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TYLER — A new express shuttle route for the City of Tyler Transit Department will offer free rides to local grocery stores for University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College students, faculty, and staff. City officials say Campus Express begins July 7 and will run twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The shuttle route begins at 10 a.m., departing Victory Village, and will run until 3 p.m. — making its final dropoff at the UT Tyler Police Department. A valid student and employee ID must be shown at the time of departure.

TYLER — The first ever Rose City Airfest, a project of the Cedar Creek Veterans Foundation, is set for July 2 at the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum (HAMM) at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. Organizers say attendees can celebrate America while supporting East Texas veterans and CampV, a 20-acre campus on West Front Street in Tyler. Proceeds will primarily benefit CampV, which serves veterans, active service members, reserves, and family members. Airfest attractions include aerial performers, concessions, a concert, and more. Click here for all the details.

TYLER — Texas College names Dr. Jan E. Duncan its new vice president for academic affairs. A news release cites Duncan’s “broad experiences and expertise that covers all levels of secondary and postsecondary education.” Most recently, she served as an instructional designer for the use of Blackboard for grade levels K-12. Duncan also has extensive experience in grantsmanship, according to the release. Duncan is a four-time graduate of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, earning a baccalaureate degree, two master’s degrees, and a doctor of philosophy degree.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday held its initial workshop to discuss the first working draft of the county budget for Fiscal Year 2022. The targeted tax rate for FY22 is 33.5 cents per $100 valuation, which is the same as FY21. This rate is about 7/10ths of a penny below Fiscal Year 2021’s no-new-revenue rate. The no-new-revenue rate for FY22 will not be known until late summer, according to a news release. The new budget takes effect October 1. County Judge Nathaniel Moran started the workshop with an overview of the budget, which he themed, “In the Blue” because the budget is focused on significant increases to law enforcement salaries across the board. Click here to learn more.

TYLER — Tyler police officers were called in to help Coffee City Police and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office in a high speed chase that ended just outside of the Tyler city limits last night around 9:00. According to our news partner KETK, the chase began in Coffee City and ended along highway 155S in Noonday. One person was arrested. Officials are searching for a second suspect. Additional details were not available.

TYLER — Concerned citizens packed the Tyler City Council meeting Wednesday morning, with many urging the council to approve an independent commission to work with councilmembers on redistricting. That’s according to our news partner KETK. Councilwoman Shirley McKellar, one of two Democrats on the council, said she was in favor of such a commission. Smith County GOP Chair David Stein was the only speaker at the meeting to oppose the commission. He said that while he would volunteer to serve if it was created, he trusted all councilmembers to create fair maps. No action was taken since the item was for presentation only. Redistricting happens every ten years after the annual census is taken.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council approved a $97,682.60 contract with Vortex Companies to line and repair a storm sewer pipe along College Avenue between West 4th Street and West 5th Street. The 24-inch pipe is in disrepair allowing groundwater to enter the pipe, according to officials. They say repairing the pipe with an internal lining prevents sinkholes and possible damage to private properties in the area. The project is funded through the Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to approve the sale of the fourth segment of voter-approved road bonds at a lower-than-expected interest rate after receiving five competitive bids. That’s according to a news release from the county. In November 2017, Smith County voters approved a $39.5 million bond package to improve county roads. That bond package was the first of two phases to significantly upgrade the county road system over a six-year period, according to the release. The second phase of the bond program is expected to be approximately $45 million and will likely be presented to the voters for approval in November, according to the release. Click here to learn more.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council accepts an FAA grant to purchase an aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle for Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. Officials say the new vehicle will replace a truck that’s reached its life expectancy. The grant, totaling $891,675, will fund the vehicle 100% with no local match required, according to a news release. The old truck will be sold after the replacement vehicle is put into service.

AUSTIN — For the second time in recent days, a Longview resident has won big in the Texas Lottery. This time, the winner claimed a $5 million estimated annuitized jackpot prize for the Lotto Texas drawing held June 5. The cash value option was selected at the time of purchase, and the claimant will receive $3,755,592.41 before taxes. The ticket was purchased at EZ Bee49 on S. Eastman Road in Longview. On June 15, officials announced that a Longview resident had claimed a top prizewinning ticket worth $3 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game $750 Million Winner’s Circle. The claimant elected to remain anonymous in both cases.

