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SMITH COUNTY — Smith County voters voted in favor of Proposition A 53.73% to 46.27%, approving a bond that will fund a new courthouse and parking structure. According to our news partner KETK, the bond devotes $160 million for a brand new courthouse and $19 million for a parking garage. The projected tax impact is 3.67 cents, resulting in an increase on tax bills of $73.40 per year for a $200,000 home. New courthouse construction is set to start in 2024, according to information from Smith County. Standing in downtown Tyler for almost 70 years, the current Smith County Courthouse was built in 1955. It was built to have two trial courts but currently houses seven. Continue reading Voters approve $179 million bond for new Smith County courthouse

EAST TEXAS — Voters in East Texas joined numerous others in hitting the polls for Tuesday’s midterm elections. One top issue: deciding on a proposed new courthouse for Smith County, and voters ruled in favor of that proposition. There was also a race to determine the successor to Congressman Louie Gohmert, with Republican Nathaniel Moran handily defeating Democrat Jrmar Jefferson. And Republican District 6 state Representative Matt Schaefer easily overcame a challenge from Democrat Cody Grace. Click here for the election results in Smith County. Check this link for Gregg County’s results.

ATHENS – A Henderson County man was arrested on Monday after being accused of possession of child pornography. According to our news partner KETK, Blake Ethan Phillips was charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography and 10 counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography. His first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 8.

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – A Texas inmate whose lawyers say has a history of mental illness is scheduled to be executed for killing his mother and burying her body in her backyard nearly 20 years ago. Tracy Beatty of Whitehouse is set to receive a lethal injection Wednesday evening at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. The 61-year-old Beatty was sentenced to death for strangling his mother, Carolyn Click, following an argument between the two in her East Texas home in November 2003. The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Wednesday morning to stop his execution. His attorneys argued he is being prevented from receiving a full examination to determine if he is intellectually disabled and possibly ineligible for execution.

MARSHALL – Police continue to seek leads in a shooting at Marshall’s Wiley College. Officials say at 1:40 Sunday morning, the Marshall Emergency Telecommunications Center received multiple calls regarding gunfire on Wiley Avenue. Marshall police responded, along with the Wiley College Police Department and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. On arrival, officers say they found one gunshot victim. The shooter had fled the scene. Investigation revealed that a second gunshot victim was transported to the hospital by private vehicle. Marshall police are working with the Wiley College Police Department on this ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this shooting is asked to contact the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575 or the Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.

ATHENS – The Athens Collection Site will be open this week to help residents clean up after a tornado was confirmed in the city, according to the National Weather Service. Our news partner KETK reports the building on Aaron Street will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Residents can drop off storm trash for free. People should bring proof of residence like a water bill or ID and separate brush and debris. If people need help while they are cleaning up, they can reach out to Carla Henson at [email protected] or call 903-677-6615. No one was injured due to the tornado, but buildings were damaged and trees were knocked down, said the city of Athens. Residents are also urged to report any storm damage to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). Continue reading Cleanup continues after Athens tornado

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District. In Gregg County, 
Longview maintenance is scheduled to begin bridge channel repair on South Loop 281 at Harris Creek. Motorists should expect right lane closures north and southbound with flaggers controlling traffic. In Smith County, 
Tyler maintenance will have a base failure crew on SH 64 eastbound near the Oil Palace. Motorists should expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. When complete, crews will base failure work on FM 850 from SH 31 heading east towards Overton. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the Tyler District.

TYLER — Smith County’s vacant building on Line Street in downtown Tyler was heavily damaged in Friday’s storms. Officials said Monday morning that crews were working to clear the debris, and the parking lot and front entrance of the Adult Probation building across the street are closed. Smith County is planning on having the brick building demolished as soon as possible, according to a news release. Appointments at Adult Probation have been temporarily postponed. If you are on probation in Smith County, you can follow the department’s Facebook page to stay updated by clicking here.

WOOD COUNTY – DPS reports one person has died after an officer-involved shooting in Wood County on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, officials said the incident involved the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the case is being investigated by the Texas Rangers. The name of the victim was not immediately released.

WILLS POINT — A woman was killed in Wills Point after being hit by a train. According to our news partner KETK and Wills Point Police Chief Aaron Long, officials received a dispatch call on Sunday evening from the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office regarding a pedestrian/train crash near Ash Lane (Lybrand Crossing). Officers arrived to find a dead female and began conducting an investigation, speaking with multiple witnesses and train personnel. The woman was identified by witnesses and family as Emily Ross. Continue reading East Texas woman fatally struck by train

TYLER — A new poll shows that the issues voters care most about favor Republicans. The University of Texas at Tyler poll surveyed about one-thousand registered voters. The top two issues are securing the border and the economy and inflation, which are issues Republicans are stressing. The majority of voters in the poll feel Governor Abbott will do a better job at securing the border over Democrat challenger Beto O’Rourke. Something Abbott has made a key issue of his 2022 midterm election campaign. O’Rourke has focused more on gun legislation and abortion rights. The poll shows Abbott with a six-point lead over O’Rourke. Election day is Tuesday, November 8.

