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LONGVIEW– A Longview man who was arrested last May after firing shots at police officers was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Wednesday, according to our news partner KETK.

Jory Keith Sadler was arrested after the Longview Police Department received reports of an armed person firing a gun on the 2900 block of McCann Road. Once authorities arrived on the scene, Sadler allegedly fired multiple rounds at their patrol vehicle, and in return, he was shot by an officer. After recovering in a local hospital, Sadler was charged with aggravated assault against a public servant and was booked in the Gregg County Jail.

According to court records, Sadler was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Wednesday after he was found guilty of aggravated assault.

TYLER — Several roads in downtown Tyler have seen an increase in traffic and an impact on parking due to ongoing construction. According to our news partner KETK, College Avenue and Erwin Street are the busiest roads downtown, while Elm Street, near The Foundry, is also closed. This has removed dozens of parking spaces and has made getting to restaurants like Heritage East and Moocho Burrito challenging.

Multiple businesses within the square are reporting dips in sales. Good Vibez Nutrition reports a 20% loss over the past year, Crema reports a 20% decrease, and Heritage East reports a 15% decline in bar revenue. Downtown restaurants and retail say the road projects have affected parking, equipment deliveries, and overall attendance.

Good Vibez Nutrition has started thinking of the resources needed to keep businesses up past this rebuilding period. Continue reading Lack of parking impacting businesses

TYLER – As election day approaches and campaign signs take over yards and roadsides, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reminds people of sign placement guidelines. According to our news partner KETK, as Candidates are preparing for the primary election on March 3, but TxDOT advises campaigners to be aware that placing political signs on public lands is illegal.

“We want to remind everyone that TxDOT has guidelines regarding placing signs in the right of way,” Jeff Williford, the public information officer for the TxDOT Tyler District, said. “We know that a lot of signs will start showing up as we get closer to election day, but if a political sign is placed in the right of way, we are required to remove it without notice.”
Continue reading TxDOT enforces campaign sign laws

UPDATE: According to ESD2, the fire is nearly extinguished and residents are allowed to return to their homes.

TYLER — Crews are responding to a grass fire off County Road 219 in Smith County on Wednesday. Since then, residents were asked to evacuate as a precaution. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County ESD2 said several crews responded to the fire on Haverhill Road off CR 219, but no structural damage was reported due to barriers placed around surrounding houses. Officials confirmed no injuries were reported.

The fire is believed to have quickly progressed due to windy conditions. Earlier, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office urged residents to refrain from burning as winds are predicted to be 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts possible.

SMITH COUNTY – The large industrial fire at Four Seasons Containers LLC in November began in a dumpster and spread to the building, Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue reported on Wednesday, January 14.

“The fire originated in a roll-off dumpster where waste from the recycling process conducted at the business was disposed of on a regular basis,” Hogue said. “The fire spread from the roll-off dumpster to the building, resulting in the destruction of the approximately 24,000-square-foot building. The exact cause of the fire within the dumpster was undetermined.”

The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office was aided by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in a thorough investigation to determine the fire origin and cause, Hogue said.
Continue reading Four Seasons Containers fire update

SMITH COUNTY – All non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed for business on Monday, January 19, 2026, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Offices will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, January 20, and Commissioners Court will be held at its normal time, at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Smith County Annex Building, located at 200 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) announced on Monday that construction of the Old Jacksonville Highway expansion project will be pushed back for a few more years.

According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, during their open house, the organization said they would hold construction until 2030, two more years than anticipated, as they wait for tech stock to buy the property needed and “move the utilities that’s going to be involved with the project.”

“It’s just taking a little bit more time than was originally forecasted. So that is really what is kind of pushing this project back a little bit, but it is definitely still moving forward, and we still see it happening,” MPO Director Michael Howell said.

The project is set to widen the highway from four to six lanes, affecting Loop 323 and FM 2813 in Gresham. Continue reading Highway expansion project delayed

HENDERSON COUNTY — An Athens traffic stop led to the arrest of a wanted fugitive and the seizure of marijuana, methamphetamine and drug distribution tools on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, a Henderson County narcotics investigator and K-9 deputy conducted a traffic stop for a traffic violation and detected an odor of marijuana from the vehicle at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the 500 block of West Corsicana Street on Monday.

