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LONGVIEW – The Gregg County grand jury has indicted two men in separate murder cases. The Longview News Journal says named in the indictments are Kyron Dylann Adams, 38,(pictured) and Mon’torio Dewayne Harris, 25, both of Longview. Adams is charged with the February 4th death of Thomas Lynn Harper, 34, of Gladewater. His body was found in a grassy area of a parking lot near J’s Place club. And Harris was charged in the February 5th death of Donald Ray Kennedy, 34, of Lakeport. His body was dumped off West Loop 281. Both victims had been shot to death. The deaths were the first two homicides in Longview this year

SMITH COUNTY — An East Texas teenager was arrested Thursday night by the U.S. Marshals Service. According to KETK, Jose Luis Rinconcillo, 18, Flint, was picked up around 6:20 p.m., by the USMS for aggravated sexual assault of a child, which reportedly occurred on September 28, 2016. He was arrested by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office on the day of the alleged offense and released the next day after posting $2,500 bond. According to the sheriff’s office, at 6:30 a.m.,on September 28, 2016, deputies were called to the 10000 block of County Road 1265 in the southern part of Smith County on a welfare check call. Continue reading U.S Marshals Arrest Smith County Teen

CANTON — The South Van Zandt Volunteer Fire Department responded to a reported fire at Splash Kingdom Waterpark, 18814 Interstate 20, in Canton, around 3:00 this morning. The main office was reportedly engulfed in flames and is said to be a total loss. The fire spread from the main office and ticket counter to the building where refreshments and game room was located. Fire departments from Canton, South Van Zandt, Edgewood and Wills Point were at the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No injuries reported. According to KETK, owner Mickey Lewis said despite the damage, the park will still be open this summer. “We do have our first event on May 10. We’re still going to open. We’ll have a temporary building set up and a full schedule as planned. So this isn’t going to hurt anything,” he said. According to the park’s website, opening day was set for Saturday, May 27.

WASHINGTON (AP/STAFF) — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert has introduced the Armed Services Always Paid (ASAP) Act. This ensures that members of the United States Military get their paycheck on time in the event that Congress cannot pass a budget. According to Gohmert, “If Congress cannot pass an appropriation, it’s not right for these valiant warriors and their families to suffer through a late paycheck.” Gohmert says in a news release on his website, “In 2013, the Pay our Military Act was signed into law. That act, which allowed members of the armed forces to receive full pay and benefits during the shutdown, was passed unanimously by the House and Senate. However, the 2013 bill only exempted military pay for Fiscal Year 2014, not for any future years. We have the responsibility to provide complete certainty to the men, women, and families who sacrifice so much for our freedom every day.”

AUSTIN (AP/STAFF) — The Texas House approved a strict ban on “sanctuary cities” Thursday, empowering local police to enforce federal immigration law against anyone they detain and threatening police chiefs and sheriffs who refuse to do so with jail. Late Wednesday, the debate took a dramatic turn when an amendment by Tyler State Representative Matt Schaefer was approved. It would allow local law enforcement officers to ask people about their immigration status during an arrest or a lawful detention, like a routine traffic stop. Opponents say this will spark the kind of immigration crackdown that the Trump administration has so far been unsuccessful implementing nationally. Continue reading Texas Backs Tough “Sanctuary City” Ban as Federal Push Slows

TYLER – Tyler’s mayor and four former mayors have come out in support of the Tyler school bond proposal. Mayor Martin Heines (pictured) and former Tyler Mayors Kevin Eltife, Charles Halstead, Barbara Bass, and Joey Seeber have all thrown their support to the proposal to upgrade the city’s high schools. In a news release today, Mayor Heines is quoted as saying, “This plan to upgrade the high schools is the most responsible and cost-effective way, using current facilities and land while providing our students with necessary safety and security upgrades, increasing capacity and enhancing technology.” Continue reading Tyler Mayors Endorse TISD Bond Package

TYLER – A Tyler attorney is announcing his intention to run for Judge of the 321st District Court in the March 2018 Primary. Robert Wilson announced on Thursday he will be running for the post now held by Judge Carole Clark. According to Wilson, she has informally announced that she does not plan to seek re-election. A 3rd generation Tylerite, Wilson is a shareholder of the law firm of Wilson, Robertson & Cornelius, P.C. where he has worked since 1998. For the majority of his career, Wilson’s practice has focused primarily on family law. The 321st State District court handles family law cases.

