Longview PD encrypts police scanners for safety reasons

Longview PD encrypts police scanners for safety reasonsLONGVIEW — OUr news partner KETK is reporting that the Longview Police Department will begin encrypting their radio communications, or police scanner, as an essential move to protect department communication and combat crime. Many calls contain sensitive information including medical information, addresses and witness identities. By encrypting their communication, the police department says this will ensure that information remains protected and out of the public domain.

Additionally, the move is expected to improve officer safety, especially during rapidly developing situations. Suspects can flee crime scenes, destroy evidence or ambush officers if they have access to instant information through the radio channels. Though, this access will be closed to the public, authorities reassured they are committed to transparency and will continue to provide timely updates through official channels.

“The community can stay informed about major incidents without compromising security or personal privacy,” the police department said.

Baseball field named in honor of Rev. Ralph Caraway, Sr.

TYLER – Baseball field named in honor of Rev. Ralph Caraway, Sr.On Wednesday, the Tyler City Council approved a request to name an unnamed field at Fun Forest Park in honor of Reverend Ralph Caraway, Sr. The North Tyler Youth Baseball and Girls Softball Association initially proposed the request in recognition of Reverend Caraway’s profound impact on the community.

Under Tyler’s ordinance for naming or renaming parklands and park facilities, a park can be named in honor of a living community leader. On Jan. 29, the City of Tyler Parks Board voted unanimously in favor of naming the field after Rev. Caraway. While parks are often named after financial donors or coaches with extensive records of wins, Reverend Caraway’s contributions go beyond the scoreboard. His leadership and mentorship have shaped the lives of thousands of youth and adults throughout the Tyler area. Continue reading Baseball field named in honor of Rev. Ralph Caraway, Sr.

Henderson ISD picks new superintendent

Henderson ISD picks new superintendentHENDERSON – The Henderson ISD Board of Trustees formally announced the hiring of their new superintendent during a special Tuesday night meeting. According to our news partner KETK, Brian Bowman joins the district with over 20 years of service in education leadership. Before coming Henderson, Bowman served as the superintendent of Diboll ISD.

Bowman said in a press release about how excited he is to join Henderson ISD, “For me, this new role represents more than just a new opportunity—it’s a return to the East Texas region I call home. With children and grandchildren in the area, this is more than just a professional been move; it’s a chance to reconnect with a community that has always to me and my family. I’ve long admired Henderson ISD’s tradition of excellence and am eager to build on its strong foundation to support students, staff, and families.”

Bowman officially started his new role with the district on Wednesday.

Baylor, MD Anderson among research institutions that could lose millions under NIH grant policy

HOUSTON – The Houston Chronicle reports that Houston’s largest health care institutions stand to lose tens of millions of dollars under a new National Institutes of Health policy that slashes grant funding for medical research, triggering widespread concern among researchers and university administrators. The funding in question, also called “indirect costs,” reimburses grant recipients for overhead costs associated with research, such as the cost of support staff and maintaining lab space. The policy change would not affect direct costs, which go directly toward specific research projects. The NIH on Friday announced plans to dramatically lower the rate at which it reimburses indirect costs, drawing a lawsuit from 22 states (not including Texas). A federal judge blocked the policy in those 22 states Monday afternoon. On Monday night, the judge expanded the order to apply nationwide. In Texas, many university leaders and researchers remained anxious about what the future holds. Research institutions in the Houston area collected a combined $263 million in indirect costs last year from the NIH, according to an agency database.

“Within a short order, there would probably have to be personnel decisions,” said Darren Woodside, vice president of research at the Texas Heart Institute. “The long term consequences are dire. You’re really talking about the U.S.’s leadership role in medical research being affected.” The new NIH policy caps reimbursements for indirect costs at 15%. Until now, large research institutions have been paid considerably higher reimbursement rates – some greater than 50% – to account for their high overhead expenses. In announcing the decision, the agency said it is “obligated to carefully steward grant awards to ensure taxpayer dollars are used in ways that benefit the American people and improve their quality of life,” adding that indirect costs are “difficult for NIH to oversee.” The policy change could have devastating impacts in and around the Texas Medical Center, officials said. Rice University – which received $24.6 million in NIH grant funding last year – would lose $9.1 million this fiscal year and at least $11 to $12 million in every future fiscal year, according to a university spokesperson. The University of Houston estimated that it could lose about $10 million annually and braced for the possibility of further cuts from other federal agencies. “We must consider the possibility that other federal agencies may adopt similar policies, further compounding the challenges faced by research institutions nationwide,” the university said.

