KTBB News, Weather, Talk

RUSK COUNTY — A man and woman were arrested Wednesday after a high-speed chase with law enforcement in Rusk County around 11:30 a.m. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez says the Tatum Police Department tried to stop a Harley Davidson motorcycle on Highway 43 heading toward Henderson but the driver did not stop. He said the Sheriff’s Office and DPS joined in on the pursuit. The chase came to an end near the intersection of CR 2142 and FM 1797. RCSO said the pursuit reached speeds of up to 100 mph on straightaways. Near the end of the chase, officials found about one ounce of methamphetamine, a pistol, and about eight knives, according to Valdez. Continue reading Two arrested after high-speed chase, suspected meth seized

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview will host an E-Waste Recycling event from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 1, at Teague Park. Vouchers are required to participate and are available online. The activity is being held in conjunction with Keep Longview Beautiful’s Love Longview event. The recycling offering is performed with funds from the city’s Sanitation Division and a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality enforcement action grant, but is not a response to an enforcement action, according to officials. The event is for Gregg County residents. No commercial waste will be accepted. Vouchers are required to participate and are available online. Click here to link up with additional information.

TYLER — Area superintendents and school board members gathered Wednesday in Tyler to share their thoughts on the school voucher plan being discussed at the state capitol. That’s according to a Tyler ISD news release. “East Texas, particularly in Smith County, has always enjoyed a special and cordial relationship among the different school options that have existed successfully over the past 50+ years,” Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said. “Educational independence and relationships already exist as a foundation for daily life. And yet, instead of building upon those partnerships, we see attacks at that collaboration when competitive teacher salaries in alignment with other professions should be the focus of any statewide political campaign tour.” Continue reading East Texas superintendents, board members question school voucher plan

AUSTIN — Continuing to reflect a statewide trend, both Tyler and Longview show increases in monthly sales tax allocations over a year ago, according to the latest report from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. For the month of March, Tyler gets $4,756,454.89, up from $4,185,356.79 in March 2022. Tyler’s year-to-date figure is $16,002,422.59, rising from $15,245,737.53 in March of last year. Longview’s March figure is $3,390,172.78, an improvement from the $3,109,664.00 reported at this time last year. For the year to date, Longview comes in at $11,893,289.13, compared to $11,119,750.26 at this time in 2022.

TYLER – The Feeding Texas network, made up of 21 food banks across the state, is calling on state lawmakers to update the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Vehicle Asset Test today in a virtual day of advocacy. The East Texas Food Bank is among those joining in the action. According to a news release, eligibility for SNAP is primarily based on income and family size. Texas also chooses to use a Vehicle Asset Test, which places a limit on the value of the vehicles a family may own and still qualify for the program. In the 26 counties served by the East Texas Food Bank, officials say 500 East Texas households were denied SNAP in 2019, and that number grew to 2,399 East Texas households in 2022 due to the Vehicle Asset Test. Continue reading Food banks call for updated Vehicle Asset Test

TYLER — On Wednesday, March 8, the Tyler City Council voted to approve a $685,432.47 contract with Missouri petroleum, LLC, for the 2023 ONYX Sealcoat Project, according to a news release. The 2023 ONYX seal coat project includes 32.85 lane miles of work on 73 City Streets.  “ONYX is a street surface preservation sealant to prevent the surface from further deterioration,” said City Engineer Darin Jennings. “Unlike the overlay and most seal coat streets, the streets being done with ONYX are in relatively good condition but are losing their asphalt content on the surface and showing cracks. Continue reading City Council addresses street improvements, fire department upgrades

TYLER — Smith County authorities seek help solving a recent burglary. Officials say on February 25 at approximately 4:06 a.m., three black male suspects broke into the Indian Creek Mart Convenience Store on Spur 364 in Tyler. The suspects took cash as well as a large quantity of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. They used large bolt cutters to break in and were seen wearing gloves with their faces covered by ski masks. Officials say one suspect was wearing a very distinguishable Nickelodeon Rugrats jacket and another suspect had a bright orange face covering ski mask. Continue reading Authorities seek burglary suspects