MARSHALL – A man suspected of the robbery of a Marshall business and the shooting of a business owner, is now in custody in Louisiana. Shreveport police have arrested Christopher Kordelle Dumas, 26, of Shreveport. They want him on numerous armed robbery charges. He will also be charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault in Marshall for what occurred at Boost Mobile back on April 1. It is believed Dumas entered the East Grand Avenue business that Saturday afternoon and attempted to rob it. He is said to have exchanged gunfire with the owner of a nearby business who heard the commotion. The business owner has since been released from the hospital.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College has announced it will be renovating Wise Auditorium. KETK reports it’s been untouched for the last 50 years despite growth of the school. In its current state, TJC says the building does not meet the needs of students. After renovation, there will be more space for visitors, an improved stage, and an added rehearsal studio. Mitch Andrews is TJC’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and the TJC Foundation. He says, “We’re preserving a legacy facility, while redeveloping it to better serve our performing arts programs and our community.” Officials hope the newly renovated facility will serve to grow TJC as a landmark of East Texas.

EAST TEXAS – Today around East Texas, hospitals, EMS and coordinating agencies join together to practice the mass transfer of 200 patients. This would be necessary when evacuating hospitals or nursing homes before or after a hurricane; or if a hospital suffered damage during a weather event. Each hospital will be simulating the actual process of receiving the patients, assessing their condition, treatment plans, and admitting the patient to their facility. And all of this will be coordinated with the various agencies with real time data just as it would be in a disaster evacuation scenario. Continue reading Hospitals Practice a Disaster Drill

LONGVIEW – Longview’s Mobberly Baptist Church is expanding into Marshall. The church’s members have voted to acquire the building and property currently owned by Bel Air Baptist Church. Earlier this week, Bel Air members voted to gift the property to Mobberly. The church buildings and office include about 18,000 square feet of space and sit on around 3.5 acres of land. Early plans call for Mobberly to renovate the buildings and begin holding worship services and other ministry events beginning this fall. It is possible that Mobberly could begin hosting outdoor events on the property as early as this summer.

LONGVIEW – Longview police have made 5 arrests and recovered over $30,000 in property Wednesday in three separate cases. Patrick Matthew Rose, 38, Robert Earl Jones Jr., 43, were arrested in connection with a stolen trailer. Timothy Floyd, 30, was arrested in a stolen vehicle. And Jevarrian Dayun Davis, 17, and a juvenile, were arrested for burglary. And the car they were in was previously reported to have been stolen. And the police say Davis had several items in his possession that had been stolen from previous vehicle burglaries within the past couple of days.

LUFKIN — The Lufkin Police Department is investigating a Thursday morning stabbing. According to KETK, around 5:50, police responded to 708 Schueller after a woman called stating the father of her children was breaking out the windows of her home and damaging vehicles in the driveway. Police said the woman claimed the man broke in to her house and began fighting with her boyfriend. The woman’s boyfriend reportedly stabbed the man during the disturbance. The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to a Lufkin hospital where he is listed in critical condition. The incident remains under investigation and no arrests have been made.

