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Cornyn picks up endorsement

TYLER – East Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran is backing U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the upcoming Republican primary runoff, calling the race a defining moment for conservatives. According to our news partner KETK, Moran said the contest between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton comes down to what values Republican voters want to uphold. “It’s really a race between character and corruption,” Moran said.

The congressman pointed to past criticism of Paxton, including remarks from former East Texas congressman Louie Gohmert, who has accused Paxton of misconduct. Moran said he agrees with those concerns, arguing that Paxton’s record should disqualify him from serving in the U.S. Senate.

In the March 2022 Texas Republican primary for Attorney General, incumbent Paxton defeated Gohment, who finished last with 17% of the vote. “Ken Paxton really has a consistent activity of corruption, both breaching the trust of the public and breaching the trust of his personal relationships,” Moran said. “That should disqualify him.” Continue reading Cornyn picks up endorsement

Officials warn of scam

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has been receiving numerous inquiries from citizens who have been potential victims of a jury duty/court scam. These involve someone calling and identifying themselves as a law enforcement official or, specifically, someone employed by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. In the most recent scams, they’ve identified themselves as Justin Bell.

Scammers can easily access law enforcement officials’ names and phone numbers from the internet or agency website. They will then request money from the potential victim for the purpose of taking care of a warrant related to them allegedly missing jury duty or court. Continue reading Officials warn of scam

Police chase ends in Rusk

CHEROKEE COUNTY – One person was arrested following a vehicle pursuit through Cherokee County on Monday evening. According to our news partner KETK and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, during the pursuit, which began in Wells, the driver reached speeds of over 125 miles per hour and struck two patrol vehicles; however, no officials were injured.

The pursuit eventually came to an end at around 8 p.m. in Rusk. The driver was evaluated by EMS before being taken into custody and charged with evading arrest by vehicle. The driver has been booked into the Cherokee County Jail and is expected to receive further charges.

U.S Rep. disagrees with Trump on Iran

TYLER — Even with a halt in the fighting now in place, District 1 Congressman U.S. Nathaneil Moran gave reaction to President Donald Trump’s warning early Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Tehran did not meet his Tuesday evening deadline for a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Our news partner KETK spoke with Rep. Moran, who says he does not support rhetoric suggesting the destruction of an entire civilization, as tensions involving Iran continue to escalate.

Moran said while he initially backed efforts tied to U.S. national security, including targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities, he believes certain language being used goes too far. “Certainly, I do not agree with and do not support the notion of destroying a civilization,” Moran said. “That goes beyond where we need to go as a nation.”

According to our news partner KETK, the East Texas congressman emphasized that any military action taken by the United States must remain rooted in what he described as “moral and just” objectives, focused strictly on national security.
Continue reading U.S Rep. disagrees with Trump on Iran

David Rancken’s App of the Day 04/07/26 – History Hit!

Are you a fan of the historical documentary? Download David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called History Hit. You can find History Hit in the Apple Store and Google Play below.

Former FedEx driver pleads guilty in killing seven-year-old girl

FORT WORTH (DMN) – The former FedEx driver charged with killing 7-year-old Athena Strand after delivering a Christmas package to her family’s Wise County home pleaded guilty Tuesday before his capital murder trial even began. Tanner Horner’s plea before State District Judge George Gallagher will send the case directly into sentencing. A jury will have the choice to sentence Horner to death or life in prison without parole. The Dallas Morning News reports that Athena’s body was found two days after she went missing and several miles away, after investigators said Horner led them to it. A medical examiner ruled she died from blunt force trauma and strangulation. No evidence of sexual assault was found. Although the case is based in Wise County, it was moved to nearby Tarrant due to argument that Horner could not get a fair trial in Wise County. Horner is charged with capital murder of a child under the age of 10 and aggravated kidnapping. He has remained jailed since his arrest. Horner was charged with three unrelated counts of child sexual assault shortly after being taken into custody in Athena’s slaying. These charges are separate and reportedly occurred in a 2013 incident. Athena’s family later sued FedEx and Big Topspin Inc., the Dallas-Fort Worth-based contractor that hired Horner on the bases of lack or proper background checks on drivers. A nondisclosure agreement entered in the case prevented family attorney Paul Belew from disclosing what happened.

Oil prices rise as US stocks dip, but markets hold mostly steady ahead of Trump’s deadline for Iran

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are rising, and U.S. stocks are falling Tuesday, but the moves are not as dramatic as the dire talk coming from both sides in the war with Iran.

