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KILGORE — UPDATE: All lanes are now open after authorities cleared the scene

Westbound I-20 near mile marker 587, just east of State Highway 42, is completely closed until further notice due to an 18-wheeler that caught fire monday. According to our news partner KETK and the Kilgore Fire Department, significant delays on Interstate 20 westbound are expected while the department responds. Texas Department of Transportation cameras show that traffic on the westbound lane is backed up past State Highway 31.

TYLER — On February 1, 2003, 23 years ago, a doctor from East Texas and his wife stood outside, eagerly anticipating the return of the Columbia Space Shuttle to Earth following its 17-day mission focused on microgravity experiments. According to our news partner KETK, Dr. Scott Lieberman was photographing the shuttle. As they captured pictures and videos, Dr. Scott Lieberman’s wife inquired whether it was normal for the shuttle to break apart.

He described the ensuing moments as “a very loud envelope of noise,” an experience unlike any he had encountered before. At that moment, he scrutinized the photographs he had taken and realized the shuttle had disintegrated. The couple became witnesses to history, as seven astronauts tragically lost their lives just 15 minutes before their scheduled landing.

“It was a devastating moment,” Lieberman reflected. “These were my heroes growing up—astronauts in general. Their dedication and work ethic ended up being something useful to everybody.”
Continue reading Remembering Columbia

TYLER – Tyler Police responded to a call Saturday morning to a vehicle and pedestrian accident. Investigators arrived at Loop 323, just north of the Van Highway. They determined that 15-year-old Derrick Holt walked in front of a vehicle that was going northbound on the Loop in the inside lane. A notice to Tyler High School parents, guardians and staff identified the victim. The driver of the vehicle stayed and spoke to officers. Hold was sent to a hospital, where he later died. His family has been notified. Tyler ISD noted in their letter that additional counseling staff will be available to students and staff on campus.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Emergency Services District 2 firefighters fought two fires that burned the same home. According to our news partner KETK, firefighters responded to call of a structure fire at Valleyview Ridge and Dean Road just after midnight on Sunday morning.

Firefighters extinguished this fire and officials said that they used a variety of tools, including a drone, to make sure it was totally put out. Hours later, ESD2 said firefighters were dispatched to the same address for another reported fire. When they arrived at the scene, the second fire had totally engulfed the home.

Firefighters were eventually able to put the fire out before it could spread. No injuries were reported from either of the two fires. The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating the cause of the two fires.

TROUP – Troup ISD is in mourning this week after announcing that Troup ISD 6th grade student Easton Roper has died. According to our news partner KETK, school officials said counselors will be available to support students who need someone to talk to at Troup Middle School on Monday. The district also encouraged families to talk with their children and to contact the school if they need any extra support.

Donations for Roper’s family can be made to the Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville or at Troup Middle School. The district said they’ll share information about Roper’s funeral services when they can.

TYLER – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has awarded a total of $638,659 in grants to help improve community parks in cities across East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the cities of Center, Daingerfield, Gladewater and Kemp have all received local park grants as part of a record $21.2 million round of grant funding that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recently awarded for parks across the state.

Center received a $250,000 non-urban outdoor grant through the TPWD’s Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant Program to improve the city’s American Legion Park and the Community House grounds. Continue reading $600K for city park improvements

LONGVIEW – Pine Tree ISD High School’s Career and Technical Education program unveiled its brand new Skilled Trades Center on Friday. The new Skilled Trades Center has been in development for the past three years, following its funding by a $55 million bond measure in 2023. The center will enable Pine Tree High School students to develop skills in automotive repair, carpentry, welding, electronics, and more.

“We want them to be functional, contributive members of society. We just want to produce graduates that employers here in Longview and East Texas want to hire, and this building helps us accomplish that,” Pine Tree ISD Career and Technical Education program director Jacob Lusk said.

The new center is located on the Pine Tree High School campus behind the Pirate Center Gym. To learn more, visit the Pine Tree ISD Career and Technical Education program online.