The deputies identified the driver as 32-year-old Armond Jamal Roberts, who kept giving different names due to being a wanted fugitive from the sheriff’s office. While conducting a search of the vehicle, deputies located a large gallon bag that contained marijuana along with small bags and scales that are commonly used in narcotics distribution. Additionally, the deputies found two plastic bags containing several small, bright-colored pills, which tested positive for suspected methamphetamine.

Roberts was arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail is being held under a $104,285 bond for manufacture or delivery controlled substance and his warrant

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 Tuesday to submit an application for the Sheriff Immigration Law Enforcement Grant. Our news partners at KETK report that Senate Bill 8, which instructed the Texas Comptroller to create a grant program to support sheriffs in counties with fewer than a million residents that take part in the 287(g) program, is the source of this grant. This grant is provided directly by the state. The $100,000 grant is available to Smith County, which has a population of over 200,000. If granted, the funds must be used within two years.

Commissioner for Precinct 4 Ralph Caraway Sr. voted against the application, but County Judge Neal Franklin, Commissioners Christina Drewry, J. Scott Jerod, and John Moore voted in favor of it during the commissioners’ court meeting on Tuesday.

AUSTIN (AP) – Several appeals in some of Texas’ highest-profile capital punishment cases are set for 2026 as the state continues to maintain a historically low number of executions.

2025 marked the second year Texas was not the leading state in executions in a single year, but the state is still the overall leader nationally in the death penalty. Harris County alone, which handed down its 300th death sentence last year, accounts for more executions than any other state.

But Texas’ executions have gradually declined in the last decade, and in 2025 the low number of executions was in part fueled by two last-minute stays. Their resolutions, however, along with a third successful appeal for another death row inmate, may still ultimately result in executions.
Continue reading Death row appeals loom in 2026

KILGORE — An East Texas theater company has been awarded a $25,000 grant for its 2026 season as a part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration. According our news partner KETK, the Texas Shakespeare Festival at Kilgore College was one of 50 arts projects across the country to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as a part of the federal initiative, “Celebrating America250: Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes.”

The National Endowment for the Arts was named a key partner in developing the National Garden of American Heroes, an executive order dedicated to recognizing notable historical figures.

The grant is awarded to arts projects in any discipline that celebrates the contributions to American history of one or more national heroes. Continue reading Shakespeare Festival awarded $25K

WINNSBORO — A former and a current Winnsboro Independent School District superintendent were arrested Monday on charges related to failing to report child abuse. According to our news partner KETK, Brian David Wilcox, Ashley Wilcox and Aaron Nation were booked into the Wood County Jail on Monday, the school district on Monday.

Wilcox is charged with two counts of failure to report child abuse with intent to conceal and remains in the Wood County Jail on a $30,000 bond. Nation faces charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and failure to report child abuse with intent to conceal. His bond was set at $40,000 and has since been released. Wilcox previously served as Winnsboro ISD superintendent before resigning in September 2025 to take another school position. Nation has served as the district’s interim superintendent since Wilcox’s resignation and was named the district’s new superintendent on Jan. 6. His arrest comes just a week after his appointment. Continue reading Winnsboro superintendents arrested

MARSHALL — A former Marshall ISD teacher was sentenced to six months in jail and placed on deferred adjudication probation after pleading guilty to an inappropriate relationship with a student.According to our news partner KETK, 25-year-old Margaret Claire Burris, was arrested Feb. 2024, and charged with an improper relationship between an educator and a student, police said. The case was first reported to the Marshall Police Department in early February by the Marshall ISD Police Department.

According to investigators, they found text messages and photos exchanged between Burris and the student, some of which were sexually explicit. The evidence was obtained after a search warrant was executed on the student’s cellphone. Burris pleaded guilty Jan. 8 and was sentenced to 180 days in the Upshur County Jail and 10 years of deferred adjudication probation. Under Texas law, if the defendant successfully completes deferred adjudication probation, the charge may be dismissed and no formal conviction is entered.

