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JACKSONVILLE – A regional SWAT team has arrested a 23-year-old with a history of violent crimes in connection with a burglary involving a stolen AK-47 firearm in Jacksonville on Tuesday, according to a report from our news partner KETK. The Jacksonville Police Department said officers were dispatched to a reported burglary at around 7:47 a.m. involving an AK-47 firearm that was stolen. The suspect, who was captured on surveillance footage, has been identified as 23-year-old Jayden Duane Hopson.

Due to his criminal history, including charges of murder and aggravated robbery, the Cherokee County Regional Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was activated. Continue reading SWAT team arrests burglary suspect with violent history

UPSHUR COUNTY – According to a press release from the Criminal District Attorney of Upshur county, a man has been sentenced to a 99 year life sentence

On February 2, 2024, a search warrant was executed by the Upshur County Sheriff’s office for the home of Jimmy Wayne Skinner, 51. During the search, officers discovered methamphetamine, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia, along with loaded guns near a recliner where Skinner had been sitting.

As he was exiting his living quarters, Skinner immediately closed the door behind him, and was non-compliant with officers’ orders to get on the ground. He stated that he, “ain’t afraid to go to jail”, and attempted to block the door to prevent officers from entering. He was subsequently arrested. Continue reading Upshur County man sentenced to 99 years in prison

EAST TEXAS – With classes beginning in most school districts, CHRISTUS Health reminds parents about required immunizations needed. State law requires children to be vaccinated against several diseases before attending school, including Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis A and B, and Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis among others.

“In the simplest of terms, immunizations are helping the body build an immune response,” said Dr. Evelyn Chou, family medicine physician with CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. “Vaccines help your body understand what is dangerous and needs to be fought so that if you come across that illness in the future, your body knows what to do.”

Parents who may have questions about the vaccination status of their child are encouraged to speak to contact their family doctor as well as local school districts regarding any vaccination requirements that they have.

GUN BARREL CITY — According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man is accused of sexually touching his girlfriend’s young daughter earlier this summer and has since been put behind bars. The 32-year-old man claims it was ‘all a misunderstanding.’

In a Henderson County arrest affidavit, on June 14 to June 15, the victim and her mom were staying at Daniel Joseph Rodgers’ house in Gun Barrel City.

The young girl explained that when it was bedtime, she was lying on the floor while her sisters were on the couch with the babies. Rodgers then went into the living room and told the victim that she could go to sleep in another room because he didn’t want her to sleep on the floor. Continue reading Henderson County man arrested for touching girlfriend’s daughter

SMITH COUNTY — A California man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of a Smith County teen who has since been found, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said a 15-year-old from the Bullard area was reported missing after last being seen on July 26 at around 11 p.m. She was later found across state lines and her suspected kidnapper, Brian Chavez, was arrested in Placentia, Calif., on July 30 at around 3 a.m.

Authorities said Chavez now faces three criminal charges in Smith County involving sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 16, according to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Continue reading Suspected kidnapper arrested for sexual abuse

LONGVIEW – A Longview Facebook post sparked controversy Tuesday morning after a McDonald’s was vandalized with pro-Palestinian and swastika graffiti, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The McDonald’s located at 128 W Loop 281 was vandalized with red spray paint, including damage to the camera, drive-through sign and walls of the business. The vandal(s) wrote multiple pro-Palestinian rhetoric, such as “free Palestine” and “kill the billionaires.” Continue reading East Texas McDonald’s vandalized with pro-Palestinian graffiti

SMITH COUNTY – Over the weekend, fifty-one House Democrats went to Illinois to stall a meeting that was scheduled to take place Monday at 3 p.m. for a redistricting vote. This move by Texas Democrats has ignited fiery reactions nationwide from both sides of the aisle.

Some Republican lawmakers believe the current map does not correctly represent specific groups, specifically in the state’s two largest cities, Dallas and Houston. Democrats are concerned that this could heavily favor the GOP in elections. Smith County Democratic Chairman Hector Garza said this is all a power play to give five new Republican seats in the U.S. House.

District nine representative, Trent Ashby, says efforts to redraw the map are to make it more ‘constitutionally effective’. Continue reading Local officials react to Texas redistricting

CHEROKEE COUNTY – A 16-year-old boy with autism died early Sunday morning after he was hit by a pickup truck. According to Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Chris Williamson, the incident occurred near Farm to Market Road 856 where the boy was struck by a 2025 Toyota Tundra pickup truck around 5:20 a.m.

