KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler announced Tuesday it will offer a new bachelor of science in computer engineering degree to be launched in the fall 2023 semester. The program is set to be housed within the university’s college of engineering after it was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. “The new computer engineering program will create tremendous opportunities for students to prepare for careers in a rapidly changing, high-tech field and to contribute to an evolving and highly specialized workforce,” Hassan El-Kishky, Ph.D., department of electrical engineering chair said as quoted in a news release. Continue reading UT Tyler to launch computer engineering program in Fall 2023

EAST TEXAS – The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting applications for emergency farm loans due to damages and losses caused by drought occurring, June 21, 2022 and after. According to our news partner KETK, farmers who are in need of the emergency loans are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible to avoid possible backlogs that may cause delays. Generally, farmers who have lost 30% of their production or any physical loss due to the disaster are eligible for the emergency loans. “This provides farmers a loan to be able to continue operation. It covers the lost they incurred,” said Smith County Farm Loan Manager, Clinton Warrick. Smith County Farms Service Agency located at 4209 Republic Drive, Tyler, 903-405-5676, will be accepting applications for Anderson County, Gregg County, Henderson County and Upshur County. Continue reading Emergency Farm Loans available for East Texas counties named in Drought Disaster Declaration

KILGORE — Kilgore ISD will join the list of East Texas schools that will implement the state’s guardian program for this new year. The district’s superintendent, Dr. Andy Baker said they are ready to beef up its campus safety measures. According to our news partner KETK, Baker said all school districts are concerned about what happened in Uvalde. He said with the guardian plan, it allows schools to reevaluate how safe their campuses are and how they can be improved. “This community has given us charge of their kiddos for many, many years and they trusted us to educate them and to keep them safe, and this is just one more step that we believe is necessary at this point in time to continue that trust and to keep them all safe,” said Baker. The program’s purpose is to have a limited number of qualified and trained district employees who are armed with concealed guns on campus during school hours. Kilgore ISD is also adding more school security officers. Other schools participating in the guardian program include Pine Tree, Hallsville and Tyler ISD.

TYLER — The City of Tyler is proposing $9,206,000 in drainage improvements in fiscal year 2023. Six projects are proposed to be funded through the FY 2023 budget. These projects total $926,000, according to information from the city. They include work at Indian Creek and Loop 323, Willow Creek on North Parkdale Drive and Loop 323, storm drain improvements on South Bois D’Arc Avenue and Park Heights Circle, and inlet boxes on South Glenwood Boulevard and Grove Street. Additionally, the proposed Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Half-Cent Sales Tax Program Annual Work Plan includes funding in the amount of $8,280,000 for four projects. They include repairs and improvements to the drainage system, stabilizing an area of West Mud Creek near the 1500 block of Rice Road, and work on West Mud Creek at Keaton Avenue, and from De Charles Street to Wynnwood Drive. Continue reading City proposes $9.2 million in drainage improvements in 2023

TYLER – Tyler police report a person has died after his leg was severed in a Monday accident involving a train. According to our news partner KETK, emergency crews responded to the intersection of Bonner Avenue and Locust Street, near the overpass, shortly after 9 a.m. Officials reported that the pedestrian was lying on the track when struck. One leg was severed but the pedestrian was still alive when emergency crews arrived. He died after being transported to a local hospital. According to Tyler police, the original call came in from railroad dispatch and a second call came from a train operator. Police say the case is still under investigation.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District. In Gregg County, Longview maintenance will be clearing trees from the right-of-way on FM 1845 and FM 3053. Crews will also be cutting high edges on FM 2207, from FM 1252 to SH 135 N. Expect flaggers controlling traffic. In Smith County, Tyler Maintenance will be performing ditch maintenance in various locations throughout the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. A sweeper and herbicide unit will also be in various locations throughout the county. Click this link for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER – Over the last few years, the housing inventory hasn’t kept up with demand. According to our news partner KETK, a new house listing would receive multiple offers in just hours, most above asking price, but now the market has flipped. “The housing market definitely is slowing down,” said Luis Torres, Senior Business Economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Economy expert Luis Torres with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas says the housing market during the pandemic was on a roll. “The major driver of seeing such a hot housing market during the pandemic, was historical low mortgage rates that we show during that period,” said Torres. He spoke at UT Tyler recently about why he thinks interest and mortgage rates rising are now causing the market to cool off. Continue reading East Texas housing market cooling down

TYLER — Contractors have a five day project set up. Crews expect to be busy on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from North Broadway Avenue to West Gentry Parkway Monday, Aug. 29, through Friday, Sept. 2, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists are asked to use caution in the area, follow directions of the crews, and obey all traffic signs. Drivers can expect road closures and lane closures.

SABINE COUNTY – 26-year-old Matthew Hoy Edgar has found himself as a new addition to the Texas Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list. Edgar was convicted in the Halloween 2020 murder of 19-year-old Livye Lewis. He attended trial for that murder in early 2022, but evaded authorities. According to our news partner KETK, the DPS is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Edgar. Law officers say he has a history of violence and he should be considered armed and dangerous

OVERTON – The city of Overton is under a boil water notice, according to city officials. According to our news partner KETK, a 10″ water main break was repaired on Friday. The city said water that is consumed should be boiled, including water used for washing hands/face, brushing teeth, and drinking. Those who are more vulnerable to bacteria in the water are children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems. To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. Officials say customers will be notified when the boil water notice is lifted.

TYLER – Justin Pierce, 29 of Tyler, has been indicted for intoxication manslaughter and accident involving death for the hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of 18-year-old Marissa July-McCuin of Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, DPS reports from the April 24 incident said Pierce was driving down Highway 64 roughly two miles west of Tyler just after 1:30 a.m. McCuin was trying to cross the road in the outside lane when she was allegedly hit by Pierce’s 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. McCuin was taken to a Tyler hospital, where she died from her injuries. Pierce fled the scene but was later apprehended. Pierce had been arrested and released on April 19, 2021, charged with public intoxication and assaulting a public servant. He remains in the Smith County Jail on a $500,000 surety bond.

TYLER — Contractors will be doing seal coat work on Briarwood Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Tyler, weather permitting. Work is planned on Briarwood Road from Loop 323 to Cascades Boulevard Saturday from 7 a.m. till 5 p.m. Crews expect to get busy on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from North Broadway Avenue to West Gentry Parkway Monday, Aug. 29, through Friday, Sept. 2, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists are asked to use caution in the area, follow directions of the crews, and obey all traffic signs. Drivers can expect road closures and lane closures.

TYLER – Officials have identified a pedestrian who died following a Tyler crash Friday on South Broadway Avenue and South Town Drive. According to our news partner KETK, Cristian Vavich, 35, of Tyler, was walking across Broadway from the area of Whataburger when a Toyota truck swerved in an attempt to miss him “but was unable to,” according to police. The crash was initially called in around 5:45 a.m., and officials said Vavich was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said the case remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – Pigs tore through fields at Lear Park in Longview recently, and they caused plenty of damage. “We’re pretty sure they were in hog heaven,” Longview Parks & Recreation posted to Facebook. According to our news partner KETK, Parks & Rec will have to shut down Fields 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9 for “a few weeks” until the start of Greater Longview Soccer Association games in order to get them ready for play. Meanwhile on Facebook, Longview Parks & Rec and the City of Longview are going back and forth on the post delivering pig puns. “This post will age like fine swine,” commented the City of Longview’s Facebook page. “We never sausage a good comment,” Longview Parks & Recreation page replied.