UPDATE: Boil water notice for the City of Winnsboro was rescinded late Friday.

WINNSBORO – Due to a water line break, the City of Winnsboro has issued a boil water notice. According to our news partner KETK, the notice has been issued for all of the City of Winnsboro public water system customers, asking them to boil water for at least 2 minutes and to let it cool off before consumption. City officials will notify customers when water is safe to consume and will issue a rescission notice. For questions or concerns about the boil water notice, Winnsboro residents may contact the water office at 903-342-3654.

LONGVIEW – Dozens of Longview community members and leaders gathered off of Garfield Drive on Thursday to break ground on the new Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center facility. The new facility will be nearly three times the size of the current Martin House building and will serve more children and teens, with new child-friendly therapy spaces, forensic interview rooms, and enhanced safety features.

“Right now, we’ll have we have currently as much as a six month waiting list for counseling. So a larger facility will allow us to hire more staff to be able to get children in sooner for forensic interviews, for counseling appointments, so that we don’t have a lag time in services,” Martin House CEO Roxanne Stevenson said.

Several local leaders, including Longview Mayor Kristen Ishihara and Judge Bill Stoudt, attended the event on Friday, along with Stevenson and other Martin House leaders, staff, and supporters.

TATUM — A Tatum thrift shop and food pantry, designed to support the community, recently experienced a series of alleged thefts that resulted in the loss of dozens of bags of donated goods, Jan. through Jan. 20. According to our news partner KETK, a total of 31 bags of resale items and pantry supplies were stolen during these three incidents. Using surveillance video, the Tatum Police Department have identified suspects in the case. 34-year-old Thomas Frazier, whose currently in the Panola County Jail on unrelated charges.

Another suspect, Amy Nichole Terry, 36, later contacted investigators and identified herself as one of the women in the video. She claimed that she believed she had permission to take the items and offered to repay their value, according to authorities. Also arrested was 29-year-old Haley Marie Dean. She was arrested on Friday morning at a business in Carthage. Terry was taken into custody later the same day at a residence in Beckville. Both were booked into the Panola County Jail with a bond set at $12,500. While Frazier remains in custody.

UPDATE: The boil water notice in Mount Enterprise was rescinded on Friday due to all conditions requiring the notice being resolved.

MOUNT ENTERPRISE – A boil water notice has been issued in Mount Enterprise following a water line break. A notice has been issued to all Mount Enterprise Water Supply Corporation customers, asking them to boil water for at least 2 minutes and to let it cool before consumption.

“To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and making ice should be boiled and cooled to prior use,” Mount Enterprise Water Supply Corporation said. “The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two (2) minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.”

Water system officials will provide a notice when water is safe for consumption. For questions or concerns about the boil water notice, residents may contact the water office at 903-822-3464.

Tyler – Four Tyler ISD campuses have been recognized as Star Schools on the 2025 Texas Honor Roll Schools list, presented by Educational Results Partnership (ERP) as part of the national Campaign for Business and Education Excellence. The honored schools include Owens Elementary School, Andy Woods Elementary School, Birdwell Dual Language Immersion School, and Early College High School. The Texas Honor Roll recognizes schools that demonstrate consistently high academic achievement and progress. In 2025, approximately 15% of eligible schools statewide earned a place on the list, with 1,076 schools across Texas receiving the distinction. Continue reading Star Schools on Texas Honor Roll

PANOLA COUNTY – A body was found floating in Clear Lake Thursday afternoon in Panola County. According to our news partner KETK and the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received reports of an unoccupied boat floating in the area off Country Road 4552. Once deputies arrived at the lake, along with game wardens, the boat was recovered, and a body was discovered floating nearby. The Justice of the Peace was notified about the investigation. According to the sheriff’s office, an autopsy has been ordered, and the victim is being transported to the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences (SWIFS) in Dallas for examination. No foul play is suspected at this time, and family members have been notified. The victim will not be identified until family members have been contacted.