Williamson said the boy was run over in the roadway and pronounced dead at the scene of the incident. The teen’s body was taken to Forensic Medical Management Services in Tyler for an autopsy.  The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. DPS is investigating the incident.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that a 51-year-old man has died, and another person was hospitalized on Saturday following a motorcycle crash in Cherokee County.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Chris Williamson, a group of motorcyclists was traveling Northbound on US Highway 69 around 12:30 p.m. when the driver of the motorcycle and a passenger were thrown from the vehicle. Williamson said the others in the group claimed the motorcycle O’Neal was driving experienced a “death wobble,” which describes when the front handlebars begin to shake violently.

Both were taken to local hospitals, where one man identified as Owen O’Neal, was pronounced dead. The other passenger’s condition is unknown at this time.The incident is currently under investigation to determine the cause.

TYLER — Authorities are investigating after a man was found shot Monday morning in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK and the Tyler Police Department, around 7:26 a.m. officers responded to the 2700 block of S. Broadway Avenue, where a man was shot. Officials said EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police spoke to the victim, who said that he had received his injuries at another location.

“This case is still under investigation and does not appear to be a random incident,” police said. “If anybody has any information on this case, please call the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.”

UPSHUR COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, more information has come out regarding the voluntary exit agreement between former Union Grove ISD Superintendent Kelly Moore and the district. The Union Grove ISD Board of Trustees accepted Moore’s resignation during a board meeting on July 22. Moore’s decision to resign stemmed from a criminal investigation she has been under since June for failing to report a crime that occurred on campus. The investigation remains active, and Moore could potentially face charges for failure to report, which is a misdemeanor.

Before her resignation, Moore’s contract was expected to run through June 2029. In the voluntary exit agreement provided by Union Grove ISD, it was revealed that she will still be paid her full salary of $130,500.00 over a twelve-month period. The exit agreement also states that Moore will provide assistance and cooperate with the district during this transition period. In accordance with the agreement, More will discharge the district and all of its employees and board members from any claims, attorney fees, and compensation whatsoever.

Following Moore’s voluntary resignation, Union Grove named Brian Gray, who has previously served as superintendent of Union Grove, as the interim superintendent as the district enters into this transition period.

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (KETK)– A man is dead following a one-vehicle crash in Jacksonville on Sunday, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a report from our news partner KETK, on Sunday evening, a truck was discovered overturned in a creek on Country Road 3305, and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. After officials arrived on the scene, the Texas Department of Public Safety was subsequently called to work the crash.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said more information regarding the crash will be released when it becomes available.

TYLER – A man was sentenced to 10 years probation after he pleaded guilty to stabbing his coworker’s husband at a Smith County event center, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

On July 8, 2023, around 10:15 p.m., Abiel Alberto Correa stabbed his co-worker’s husband at the Flamingo’s Event Center on 10749 FM 14 south of I-20. The victim’s wife said they were at the event center for another coworker’s graduation celebration.

According to Correa’s arrest affidavit, the victim’s wife explained that Correa was “extremely intoxicated,” and that he stabbed her husband for “no reason.” She also said he started speaking strangely to her and another coworker, telling them they needed to leave because “something was going to happen to them.” Her husband then tried to explain to Correa that everything was fine and there was no need to worry about anyone at the party. Correa was acting paranoid and kept saying that something bad was going to happen to them, the affidavit said. Continue reading Man gets probation for stabbing coworker’s husband

TYLER – According to a press release from the Tyler Police Department, a man has been arrested for the burglary of a business.

On Monday, August 4, 2025, at approximately 12:16 a.m., Tyler Police Department Officers responded to a local business in the 1700 block of West Southwest Loop 323 on a report of a burglary alarm.

Upon their arrival, officers saw a male suspect who immediately ran from officers as they arrived in the area. Officers were able to catch the individual without incident.

The suspect has been identified as twenty-six-year-old Levon Gates Jr., out of Arkansas. While verifying Gates Jr.’s identity, he was found to have several outstanding warrants from multiple agencies in the surrounding area, and out of state. He was transported to the Smith County Jail and booked into jail for multiple onsite offenses, including his outstanding warrants.