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LONGVIEW – A fire at a mobile home in Longview left a person dead and injured a firefighter around 3:50 a.m. on Thursday near 4000 Burks Road.

Our news partners at KETK report that when firefighters arrived the mobile home was reportedly fully involved in the fire and flames were coming from the front of the residence, according to the Longview Fire Department. Officials said the first crew on the scene attempted to rescue the victim but were unsuccessful because of the “intense fire conditions” inside the home. Continue reading 1 dead, firefighter injured after Longview mobile home fire

Hawkins — Jarvis Christian University biology professor Dr. Shakhawat Bhuiyan is the principal investigator on a new $2.25 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant titled “Interdisciplinary Research Infusion into STEM Education Undergraduate Program.” The new NSF grant continues over the next five years, with a start date of August 1, 2023, and running through July 31, 2028. Each year, Jarvis will submit an annual project report in accordance with the award terms and conditions.

“This continuing grant gives students the opportunity to research plant-based bioactive compounds and nanoparticles to potentially develop new treatments for cancer,” Bhuiyan said. Continue reading Jarvis receives $2.25 million NSF grant for cancer research

ANGELINA COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that several East Texas counties have enacted burn bans due to dry conditions and fire risk. When a county issues a burn ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited in that county. Below is a list of burn bans across East Texas: Continue reading LIST: East Texas counties under burn bans

TYLER — A Tyler man was charged with murder, a first-degree felony, after allegedly shooting his brother. According to our news partner KETK, the shooting happened on McKenzie Drive in Tyler on July 15. Investigators were informed that the person found at the scene, who was later identified as Jaraine Johnson, had been shot in the backyard of the residence. The suspect, later identified as Lee Autrey Jodeci Morgan, who is known by his family as “Jody,” was not located at the scene when officers arrived on the scene. According to the affidavit, Johnson’s fiancé, who lived with Johnson, said Morgan came to the couple’s residence at 7 a.m. Morgan knocked on the door and she told Johnson that his bother was at their residence. Continue reading Affidavit: Tyler murder victim warned fiancé minutes before death

SMITH COUNTY — Two individuals have been arrested after a search warrant led to the seizure of large quantities of illegal narcotics and cash. On Tuesday, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office along with members of the East Texas Anti-Gang Center (TAG) and Smith County SWAT Team conducted a search warrant at 509 East Cedar Street. During the search, Smith County Public Information Officer Larry Christian said they seized the following illegal contraband, including approximately two pounds of cocaine, 13 grams of crack cocaine, one pound of marijuana, a handgun and over $10,000 in U.S. currency. Christian said that two traffic stops related to the residence were made during the operation on Interstate 20, in Canton, by Tyler and Canton Police Departments. The raid also resulted in two individuals being arrested on felony charges. No other information is available at this time as this is an ongoing investigation but Christian said other charges are expected. Continue reading Search warrant leads to major Tyler drug bust

RUSK COUNTY — Some county officials in East Texas are looking at the possibility of more burn bans being issued in the near future due to high temperatures and a lack of rain. “We know that the burn ban is coming,” said John Clary, Henderson Economic Development Corporation. Houston and Polk counties are now under a local state of disaster. Compared with 2022, 27 out of 28 East Texas counties were under a burn ban by mid-July. Rusk County Fire Marshal Patrick Dooley told our news partner KETK that conditions are relatively similar in the area compared to Houston County. Dooley said he and the rest of his team are watching the conditions daily to see what could happen next if things continue to get worse. Dooley said it’s something they don’t want to do but might have to do because of the conditions.

Dooley is expecting a burn ban to be put in place in Rusk County in the next couple of weeks. “I’ve already briefed our commissioners and the county judge on the possibility of having a burn ban here in effect in the next few weeks,” he said.

LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that an individual was arrested in Longview after being found asleep at the wheel with illegal drugs in the vehicle, according to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. On Wednesday, authorities responded to do a welfare check for someone that was found asleep in their car on the side of I-20 in Longview. When officials arrived, the driver was reportedly still asleep at the wheel. Authorities said they conducted a consent search of the vehicle, which led to the discovery of a “clear crystal substance of suspected methamphetamine.” The driver was arrested, taken to the Harrison County Main Jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance.

HARRISON COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK a man has been arrested after being pulled over for racing on Highway 80 and allegedly having meth in his vehicle. On Monday, a deputy with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said he witnessed two vehicles racing on Highway 80 near Loop 390. The deputy was able to pull over one of the vehicles involved in the alleged race. The driver was identified as Darlin Ortega-Calderon, 18, and when speaking with the deputy, the release stated that Ortega-Calderon told him that the “other vehicle wanted to compete with him and they just took off.” Ortega-Calderon allegedly also told the deputy that he did not have a driver’s license or insurance. When the deputy conducted a search of the vehicle, officials said that methamphetamines were located in Ortega-Calderon’s wallet.