WINNSBORO — The Winnsboro Police Department is seeking your help with an animal cruelty/animal abandonment case. According to the WPD Facebook page, in the late night hours of June 16, two unknown persons abandoned two very sick pups without food or water. One of the pups has since died, and the other is said not to be doing well. This is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by jail time as well as fines. You’re asked to contact WPD if you have any leads. Go here for more information and any updates.

TYLER — Smith County received the 2020 Safety Achievement Award from the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool during Commissioners Court Tuesday. According to a news release, the award was earned for the county’s record of commitment to safety in the workplace, as well as for controlling workers’ compensation claims. The County is one of 12 members statewide to have earned the award. Go here to learn more.

TYLER — Tyler Mayor Don Warren delivers his first State of the City address in an annual Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce event. Traffic leads Warren’s list of challenges. He told KTBB traffic is always an issue as Tyler continues to grow. He also addressed losing local control over annexation and pointed to broadband access, specifically for people in rural areas. On the upside, Warren says Tyler has a great overall quality of life. He mentioned parks, trails, and the downtown area. Warren says people move to Tyler “because when they drive around, they think, ‘This is where I want to live, this is where I want to raise my family, this is where I want to retire.'”

TYLER — The Tyler City Council will receive a presentation during Wednesday’s 9 a.m. meeting on the redistricting process in preparation for the 2020 Census results. The City Attorney’s office and Manual O. Mendez of the Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta Law Firm will provide the presentation. According to a news release, members of the public who wish to participate by making a public comment on any agenda item may only do so in person. Public Participation Forms will be located outside the main entrance to the Council Chambers. Tyler Council meetings are now open to the public at full capacity in City Hall on S. Bonner Ave.

GREGG COUNTY — A 16-year-old pedestrian has died after he was struck by a vehicle early Sunday morning. It happened on SH-149, approximately two miles southeast of the city of Lakeport, in Gregg County. According to the DPS report, just before 1:30, Johnathan Walker, of Gilmer, was said to be crossing an unlit portion of the roadway when he was struck by a southbound car. Walker was transported to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview were he later died. The driver of the car was identified as Ruby Martinez, 25, of Carthage. Martinez and the 17-year old female passenger were not injured in the crash.

TYLER — The Tyler Independent School District says it is in desperate need of bus drivers for the upcoming school year. According to KETK, the director of transportation mentioned they are experiencing the biggest shortage he’s seen in his whole career. These shortages aren’t only a problem in East Texas. It’s a nationwide issue that usually impacts schools during the summertime. One reason for this is the overall labor shortage. Now, to recruit more drivers Tyler ISD is getting creative. They are placing advertisements for job openings on their school buses. Continue reading Tyler ISD uses creativity to recruit more bus drivers

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is inviting the public to attend an open house in an effort to gather input on the proposed extension of Legacy Trails. The open house will be held on Tuesday, June 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Tyler Development Center Large Conference Room on W. Ferguson St. The City was recently awarded a $2,853,456 grant through the Texas Department of Transportation Set-Aside Program to construct the extension to Legacy Trails. Continue reading MPO to host open house for proposed extension of Legacy Trails

TYLER — An East Texas-based online business that sells indoor and outdoor HDTV antennas displayed a pattern of complaints from customers who say they have been frustrated in their efforts to get the items they ordered and refunds for defective or missing merchandise. That’s according to a news release from the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas. BBB advises caution when dealing with AntennaDeals.com, which lists an address in Flint. Continue reading BBB warns of problems with local business

TYLER – Following significant delays due to winter weather and rain, work is scheduled to resume on the FM 2493/Old Jacksonville Highway project from Gresham to Flint. The anticipated completion date is fall 2021, according to a TxDOT news release. The project, with limits from FM 2813 in Gresham, south to FM 346 in Flint, will widen the existing two-lane roadway to five lanes with curb and gutter and bike lanes. “The contractor is tentatively scheduled to mobilize to complete the remainder of the surface on the project the week of June 28,” said Kathi White, TxDOT Public Information Officer, in the news release. “Weather permitting, that work should be completed in about a week, followed with placing the striping in the final configuration.” The traffic signal at FM 346 is anticipated to be activated by the end of July or early August. Continue reading Work to resume on FM 2493

TYLER — Smith County will be adding a new district court on January 1, 2023, now that House Bill 3774 has become law. The bill was signed by Governor Greg Abbott and created the 475th District Court, which will be the county’s fifth such court. The last time a district court was added in Smith County was 1977, when the county’s population was about 100,000. Currently, the population is about 230,000. County officials anticipate that adding the new court will reduce the jail population of those charged with felonies but awaiting trial. There are currently more than 600 Smith County Jail inmates awaiting felony trials. Only district courts have jurisdiction to dispose of felony cases. Click here to learn more.

