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TYLER – The City of Tyler said that crews will start demolishing the unused South Glenwood Ground Storage Tank on Tuesday, bringing an end to the decades-old unused structure.

According to our new partner KETK, the water tank on South Glenwood Boulevard was first constructed more than 50 years ago in the 1940’s and was used to store water from Well 2. The well is being decommissioned this year as Tyler Water Utilities (TWU) phases out wells in favor of surface water sources, according to the City of Tyler.

TWU is working with Hunter Demolition and Wrecking Corporation on a $276,684 contract to remove the unused tank and its related structures, including a nearby wall, a brick building, water lines and the surrounding fence. Work on demolishing the tank and surrounding structures is expected to be complete by October 2025.

TYLER – The Smith County Animal Control and Shelter waived their adoption fees for their annual Clear the Shelters adoption event on Saturday, according to our news partners at KETK. The shelter started with 42 animals on Saturday and three dogs were adopted into loving families within the first two hours of the event. “With Clear The Shelter Adoption Event coming to a close, we had 3 amazing adoptions! We want to thank these families for taking in these three sweet dogs and giving them the love and care that they deserve,” the Smith County Animal Control and Shelter said on Saturday.

The shelter said that anyone interested can come adopt one of their animals for free until Clear the Shelters ends on Aug. 31. The shelter is located at 322 E Ferguson Street in Tyler. They’re open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. but they close between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

TYLER – Keep Tyler Beautiful celebrated 30 years of service and community pride at their Anniversary Gala on Friday, according to our news partners at KETK.

Keep Tyler Beautiful adds five new ‘Beauty and the Box’ sites
The gala was held at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center and recognized the organization’s ongoing commitment to keeping Tyler clean, green and beautiful. During the gala, a silent auction was held and dinner was provided by Montez Brothers Catering.

Keep Tyler Beautiful was founded in 1995, and since its inception, it has played a vital role in community beautification, environmental education and volunteerism.

“This anniversary is more than just a celebration of our history. It’s a celebration of the people who make our mission possible,” Keep Tyler Beautiful Coordinator Casey Williams said. “We’re excited to invite the community to help us commemorate this moment and continue building a more beautiful Tyler together.”

TYLER – Experts from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service have reported that pork prices are expected to stay within record levels as the holidays approach, according to our news partners at KETK. AgriLife Today reported on Tuesday that average pork prices in stores were at the highest point of the year in July. July’s average price was $5.01 per pound which was up from $4.92 per pound in July of 2024. Continue reading Pork prices expected to stay high during holidays

LONGVIEW – A dead body was found near East Loop 281 in Longview on Saturday afternoon according to our news partners at KETK. The Longview Police Department said officers were dispatched to the 500 block of East Loop 281 after a dead body was found at around 4:11 p.m. Investigators are currently at the scene processing evidence and gathering information. Longview PD said there are no signs of any danger to the public at this time. Anyone with information in this case asked to call Longview PD at 903-237-1170 or the Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.

LUFKIN – Our news partners at KETK report a man is dead following a stabbing on Glenn Street in Lufkin early Saturday. According to the Lufkin Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance reported at an address in the 900 block of Glenn Street in Lufkin at around 2:30 a.m. By the time officers arrived on scene, two people involved in the disturbance had already left, one went to a local hospital and the other went to a nearby home. Lufkin PD said officers went to a nearby hospital and found the man being treated for stab wounds. Police said the man later died from his injuries at around 3:15 a.m. Continue reading One dead after early morning stabbing in Lufkin

TYLER – Texas honeybee experts are warning that 2024 recorded the steepest beehive population decline in state history according to our news partners at KETK. There’s a sting in Texas’ honeybee population. “This past year, it’s been about 62% losses across Texas. We surveyed over 500 beekeepers, and these losses are somewhere between 60,000 to 80,000 colonies,” Honeybee Extension Entomologist with Texas & M Agrilife, Garett Slater said. Continue reading Record low honeybee populations prompt AgriLife webinar