CASS COUNTY — The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a woman who has not been seen since December, according to our news partners at KETK. Authorities say Isabel Tresidder was last seen leaving her residence on Dec. 31, 2025, with a man driving a black Honda Civic. Her family has not heard from her and is concerned about her safety. Tresidder is 18 years old, stands 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 140 pounds and has blonde hair. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

MOUNT ENTERPRISE – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK have confirmed that one person is dead after a serious crash has blocked State Highway 315 to the north of Mount Enterprise on Sunday. County Emergency Services officials have not released the name of the lone fatality, nor has any information regarding any injuries.

TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities is performing smoke testing, as part of the Consent Decree, to help locate breaks and defects to improve the City’s wastewater system from Monday, Jan. 12 through Friday, Jan. 16. The testing will be conducted by Pipeline Analysis from Cumberland Road, Locklear Lane, Paluxy Drive and South Broadway Avenue.

During the process, air and smoke will be blown into the sanitary sewer system in the street to monitor where smoke escapes the system. White smoke will exit through vent pipes on the roofs of residences and through any sewer line breaks in the ground. The smoke is non-toxic, leaves no residue and does not create any fire hazards. Continue reading TWU to conduct smoke testing this week

MOUNT ENTERPRISE – Rusk County Emergency Services said that a serious crash blocked State Highway 315 to the north of Mount Enterprise on Sunday. According to Rusk County Emergency Services, a crash between vehicles possibly resulted a death at around 5:35 p.m. on State Highway 315, just to the north of the City of Mount Enterprise. Officials said they expected the crash to block the roadway until around 8:30 p.m. while they investigate and clean up the scene.

The roadway has since reopened.

HENDERSON COUNTY – A man has been arrested for capital murder in connection to the 2018 killing of Gabriel and Beverly McBride of Chandler.

According to our news partner KETK, in 2018, Gabriel McBride, 47 of Chandler, and his daughter, 17-year-old Beverly McBride, were both found shot to death in their home to the south of Chandler. New evidence, witness information and years of investigation led to an arrest warrant to be issued in this case for Lance Kaeden Rains, 25 of Chandler. Rains was taken into custody on Saturday and is currently being held in the Henderson County Jail on a charge of capital murder of multiple persons. Rains is being held on a $2 million bond.

The sheriff’s office thanked the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers, the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office, the Henderson County Attorney’s Office, the Midwest City Police Department of Oklahoma and the community for their help in this case.

SMITH COUNTY — A routine traffic stop for speeding in Smith County resulted in the arrest of a man wanted on a drug-related warrant. Authorities also seized nearly $30,000 in cash, a firearm and evidence suggesting a money laundering scheme. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County deputies stopped a vehicle on Dec. 28 along Highway 31 East and identified the driver, Tyler James Starling, who was wanted on an active warrant for possession of approximately 10 pounds of marijuana that authorities say had been smuggled and left at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Starling was taken into custody, and deputies searched his vehicle, where they seized a handgun, a cellphone and $29,528 in cash, Smith County arresting documents revealed.

When asked about his employment, Starling told deputies he owned a trucking company. Investigators later confirmed the company existed but found the LLC had been inactive. A search of the Texas Workforce Commission showed no reported work history for Starling, and company mileage records indicated roughly 1,000 miles driven since the business was formed in 2021. Continue reading Traffic stop uncovers money laundering scheme

LINDALE – East Texans gathered near Highway 69 in Lindale to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minnesota on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the protestors joined demonstrations being held across the state and country after the killing of Good, which has prompted nationwide debate over ICE operations. An organizer from Saturday’s protest explained why they came out to demonstrate.