SMITH COUNTY — Jury selection for the high-profile trial of a former CHRISTUS nurse accused of murdering four patients and severely injuring others will begin the last week of July, the judge announced Monday morning. Jury selection will begin Monday, July 26, in Tyler and run through that Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, William Davis, 37, has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault of four patients. Davis allegedly injected air into patients’ arteries on purpose. Davis was a registered nurse at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. He was fired before his arrest 3 years ago. The Smith County District Attorney is seeking the death penalty.

GREGG COUNTY — Drivers in Longview got a not-so lighter than air surprise Friday. Two hot-air balloons had to make emergency landings on a Longview freeway. The pilots said the wind died, meaning they had to land and it so happened to be on the road. Otherwise, they would have had to contend with trees and power lines. No injuries were reported. Harold “Bubba” Cliver was named Great Texas Balloon Race Champion following the 3 day event. Cliver took first place while competing alongside his son and nearly 60 other pilots, according to the Longview News Journal. Cliver said he’s been participating in the Great Texas Balloon Race for about 25 years.

PALESTINE – The city of Palestine will be spraying for mosquitoes beginning Monday June 21st through Saturday June 26th. According to our news partner KETK, the city will be spraying two areas, Area 1 and Area 5. Area 1 consists of West Spring Street at Carolina Street, east to Brushy Creek Road and West Kolstad Street. Area 1 also consists of North Jackson and North Link Streets. Area 5 encompasses Highway 155 North to Gardner Street and East to North Loop 256. Area 5 is bounded to the south by East Park Street.

LONGVIEW — The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued an Ozone Action Day for the Tyler-Longview area for Saturday, June 19. Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the Tyler-Longview area on Saturday. There are several things you can do to help limit ozone formation. Among them: drive less, don’t idle your engine for extended periods, and postpone filling your tank until late afternoon. Click here for more information.

TYLER — A Whitehouse man who has been awaiting his murder trial for nearly four years will have to wait an additional three months to have his day in court. According to our news partner KETK, Martin Reynolds, 24, was arrested in 2017 for the killing of Andrew Carpenter, 19. Reynolds has claimed self-defense. The case has faced several delays over the past 3.5 years due to pre-trial hearings, forensic evidence, the pandemic — and, most recently, the unavailability of a witness. The trial is now set for September 13.

TYLER — Two local attorneys have announced they’re running for Smith County Court at Law #3 judge in next year’s Republican Primary. In a news release, Clay White says he’s a board-certified personal injury attorney with 30 years of experience. On her campaign page, Cheryl Wulf says she’s been a licensed attorney in Texas since 2003, handling cases in civil, family, and criminal law. Judge Floyd Getz will be retiring from the post following his current term.

TYLER — Smith County Road 384, also known as Old Longview Road, will be partially closed for about two weeks so a bridge can be repaired. CR 384, northeast of Tyler, is closed from Farm-to-Market Road 2908 to Interstate 20. Signs placed there alert drivers to take alternative routes, according to a county news release.

TYLER — The Better Business Bureau serving Central East Texas, in partnership with Kelly Community Federal Credit Union and Ark-La-Tex Shredding, hosted their annual “Secure Your ID” day Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until noon at the BBB Offices on New Copeland Road. The event was re-scheduled to coincide with and extension for income taxes for Texas residents. The services were provided free, and attendees are encouraged to bring paper documents that contain personal and/or financial information to be destroyed — as well as electronics such as old computers, hard drives, and cell phones.

TYLER — Preparations for the Tyler Rose Complex began Thursday, according to a city news release. The first part of the project will be to install a dedicated parking lot area for Tyler Civic Theater and the Rose Garden Center. WRL General Contractors has begun milling Rose Park Drive to complete this phase. Portions of Rose Park Drive and the majority of Harvey Convention Center’s parking lot will be closed periodically. West Houston Street will remain open for the duration of the project. The Rose Garden and Tyler Civic Theater will remain open to the public. The Rose Garden gate on Rose Park Drive will be closed, but patrons will still be able to access the garden through the Rose Garden Center and the gate on West Houston Street by the Idea Garden. Continue reading Preparations begin for Tyler Rose Complex