TYLER — Following the release of videos showing controversial Smith County Commissioners Court meetings, the county is fighting back. That’s according to KETK. After Grassroots America – We the People filed an open records request, the videos were released on the order of state District Judge Jack Carter. Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran (pictured) issued a statement saying the county is seeking appellate review of the court order “because of irregularities surrounding the timing and procedure used to obtain this order and because the law is clear that improper disclosure of videos of closed sessions is a crime.” Continue reading Smith County Questions Release of Commissioners Court Videos

GILMER — A preliminary autopsy shows a Union Grove woman found dead early this month was killed with a gunshot to the head. According to KETK, Upshur County authorities responded to a house on Private Road 3367 in Union Grove, where they found Miranda Streed, 23. The autopsy report also indicated that Streed was shot in the arm with the bullet also entering her chest. There have been no arrests in the case. The death was one of three homicides in Upshur County this year. Continue reading Preliminary Autopsy Results Released in Union Grove Death

TYLER – Tyler police say a man earlier reported missing has been located and reunited with his family. James Earl Spencer, 79, had last been seen around 11:00 Wednesday morning at his home on East Cedar Street. Spencer has been diagnosed with dementia. Police say he was found late Wednesday afternoon.

TYLER — The mosquito-borne Zika virus is getting plenty of attention from Texas physicians and public health experts, including one based at UT Health Northeast. As the mercury climbs and mosquitoes buzz in greater numbers, doctors are worried that Zika will again be a major threat to unborn children. Dr. David Lakey says the public can fight Zika by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds — and taking precautions when visiting areas where the disease is prevalent. According to Lakey, “Transmission of mosquitoes, that’ll probably be limited to the southern part of our state, but I expect that there’s gonna be travelers returning throughout the state of Texas that’ll be infected.” In people, Zika causes headaches, fever, nausea — and potentially, a range of birth defects in unborn children.

TYLER – Over 2,000 donors gave to East Texas Charities on Tuesday, East Texas Giving Day. The online fundraising effort started at 6:00am Tuesday and ended that night at 11:59. Based on preliminary results, donors contributed $498,664 to support charities in 32 East Texas Counties. Preliminary results show Smith County charities leading with Promise Academy receiving the most contributions with $31,485. They were followed by Mentoring Alliance with $26,653and the Salvation Army in Tyler with $23,825.

TYLER – The 29th annual Brookshire’s Benefit Golf Tournament raised a record-breaking $550,000 for charities on Monday, with 600 golfers playing simultaneously on six East Texas golf courses. Tyler-area courses were The Cascades, Eagles Bluff, Garden Valley, Hollytree and Willow Brook, and Twin Lakes in Canton was also a course location. Brookshire Grocery Company disperses tournament proceeds each year to more than 100 nonprofit organizations in the communities served by Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods and Spring Market stores. The company focuses its charitable giving on hunger relief, education, family wellbeing, and military/first responders. This year’s donation brings the total funds raised to more than $5 million since the tournament’s inception in 1988. In the photo, from left, are James Smith with Niagara Bottling, Paul Canon with Pilgrim’s Pride, and BGC Chairman and CEO Brad Brookshire.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed 10 student regents to their respective universities, effective June 1, 2017, for terms set to expire May 31, 2018. The Governor also appointed a student representative to serve on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, effective June 1, 2017, for a term set to expire May 31, 2018. Appointed to the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents is Maggie Wright of Flower Mound.She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

LONGVIEW – Whaley Street between Center and Fredonia in Longview will be closed to traffic till 5:00pm today. This is for ongoing construction work at the Gregg County Courthouse.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has been accepted into the ICE 287 program. This came last Friday as Sheriff Larry Smith met with Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office Director Samona Flores in Tyler. The sheriff also signed a Memorandum of Agreement between the sheriff’s office and Immigration Customs Enforcement. Next, six detention officers will be selected to attend the ICE Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. And, preparations are being made to install fingerprint equipment in the Smith County Jail which will be connected to the ICE fingerprint database. According to Sheriff Smith, “We believe this partnership will assist us tremendously in dealing with the criminal alien population who are committing serious crimes in Smith County.”

