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PALESTINE — One student was detained after Palestine Junior High School administration was made aware of a weapon on campus Wednesday, the district announced. According to our news partner KETK, the campus was placed on a soft lockdown and the Palestine ISD Police Department and administration located the weapon. Palestine Junior High resumed the normal schedule for the remainder of the day and will dismiss at normal times with normal procedures, the district said.

TYLER — TCU quarterback Max Duggan can add yet another prestigious trophy to his resume after he was named the 10th annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award winner on Wednesday night. According to our news partner KETK, Duggan not only led the Horned Frogs to the national championship game but he was also a Heisman Trophy finalist and won the Davey O’Brien Award. Along with Duggan, the other three finalists were Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson, UTSA quarterback Frank Harris and Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn. “I’m honored to present the award to Max Duggan,” Earl Campbell said. “All of these players had incredible seasons. They all deserved their place as a finalist.” Duggan totaled 282 yards of offense and four touchdowns in TCU’s win over the Michigan Wolverines. Continue reading TCU’s Max Duggan wins Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award

SMITH COUNTY – As the new year begins, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said the jail is still understaffed and searching for new hires. According to our news partner KETK, there’s still a lot of work to be done. “There’s a lot of moving parts that the general public has no idea,” said Smith. He said a lot goes into operating a jail. With 33 unfilled positions, it only makes things more difficult on the staff they do have. “The ones that are just coming into the workforce that are eager to do things even get disheartened when they see there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Continue reading Smith County Jail sees more applicants but is still short staffed

AUSTIN – After years of courtroom scrutiny over the now-questionable science of “shaken baby syndrome,” the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decided Wednesday that doubt surrounding the cause of his daughter’s death was not enough to overturn Robert Roberson’s death sentence. That’s according to our news partner KETK and the Texas Tribune. Roberson, 56, of Palestine, was convicted of killing his sickly two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, after he rushed her blue, limp body to the emergency room in 2002. He said that the two were sleeping in their Palestine home when he awoke to find Nikki unresponsive, having fallen off the bed. But doctors and nurses quickly suspected child abuse, disbelieving that such a short fall could have caused the fatal injuries. Continue reading Criminal appeals court: No new trial for East Texas death row inmate

TYLER — The Caldwell Zoo announces the return of rhinos to its animal family. As quoted in a news release, Curator of Mammals Scotty Stainback says, “All of us are very happy to accept this amazing animal. Kiano came to us from the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa. He’s strong, healthy and a really impressive animal.” Officials say the Caldwell Zoo has a long history of caring for rhinos. Also as quoted in the release, Caldwell Zoo President and CEO Steve Marshall notes, “The black rhinoceros is critically endangered in the wild. So, it’s important that we do everything we can to help these magnificent animals. Poaching has decimated the wild population.”

TYLER – A Tyler man was arrested Tuesday night after his one-year-old daughter was found strapped into her car seat on the side of Rhones Quarter Road, according to Tyler police. Officials say officers responded to the scene after police got a call about the case around 8 p.m. According to our news partner KETK, police said they received a separate call shortly thereafter about a drunk driver in the parking lot of a CEFCO gas station on Troup Highway. Authorities say it was later discovered that the driver, identified as Paul Hanna, 37, of Tyler, was the toddler’s father. Police said Hanna told them he thought his daughter was at a family member’s house, and when contacted by authorities, the family member said she was not there. Continue reading Man arrested after toddler daughter found on roadside

TYLER — Looking ahead to the May elections, businessman and community volunteer Lloyd Nichols launches his campaign for Tyler City Council, District 5. Bob Westbrook currently holds the seat but will not run for re-election due to reaching his term limit. After moving to Tyler in 2000 as the Area Vice President for Luby’s Cafeteria, Nichols opened and operated The Diner restaurant and other eating establishments. He is also a deacon at Colonial Hills Baptist Church, Chair of the East Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation, and a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. “As a business owner and someone who raised my children in Tyler, I appreciate the pro-business, pro-family policies that make this community great,” Nichols said as quoted in a news release.