Tyler Recycling Center can now accept all plastics

TYLER – Tyler Recycling Center can now accept all plasticsOn Wednesday, the City Council approved an agreement with Cyclyx International, marking a significant expansion of the City’s recycling program. For years, the Tyler Recycle Center has only accepted plastics #1 and #2 due to limitations in processing capabilities. Through this new partnership, starting March 3, the City will now be able to accept all plastics, except PVC, helping to divert more waste from the landfill. Under the agreement, Cyclyx International will accept all eligible plastics for at least one year and will pay the City $0.035 per ton of collected material. The partnership aligns with Tyler’s commitment to sustainability and waste reduction. Cyclyx specializes in breaking down plastics into a feedstock that can be reused by industry partners such as Exxon to create new plastic products. This process ensures that more materials are repurposed rather than discarded, keeping more materials out of the landfill. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this expansion by bringing their plastics to the Downtown Tyler Recycle Center.

Cherokee County officials find 44 grams of crack cocaine

Cherokee County officials find 44 grams of crack cocaineCHEROKEE COUNTY — Our news partner, KETK, reports that two men were arrested on Tuesday after Cherokee County authorities located 44 grams of crack cocaine in back-to-back search warrants.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Police Department conducted a search warrant for a vehicle parked at 704 Sheridan Street. During the search, authorities reportedly found two grams of suspected methamphetamine and a firearm. Following an investigation, a second search warrant was conducted at on a residence on County Road 3509 in Cuney. Officials said they located 44 grams of crack cocaine, 11 grams of methamphetamine and five firearms were seized, one of which was reportedly stolen from Cherokee County. Rickey Lynn Allen, Sr., and Eddie Floyd Dennis were arrested in the investigation. Continue reading Cherokee County officials find 44 grams of crack cocaine

Casino and sports betting companies press for a win in Texas despite Senate opposition

Undeterred by four years of sluggish progress and certain defeat at the Texas Capitol, the gambling industry is plodding ahead with its ambitious bid to legalize casinos and sports betting in a state with some of the most restrictive gaming laws in the country.

For the third straight session, the Las Vegas Sands casino empire has deployed a murderers’ row of high-powered lobbyists to coax the Republican-controlled Legislature into authorizing “destination resorts” with casino gambling in Texas’ largest cities.

Also part of the lobbying blitz is the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition of the state’s pro sports teams, racetracks and betting platforms — such as FanDuel and DraftKings — that is looking to extend its momentum from 2023, when a proposal to legalize online sports betting squeaked through the Texas House.
Continue reading Casino and sports betting companies press for a win in Texas despite Senate opposition

East Texas residents calling in drug related crimes

East Texas residents calling in drug related crimesHENDERSON COUNTY — In the past two months, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department has arrested 50 people for drug related charges, many of them have led to arrests made by residents. According to our news partner KETK, recent arrests have involved lengthy investigations that have led to warrants.

Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse spoke about how most of his recent arrests have initially been search warrants allowing them to enter their homes. “Most of them have been through investigations where we’ve gotten some information and been able to get a search warrant and go and actually search a house,” Hillhouse said.

Hillhouse has been the sheriff since 2016 and his main focus has been on getting drugs off the street. He has asked residents to call in credible tips to his office, local law enforcement and Crimestoppers, recently those tips have resulted in arrests. Continue reading East Texas residents calling in drug related crimes

Nine sentenced in large-scale drug trafficking ring

Nine sentenced in large-scale drug trafficking ringTYLER — Nine people have been sentenced in connection to a large-scale federal drug trafficking ring that operated in East Texas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Texas announced on Monday that in 2021, law enforcement determined the organization was run by Edgar Garcia, Jr., as the head of the operation. Authorities began the investigation to identify who was receiving methamphetamine from Garcia.

