KTBB News, Weather, Talk

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County has only a handful of roads closed from storm damages, as flooded roads have receded as of Friday morning. The Smith County Road and Bridge Department has been working around the clock for the past two weeks, clearing more than a hundred county roads that had trees down from the recent severe weather. CR 452 had been closed this week because of flooding but is now open to drivers. County Roads 429, 1303 and 2133 still have trees down with powerlines in them so they will remain closed until Oncor can safely remove the power lines. Continue reading Smith County roads update

LONGVIEW – Our news partners at KETK report the City of Longview has tabled a vote on a nearly $20 million investment for a proposed biomining facility. If passed, the facility would be built at 2120 E. Loop 281 and used to recover precious metals from broken computers and outdated tech devices. Residents who oppose the proposed location of the facility held a rally on Thursday ahead of next weeks vote by city council. More than 50 people showed up to the rally held just feet away from the property in question, to take a stand against the proposed location. Some residents said they don’t like the idea that chemicals involved would be used so closely to their neighborhoods. Continue reading Rally in Longview against proposed biomining

MINEOLA – The City of Mineola announced that they are beginning budget planning for the upcoming year and want the community’s input, according to our news partners at KETK. The mayor of Mineola, city council and city staff will be holding a meeting on June 20 at 5:30 p.m. to hear from Mineola residents regarding what they would like to see included in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The City of Mineola also has a budget input survey on their website for residents to fill out.

VAN – The SPCA of Texas is offering a cash reward for information that will lead to the arrest of the person or people who abandoned 10 newborn puppies at a Van car wash. According to our news colleagues at KETK, the Van Police Department responded to a call on Wednesday at around 7 p.m. to a car wash on Cedar Street and found the puppies in a wire crate without food or water access. Van PD cared for the puppies overnight and then contacted the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit the next day. The puppies are currently at the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center receiving veterinary care, SPCA of Texas said. Continue reading SPCA offers $5,000 reward after puppies dumped

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue released the cause of a Lindale house fire that resulted in the deaths of a mother and daughter. On Sunday, March 18, 2024, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office was called in by the Lindale Fire Department to investigate a structure fire in Lindale, involving the death of two individuals. They were later identified as mother, Ruby Martinez, 83, and daughter, Gloria Clark, 67.

“After thoroughly investigating the fire scene, autopsy and toxicology results, and lab results of submitted forensic evidence, it was determined that Ms. Clark died from a natural event, causing an accidental fire, which resulted in the death of Ms. Martinez,” Hogue said. “The cause of the fire was accidental in nature. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

SMITH COUNTY – The POD (Point of Distribution) centers in Lindale and Chapel Hill closed 3 p.m. Friday. Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore reported that an estimated 1,452 people remained without power in Smith County as of 8:30 a.m. Friday. Southern Utilities customers in Smith County Cherokee County remain under a boil water notice.

Saw crews from the Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System are continuing to help the City of Tyler and Smith County to clear trees from roadways. He reported that out of the more than 300 trees down on 100 county roads from Monday night’s storm, nearly all Smith County roads were cleared enough to be accessible by Thursday afternoon.
Continue reading Smith County storm recovery information

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, in January, Krystle Medeiros, 38 of Tyler, was driving on the wrong side of the roadway causing a head-on crash. Both Medeiros and her 9-year-old daughter were taken to the hospital where her daughter later died from her injuries. A subpoena for Medeiros’ medical records showed her blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.35. The legal limit in Texas is 0.08. Medeiros was originally charged with intoxication manslaughter but a grand jury indicted her with murder on March 28. She’s being held at the Smith County Jail on a bond totaling $250,000.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Judge Neal Franklin issued an Amended Disaster Declaration on Thursday, June 6, to encompass damages from all severe weather during the last two weeks throughout all of Smith County. Beginning May 23, 2024, the entire county has been hit hard by several storms, including severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, excessive rainfall and/or tornadic activity. These storms resulted in widespread and severe damages, injuries and/or loss of life or property. Declaring a disaster allows officials and emergency management personnel to access additional resources to support operational needs, as well as allowing for additional resources to be made available to citizens. Officials asking anyone who suffered property damages from any of these storms to report them here.

SMITH COUNTY — The Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) released expected times for cities to have their power restored after severe weather caused thousands of East Texans to lose electricity.SWEPCO said Wednesday morning’s storms that caused more flooding and ground to be oversaturated that hampered their restorative efforts. Continue reading SWEPCO power restoration times

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler will offer a new Bachelor of Science in construction engineering for students at the Houston Engineering Center beginning this fall. Housed within the College of Engineering, the four-year program will be available in person at the HEC, located on the Houston Community College Alief-Hayes campus at 2811 Hayes Road in Houston. Continue reading UT Tyler Adds New Construction Engineering Degree

VAN ZANDT – Recent storms across East Texas flooded roads making some impassable, but now as water recedes there could be new problems for drivers. Most roads have dried up but left behind a bumpy ride. Heavy down pours across Van Zandt County caused the creek on FM 875 to rise to high level, endangering drivers. “A vehicle decided to go around the TxDOT barricades and floated into the dry creek area, there were luckily no injuries,” Caden Mosher, with the Grand Saline Fire Department, said. When there is standing water with no where to go, it seeps into the cracks, creating pot holes. Continue reading First the floods, now the potholes

LUFKIN – One person is dead after authorities in Lufkin said he attempted to steal a truck shortly after being released from jail according to our news partners at KETK. According to police, 25-year-old Marco Levya told officers that around 9 p.m. on Wednesday night he stopped at his business in the 1800 block of East Lufkin Avenue when “an unknown Black male” entered his running truck with his wife and baby inside.

Officials said that “despite Leyva’s warnings and offers of an alternative vehicle, a physical altercation ensued, resulting in the suspect being shot.” Continue reading Attempted truck theft leaves one dead

TYLER — During the first three days of early voting in the Tyler City Council District 2 Runoff Election, only 325 ballots were cast. If you live in the City of Tyler District 2 area, you can early vote 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday, June 6-7, or 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 10-11. Early voting polling locations include The Hub, 304 E. Ferguson St.; the Heritage Building, 1900 Bellwood St.; and Lanes Chapel Methodist Church, Family Center, 8720 Old Jacksonville Highway, all in Tyler.

To find out if you live in District 2, or where the nearest polling place is, visit Smith County’s interactive map here.

Election Day is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15. Polling places on Election Day will be The Hub, the Heritage Building, St. Louis Baptist Church, 4000 Frankston Highway; and Three Lakes Middle School, 2445 Three Lakes Parkway.

For more information, click here.