AUSTIN — It’s mixed news for the two biggest cities in East Texas as the Texas comptroller’s office distributes its first sales tax allocations of the year. Longview’s total is $3,696,204.83, up from $3,511,150.03 a year ago. Tyler pulls in $4,965,828.05, a decrease from the $4,996,960.85 reported at this time in 2022, but by less than one per cent. Total net payments statewide come to $674,458,617.98, an increase of 6.23% from January 2022. Click this link for a more detailed city-by-city rundown statewide.

TYLER — It was another busy Wednesday for the Tyler City Council. The Tyler Fire Department is purchasing five National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) compliant commercial washer-extractors, expanding its cancer-reduction initiatives. The City Council agreed to accept a grant from FEMA to fund the items’ purchase and installation. The Council also approved a contract for the Shackleford Creek Lift Station Improvements project. Officials say the location of the lift station is prone to flooding during rain events. And the Council signed off on a construction contract for the Stagecoach Drive drainage improvements project, which includes a new underground stormwater system. Click here and scroll down to “Tyler News” for details.

TYLER — The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tyler – covering 33 counties – tweeted his support of Governor Abbott’s denunciation of President Biden’s border policies. Bishop Joseph Strickland wrote on Twitter, “Thank you Governor Abbott. Biden has abdicated his federal responsibility for dealing with this crisis and you are vilified for doing what you can as the governor of one border state. Please continue to advocate for real border control. Innocent children of God are suffering.” The governor handed a letter castigating the president’s handling of the border situation to Mr. Biden when his plane landed in El Paso Sunday. Strickland has also been sharply critical of the president over his abortion policies.

TYLER — The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center says it prevented tens of millions of dollars in losses last year connected to organized fraud. According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the center’s first year in operation prevented loses of nearly $48.5-million. It also helped root out 396 credit card skimmers. The center opened last year in Tyler as the first-of-its-kind in the nation, putting various law enforcement agencies in coordination to the fraud. Beyond just gas pumps, the center has recorded what the state calls “an astronomical amount” of fraud from other types of credit card skimming committed by foreign nationals, including ATM and point-of-sale skimming that specifically targets state benefit cards.

TYLER — Tyler police say a southeast Tyler intersection was finally cleared late Tuesday afternoon. Early Tuesday morning, there was a one-vehicle traffic crash at Golden Rd. and McDonald Rd. The vehicle damaged a power pole and traffic control panel. AT&T, Oncor, and City of Tyler staff teamed up to make repairs. Drivers were asked to avoid the area if possible while crews were in the street.

TYLER – Tyler Parks and Recreation has announced that the Southside Park men’s restroom is closed following vandalism on January 8. Photos from Tyler Parks and Recreation show that the restroom’s toilet, urinal, and sink have been irreparably damaged. Officials said the restroom will remain closed until the necessary repairs can be made. According to our news partner KETK, they also request for people to come forward if you know anything about who vandalized the restroom.

TYLER — Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber is reminding property owners that taxes are due at the end of this month, and he is urging people to pay online. According to a news release, payments can be made by scanning the QR code on your statement, which will take you directly to the payment page on your account. The Tax Office mailed out 192,357 property tax statements in October, and Tuesday, January 31, 2023, is the deadline for paying them. Tax payers can make their payments online, in person, through the Tax Office’s drop-box at the Cotton Belt Building, or by mail. Barber said for those who want to pay in person at the Tax Office, expect long lines and wait times. Click here for more information.

AUSTIN (KRLD) — The Texas State Parks System is 100 years old. Parks and Wildlife is celebrating the centennial with a traveling art exhibit that will make its way to East Texas later this year. “The Art of Texas State Parks” honors more than 30 parks across the state, with a goal of increasing public awareness. The first stop for the display is the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. That’s on through April 30. Future stops include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, from May 26 through October 1. Later stops are planned in Canyon, College Station, Albany, and Tyler.