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LONGVIEW — A Longview teenager was arrested for his involvement in a shooting August 16. Xzayver Alexzay Carter, 19, has been charged with aggravated assault following the shooting at the American Fidelity Apartments on Morrison Street. One person suffered life-threatening injuries but has since been released from the hospital. Carter was arrested on a warrant Monday afternoon. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail with bond set at $500,000. He’s been arrested numerous times over the last two years. Those charges include evading arrest, criminal trespass and unlawful carrying of a weapon.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say a man attacked an elderly person with a chair near a busy intersection Friday evening. According to the Longview News-Journal, Aaron Matthew Porras, 21, was booked into the Gregg County Jail with bond set at $69,000. He’s charged with resisting arrest, aggravated assault, evading arrest and two counts of harassing a public servant. Police responded to East Marshall Avenue near Alpine Road shortly after 5 p.m. after someone noticed a man striking an elderly man with a chair. Porras ran from the scene when officers arrived, then scuffled with officers after he was caught, spitting at two of the officers. It was Porras’ sixth arrest in about six months, including Aug. 22 on a public intoxication charge.

TYLER — A Tyler pastor and school board president is giving back to his state in a big way. As a member of the Texas State Guard he deployed to help in the aftermath of hurricane Harvey. Rev. Fritz Hager Jr. says he will be there as long as he’s needed, and the devastation suggests that could be a while. He tells KETK this is the largest military mobilization in Texas since WWII. Hager is stationed in Beaumont. He is seeing the devastation firsthand, and working as a chaplain looking out for the spiritual and emotional well being of the soldiers and victims. Continue reading TISD Board President Deployed to Beaumont

LONGVIEW — Longview residents are getting a head start on a big national activity. On Tuesday, October 3, neighborhoods throughout Longview are being invited to plan neighborhood parties for the 34th Annual National Night Out crime and drug prevention event. Tonight’s National Night Out Kick-Off Event is set for 6:00 to 8:00 at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex. Attendees can pick up signs to promote the October parties, mingle with local law enforcement, and enjoy free food (for the first 300 people). You can get more information by calling Partners in Prevention at 903-237-1019 or Sgt. Jacky Hiles at 903-452-3522.

AUSTIN — Owners of multi-line phone systems in Texas are now required to provide direct dial access to 911 without having to dial a 9 first. KETK reports businesses had until Friday to comply. “Kari’s Law” was signed into law in 2015. In March of this year, the Convention of State Emergency Communications adopted the rule. The law was named after Kari Hunt Dunn, murdered by her estranged husband in a Marshall hotel room as their daughter tried to call 911 — but didn’t realize she had to begin the call by dialing an extra 9.

GREGG COUNTY — A motorist found idling his vehicle in a West Longview intersection raced from officers at speeds of more than 100 mph before stopping at a freeway interchange. According to the Longview News-Journal, Robert Odell Smith, 35, of Longview, remained in the Gregg County Jail under $23,000 bond Sunday, charged with driving while intoxicated, marijuana possession and evading arrest with a vehicle. Longview police noticed Smith’s vehicle failed to properly stop at a stop light on Enterprise Street at Southwest Loop 281 about midnight Sunday. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, Smith fled east on the loop, leading to a chase in excess of 100 mph. Continue reading Longview Man Arrested after Police Chase

OVERTON — One person has been arrested and charged with murder after a shooting in Overton. According to KETK, Overton police were called to a home on North Rusk Street around 11 p.m. Friday night. They found a 51-year-old man deceased inside the house. Terry Ammons, 64, was arrested and was booked into the Rusk County Jail with bond set at 1 million dollars.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of September 4th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Summer seal coat operations resume Tuesday to finish up work on U.S. Highway 271 in Smith County. The roadway is being sealed from Farm Road 2015 north to .03 mile south of Interstate Highway 20. Once complete, work moves to Farm Road 2767 from Loop 323 eastward to FM 2908. You can go to http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/045-2017.html for a complete rundown of Tyler District work for the next several days.

TYLER – Tyler Junior College trustees have adopted a new budget of $90,708,721. The approval came at a meeting last week. Under the new budget, full-time employees will receive an increase to their annual base earnings of $600 plus 1%. School trustees also decided to keep the same tax rate. Even though the rate did not go up, they will still be receiving more money from homeowners because the appraised value of homeowners’ property in the TJC taxing district increased. School trustees also kept the same tuition rates, but there was a slight increase in fees. The surcharge for out-of-district students was increased by 1.1% and the no-resident student surcharge was hiked by 1.3%. School officials say the surcharge increase allows those who are not otherwise supporting the College with their tax dollars to pay an “equalization offset.”