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has approved a contract for $3,171,239.98 with Reynolds & Kay to execute the 2017 Asphalt Enhancement Program. According to a news release, the City of Tyler Engineering Department and Streets Department completed a visual inspection of all streets within the city limits with the lowest Pavement Condition Index (PCI) ratings. The PCI is a number calculated by a pavement management software program; the higher the number, the better the condition of the street. Numbers range from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating a new or newly overlaid street. In January, Dynatest North America, Inc. began the process of evaluating streets in Tyler with lower PCIs. City officials say a complete analysis of those updated PCIs will be available later this year. Continue reading Council Approves Contract for Asphalt Enhancement Program

AUSTIN (AP/STAFF) – Texas’ highest criminal court has refused an appeal from an East Texas woman on death row for the slaying seven years ago of her developmentally disabled baby sitter. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday rejected 15 claims raised by Kimberly Cargill, 50, of Whitehouse. She was convicted in Smith County in 2012 of causing the asphyxiation of Cherry Walker, 39. Most of the claims contended Cargill’s trial lawyers were deficient for not presenting evidence that Walker died of an epilepsy-related seizure rather than homicidal violence. She testified during her trial that Walker had a seizure while she was driving her home. She claimed she panicked and didn’t act rationally. Walker’s body was found along along a Smith County Road when it had been doused with lighter fluid and set on fire.

KILGORE – A man arrested last Friday for a Gregg County bank robbery is a suspect in another bank robbery. 48 year old Hector Camargo has been charged with last Friday’s Robbery of the First National Bank of Hughes Springs in Liberty City. Just over two hours later, he was picked up by a state trooper on an unrelated charge. After searching his vehicle Camargo was charged with the robbery. Now, Kilgore police say Camargo is a suspect in the robbery of Citizen’s National Bank on December 16 of last year. He matches the description as the lone gunman who robbed the bank and fled with an undetermined amount of money.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police say a man who was injured after a reported shooting Tuesday in Longview might not have been shot. Richard Arthur Kasten Jr., 28, of Longview was taken to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center Tuesday after he was injured following a report of a shooting in the area near Twelfth and Dean streets. Police Wednesday morning said they are unsure how Kasten received his injury. Kasten was treated and released into police custody before being booked into the Gregg County Jail on two outstanding warrants and charges of public intoxication and no driver’s license.

LONGVIEW – The trial has been postponed for Kilgore College student who, along with three others, is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and with five counts of sex trafficking. Malik Antoine Brown, 19, of Brazoria, was scheduled for a pretrial hearing on April 27, with jury selection and trial at set for May 1. The Longview News Journal is reporting that the trial for Brown is now set for 9:00am on July 31 in federal court in Galveston, according to an order filed Tuesday in the Southern District of Texas. A pretrial conference is scheduled 9:30am on July 26. Continue reading A Kilgore Student’s Sex Trafficking Trial is Rescheduled

LONGVIEW – One man is hospitalized following a shooting in Longview. It was reported just before 5:00 Tuesday afternoon in the area of Dean Street and Twelfth Street. He was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. It is unsure at this time how he received the injury. Police say he has been uncooperative with investigators. No witnesses have been identified to the incident at this time. His name has not been released. We’ll have more when the information becomes available.

FRANKSTON – A Lake Palestine boating accident has claimed a second victim. Keith Wagnon of Palestine died Sunday morning from injuries received when the boat he and his wife were in went over the Lake Palestine spillway. The accident occurred last Wednesday. His wife Billie was dead at the scene. They were heading south when the boat went over the spillway and overturned.

TYLER – The city of Arp will be getting assistance in housing stray dogs. Smith County Commissioners have approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Arp to take its stray dogs into the Smith County Animal Shelter. According to the agreement, Arp will be responsible for responding to animal control matters within its city, then transporting the dogs to the Smith County Animal Shelter. The city will pay any fees associated with impoundment, testing, medical treatment or other services. Troup will pay Smith County $50 per dog that is brought to the shelter, as well as an additional $35 for each dog requiring euthanasia. Dogs are typically only euthanized at the county animal shelter when they are dangerous to others or severely injured.The agreement between Smith County and the City of Arp is effective through Fiscal Year 2018. A similar agreement was approved with the city of Troup last month.