Ortega-Calderon was arrested and charged with racing on a highway, no driver’s license, fail to maintain financial responsibility and possession of a controlled substance.

FLINT – Our news partners at KETK report that authorities revealed details about the arrest of an East Texas elementary school teacher who is accused of promoting child pornography. Officials said that Fabrizio Olague was found to be responsible for “the transmission of explicit material involving minors.” The investigation found that Olague was employed as a teacher at Chapel Hill ISD in Flint where he worked as a dyslexia interventionist, working with children from kindergarten to third grade. Continue reading Chapel Hill ISD teacher accused of promoting child porn

TYLER – An Amber Alert issued Tuesday for an 11-month-old child from Tyler has been canceled. According to Tyler police, on Wednesday, around 8:20am,  the Tyler Police Department was notified that Tarhondia Jackson, 26, had shown up at the Department of Family and Protective Services office in Tyler and turned over Jamar Ross. He is now in the custody of CPS. Tarhondia Jackson was arrested on a charge from another offense and booked into the Smith County Jail. The alert was issued after Child Protective Services reported to police on July 14th that they were to take the 11-month-old into their custody from a residence on W. Mims Street. The child was not at the residence and was thought to be in the custody of his mother, Tarhondia Jackson.

MINEOLA — According to our news partner KETK a pastor of a church in Mineola was arrested on Tuesday for charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact, according to judicial records. Timothy Nall, 68, is the pastor of Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in Mineola, where he has pastored for three years. This is the third charge brought against Nall for allegations of a sexual crime against a child. In 2014, he was indicted in Mississippi on allegations from a sexual battery case that involved a young girl. Nall was released from the Smith County Jail on a $50,000 bond on Tuesday.

At the time, Nall was the pastor of Farmington Baptist Church near Corinth, MS, and was accused of abusing a young girl when the child was 6 and 7 years old. The case ended in a mistrial after two jurors could not agree on a verdict, according to WREG. He was then indicted again for sexual battery and a new count of fondling stemming from the same allegations.

TATUM – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed on Monday to settle a lawsuit with the Sierra Club after health concerns were raised in 2019 over possible exposure from a local power plant. According to our news partner KETK the Sierra Club, as part of their proposed settlement, the EPA must either approve a Texas plan to reduce sulfur dioxide pollution or reject it and issue a federal plan as required by the Clean Air Act no later than Dec. 31, 2024. The Sierra Club said they sued in February after the EPA failed to act by the statutory deadline after they were required to reject or approve a plan submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Equality (TCEQ).

Continue reading EPA agrees to settle lawsuit over East Texas pollution plan

GREGG COUNTY – A Gregg County grand jury cleared local officers of any criminal wrongdoing in three separate shootings, and declined to return any charges against the officers, according to our news partners at KETK. According to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office, the grand jury’s decisions earlier this month on the March 12, May 7 and May 17 incidents mean that “under Texas law no criminal charges will be filed against the officers.” Each investigation was conducted by the Texas Rangers who testified in front of the grand jury. Continue reading Gregg County grand jury clears officers of criminal wrongdoing in 3 shootings

LONGVIEW – Longview ISD board members unanimously approved salary increases for district teachers and staff, in addition to setting a time to discuss the proposed 2023-24 tax rate, during Monday night’s regular meeting.
Recommended to the board by Ms. Shalona McCray, LISD Chief Human Resources Officer, the measure includes a 5 percent increase for teachers and pay grade midpoint for all remaining employees.

“In addition to the 5 percent increase of midpoint, the district will implement pay structures that adjust staff salaries that improve internal equity and market competitiveness,” she said. “In addition, we will be adjusting pay for employees below or above proposed pay grade maximums.” Continue reading Longview ISD approves pay raise for teachers and staff

SMITH COUNTY — A teacher at Chapel Hill ISD was charged with five counts of promotion of child pornography by the Houston Metro ICAC Task Force in Montgomery County, the district announced. According to our news partner KETK, the teacher was placed on administrative leave and the district said it is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of students and is fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation. “Our highest priority is the safety and welfare of our students,” said Martin Ibarra, CHISD’s Board of Trustees president. “We take these allegations very seriously, and we’re fully cooperating with authorities.” The district said they have no reason to believe the accusations occurred while on school property.