KTBB News, Weather, Talk

SMITH COUNTY — A chase between a man and Smith County sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday afternoon ended with the man crashing his vehicle into a ditch off of Highway 69. According to our news partner KETK, Whitehouse police responded to a call from a woman reporting an armed man in her yard arguing with her. The man was already gone when officers arrived, but a short time later, spotted a car that matched the description. According to Smith County Sgt. Larry Christian, Whitehouse police chased the vehicle down FM 346 toward Hwy 69. Once they reached Highway 69, Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies picked up the pursuit. Continue reading Smith County car chase ends in rollover crash

HENDERSON COUNTY — Two East Texas parents, who were arrested in connection to the death of their toddler and for alleged abuse of their children, have been indicted. According to our news partner KETK, Daniel Dennis, 25, and Erin Dennis, 23, were both indicted on March 10 for two charges of abandoning/ endangering a child. The couple were arrested on December 15, 2021 after their 18-month-old child was found dead, said Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse. They have two other children, a four-year-old and a two-year-old. Hillhouse called it a “horrible case and scene.” Continue reading Couple indicted in connection to toddler’s death

LONGVIEW — First National Bank of East Texas will soon expand into Longview. According to information in the Longview News-Journal, the bank is planning to open the new full-service branch by late May or early June. The Gilmer-based bank is renovating a former Capital One branch on West Loop 281. The bank also has branches in Big Sandy, Diana, Emory, Mineola, Mount Vernon, Ore City, Pittsburg and Quitman. In a prepared statement, bank President and CEO Danny Weems points to the bank’s “many customers that reside and work in both Upshur and Gregg Counties.” The new location will employ six people at first, with more to be added as growth proceeds.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday authorized the city manager to execute a nearly $2.6 million contract for the second of four sewer system capacity projects to rehabilitate deteriorated sanitary sewer mains. According to a news release, the project includes the construction of approximately 14,548 linear feet of sewer lines, associated manholes, connections to existing sewer lines, pavement repairs, and appurtenances. Effective April 10, 2017, the city entered a consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency to address Tyler’s aging wastewater collection system and resulting discharges, according to the release.

TYLER – A 23-year-old Russian man has been indicted in Tyler in connection with what officials term a cyber-criminal marketplace. According to a federal news release, Igor Dekhtyarchuk operated Marketplace A, which claimed to have sold access to more than 48,000 compromised email accounts and more than 39,000 compromised online accounts. Officials say last year, the FBI, through an online covert employee, made thirteen purchases of access devices from Dekhtyarchuk while accessing Marketplace A from the Eastern District of Texas. If convicted, Dekhtyarchuk faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

EAST TEXAS — The cleanup and assessment process continues after severe weather struck parts of East Texas Monday night. According to our news partner KETK, in Upshur County, multiple injuries were reported along with many damaged and destroyed homes as a tornado moved through. That twister has been given an initial rating of EF-2. Another tornado that hit Harrison County was given an initial EF-1 rating. Upshur County is among 16 counties included in a disaster declaration issued Tuesday by Governor Abbott, along with Rusk County and several other East Texas counties.

TYLER — The arrest affidavit of a dental patient who allegedly shot and killed two doctors at Affordable Dentures & Implants in Tyler on March 16 reveals more information in the events leading up to the shooting, our news partner KETK reports. Steven Smith, 40, was charged with capital murder of multiple persons and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The victims were identified as Dr. Blake G. Sinclair, 59, and Dr. Jack E. Burroughs, 75, both of Tyler. The affidavit stated that Smith was upset with how the procedure was being performed on him and was telling the nurses “what to do.” A nurse told officials that he was always a difficult patient and made the nurses feel uncomfortable. Continue reading Affidavit: Shooter had history of being difficult patient at Tyler dental clinic

TYLER — A suspect in a fatal hit and run has been jailed after turning herself in to Tyler police. Authorities say Chatiryn Akerra Butler, 18, of Tyler surrendered Monday. Police earlier obtained an arrest warrant on Butler for accident involving death, a 2nd degree felony with a $100,000 bond. The victim was 30-year-old Kelsey Hise in the incident around 7:30 p.m. February 19 on North Broadway near Queen Street.