“To wake up and open their eyes to all of the illegal activities that are being pushed on us by the Trump administration, he is totally ignoring the Constitution of the United States of America,” Smith County Democratic Party precinct chair Tony Johns said. “We’re going to put a stop to it and protest is a visible main means to let everybody know that the Democrats are alive and well, especially in this very conservative part of East Texas.” Continue reading Protests against ICE in Smith County

LUFKIN – Several Angelina County fire departments battled an hours-long commercial structure fire at a business off Highway 69 near Lufkin on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, the Fuller Springs Volunteer Fire Department responded to reports of structure fire at the East Texas Diesel auto repair shop at around 5:10 p.m.

The City of Huntington Volunteer Fire Department then responded with an engine at 5:15 p.m. along with crews from the Hudson Volunteer Fire Department, the Zavalla Volunteer Fire Department, the Diboll Fire Department, the Moffett Fire Department, the Central Volunteer Fire Department, the Rivercrest Redland Volunteer Fire Department and the Lufkin Fire Department.

The fire was ultimately extinguished and all firefighters had cleared the scene by 10:44 p.m. on Friday. Huntington VFD said no injuries were reported from the fire.

GUN BARREL CITY – Two duck hunters were saved from Cedar Creek Lake by a Gun Barrel City Fire Department rescue boat on Saturday after their duck hunting boat sank.

According to our news partner KETK, the Gun Barrel City Fire Department said they responded to a report of a duck hunting boat taking on water on Cedar Creek Lake near Oak Hill Drive at around 10:16 a.m. on Saturday. The Seven Points Fire Department arrived at the shore of the lake first and searched for the boaters in the lake near Oak Hill Drive. They couldn’t spot the boaters or their boat, which had sank, according to Gun Barrel City Fire Department.

Gun Barrel City Rescue Boat 1 was launched along with a Tool Fire Department rescue boat. The lake had high winds at waves at the time which reduced the searcher’s visibility on the lake.

The two men were found by the Gun Barrel City rescue boat nearly 500 yards away from Oak Hill Drive. The men were in the 56-degree water for around 90 minutes and were taken to a local hospital to be evaluated.

“I am very proud of how all of the agencies worked together today to rescue the duck hunters and safely return them to their families,” Gun Barrel City assistant fire chief Jason Raney said. “The conditions on the lake, with high winds and rough water, made this a very dangerous rescue for the personnel aboard Rescue Boat 1.”

The Texas Game Wardens are currently investigating the sinking of the duck hunting boat.

EAST TEXAS — As Texas’ labor force reached record high numbers of over 15.9 million people in 2025, three East Texan cities saw changes in employment and unemployment rates.

On Friday, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced that the Texas civilian labor force has grown to a total of 15,938,000 people registered after adding 59,900 people since September 2025. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas is registered at 4.2%. In East Texas, the Longview metropolitan statistical area (MSA) saw an increase in employment while Texarkana MSA and Tyler MSA saw increases in both employment and unemployment since 2024.

Tyler’s unemployment rate currently sits at 4%, the lowest of the three East Texas cities. Longview and Texarkana rates compare at 4.6% and 4.4%, respectively.

“Texas’ increasing job numbers are encouraging, and it’s vital that these are good jobs that provide family-sustaining wages and benefits for Texas workers,” Alberto Treviño III, the TWC Commissioner Representing Labor said. “We must continue to prioritize investments in skills training and development to ensure that all Texans can access these opportunities and share in the state’s prosperity.” Continue reading Unemployment rates reported for East Texas

OVERTON — Overton is appealling the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) order to remove horseshoe-shaped road markings from Warren Street.

According to our news partner KETK, the appeal process officially began Thursday after TxDOT directed the city to remove the markings, saying they do not comply with a new order from Gov. Greg Abbott requiring the removal of nonstandard surface markings from Texas roadways. TxDOT notified the city by email on Dec. 8 that the horseshoe markings needed to be removed as soon as possible, citing letters sent in October to all affected cities and counties. The City of Overton said they never received the October letter.

On Dec. 18, the Overton City Council voted to formally appeal the decision, arguing that the horseshoes represent the city’s school mascot, the Mustang, and have been painted on Warren Street since the early 1990s. Continue reading Horseshoe markings ordered removed