ATHENS – The National Weather service has been assessing storm damage in East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the NWS Fort Worth had a storm survey teams out in Henderson County on Saturday and continued surveying through the weekend. The team in Henderson County confirmed a tornado impacted the city of Athens. They gave it a preliminary rating of EF-2 with max winds up to 115 mph. Extensive damage was reported at the Athens Steel Building Corporation on Northeast Loop 7. Trees have also fallen in the area near the building as well as on County Road 3718. We’ll continue to update this story as new information comes in.

PITTSBURG – Pittsburg Police Department said Sunday that a vehicle pursuit ended after a 15-year-old female allegedly stole a Jeep Wrangler in Harrison County and crashed into an unmarked Pittsburg Police car. According to our news partner KETK, Pittsburg Police said that they were asked by DPS to deploy stop sticks in order to stop the chase that had come in on Highway 11 east from Harrison County. Authorities said that the chase ended when the suspect crashed into the unmarked Pittsburg Police car on the 600 block of South Greer Boulevard. Officials said, the suspect was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault on a public servant, evading arrest, and criminal mischief greater than $2500 and less than $30,000. They were transported to Gregg County Juvenile Center, according to Pittsburg Police Department.

HUGHES SPRINGS – Hughes Springs Police Chief Randy Kennedy said that Hughes Springs City Hall is salvageable, even after sustaining heavy storm damage on Friday evening. According to Chief Kennedy, the building’s roof collapsed, windows broke and various rooms received rain damage but the buildings records are intact. According to our news partner KETK, Chief Kennedy said that they are going to have get the windows replaced and a new roof but that the building isn’t as damaged as they originally thought. He added that the Hughes Springs Volunteer Fire Department building is a total loss and will have to be replaced entirely. City Hall will remain locked, so residents will either have to knock or make an appointment to be let in while repairs are being made in the next few days, according to Chief Kennedy. Chief Kennedy added that he wanted to thank a local storage facility for taking in their fire trucks while they work on replacing their fire department.

MORRIS COUNTY – Morris County Judge Doug Reeder announced on Saturday that a tornado which left several houses destroyed on Friday has also left one person dead. According to our news partner KETK, the tornado was one of three which hit Morris county. It downed many trees, power lines and destroyed or damaged several homes before killing one person north of State Highway 49, according to Judge Reeder. The tornado eventually passed into Cass county after starting in Cason. Judge Reeder added that crews are continuing to work to clear roads.

ATHENS — As storms moved through East Texas, some places in the Athens area were severely damaged. According to our news partner KETK, extensive damage was reported at the Athens Steel Building Corporation at 900 Northeast Loop 7. Trees have also fallen in the area near the building as well as on County Road 3718. As of Saturday morning, the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that a tornado touched down in Athens.

EAST TEXAS — Hughes Springs sustained major storm damage from possible tornadoes in the area according to our news partner KETK. The Hughes Springs Fire Department and city hall sustained drastic damage as a result of the storm. Paris has also sustained major damage to homes and properties. The Morris County Sheriff’s Department said they have received numerous calls reporting damage in the area but could not confirm or deny if anyone has been injured. The county has emergency responders answering multiple calls and is asking residents to take caution and watch for downed trees and power lines. Hughes Springs Police Chief Randy Kennedy said that Hughes Springs City Hall is salvageable, even after sustaining heavy storm damage on Friday evening. Continue reading Damage from storms in East Texas

LONGVIEW == The Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center will be closed to the public on Saturday, Nov. 5, to allow staff to attend a Celebration of Life for lead adoption counselor Nina Allen. Allen died in a tragic accident this past weekend. The Celebration of Life will be Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. at Life Church in Longview. According to a news release, during her four years with the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center, Allen helped adopt over 6,000 animals. She also regularly appeared in promotional material for the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center including a video with a dancing goat that went viral with more than 8 million views.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department is reminding citizens about daylight saving time this weekend. As we “fall back” and set our clocks back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 2 a.m., Tyler firefighters are encouraging residents to also change the batteries in all smoke alarms in their home. Officials say smoke alarms should be a critical component to everyone’s home fire escape plan. According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost three out of every five home fire deaths occur in homes that have no smoke alarms, or no working smoke alarms. Statistics indicate that the installation of smoke alarms can increase the survivability of a home fire by more than 50 percent. Continue reading Tyler Fire Department: “Change your clocks, change your batteries”

TYLER — Tyler police say a suspect has been arrested in a reported kidnapping. They say Arkansas State Police stopped Servando Vazquez of Tennessee Friday afternoon as he drove a pickup and that they located the allegedly kidnapped children in the vehicle unharmed. At approximately 12:15 p.m. Friday, officers responded to an address on W. Mims in Tyler. A 36-year-old woman advised that Vazquez, 38, the estranged father of her child, took her children without consent and under threat of violence. She said he took their son, Servando Vasquez-Avila, who is three years old and is his biological child. She said he also took her son, Alvaro Emmanuel Diaz-Avila, who is eight years old. Vazquez is not the biological father of the eight-year-old. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — The city of Tyler is responding to severe weather that hit East Texas Friday evening. City officials say streets and storm-water crews will respond and intervene during a severe weather event where roads have washed out and other public facilities may be compromised. If you have an emergency, you’re asked to call 9-1-1, stay on the line, and not hang up until your call is answered. Officials say you should answer all questions and follow instructions. The Tyler Police Department’s non-emergency line (903) 531-1000 should be used for all other calls and notifications to include traffic signal issues. Click here for more information.

