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TYLER — A Tyler house has been damaged by fire. It was reported around 5:00 Monday afternoon in the 300 block of Dobbs Street. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, it is thought to have started on the back porch and a rear room and then extended into the attic. No one was at home when the fire started and no injuries were reported. But a pet dog and cat were killed in the blaze. A second cat was resuscitated at the scene and taken to a local vet.

LONGVIEW � Thanks to an alert bystander, a Longview burglary suspect has been arrested. The witness called 911 to report a vehicle burglary in the 300 block of Erskin Avenue early Sunday morning. He described the clothing the suspect was wearing and the direction he was heading.

When officers arrived they found Edward Cartwright, 19, quickly walking away from the area. He was wearing the clothing the witness described to dispatchers. Officers found in Cartwright�s backpack a loaded .22 caliber pistol and several other items that did not belong to him. He was arrested on charges of burglary of a vehicle and unlawfully caring a weapon.

MANGUM, OKLA. (AP) � A judge is considering whether to dismiss some prospective jurors in the trial of a former warden’s wife accused of helping an inmate she allegedly fell in love with escape. Defense lawyer Garvin Isaacs said the number of possible jurors for the trial of Bobbi Parker couldn’t be determined Monday because District Judge Richard Darby hadn’t ruled on challenges made by attorneys. The pool was at 20 on Thursday. Parker is accused of running away with Randolph Dial after helping him break out of the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994. Isaacs says Dial kidnapped Parker and held her hostage until she was rescued at a Shelby County, Texas chicken ranch in 2005. Parker has pleaded not guilty. Attorneys want to choose 22 people then use challenges to reach a 12-member panel.

BEAUMONT � An Angelina County physician has been sentenced to federal prison for health care fraud violations. Dr. Alexander Orlov, D.O., 47, of Lufkin, pleaded guilty last November, to conspiracy to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. He was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark. Orlov was also ordered to pay $309,000 in restitution and a $30,000 fine.

According to federal prosecutors, from November 2008 to April 2010, Orlov, a physician and the owner of a Lufkin medical practice and urgent care clinic, and an employee, Haseeb Rehman, submitted claims for physicians’ services to Medicare and Medicaid for services provided by Rehman, who was not a licensed medical professional. Orlov controlled and operated Lufkin Urgent Care, P.A. He employed Rehman to run Lufkin Urgent Care. He treated patients, prescribed medication, performed minor surgical procedures, and operated within Lufkin Urgent Care as if he were a licensed medical professional. Claims were submitted to Medicare and Medicaid for Rehman’s services representing that the services were provided by a physician. As a result of these claims, Orlov unlawfully obtained more than $250,000 from Medicare and Medicaid. Orlov was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of last year and charged with conspiracy to defraud Medicare and Medicaid.

TYLER — The Tyler Pounds Regional Airport has been awarded an $8,372,357 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for airport safety and security enhancement projects. This is the largest single grant Tyler has ever received from the FAA. �Quality transportation services are important for boosting the local economy, so we are delighted to receive these funds to be ued toward improvements and safety for our airport,� said Davis Dickson, Airport Manager.

The grant funding will be used to improve and update required Runway Safety Areas for Runway 4/22. Navigational aids (NavAids), lighting, associated taxiways and facilities will also be constructed to meet the new runway configuration. �We are very pleased with the airport staff for their efforts, hard work and diligence to secure this latest grant,� Mayor Barbara Bass said. The grant will pay 95 percent of all eligible expenses related to the improvement project.

�We are very fortunate that the FAA blessed us with this grant opportunity,� said Mayor Bass. �The Airport is a tremendous asset to the community, making travel easier while bringing new businesses and industries to Tyler. In the Industry Growth Initiative, Tyler Pounds is identified as an asset that we should capitalize upon. This grant will help move us in that direction.� At their regular meeting on June 22, the Tyler City Council will be asked to ratify the grant application and authorize the City Manager to accept the grant funding.

