17, of Marshall, surrendered to authorities. He had been named in a murder warrant in the December 22nd shooting death of Dominique Moody, 22. He was found shot to death at the Ward Plaza Apartments on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Previously arrested in the case was Norris Wayne Jackson, 22, of Marshall. Both suspects remain in the Harrison County jail, each under a $1 million bond.

TYLER — Smoke in the building caused an evacuation Monday at Cumberland Academy High School, on Paluxy Drive in Tyler. The Tyler Fire Department reports first arriving crews found a heating unit to be the source of the problem and quickly killed power to the unit. Other than smoke in the building, no damage has been reported. Teachers were having in-service and quickly evacuated the building without injury. There were no students present at the time.

GILMER — A Gilmer ISD bus was involved in a two-vehicle crash Monday morning on Pine Street. According to KETK, Gilmer ISD Superintendent Rick Albritton says at 7:30 a.m., bus #35 crashed into a home during a wreck. Paramedics said there were no serious injuries and all children are safe. Eight students were checked at the scene. No one was taken from the scene by ambulance, although two children left with a parent. All other children were taken to school, where they saw the nurse, counselor and principal. Parents were contacted as soon as possible. Gilmer ISD is working with the Gilmer Police Department to determine what happened.