President Donald Trump threatened that a “whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” if Iran does not meet his latest self-imposed deadline at 8 p.m. Eastern time to open the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials, meanwhile, urged young people to form human chains to protect power plants that Trump has threatened to bomb.

But the S&P 500 slipped just 0.5% as officials involved in diplomatic efforts said talks were ongoing, even though it was unclear if a deal would come in time to head off Trump’s threatened attacks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 271 points, or 0.6%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% lower.

The moves were sharper in the oil market, where prices have spiked since the end of February because the war has snarled the production and transportation of crude in the Persian Gulf. Much of that oil exits the gulf through the Strait of Hormuz to reach customers around the world, but Iran has blocked it to enemies.

The price for a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude climbed 3.1% to $115.86. Brent crude, the international standard, added 0.4% to $110.17 and is well above its roughly $70 level from before the war.

The worry in markets has been that a long-term disruption will keep oil prices high for a long time and send a painful wave of inflation crashing through the global economy. Iran on Monday rejected the latest ceasefire proposal and instead said it wants a permanent end to the war.

So far in the war, Trump has made a series of threats to blow up Iranian power plants if it doesn’t open the Strait of Hormuz, but he has then delayed it several times. The possibility remains that Trump could back down again, among other scenarios, which is keeping uncertainty high.

A year ago, Trump ultimately backed off many of the stiff tariffs that he initially threatened to put on other countries’ imports, though they ended up higher than from before his second term.

“Investors are likely to remain on edge and markets unable to establish trends, probably until there is a clear outcome later this evening: a deal, the U.S./Israeli strikes intensify, or Iran’s retaliation becomes escalatory instead of proportional,” according to Paul Christopher, head of global investment strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

In global stock markets, Universal Music Group helped to limit losses after Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management offered to buy the record label behind Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $64 billion.

The proposed purchase, which Pershing Square argued would clear uncertainty that’s weighed on UMG’s stock, would bring the company to Nevada and move its stock listing from Amsterdam to the New York Stock Exchange.

UMG’s stock in Amsterdam rose 9.3% but remains well below what Pershing said its bid is worth. That could indicate investor doubt that the deal will happen.

Indexes were mixed amid mostly modest movements across Europe, while Asian stock indexes were a touch stronger. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.8% for one of the world’s bigger gains.

In the bond market, Treasury yields were holding relatively steady ahead of Trump’s looming deadline. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.34%, where it was late Monday.

But it’s still well above its 3.97% level from before the war. The rise has pushed up rates for mortgages and other loans going to U.S. households and businesses, which slows the economy.

Scoreboard roundup — 4/6/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Monday's sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Knicks 108, Hawks 105
Pistons 107, Magic 123
Cavaliers 142, Grizzlies 126
76ers 102, Spurs 115
Trail Blazers 132, Nuggets 137

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Lightning 2, Sabres 4
Kraken 2, Jets 6
Blackhawks 2, Sharks 3
Predators 2, Kings 3

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Cubs 4, Rays 6
Royals 4, Guardians 2
Reds 2, Marlins 0
Padres 5, Pirates 0
Brewers 8, Red Sox 6
Cardinals 6, Nationals 9
Dodgers 14, Blue Jays 2
Orioles 2, White Sox 1
Tigers 3, Twins 7
Mariners 1, Rangers 2
Astros 7, Rockies 9
Braves 2, Angels 6
Phillies 6, Giants 4

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - National Championship
UConn 63, Michigan 69

East Texas job growth continues

TYLER — The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) reports the state added 40,100 ‘non-farm jobs’ to the market in January. According to our news partner KETK, this creates a total of 14 million positions for job-seekers and outpaces the nation in job growth rate. According to the TWC report, Tyler has 115,900 workers and Longview has 123,600 workers.

“Smith County added three jobs in the private sector every day, which outpaced the state and the country last year. We’ve managed to maintain job growth when other communities have struggled,” President of the Tyler Economic Development, Scott Martinez, said.

The leading industries creating jobs in Texas are construction (11,000 new jobs) and medical services (10,000). “These jobs help our families everywhere. These are people in our community who have opportunities to support themselves with these jobs”, Martinez adds. Continue reading East Texas job growth continues

230 years in prison in child abuse case

PALESTINE – An East Texas man has been sentenced to 230 years in prison after he was found guilty of sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography, according to our news partner KETK. Joseph Zeleny was arrested in 2023 after the Palestine Police Department received a complaint regarding the ongoing sexual abuse of a child that had gone on for several years. Following an investigation, Zeleney was taken into custody and charged with sexual assault of a child.