The grant announcement came from U.S. Senator John Cornyn. �These funds will be used to address needed maintenance and safety improvements at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport,� Sen. Cornyn said. �In addition, quality transportation services are important for boosting local economic growth. I commend the area leaders who worked to secure this funding.�

The Tyler Pounds Regional Airport was named 2007 Airport of the Year for the State of Texas by the (FAA) for its outstanding contributions toward aviation in the state. The new airport terminal was constructed in 2002 with half cent sales tax funding and other grant funds. Located at 700 Skyway Blvd, off of Highway 64 West, it is serviced by Continental Connection and American Eagle with 18 daily flights, servicing 150,000 passengers per year.

DALLAS (AP/Staff) – Gov. Rick Perry has signed into law a measure that will give the state’s teachers more access to criminal information about their students. The law will require written notification of student arrests as well as details about parolees from the juvenile justice system. It was prompted by the 2009 fatal stabbing of John Tyler High School teacher Todd Henry (pictured) by a 16-year-old who had been released from the Texas Youth Commission. Rep. Jerry Madden, the bill’s sponsor, said Monday that Perry’s approval ensures “a safe learning environment” for teachers and students. The legislation was strongly supported by educators. But it drew criticism from juvenile justice advocates who believe it undercuts the confidentiality necessary for young people to overcome mistakes. Texas already provides more background on students than most states permit.

TYLER � Smith County holds two public hearings today in the Courthouse Annex as it continues to seek redistricting input from the public. One hearing was this morning at 9:30; the other is this afternoon at 5:30. You can also submit input through the County�s redistricting web page. Go to http://www.smith-county.com to view that page.

According to the Census Bureau the Smith County population grew to 209,714 in 2010, making the ideal population for the four commissioner precincts 52,429. According to the initial data presented to the court, only County precincts 1 and 4 will be affected by the proposed new boundaries. Initial information showed Precinct 1 experienced significant growth and is more than 10 percent above its ideal population, while Precinct 4 needs about 9.5% more population. Each commissioner precinct must be within 10% deviation from the ideal population. The new population numbers create a 19.5% imbalance. The proposed plan will address the imbalance and bring Precinct 4 under the 10% threshold.

HOUSTON COUNTY — 80 dogs seized from a suspected animal hoarder in Houston County may travel thousands of miles to find new homes. The flea-ridden and emaciated dogs, from Chihuahuas to a St. Bernard mix, were taken from a 17-acre property and are being shipped across the country. Scotlund Haisley with Animal Rescue Corps says, “The resources and shelters are limited, and we want to make sure that these dogs aren’t just simply brought to a shelter and put to death, because shelters are already overcrowded. We’ve got to get real creative.” Haisley says the owner was evicted three weeks ago, abandoning the dogs, and some 20 horses had been moved off the property before the dogs were rescued.

LONGVIEW — A 43-year-old Longview man is found guilty of exposing himself in a restaurant last year. Roger Dale Brigmon Jr. was convicted of third-degree felony indecency with a child Friday in Gregg County�s 124th District Court. A sentencing hearing will be held later. A Gregg County Sheriff�s Deputy was working off-duty security at The Butcher Shop May 26th when a customer reported to restaurant management that a man was touching himself under the table while looking at a young girl. When the deputy walked toward the booth, the customer, later identified as Brigmon, had his hands under the table and appeared to be zipping up his pants.

AUSTIN (AP) – A tea party lawmaker has written to Republican Gov. Rick Perry, imploring him to include legislation banning “intrusive” airport security screenings among the items in the special legislative session. Texas Rep. David Simpson, Longview, sponsored a bill in the House last month that would make it a criminal offense for officials conducting traveler pat-downs to touch “the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of another person” including through clothing. The measure died in the Senate after a threat from federal officials to close airports if it were approved. Simpson sent a letter to Perry on Sunday urging him to defend the “privacy, dignity, and constitutional rights of our citizens.” Lawmakers can only take up measures Perry adds to a special-session call. A spokeswoman said there are no plans to add it.

