KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — University of Texas officials visit Tyler to share details about a recently-announced $300 million endowment for seven institutions to help students pay for college. As far as what it means locally, Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife says “perpetually, ongoing, a million dollars a year in additional tuition money, scholarship money, to the University of Texas at Tyler — which means anyone with an adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less can go to (the) University of Texas at Tyler with their tuition and fees covered…We supplement all the other grants that are out there. Also…we think this means about an additional 200 students will now be able to attend the University of Texas at Tyler and won’t have an issue with financial problems getting in.” Continue reading More details on $300 million UT endowment

SMITH COUNTY — A Garland woman pleaded guilty in Smith County to smuggling migrants. According to our news partner KETK, on Thursday, Sheri Lin Ha, 24, pleaded guilty to smuggling of persons and received five years of deferred adjudication. Ha was indicted by a grand jury in December 2021 on charges for smuggling seven undocumented migrants in her car. The woman was arrested in July 2021 after Smith County authorities pulled over the Ford Expedition she was driving. Officials noticed there were seven male passengers in the vehicle, who were undocumented migrants from Guatemala. During the stop, deputies also found a vial of illegal drugs on Ha. Officials believed she was trafficking for profit, said Sgt. Larry Christian, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer.

WHITEHOUSE — After more than 40 years of service, Ronny Fite is being remembered as one of the strongest leaders the Whitehouse community has ever had. According to our news partner KETK, due to complications with COVID-19, lifetime resident and longtime Fire Chief of Whitehouse Fire Department has died at the age of 68. Fite devoted his life to the betterment of our East Texas community. “He always cared for his community. He was pro-Whitehouse. Whatever it needed or whatever it took, he was going to make sure that they had it. With the Fire Department, you know he tried to make it the best in the county,” said President of Emergency Services District 4, Johnny Brown. Continue reading Whitehouse public servant remembered as strong leader

FLINT — Smith County Sheriff’s Office and DPS personnel allege illegal gambling as they execute a search and seizure warrant at the Top Shelf Poker Room in Flint. Officials say the action followed numerous complaints. According to our news partner KETK, Top Shelf Owner and Operator Jesse Vann is questioning the law enforcement move, saying his business acts as a social club the same way many others do in the state of Texas. But authorities say they were following the law as currently written. According to a Sheriff’s Office news release, “This investigation is ongoing and we expect further developments in the near future.”

TYLER — The Tyler Parks and Rec Department is beginning renovations to Noble E. Young Park on Seaton St. For the duration of the project, the park will be closed out of concern for safety, according to a news release. The park will be getting a new pavilion, restrooms, a walking trail, playground equipment and outdoor exercise equipment that includes some ADA-compliant pieces. These renovations will be paid for by the Community Development Block Grant Program and should be completed by August, according to the release.

TYLER — Contractors will be applying pavement markings on some Tyler streets beginning Monday, March 14. The markings will be for the Tyler Bikes Stripes project that contractors were not able to finish due to road projects and asphalt repair projects, according to a news release. Residents and businesses are asked to refrain from parking in the streets while crews apply the markings. Crews will be working Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The painting should be completed by the end of the month, according to the release. Click here for additional information.

TYLER — NET Health’s George Roberts remains pleased with COVID-19 trends in his survey area. He attributes recent high spread numbers in Van Zandt County to an “influx of data,” with figures dating to January — and says he expects that issue to be resolved soon. “Overall, things are…moving in a positive direction,” says Roberts. He notes that the hospital patient number is now down to 78 from the 87 reported Monday. But one thing hasn’t changed: Roberts still strongly encourages vaccinations, pointing to the continued wide availability of the shots. Roberts says the omicron BA-2 variant now makes up about 11.6 per cent of cases nationwide and some seven per cent in Texas — and isn’t creating any cause for alarm at this point, though officials continue to monitor it. For more information on COVID-19 in East Texas, click here.

TYLER — A 33-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman were indicted for their roles in a cryptocurrency money laundering scheme in East Texas. According to federal authorities, Manik Mehtani, of McLean, VA, and Lois Boyd, of Amelia Court House, VA, were indicted by a federal grand jury, charging them with a violation of the Travel Act, money laundering and money laundering conspiracy. According to the indictment, Boyd and Mehtani allegedly plotted with others to receive money from victims of fraud schemes and launder the money through cryptocurrency. They allegedly have routinely structured deposits in order to avoid requirements of reporting transactions and to conceal the nature and source of the money. Continue reading Two indicted in money laundering conspiracy

GILMER — Upshur County authorities confirmed Thursday that the chief deputy district clerk was arrested for official oppression. According to our news partner KETK, 51-year-old Jon Christopher Coleman, from Gilmer, was arrested by Texas Rangers. Additional details surrounding the circumstances of the investigation were not available. Coleman was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Potter and released on $3,500 bond.

TYLER — Eastbound traffic on the Loop between New Copeland Road and T.K. Gorman resumed late Thursday afternoon after being shut down since early morning. Tyler police said a drunk driver wrecked into a power pole, breaking it. The driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and when released, booked into the Smith County Jail for driving while intoxicated. Oncor crews worked nearly all day to repair the pole and get the road reopened.

BRYAN — The Lindale native on trial for capital murder of a Department of Public Safety trooper on Thanksgiving Day, 2017, has been found guilty and given an automatic sentence of life without parole. Dabrett Black, 37, was found guilty by a Brazos County jury on Thursday afternoon, according to our news partner KETK and its network affiliate KAGS. On November 23, 2017, Trooper Damon Allen, 41, made a traffic stop of Black’s vehicle on Interstate 45, just south of Fairfield. DPS reports say Allen approached Black’s vehicle, spoke with him, and returned to his patrol unit. Moments later, DPS says Black began shooting at Allen multiple times with a rifle. Continue reading Lindale native found guilty of killing DPS trooper on Thanksgiving 2017

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday received an update from Pipeline Analysis, LLC about the ongoing mandatory improvements and future rehabilitation plans for the city’s sewer system. In less than 30 days, the city will be halfway through the consent decree regarding the project. According to a news release, throughout the past five years, ongoing repairs and capacity improvements have resulted in a 40 percent decrease in sanitary sewer overflows. Challenges include the increased cost of materials and labor, according to the release. However, Pipeline Analysis believes moving up the inspection schedule and identifying and repairing defects earlier will help control the costs. Click here for further details.

LONGVIEW – Gas prices in the Longview area hit their highest point in history on Thursday. The average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline was $4, according to AAA. According to our news partner KETK, gas prices have skyrocketed over the past few weeks due to a variety of factors, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The previous record for Longview was $3.97, set in July of 2008 during the Great Recession. Tyler is considered likely to break its record for unleaded gasoline in the next day or two. It currently sits at $3.94, and the highest it has ever reached is $3.97. It should be noted that prices are always affected by whatever inflation issues are present at any given time.

CHAPEL HILL — Classes resumed at Chapel Hill High School Thursday following a bomb threat, and officials say the bomb search has concluded. Out of what was termed an abundance of caution, the school dismissed classes beginning at 1:15 Wednesday afternoon. The campus had earlier gone on lockdown, with students and staff evacuated from the building. According to the CHISD website, “All students and staff remained safe during the lockdown, evacuation, and dismissal process. Authorities have also concluded their search and have secured the campus.” There was no immediate word on any further investigation.