KTBB News, Weather, Talk

NACOGDOCHES — According to our news partner KETK, a 36-year-old man was arrested on a murder charge following a stabbing late Saturday night in Nacogdoches. Nacogdoches Police Sgt. Brett Ayres said officers responded to a medical call just after midnight in the 300 block of East Main Street, where a person was reported to be bleeding. Officers located the victim, who had been stabbed multiple times in the chest, and EMS transported the victim to a local hospital, Ayres said.

Witnesses led police to Cruz De La Luz Vargas Nava, 36, of Nacogdoches, as the suspect. He was found shortly after and taken into custody on probable cause. The victim later died at the hospital, police said. Vargas Nava was subsequently booked into jail on a murder charge. The investigation remains ongoing.

GLADEWATER – Classes were canceled Monday for Sabine ISD elementary students after reports of an unknown gas odor. Our news partners at KETK report that emergency personnel were called to the elementary campus to investigate the odor but did not detect any gas. Out of an abundance of caution, officials evacuated the campus and transported students to the high school auditorium for parent pickup.

NACOGDOCHES — A 36-year-old man was arrested on a murder charge following a stabbing late Saturday night in Nacogdoches. According to our news partner KETK, Nacogdoches Police said officers responded to a medical call just after midnight near the intersection of East Main and South Fredonia Streets, where a person was reported to be bleeding. The officers found the victim, who had been stabbed multiple times in the chest, and EMS transported the victim to a local hospital.

Witnesses led police to 36 year-old Cruz De La Luz Vargas Nava, of Nacogdoches, as the suspect. He was found shortly after and taken into custody on probable cause. Police said the victim later died at the hospital. Vargas Nava was subsequently booked into jail on a murder charge. The investigation remains ongoing.

TYLER – As East Texans get ready for the return of cold weather, several locations around East Texas are opening up as warming shelters and centers, according to our news partners at KETK. KETK News has put together the following list of locations opening to the public: Continue reading Warming shelters open across East Texas

SHELBY COUNTY – Texas’ first confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza of the year was found in a Shelby County commercial poultry flock this week, according to our news partners at KETK. The case was confirmed by the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory on Thursday after a “considerable mortality” was found in a Shelby County flock, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) said they’re working closely with the federal animal health officials to respond to the affected area, which has been quarantined. The TAHC added that they’re also monitoring areas nearby the quarantined flock. Continue reading First case of bird flu in Shelby County

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that an adult and a child were injured when a vehicle and a tractor crashed on Toll 49 on Saturday. Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said a vehicle and a tractor crashed at around 6 p.m. on Saturday near mile marker 21 on Toll 49. An adult and a child involved in the crash have been transported to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. Two other people involved in the crash received minor injuries and were treated at the scene. According to the district, the crash was blocking the whole roadway but one side has since been cleared.

LONGVIEW – Our news partners at KETK report that three men have been taken to a local hospital after they were injured in a shooting that happened on Swancy Street in Longview on Saturday, according to the Longview Police Department. Continue reading Three injured in Longview shooting

TYLER – Our news partners at KETK report that a driver has died in a crash just after midnight on Saturday morning on Highway 271 near Interstate 20 in Smith County. According to Smith County Emergency Services District 2, the driver died after their vehicle and an 18-wheeler truck collided on Highway 271. The district said first responders didn’t clear the crashed vehicles from the roadway until 4 a.m. on Saturday. The driver of the 18-wheeler was uninjured and officials said Highway 271 was back open by 5 a.m. this morning.

TYLER — Our news partners at KETK report that a former Tyler ISD substitute teacher pleaded guilty Friday to assaulting a disabled student at Moore Middle School. Joacim Castro-Lacayo, 28, was arrested in April after the Tyler ISD Police Department investigated an incident that happened on April 1.

An affidavit states that video obtained during the investigation showed Castro-Lacayo in a verbal confrontation with a special needs student that turned into a physical altercation.

The footage reportedly shows Castro-Lacayo restraining the student’s arms with the help of two aides, twisting her arms behind her back, causing her to scream in pain. He then pushed the student into a wall while continuing to restrain her and later tackled her to the ground. When the student had threatened to tell her father about the incident Castro-Lacayo responded “Tell him, tell whoever, your grandpa, your daddy.”

Castro-Lacayo was arrested April 9 and charged with injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.

Castro-Lacayo appeared in the 114th Judicial District Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty, according to lead attorney Brett Harrison. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8.

ANDERSON COUNTY – A status conference has been scheduled for East Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson after he was granted an execution stay this past October, according to our news partners at KETK. Roberson’s attorney’s office announced, his status conference has been set for Feb. 27 and will be held over Zoom. The conference is a pre-trial meeting where attorneys will review the case’s progress and explore possible settlement options. Continue reading Status conference in Roberson case

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report fire crews responded Thursday night to a house fully engulfed in flames, according to the Grand Saline Fire Department. Public Information Officer Caden Mosher said firefighters arrived around 6:15 p.m. at a home near the intersection of County Roads 1224 and 1225. When crews reached the scene, the fire had already consumed the structure and had begun spreading into nearby woods. The family was not home when the fire started, and no injuries were reported. Continue reading Overnight fire destroys home

TYLER – On Friday, 2,000 local kids received bags of joy from the Salvation Army of Tyler for their annual Angel Tree program according to our news partners at KETK. On Wednesday, 350 senior citizens received their presents. The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program has been providing gifts to local children and seniors for more than 40 years. Families write their wish lists and needs on cards which are then placed in grocery stores and malls for local donors to pick up. Continue reading Tyler children get Angel Tree gifts

RUSK – Our news partners at KETK report Rusk Police Chief Scott Heagney has been placed on administrative leave for the second time this year, according to Rusk City Manager Bob Goldsberry. Goldsberry told KETK News on Friday that Heagney is being put on administrative leave in connection with an “internal personnel matter” within the police department. Continue reading Rusk chief placed on administrative leave