TYLER – The month of August in Tyler was the wettest August on record. Tyler’s weather records started being kept in 1896. August also saw slightly below normal temperatures. The August rainfall total was 11.66 inches. Only .15 of that came from Hurricane Harvey. Still the month’s total easily surpassed August 1915 which held the existing record of 10.25 inches. Three daily rainfall records were also recorded in August. They are 2.99 inches on August 2nd, 2.54 inches on August 13th and 3.52 inches on August 17th. And the summer of 2017 was the second wettest on record with 21.45 inches. In the summer of 2007, 23.35 inches were recorded. Despite a cool August, June and July saw above normal temperatures. As a result, the summer of 2017 was 0.4 of a degree warmer than normal.

LUFKIN – A Cherokee County woman is facing a variety of charges after being accused of stealing a Lufkin police car and leading officers on a chase at speeds up to 100 miles an hour. Toscha Sponsler, 33, of Alto was first arrested shortly before 5:30 Saturday afternoon for shoplifting. As officers stood behind the police unit, the woman is said to have slipped out of one of her handcuffs and climbed through a sliding partition and into the front seat. She then drove away. The chase, which started near South First and Loop 287, ended near the state Highway 63 and U.S. Highway 69 south intersection when officers performed a maneuver that caused her to leave the road and hit a tree. Charges against her include unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, escaping and evading police, aggravated assault on a peace officer and possession of a controlled substance.

TYLER (AP/STAFF) — Friends and family have gathered to remember a former Texas high school football and track coach who disappeared while driving during Harvey. The Tyler Morning Telegraph reports that about 200 people attended the memorial Saturday for Ruben Jordan at Liberty Baptist Church in Tyler. Grady Turner remembered Jordan as unselfish with a “kind, loving spirit.” Jordan’s body was found Monday in Houston. The 58-year-old was last seen on August 26 helping people through floodwaters. Jordan, a retired coach at Clear Creek High School, also played football at John Tyler High School alongside “The Tyler Rose,” Earl Campbell. He graduated from JTHS in 1977, according to his Facebook page. From there, he attended Lamar University before going into coaching and teaching. Upon retirement, Jordan opened Friendswood Driving School.

TYLER – Hurricane evacuees from the Gulf coast continue to seek shelter in Tyler. To help them, the city activated its Emergency Operation Center on Tuesday to coordinate local agencies’ relief efforts. On Wednesday, a Transition Hub opened at the Faulkner Park Police Station. Since then, 586 have come through the Police Station for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance and received an Emergency Tracking Network (ETN) wristband tied to services available in the area. The ETN wristband will allow access to evacuees for services such as free meals at the Salvation Army, basic necessities at Colonial Hills Baptist Church and clothing needs from Cornerstone. Continue reading More Hurricane Evacuees Come to Tyler

MARSHALL – It appears as if a Harrison County teen has run away for the second time in just under two months. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding Stephanie Ree Grace, 16. She was last seen at her residence on U.S. Highway 80 in Longview on August 18th. She is said to have long brown hair, hazel eyes, is around 5’6” and weighs around 140 pounds. She was first reported missing on July 18th. She was later found safe with her grandfather in Illinois. If you know where she can be found, you are asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.

LONGVIEW – A grave marker belonging to a army World War II veteran has been found in Longview. The name on the marker is Prather Jones. Longview police are trying to locate his family so they can return the marker. If you can help, contact the Longview Police Department on message them on their Facebook page.

TYLER – The Tyler Salvation Army has been deployed to Victoria. The Tyler group left around 3:00 Friday afternoon, with their mobile kitchen, to help in the hurricane relief effort. The trip took around five hours. And they remind you, the best way you can help them in the relief effort is with a monetary donation.

TYLER — Twelve people went to local hospitals following an ammonia leak at Brookshire’s Warehouse in Tyler. The leak has since been contained. There were blockades of some of the roads in the area, but they have all been lifted. ETMC says all five patients seen there were released Friday morning; CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler says it has released all seven of its patients. Continue reading Brookshire’s Warehouse Evacuated Following Chemical Leak

LONGVIEW – A beverage packaging plant in Longview will be shutting down next year. A news release from the Ball Corporation announced it will be closing facilities in Alabama and California along with the Longview facility on Fisher Road The Longview plant opened in 1972 and was bought by Ball in June of last year. The plant, which has 100 workers, and produces cans in two sizes, is expected to cease production by the end of the second quarter of next year. In announcing the closings, Ball also announced it will begin construction on a new, state-of-the-art beverage packaging facility in Goodyear, Arizona, which is expected to begin production in the second quarter of 2018.