TYLER — Traditional energy sources were the focus of Tuesday’s Northeast Texas Energy Summit in Tyler. One of the speakers was Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association. Staples told KTBB, “Oil and gas is an asset, not a liability, and it’s time we treat it this way in our country again…Energy security is inextricably linked to national security. It’s ironic that a year ago, many people were questioning the very future of oil and gas. Today, people are questioning if they have a future without oil and gas.” Continue reading Oil and gas in the spotlight at energy summit

TYLER — With COVID-19 numbers continuing to decline, NET Health’s George Roberts is generally upbeat. But he says officials continue to keep a watchful eye on the BA.2 variant. Roberts says according to the latest CDC information, BA.2 now makes up about 35 per cent of covid cases nationwide. And he continues to stress the importance of vaccinations in light of that information — together with uncertainty about the effect BA.2 and other variants could ultimately have. For more information on COVID-19 in East Texas, click here.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Criminal Investigation Division of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a prominent ER physician on Monday for the alleged continuous sexual abuse of a child. According to our news partner KETK, Dr. Karl Kauffman was arrested Monday after an ongoing investigation and a search warrant of his home led to two warrants for continuous sexual abuse of a child, said the sheriff’s office. Kauffman currently serves as an ER physician at several hospitals in the county. The arrest warrants were issued by the 369th District Judge, Michael Davis, who set a recommended bond of $1 million per charge. Kauffman will be held in the Cherokee County Jail. Continue reading Cherokee County doctor arrested for alleged continuous sexual abuse of a child

LONGVIEW — In the wake of severe weather overnight, the City of Longview reminds residents to sign up for the Smart911 mass emergency notification system. The city uses Smart911 by RAVE Mobile Safety to notify residents of severe weather and emergencies affecting the area. The service is offered in partnership with the East Texas Council of Governments, which provides access to the system for many cities and counties throughout the region. Learn more here.

EAST TEXAS — Some East Texas entities are taking measures to deal with severe weather that forecasters have predicted in the area. The City of Marshall began offering sand and sandbags Monday at Airport Park. Each resident will be given 10 bags to fill. You must have proof of residency. If you have any questions you can contact the Support Service Department at 903-935-7920. Also, our news partner KETK reports Alto ISD will start classes at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. We’ll keep you up to date as conditions develop.

EAST TEXAS — Workforce Solutions East Texas (WSET), in partnership with the East Texas Council of Governments and local elected officials, announces the second annual rural economic development forum series titled Rural, Set, Go: Boost! The forums will take place weekly, March through May, in East Texas rural counties. Events are open to local community and business leaders, employers, school districts, secondary schools, economic development corporations, and chambers. According to a news release, Rural, Set, Go: Boost! is an intentional strategy to engage community leaders, business leaders, and community members in candid conversations about the factors that influence their local workforce and economic development needs. Click here for more information.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has announced that faculty within the College of Engineering have received National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to study signs of opioid exposure in infants. Dr. Premananda Indic and Dr. Pravitha Ramanand received an $861,744 subaward to support “Vital Signs in Opioid Exposed Neonates,” a University of Alabama at Birmingham project. “There is an ongoing epidemic of opioid use during pregnancy,” said UA-Birminghams’s Dr. Namasivayam Ambalavanan as quoted in a news release. Pioneering work conducted by the team has identified that patterns of heart rate and breathing as early as the first day after birth can be used to identify infants who later develop signs of opioid withdrawal, according to the release. “The research may also lead to the more accurate management of drug therapy using objective cardiorespiratory data,” said Indic, also as quoted in the release.