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TYLER – Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith confirms the 15-year-old brother of murdered Chapel Hill student Amanda Anderson has been arrested in the case. According to KETK, 19-year-old Amanda Anderson was found murdered in her house in September, shot four times in the head. The arrest affidavit says that inconsistencies in the younger Anderson’s story led authorities to believe he might be the killer. Ms. Anderson was shot 4 times in the head with a .22 caliber weapon, which authorities believe to have been a semi-automatic pistol belonging to her brother. KTBB will bring you more information as it becomes available.

TYLER — The debate team at The University of Texas at Tyler is now ranked fourth among the more than 350 collegiate teams across the nation, Dr. Dennis Cali, Department of Communication chair, announced. Much like national rankings for college sports, the debate rankings play a major role in the seeding of teams for the national tournament, according to Dr. Charles Walts, assistant professor of communication, who is in his second year as director of forensics.

�This is a major accomplishment for the program,� said Walts. �The higher your rank, the better chances you have of succeeding.� Previously, UT Tyler�s highest rank held was 60th during the 2009-10 season. �This kind of jump in the rankings is an indicator of how well we are debating this year and how we have transitioned from a regional program to a national contender,� Walts added.

HENDERSON — Rusk County authorities are reporting that a toddler has been killed by a pit bull. According to KETK, on Wednesday at about 11:03 a.m. the sheriff’s office received a call from the East Texas Medical Center-Henderson emergency room requesting an officer to respond to the hospital in regard to a two-year-old child being deceased as the result of the dog attack. Upon arrival deputies learned that 35-year-old Helen Muckleroy transported her son Kaden Muckleroy to the hospital from her residence in rural Henderson for treatment of dog bites from the attack.

Further investigation indicates that the dog’s owner, Kelvin Muckleroy, who is the victim’s grandfather, had the dog chained to a tree in the yard of the residence where the attack occurred. Muckleroy has consented to the release of the animal as well as about 29 additional kennel kept dogs to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office indicates it is currently conducting an investigation and will release information as is appropriate.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has authorized City staff to pursue the potential of refinancing or refunding $11,090,000 in bonds from the Water and Sewer System Series 2002 revenue bonds to receive more favorable rates. Due to lower anticipated rates and the City�s AAA bond rating, it is anticipated that the City of Tyler may be able to achieve savings of up to $421,000 for their utility system. City staff will meet with rating agencies later this month to negotiate pricing for early December and will request the City Council�s authorization to reissue the bonds at its Dec. 8 meeting.

�This is a tremendous opportunity for Tyler to leverage our strong bond rating and current economic conditions to save the City money in the long term,� said Tyler City Manager Mark McDaniel. �This is part of our ongoing effort to examine all facets of our financial situation to ensure we are taking of any advantage to keep our financial position strong.� The bonds that will be refinanced are revenue bonds which are not paid for with tax revenue. Rather, revenue bonds are repaid with income from the sale of water and sewer services. The City of Tyler paid off all tax supported debt in 2008 so all sales and property tax revenue collected is used for current operations.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has accepted a proposal from NDMJ, LLC to provide ADA-accessible paratransit service to senior and disabled Tyler residents, which will continue to complement the City�s fixed route bus system. NDMJ will provide ADA accessible paratransit services within the Tyler City limits during Tyler Transit�s regular operating hours, 6 a.m. � 8:15 p.m., Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. � 6 p.m. on Saturdays. NDMJ will collect a fare of $1.50 from riders.

NDMJ, a private taxi company in Tyler owned by Jamal Moharer, submitted what councilmembers considered the most favorable proposal, offering the services for $30 per trip and offering a $7.50 local match contribution. All services including vehicle maintenance, passenger scheduling and dispatching are included in the fee. �To receive paratransit services, you must first apply,� said Davis Dickson, Transit Manager. �Eligibility is most typically given to people that are 65 or older and/or are unable to board or disembark from an accessible fixed route bus or who are unable to go to and from a bus stop.� Dickson says the application is available at http://www.cityoftyler.org on the Transit web page.