TYLER — Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford updates the State of the District for the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. Crawford says recent developments in the district show “a lot of great things are happening in Tyler, Texas, especially in Tyler ISD.” He notes that in 2021-22, the district had its best year academically in recent times. He also cited the support of the community in passing a recent bond proposal. As for what lies ahead, Crawford tells KTBB the district has “a lot of great systems in place to take care of student achievement, no matter what Austin, Texas throws at us.” He adds that the district’s priority is to make sure that everyone on campus is “safe and secure” — and that he’s “very proud” of upgrades made in that area. Each year, the Chamber hears presentations on the state of the district, the city, and the county.

EAST TEXAS – Some East Texas school districts announced early releases due to severe weather expected on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, the Brownsboro, Eustace, Frankston, Fruitvale, Grand Saline, Martin’s Mill, Van, and Winona ISDs were among those giving students, faculty, and staff an early start on the weekend. Straight-line wind gusts up to 70 mph were the main concern, with tornadoes possible along the line.

HENDERSON – The Rusk County deputy who was under investigation following a fatal officer-involved shooting on Sept. 14 was no-billed by a grand jury on Thursday, according to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. The grand jury decided there was not enough evidence to indict the deputy for the incident, and the case will no longer be prosecuted. According to our news partner KETK, a custodial report on the incident says the victim was allegedly struggling to conceal drugs and resisting arrest. The document claims the deceased Timothy Michael Randall, 29, “attempted to conceal contraband” during a pat-down after a traffic stop on CR 4125 near SH 64 in Henderson. Continue reading Deputy no-billed in officer-involved shooting

ANDERSON COUNTY – Missing person Courtney Dollgener has been found, according to Anderson County Sheriff Rudy Flores. Flores said deputies and a property owner found her in a cement storm shelter near the intersection of FM 1817 and FM 2419 “uninjured and in relatively good health.” According to our news partner KETK, she was examined by EMS, and Flores said afterwards she would be reunited with her family. It was reported Thursday afternoon that an active search for Dollgener was being conducted after she was reported missing on Nov. 2. The sheriff said Dollgener has a “diminished mental capacity” and a habit of wandering from her residence and seeking shelter in unoccupied buildings and structures.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department announced Thursday that they have arrested a student after they were alerted to a possible verbal threat to Foster Middle School and Judson Middle School. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Authorities said they arrested a Judson Middle School student on a charge of “terroristic threat” and that the student was taken to the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center. In a prepared statement, the department says, “The Longview Police Department encourages parents and guardians to visit with their children regarding school safety. Statements of violence towards any of our campuses will be taken seriously and investigated to the fullest extent by the police department.” The student’s identity hasn’t been released. Continue reading Student arrested for alleged terroristic threat against two middle schools

LONGVIEW — Longview city leaders gathered Wednesday, giving the community an inside look at the state of the city. According to our news partner KETK, the event highlighted the growth of Longview. And according to Mayor Andy Mack, the state of the city is good. Officials say their goal has been keeping their citizens happy and home, with a focus on bringing young people back to Longview. Many plans are in place for the city, which include building an amphitheatre. Mayor Mack says, “It’s a very viable option for Longview. I think it’s something that would be very beneficial to us, but there’s still a lot of exploration that has to take place. But we don’t need to close our eyes to the fact that the opportunity is in front of us. We need to take advantage of it if we can and see where it leads us.”

TYLER – Each winter, thousands of visitors travel to Tyler for holiday shopping and to celebrate the season at one of their many “Rose City Christmas” events. One of the area’s most beloved Christmas traditions is the Azalea District Trail of Lights, where local residents deck the halls to share with onlookers during December. According to officials with Visit Tyler, it’s a shining showcase of Tyler’s historic charm and Texas-sized hospitality. Homeowners in the District are encouraged to participate by decorating their homes for the holidays. There is a homeowner’s decorating contest with a chance to win prizes donated by local sponsors. Continue reading Tyler residents spread holiday cheer with Azalea District Trail of Lights

LONGVIEW — An East Texas business suffered thousands of dollars in damages after an 18-wheeler hydroplaned and crashed into their food truck on Oct. 28. According to our news partner KETK, Heather Goettle, the owner of Crawfish Cove at 4934 Estes Parkway in Longview, said the crash knocked down their sign and sheared off their gas line. She believes the damages were worth more than $100,000. Goettle said she could have died if they had been working and had a fire inside the trailer because the gas line was broken off. But, no one was inside the business when the wreck happened. There is also a hole in the bottom of the trailer where it was separated. Continue reading East Texas food truck business suffers major damage after 18-wheeler crashes into it