TYLER – A portion of Tyler faced a water problem today because of a water main break. But the problem has been repaired. For a while water ran across a section of the Old Jacksonville Highway and there were reports of low water pressure and no water. Tyler Water Utilities reported an 18 inch elbow joint separation at a water main off Old Jacksonville Highway. This caused low water pressure and water outages for some Tyler customers between Oakhill Boulevard and West Cumberland. Also, some Southern Utilities customers experienced low water pressure and water outages because the lines are connected by an emergency connection at that location.

BERRYVILLE – A Henderson County woman is facing multiple drug charges. Angela Davis, 42, of LaRue was arrested around 9:00 Thursday evening in a business parking lot on State Highway 155 in Berryville. As she approached a vehicle, a sheriff’s department narcotics investigator saw her with a clear, plastic baggie containing a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine. She was charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. When she was searched at the jail they found more methamphetamine on her. She was then charged with possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility. Davis was also arrested in June and July on drug charges.

EAST TEXAS — Gas prices are on the rise and a run on gas is occurring in different areas throughout the state, mostly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. However, officials say there is not a gas shortage. Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton said consumers are putting undue demand on fuel stations before they can be replenished. While some refineries have shut down or are operating at reduced capacity due to Hurricane Harvey, plenty of refining capacity is still online and there are more than 230 million barrels of gasoline supply in Texas to meet needs. Citizens have no need to fear shortages even though prices could climb during the next few weeks until all refining capacity is back online.

LONGVIEW – The new Farm Road 2087 bridge over the Sabine River in Longview/Gregg County opens today. Kathi White with TxDOT says the project has consisted of replacing the existing bridge and approaches, grading and surface work, and the placement of permanent pavement markings and metal beam guard fence. The cost of the project is $3.7 million. Crews will be conducting final cleanup activities today, removing equipment and barricades throughout the day. She says motorists should use caution when traveling this route once the bridge is opened to traffic.

ARP – Two Tyler men are in jail for the burglary of Arp High School. Smith County Sheriff’s detectives and Arp Police have arrested Anthony Wayne Frazier,48, and Nicholas Lucton Burkhart, 31. Frazier has been charged with burglary of a building and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. His bonds total $110,000. Burkhart has been charged with burglary of a building and the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. His bonds total $250,000. Continue reading Two Arrested for a High School Burglary

TYLER – Tyler’s Emergency Operation Center, which opened Tuesday, remains open. The EOC is being utilized to coordinate local agencies’ relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey evacuees. Tyler has also set up a transitional hub at the Faulkner Park Police Substation on West Cumberland Road, to help direct evacuees to needed resources. It opened at noon on Wednesday. Since then, it had registered 260 people for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance and each received an ETN wristband tied to services available in the area. The ETN wristband will allow access to evacuees for services such as free meals at the Salvation Army, basic necessities at Colonial Hills Baptist Church and clothing needs from Cornerstone. The Hub will be in operation from 8:00am to 8:00pm daily. A social security card is not required to register for FEMA. You can go to the city of Tyler web site, http://www.cityoftyler.org for more hurricane evacuee information. Continue reading Tyler Prepared for Hurricane Evacuees

TYLER – The Salvation Army in Tyler is accepting applications for the annual Angel Tree program. The Angel Tree provides Christmas assistance to families in need by making sure that no child is forgotten. Friday is the final day to sign up for assistance. They are able to accept the first 100 qualified applicants starting at 9:00am at on North Spring Street behind the Salvation Army Center of Hope on North Broadway. Since there are a limited number of spots on the Angel Tree, they accept those who are most in need of help. Continue reading Angel Tree Applications are Being Accepted

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a man wanted for using a stolen debit card. Robert Glen Haskins, 18, of Jefferson, is accused of using the stolen card at a Marshall gas station back on July 16. A warrant for debit card abuse has been issued for Haskins. He is about 5’9” and weighs around 200 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes. If you know where he can be found, you are asked to call the Marshall Police Department.

TYLER – For the 21st consecutive year, Tyler Junior College has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. It was awarded to TJC by the Government Finance Officers Association for the school’s comprehensive annual financial report. According to TJC, the certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

TYLER — UT Health Northeast is caring for cancer patients unable to access treatment in Houston. M.D. Anderson was shut down because of the flooding. KETK reports staff at M.D. Anderson reached out to their partners at UT Health Northeast before the storm. The Tyler hospital is now seeing a handful of patients unable to make it to their treatment. The latest update from the M.D. Anderson website states that outpatient services are closed until Friday. It is all dependent on the water levels, but staff hope to be back to normal as soon as possible.