A release from U.S. Attorney’s Office stated, “During the investigation, law enforcement executed residential search warrants, purchased methamphetamine and/or firearms directly from Garcia and other members of his drug trafficking organization, and directed traffic stops to intercept narcotics and firearms being transported for distribution. Ultimately, multiple kilograms of methamphetamine were seized during the operation.”
Continue reading Nine sentenced in large-scale drug trafficking ring

California teen sentenced for making hundreds of ‘swatting’ calls

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California teenager was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison in a case involving hundreds of swatting calls, including to a Florida mosque among other institutions and individuals, federal prosecutors said.

Alan W. Filion, 18, pleaded guilty in November to four counts of making interstate threats to injure the person of another. Swatting is the practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to get a large number of armed police officers dispatched to a particular address.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Filion made more than 375 swatting and threat calls from August 2022 to January 2024. Those calls included ones in which he claimed to have planted bombs in targeted locations or threatened to detonate bombs and/or conduct mass shootings at those locations, prosecutors said.

He targeted religious institutions, high schools, colleges and universities, government officials and people across the United States, prosecutors said. Filion, of Lancaster, north of Los Angeles, was 16 at the time he placed the majority of the calls.

As part of a plea agreement, he admitted to calls including an October 2022 one to a public high school in Washington state, in which he threatened to commit a mass shooting and claimed to have planted bombs throughout the campus.

He also pleaded guilty to a May 2023 call to a historically black college and university in Florida, in which he claimed to have placed bombs in the walls and ceilings of campus housing.

Another incident involved a July 2023 call to a local police department dispatch center in Texas, in which he falsely identified himself as a senior federal law enforcement officer, provided the officer’s residential address to the dispatcher, claimed to have killed the federal officer’s mother, and threatened to kill any responding police officers.

Search continues for wanted man

Search continues for wanted manSMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a wanted 32-year-old man who has been missing for a year. According to our news partner KETK, the sheriff’s office identified the man as Brantaja Dewaye Holloway-Blevins who is wanted for manufactured delivery of a controlled substance since August 2024. Holloway-Blevins is described as a black man, with black hair and brown eyes, weighs around 160 pounds and is 6 foot 1 inch.

Anyone with information about Holloway Blevins is asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600 or the Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.

Man arrested after girl struck boarding school bus

Man arrested after girl struck boarding school busUPSHUR COUNTY — A man has been arrested for allegedly hitting a New Diana ISD student with his vehicle on Monday while she was crossing the road to board a school bus. According to our news partner KETK, the crash took place at the intersection of FM 726 and U.S. Highway 259 when a driver, who was later identified as Jerry Martin, 56 of Longview, ignored the red flashing lights on the bus and struck the student. Martin was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is currently being held in the Upshur County Jail on a $100,000 bond. The student has been treated and released from a local hospital, according to New Diana ISD assistant superintendent Greg Pope.

New Diana ISD is being joined in warning drivers by others school districts like Palestine ISD and Mount Pleasant ISD, they’ve has accidents like this in the past. Both districts are urging drivers to be extra cautious for school busses. Continue reading Man arrested after girl struck boarding school bus

Kilgore men arrested after attempting to steal copper

Kilgore men arrested after attempting to steal copperRUSK COUNTY — Two Kilgore men were arrested on Friday after allegedly attempting to steal copper from a decommissioned mining facility according to our news partner KETK.

The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office along with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden responded to a trespassing report on Feb. 7 in the vicinity of Liberty Mine and Luminant Mining property in Rusk County. Surveillance cameras on the property reportedly captured two men unlawfully present at the site. Upon investigation, the sheriff’s office determined that the individuals were attempting to remove copper from a decommissioned dragline, or a large piece of heavy mining equipment no longer in use, without the property owner’s consent.

Deputies spoke with a man, later identified as Brandon Wright, of Kilgore, and arrested him on criminal trespass, burglary of a building and has since been released from the Rusk County Jail. A second suspect, identified as Kenneth Logan King, of Kilgore, was also taken into custody on the same charges, criminal trespass and burglary of a building and remains incarcerated on a bond totaling $16,000.