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Tyler – The 2025 Campus Teachers of the Year have been selected. A total of 30 outstanding teachers have been nominated for their commitment and dedication to excellence in education. Chosen by colleagues at their respective campuses, these teachers exemplify the highest standards of teaching excellence. Their diligent efforts and innovative approaches have contributed to the academic success and personal growth of their students. The 30 nominees will now vie for the titles of District Elementary Teacher of the Year and District Secondary Teacher of the Year. The selection process involves the submission of written portfolios and interviews with a selection committee. Winners will be determined based on scores from both components. Continue reading Tyler ISD announces 2025 campus Teachers of the Year

UPDATE: According to the Tyler Police Department Cathy Gray was found on Thursday evening not far from her home.

TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that Tyler officials are searching for missing 62-year-old Cathy Gray who is believed to have walked away from her home.

The Tyler Police Department said Gray was last seen at her residence in the 3400 block of Pebblebrook Drive at around 9 a.m. on Thursday. She is described as being 5 feet, 2 inches and is slim with brown hair and blue eyes. Authorities said she was last seen wearing a white puffy coat, blue jeans and brown shoes. Anyone who has seen her is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department.

TYLER – Our news partners at KETK report that for years veterinarians, shelters and rescues have recommended pet owners to get their dogs and cats microchipped. There are dozens of companies that manufacture the microchips. In the past five years, Spence and White Veterinary Hospital in Tyler, has used Save This Life. However, in recent days, pet owners and veterinarians have noticed that the microchip company had gone dark. Save This Life has pulled their records from the national registry where owner information could be found if their pet was ever lost. Continue reading Texas-based pet microchip company shuts down

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that an East Texas man has been sentenced after a jury found him guilty of murder in July 2024.

Melvin Orlando Guevara, 22 of Tyler, was sentenced on Wednesday in the 114th Judicial District Court for capital murder by terror threat. This comes seven months after the murder of Eduardo Torrez, who was shot at his birthday party. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a house in the 8900 block of CR 4136 at approximately 6:30 p.m. after receiving reports that a man had been shot and was not breathing.

Once deputies arrived, they reportedly found Torrez in his bedroom, and began lifesaving measures before EMS arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene. A court document said that Torrez was celebrating his birthday with family and friends when Guevara walked into the residence displaying a pistol, entered Torrez’s room, and shot him multiple times in front of his ex-girlfriend. After obtaining an arrest warrant, officials located a vehicle said to belong to Guevara at Highway 31 East and Loop 323. A felony stop was conducted at a nearby car wash and he was taken into custody.

GREGG COUNTY — Gregg County is the second county in East Texas to partner with ICE to identify and report immigrants in the United States illegally. According to our news partner KETK, on Tuesday, Gregg County commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the sheriff’s office to enter an agreement with federal officials, which is the ICE 287(g) program apart of The Illegal Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1966.

This program gives deputies the ability to identify undocumented criminal immigrants through the federal immigration system then contact ICE directly and have the detainer put on immediately.

“The 287g program is not new. We’ve been doing it for four decades and if you’re not here illegally, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about, but if you’re here illegally and you commit a crime and come to jail, will you get a detainer on you? probably,” Chief Deputy Craig Harrington said. Continue reading Gregg County second in East Texas to have agreement with ICE

LONGVIEW — OUr news partner KETK is reporting that the Longview Police Department will begin encrypting their radio communications, or police scanner, as an essential move to protect department communication and combat crime. Many calls contain sensitive information including medical information, addresses and witness identities. By encrypting their communication, the police department says this will ensure that information remains protected and out of the public domain.

Additionally, the move is expected to improve officer safety, especially during rapidly developing situations. Suspects can flee crime scenes, destroy evidence or ambush officers if they have access to instant information through the radio channels. Though, this access will be closed to the public, authorities reassured they are committed to transparency and will continue to provide timely updates through official channels.

“The community can stay informed about major incidents without compromising security or personal privacy,” the police department said.

TYLER – On Wednesday, the Tyler City Council approved a request to name an unnamed field at Fun Forest Park in honor of Reverend Ralph Caraway, Sr. The North Tyler Youth Baseball and Girls Softball Association initially proposed the request in recognition of Reverend Caraway’s profound impact on the community.

Under Tyler’s ordinance for naming or renaming parklands and park facilities, a park can be named in honor of a living community leader. On Jan. 29, the City of Tyler Parks Board voted unanimously in favor of naming the field after Rev. Caraway. While parks are often named after financial donors or coaches with extensive records of wins, Reverend Caraway’s contributions go beyond the scoreboard. His leadership and mentorship have shaped the lives of thousands of youth and adults throughout the Tyler area. Continue reading Baseball field named in honor of Rev. Ralph Caraway, Sr.

HENDERSON – The Henderson ISD Board of Trustees formally announced the hiring of their new superintendent during a special Tuesday night meeting. According to our news partner KETK, Brian Bowman joins the district with over 20 years of service in education leadership. Before coming Henderson, Bowman served as the superintendent of Diboll ISD.

Bowman said in a press release about how excited he is to join Henderson ISD, “For me, this new role represents more than just a new opportunity—it’s a return to the East Texas region I call home. With children and grandchildren in the area, this is more than just a professional been move; it’s a chance to reconnect with a community that has always to me and my family. I’ve long admired Henderson ISD’s tradition of excellence and am eager to build on its strong foundation to support students, staff, and families.”

Bowman officially started his new role with the district on Wednesday.

TYLER – On Wednesday, the City Council approved an agreement with Cyclyx International, marking a significant expansion of the City’s recycling program. For years, the Tyler Recycle Center has only accepted plastics #1 and #2 due to limitations in processing capabilities. Through this new partnership, starting March 3, the City will now be able to accept all plastics, except PVC, helping to divert more waste from the landfill. Under the agreement, Cyclyx International will accept all eligible plastics for at least one year and will pay the City $0.035 per ton of collected material. The partnership aligns with Tyler’s commitment to sustainability and waste reduction. Cyclyx specializes in breaking down plastics into a feedstock that can be reused by industry partners such as Exxon to create new plastic products. This process ensures that more materials are repurposed rather than discarded, keeping more materials out of the landfill. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this expansion by bringing their plastics to the Downtown Tyler Recycle Center.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Our news partner, KETK, reports that two men were arrested on Tuesday after Cherokee County authorities located 44 grams of crack cocaine in back-to-back search warrants.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Police Department conducted a search warrant for a vehicle parked at 704 Sheridan Street. During the search, authorities reportedly found two grams of suspected methamphetamine and a firearm. Following an investigation, a second search warrant was conducted at on a residence on County Road 3509 in Cuney. Officials said they located 44 grams of crack cocaine, 11 grams of methamphetamine and five firearms were seized, one of which was reportedly stolen from Cherokee County. Rickey Lynn Allen, Sr., and Eddie Floyd Dennis were arrested in the investigation. Continue reading Cherokee County officials find 44 grams of crack cocaine