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has earned the 2023-24 Silver Military Friendly School designation. According to a news release, that means UT Tyler is within the top 20% of participating schools in the Tier 2 Research Institutions Category. “It’s an honor to be recognized in this way for our support of student veterans, active, reserve and National Guard personnel and their families,” said Coby Dillard, UT Tyler director of military and veterans affairs, as quoted in a news release. “Our designation is a great testament to all the tireless, student-led efforts to make UT Tyler a truly military-inclusive institution.” A celebration ceremony hosted by the UT Tyler Military and Veterans Success Center will be 10 a.m. Thursday, March 9, at the UT Tyler Alumni House, located on the UT Tyler campus. Continue reading UT Tyler earns Silver Military Friendly School designation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran tells KTBB he’s joined another Texas congressman in an effort to shield the U.S. from undue foreign influence, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moran said, “I recently signed on to a piece of legislation by Chip Roy that’s trying to get the United States out of the World Health Organization. There are so many of these world organizations that are trying to impose their political views on us. We need to continue hold not just our governmental accountable. But we need to hold those entities around the world that are trying to influence our government accountable.” Continue reading Moran discusses budget, foreign influence

TYLER — A Tyler man was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Monday in connection to a 2021 fatal hit-and-run crash, according to our news partner KETK. Juan Jesus Juarez, 24, was sentenced for an accident involving death. He was convicted in February for the crash that happened in Jan. of 2021. The District Attorney’s Office said Juarez was driving the car with his two friends inside, and they had reportedly had drinks. “While drunk, speeding, and not paying attention Juarez drove through a T-intersection in a residential area,” the DA’s office said. Continue reading Tyler man sentenced to prison in fatal hit-and-run crash

OVERTON — Overton ISD is the latest of many East Texas schools to transition to a four-day school week for the upcoming school year. According to our news partner KETK, in a 5-1 vote, the school board approved the switch at their meeting on Monday evening, making the district the 21st to make the change in East Texas. With the addition of Overton ISD, at the start of the 2023-2024 school year, there will be more than 15,000 students in East Texas operating on a four-day school week. The district previously held three meetings to discuss the possibility of a four-day school week with the community, giving them an opportunity to bring their questions and concerns to the school board. Continue reading Overton ISD joins list of schools switching to four day school week

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department’s Civil Service Exam is open to non-certified firefighters. The test is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11. The online application is open through Thursday, March 27. Anyone interested in applying should visit this link. Officials say anyone interested in becoming a member of the Tyler Fire Department family can go here to see if they are eligible to apply.

TYLER — The Smith County Collections Department is preparing for its annual Warrant Round Up next week. “Smith County Courts have hundreds of active warrants they are seeking to clear,” Judicial Compliance/Collections Director Sheryl Keel said as quoted in a news release. “We are encouraging defendants to take advantage of the options available to settle outstanding warrants immediately.” Keel says once the arrest period begins Sunday, March 19, Smith County will target persons on the delinquent and/or warrant list, and arrests can take place at any location — including the defendant’s home, school, or workplace. “I urge you to contact the Judicial Compliance Department at 903-590-4624 to make arrangements on your case,” she said. For more information about warrants or citations, visit this link.

LONGVIEW – A woman was arrested and has been named the “primary suspect” by police in a fatal Sunday morning shooting at the Waffle House on Estes Parkway in Longview. According to our news partner KETK, officials say police responded to the incident around 6:30 a.m. and discovered Michael Bauchum, 30, “shot and critically injured during a domestic dispute.” Bauchum was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries, and Rashandra Godfrey, 37, of Longview, was booked into Gregg County Jail for murder.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District for the week of March 6. In Gregg County, Longview maintenance will continue level-up work on FM 2906, both northbound and southbound, from SH 149 to where state maintenance ends in Easton. Expect lane closures with flaggers and a pilot car controlling traffic. In Smith County, 
Tyler maintenance will have a crew performing edge repairs on FM 2607, from SH 64 to FM 850. A second crew will be performing ditch work on FM 850, from SH 31 towards Overton. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic in both locations. Click here for the complete rundown of roadwork around the district.