TYLER — The Tyler Development Authority has unanimously approved a proposal from Walker Parking Associates to perform a parking study in downtown Tyler. The parking study is being conducted as a preliminary step in improving downtown parking and will be made up of three components: a parking supply and demand study, a parking alternative analysis, and a preliminary financial analysis. The $34,200 required to complete this study will be paid for from funds collected from the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) Number Two (Downtown) and funds that were donated specifically for this study.

Mayor Barbara Bass says, “It’s all about trying to see how we can best get people into downtown and have adequate parking when they get there.” She adds, �It is exciting to see the first collections from the Downtown TIRZ put to use. This is exactly the type of project we envisioned when we it was conceptualized � a project that will help spur private reinvestment in the zone.�

The Tyler Development Authority was created by the Tyler City Council to provide services to the TIRZ Number Two Board on an as-needed basis. Board members include the Tyler Mayor, City Council, and representatives from other governmental entities participating in the Downtown TIRZ (Commissioner JoAnn Hampton from Smith County and Trustee Mike Coker from Tyler Junior College). Such services include hiring consultants to plan projects, hiring contractors to implement improvements and paying for such services from available TIRZ Number Two funds. Bass notes, “There are some other groups working on initiatives downtown, and we want to make sure everything’s coordinated for the betterment of Tyler.”

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County taxpayers say no to funding new schools through property taxes, many citing a tight budget. Tuesday night though, county leaders discussed a new plan that could raise property taxes — building a jail in Smith County. According to KETK, commissioners confirmed they have agreed on a $33 million project to add almost 400 beds to the existing jail. Overcrowding has been a big problem in the county for years and they say sending inmates to other counties is costing millions. Smith County leaders have put at least 3 jail proposals before voters; all of them have been rejected. No official word on when taxpayers will hear more about this plan or be able to vote on it.

NOONDAY — The Noonday fire department has a new Fire Chief. Earlier this month, a repo man said that Noonday firefighters bullied him regarding him towing a firefighters vehicle. Due to conflicting stories, the Fire Chief resigned and the department soon lost its assistant chief and one firefighter. Tuesday night, 20-year veteran Howard Harris, became the new Noonday chief. Harris said the issues the department has faced is just a bump in the road that the department is going to have to get over. Chief Harris will investigate the reported bullying and report his findings to the board.

TYLER — A job fair is on today at Workforce Solutions East Texas in Tyler. According to KETK, this job fair is a little bit different, because it will have a focus on Veterans. Workforce Solutions tells us that there will be a flag presentation and number of Veterans speakers. An award will also be given out to the winner of an essay contest held by local students. The winning essay on “what being a veteran means” will be read aloud at the event. The writers of the three best essays will receive $300. The event isn’t just for Veterans. Anyone looking for a job can come and meet representatives for over 65 businesses. The participating businesses range from those in the oil and gas industry to local hospitals. The event continues till noon at 4100 Troup Hwy in Tyler.

TYLER � All the votes have now been counted in the November 2 Smith County elections, including provisional and overseas military ballots, and the results are the same. That�s the word from Elections Administrator Karen Nelson. As most figured, it all means a Tyler school bond and a JP Precinct 4 alcohol proposition fail by narrow margins. The next step is to make it official through the canvassing process, which runs November 10 through 15.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University welcomed two returning and three new trustees to its Board of Trustees at the semiannual meeting. The new board members are:
*Joe Bickley of Montgomery, Texas, is a certified public accountant and co-owns an accounting firm.
* Timothy Morscheck of Portage, Mich., retired as a vice president of technology for Eaton Corporation: Truck Group. He is a former LeTourneau student.
* James Schreder of Yorba Linda, Calif., is the president and owner of Danjon Engineering. He is continuing the family tradition, since his father was on the LeTourneau University board during the 1990s.