After his arrest officials later found over 3,000 images of child pornography on Zeleny’s devices, according to authorities. On April 2, Zeleny was found guilty of sex counts of sexual abuse of a child and 11 counts of possession of child pornography. Zeleny was sentenced to 230 years in prison on Monday and fined $160,000.

13-foot alligator removed from Sam Rayburn Lake

LIVINGSTON, Texas (KETK) – A 13-foot alligator was discovered at Sam Rayburn Lake recently and has been removed from the lake.
Winnsboro angler sets Bassmaster weight record at Sam Rayburn Reservoir

The gator, which has been named ” Big Jasper,” was removed from the East Texas lake by Sam Rayburn Lake Rangers and Texas Game Wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department after he was deemed a nuisance.

Following his removal, Jasper was transferred to the Gator Country rescue in Beaumont, which serves as a home for various alligators and reptiles to live out their days in peace.

$75K damage in Longview fire

LONGVIEW — Six people were displaced after a weekend house fire in Longview, and officials say a 5?year?old’s quick thinking helped ensure no one was seriously hurt. The Longview Fire Department responded to a house fire on Jester Circle at approximately 6:19 a.m. on Friday. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy flames and began extinguishing it. All residents were safely outside by the time first responders arrived. Six people were displaced, and the American Red Cross has been contacted to assist those affected.

Fire officials stated that a 5-year-old played a crucial role in the safe evacuation of the home. An investigation determined that the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction originating from an outdoor electrical outlet on the front porch, which spread into the home. The incident resulted in an estimated $75,000 in damage.

Residents are encouraged to inspect their outdoor electrical outlets regularly and ensure they are properly protected from weather exposure. Anyone who notices damage or anything unusual should have the outlet evaluated by a qualified professional immediately.

Three arrested in jackpotting scheme

SMITH COUNTY – A multi-state ATM hacking ring stretching across East Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas has led to three arrests. According to Smith County arrest documents, three men were taken into custody for their role in an ATM “jackpotting” scheme in which suspects scouted machines, opened them and connected Raspberry Pi devices to allow an off-site accomplice to wirelessly force the ATM to dispense cash for the crew on the ground.

According to our news partner KETK, once the cash was taken from the ATM it was then funneled to criminal associates outside the United States. The documents also state that the people stationed at the ATMs had to remain in constant communication with their remote counterparts for the jackpotting attempts to succeed.

“Jackpotting requires extensive coordination and communication during and after the attack. In every offense, suspects on the ground can be seen communicating nonstop via cell phone with their remote criminal associates who give orders and provide technical instructions for installing malicious software and hardware,” an arrest document described. “Typically, these criminal groups also stay in constant contact with a minimum of two lookouts roving the area in separate vehicles.” Continue reading Three arrested in jackpotting scheme

Officer dies from ALS

CROCKETT (KETK) – Lieutenant Lonnie Lum of the Crockett Police Department has died from ALS. According to the department, Lum died on Thursday morning and served with Crockett PD for 20 years. Our news partners at KETK provided a statement from Crockett PD, stating, “Lt. Lum faithfully served our department for 20 years, leaving behind a legacy of service, leadership, and dedication that will not be forgotten,” Crockett PD said. “Words cannot fully express what he meant to everyone here. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this difficult time. Rest easy, Lt. We’ve got it from here.” Funeral services for Lum have not been shared publicly by the department.

Middle School has new leader

HENDERSON – Officials at Henderson ISD, have chosen Dr. Nikki Driver as the middle school’s new principal after Superintendent Brian Bowman met with staff in small groups to get their feedback on who should lead the middle school going forward. Staff consistently identified Driver, their current assistant principal, as their top choice to be the new principal of Henderson Middle School, according to our news partner KETK.

“Dr. Driver has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a deep understanding of instruction, and a genuine commitment to our students and staff,” Bowman said. “Her experience, along with her ability to connect with people and lead with purpose, makes her the right choice to lead Henderson Middle School.”

Driver has also worked as an instructional coach at Henderson Middle School and taught for five years at Northside Intermediate. Driver earned her Ph.D. in educational policy from Walden University, her masters of education from Stephen F. Austin State University and holds certificates in Principal as Instructional Leader, Special Education, ESL and Core Subjects.

“I am honored to lead Henderson Middle School and continue working with this exceptional team,” Driver said. “This is a campus full of passionate educators who show up for kids every day, and I am excited to continue moving forward together.