LUFKIN — A two vehicle accident around 7:55 sent four people to different hospitals Monday morning. A Dodge Caravan carrying a woman and her two teenage sons were eastbound on Highway 94 when they were reportedly hit by a Ford F150 turning into Hudson Volunteer Fire Department, officials said.

Hudson Police and Lufkin Fire responded to the accident and had to free the woman from inside of her Dodge Caravan. Traffic was shut down on Highway 94 to allow a medical helicopter to land. The woman was airlifted to Tyler with an apparent broken leg. Her teenage sons and the driver of the truck were also taken to hospitals.

TYLER — A Tyler toddler died at a Dallas hospital after he’s found unresponsive in a pool. Tyler Investigators were notified that Ashton Wade, 4, Tyler, passed away at Children’s Hospital Saturday night. Authorities say on June 14th, they responded to the Cambridge Apartments on Old Omen Road, after Wade was found floating in the pool. A bystander was administering CPR when they arrived. The boy was first taken to East Texas Medical Center and later transferred to Children�s Hospital in Dallas. Investigators say the child, and the adults he was with, live in Tyler but do not live at the apartments where the pool is located. The case remains under investigation.

EAST TEXAS — Texas firefighters have been trying to contain an 18,000-acre wildfire that has destroyed two homes and at least four trailers in East Texas. According to KETK, Texas Forest Service spokesman Richard Reuse said Sunday that there were currently no evacuations ordered. He says the fire is about 40 percent contained, but added that that could quickly drop with the windy, hot conditions. Texas Forest Service spokeswoman Rae Brooks says the fire started after noon Friday in the Davy Crockett National Forest west of Lufkin. Brooks says the fire is being called the “Bearing Fire” and is the largest wildfire ever in East Texas. Reuse says such large wildfires are unusual in forested East Texas. Most of Texas is under a red flag warning, which means there is an extreme risk of fire.

In other parts of East Texas, firefighters and Texas Forest Service officials responded two wildfires in Harrison County that burned a little more than 10 acres and another in Upshur County that burned 86 acres. Upshur County volunteers and Texas Forest Service firefighters battled the blaze, which started from an electrical spark from an oil pump jack, into Saturday evening, officials said. About 10 homes were evacuated as the fire near Kieffer Road in Upshur County between Texas 300 and Spur 502 spread in record-breaking heat Saturday afternoon.

Assistance was sent to help manage the blaze from several departments, including firefighters from Longview Fire Department who fought the fire for about four hours, according to Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary. There were also two wildfires reported in Harrison County that caused a total of 12 acres worth of damage, Brooks said.

LONGVIEW — A high speed chase through East Texas ends in a wreck. According to the Department of Public Safety, authorities were attempting to stop a speeding man on a motorcycle on Interstate 20 around 11:40 Saturday night. Authorities said the motorist crossed over Estes and Martin Luther King Boulevard in Longview before crashing on the off ramp to Eastman Road. He was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center. No word on his condition. Officials would not release the man�s name pending an arrest and arraignment.

GLADEWATER — After an honorable East Texas homecoming, funeral services for a fallen soldier were held Monday in Gladewater. On Saturday, spectators holding American flags lined the sides of roads as the motorcade bringing home the fallen soldier approached Gladewater. Officials estimated more than 1,000 people lined U.S. 80 and side streets waiting to pay their respects to U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Bradley Justin Gaudet, 31, of Gladewater, as he came home for the last time. The pilot was killed June 5 in a helicopter crash while serving in Afghanistan. It was his third tour of duty.

Gaudet�s body was accompanied by family, honor guard members and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler. State Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, and Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview were waiting for Gaudet�s arrival at Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater. Bikers escorted the family and casket to Gladewater.