Returning as a board member are two former board members. Returning to the board:
* John Solheim of Phoenix, Ariz., is chairman and president/CEO of Karsten Manufacturing Company and President/CEO of PING, Inc. which designs and manufactures golf clubs and equipment. He has served on the LETU board since 1992, previously chairing the facilities committee. The Solheim Center on campus is named for his family.
* Patrick A. Bertsche of St. Charles, Ill., is superintendent of the Westminster Christian School where he formerly served as president of its board. He has served on the LETU board since 1996. He is a 1989 graduate of LETU His wife, Melanie, is also a 1989 graduate. He was recently elected vice chair of the LETU board of trustees.
* The new chair for 2010-2011 is Nancy Mendez, assistant city manager of Whittier, California. She has served as a board member at LETU since 1990, most recently as vice chair. She follows in the footsteps of her father, Justin Longenecker, Ph.D., Chavanne Professor of Christian Ethics in Business at Baylor University, who was a trustee and officer on the LeTourneau College board for more than a decade in the 1970s-1980s.
* Kenneth Moore of Longview was elected secretary. Moore is an airline
pilot and captain, having prior experience as a naval carrier pilot and
petroleum engineer for an oil field service company. He earned his
bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (aerospace option) from
LeTourneau and his master’s degree in aeronautical systems from the
University of West Florida. He has served on the LETU board since 2006.
* Merle Stoltzfus of Elverson, Penn., was elected treasurer. He is a general partner for Stoltzfus Enterprises, Ltd., a custom home builder and real estate developer. He graduated from LETU in 1971 with a degree in electrical engineering technology and has served on the LETU board since 1997, serving previously as chair and as treasurer. One of his daughters is a 2008 graduate and another is currently enrolled at LETU.

SULPHUR SPRINGS — Testimony continues in the intoxication manslaughter trial of James Blake Spinks, 25, of Yantis in Sulphur Springs. He is charged with hitting Nathan Spataro, 21, who was found dead along side Interstate Highway 30 Service Road in June of last year. Spinks, who had spent the prior afternoon and evening drinking, thought he had hit a deer. Authorities were not called until several hours after the incident, and then by a man at a business who Spinks told he thought he had hit something and needed a place to hide out.

NACOGDOCHES � A Nacogdoches man, initially charged with DWI, is now being charged with intoxication assault. Free on bond today is Mitchael Shane Starling, 44. His blood/alcohol level was said to have been twice the legal limit when involved in a wreck on October 29th. The Department of Public Safety report says he rolled his truck on U.S. Highway 59 in Angelina County. A passenger, Melanie Leatherman, 38, was flown to Tyler�s East Texas Medical Center. Since Leatherman has not regained consciousness the intoxication assault charge has been filed against Starling.

TYLER — All the votes have now been counted in the Nov. 2 Smith County elections — including provisional and overseas military ballots — and the results are the same. That’s the word from Elections Administrator Karen Nelson. As most figured, it all means a Tyler school bond and a JP Precinct 4 alcohol proposition fail by narrow margins. The next step is to make it official through the canvassing process, which runs November 10 through 15.

AUSTIN (Staff/AP) � District 7 State Representative-Elect David Simpson is urging a Republican Caucus meeting to choose the next speaker of the House. According to Simpson, “Voters in the election on Nov. 2 clearly showed they are not interested in politics as usual in the Texas House. With the election of a near super majority of Republicans to the Texas House, the candidate for Speaker of the House is an issue that the Republican Caucus should meet to consider.”

Simpson goes on to say that Speaker Joe Straus “came into office through the political power of the Democrat Caucus due to his commitment to a leadership style of ‘umpiring’ in the Texas House. The House does not need an umpire � they need a team captain. Such a captain should have experience dealing with budget shortfalls, re-districting, and contentious politics, with the ability to work across the aisle without sacrificing principles to do so.” Simpson adds, “I will choose a Speaker based on moral integrity, commitment to returning civil government to its proper limited role of protecting life, liberty and property, and defending state sovereignty. He or she must be someone who is fiscally conservative, and able to navigate the process of re-districting, and who is trusted and respected by members from both sides of the aisle.”

Straus, a moderate Republican from San Antonio, says he has enough support from legislators to secure another term as the chamber’s presiding officer. On Nov. 3, Straus released the names of 122 lawmakers who he says have pledged him their vote for speaker. Straus says he is “proud that Republicans have gained a record number of seats in the Texas House, reversing the losing trend for the past three election cycles.” Straus said his pledges of support include 76 Republicans and 46 Democrats.

Meanwhile, State Rep. Leo Berman, of Tyler, released an open letter Monday claiming Straus made promises to Democrats, who ensured his election as speaker.