TYLER — Our news partners at KETK report that a Tyler relationship banker has admitted to exploiting an elderly woman with dementia to print and deposit checks into his bank account, a Smith County affidavit revealed. A Regions Bank in Tyler had received a tip that James Dale Turner, a now-former employee, had admitted to printing checks and depositing them into his account. Evidence, including 5 cashier checks, showed transaction dates between May to June where Turner allegedly took $3,812 from the victim. Authorities then contacted Turner, who said he knew why police were contacting him and allegedly admitted to having done the cashier checks. Turner said while working for the bank, he helped people open accounts and worked as a teller. Continue reading Banker admits to exploiting elderly woman with dementia

TYLER – A Jacksonville convicted felon has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Cody Nerren, 34, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on April 24, 2025, Nerren was found in possession of a firearm in Cherokee County. Further investigation revealed Nerren had been previously convicted of several felonies and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. Continue reading Jacksonville felon charged with federal firearms violation

KILGORE – The City of Kilgore announced on Friday that a water main break will close off an intersection until repairs are made. According to the city, the break happened late Thursday night at the intersection of Broadway and Peterson roads. Repairs are estimated to take around two weeks and residents are advised to use Beckley Road as a detour.

TYLER – A woman was arrested on Tuesday after she allegedly left her pregnant dog in in an extremely hot car for over 45 minutes. According to our news partner KETK, the Tyler Police Department responded to a call at a South Broadway Golden Corral, where the driver was eating lunch. Officers found a dog, pregnant, and in distress in an SUV, . An Animal Control Officer said with outside the temperature around 95 degrees, the vehicles internal temperature was at 129 degrees. When the owner of the SUV, Ashley Trenace Summers, approached her vehicle, she was questioned by the officers.

Summers was arrested for animal cruelty and bonded out the next day. Her dog was treated at a vet and then taken to Nicholas Pet Haven. A spokesperson for them said the is now named “Miracle”, and is being placed in a foster home until she gives birth. Continue reading Woman arrested for leaving pregnant dog in hot car

GREGG COUNTY – TxDot announced that a portion of I-20 in Gregg County will be closed late Sunday night to replace some signs. According to our news partner KETK, the affected part of the interstate is Exit 595, Estes Parkway to State Highway 31, on the westbound lane. Road crews will be working from Sunday 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday morning. Officials said the eastbound lane of I-20 will not be affected. Continue reading Westbound I-20 in Gregg County to shut down Sunday night

SHELBY COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report that authorities are searching for people involved in shots being fired at a church’s chapel in Shelby County.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said Old Home Baptist Church, between Tenaha and Paxton, was shot at multiple times. Authorities believe the incident may have occurred between Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Several bullet holes can be seen in the chapel and fellowship hall.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact dispatch at 936-598-5601 or contact Chief Deputy Mike Hanson directly at 936-234-3598.

TYLER – For more than 30 years, the South Glenwood Ground Storage Tank has stood unused along South Glenwood Boulevard. Starting Tuesday, Aug. 26, crews will begin removing the aging structure. All work will be contained to the site and there will be no disruption to traffic. The demolition will take about 4 to 5 days. The South Glenwood Ground Storage Tank is located on South Glenwood Boulevard between Vine Avenue and Houston Street. Built in the 1940s, the facility once stored water from Well 2, which is scheduled to be decommissioned by the end of 2025. TWU has slowly been decommissioning wells as the transition to surface water sources for Tyler’s water supply has rendered the wells obsolete and no longer necessary for the City’s water distribution system. Continue reading South Glenwood ground storage tank demolition begins Monday

GLADEWATER – A Gladewater man was arrested on Saturday after police officers allegedly found multiple weapons and illegal drugs inside his car, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Officers from the Gladewater Police Department stopped a vehicle blocking the roadway on South Tyler Street, where they found several firearms and marijuana inside the car. Officials said that the driver, 24-year-old Rey Rodriguez, was arrested on-site for unlawfully carrying a weapon and possession of marijuana. He was then transported to the Gregg County Jail, where he posted his $5,000 bond the same day.

“Thanks to the quick response of our officers, several weapons and illegal drugs were removed from our streets,” police said. “The Gladewater Police Department remains dedicated to keeping our community safe.”

CARTHAGE – The Panola County District Attorney’s Office said a man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison on Thursday for a 2023 sexual assault of a child case. According to our news partner KETK, Kendrell Dejuan Bowen of Longview was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. On Thursday, the 123rd Judicial District court sentenced Bowen to 20 years in state prison, the maximum sentence for sexual assault of a child.

Panola County Jail records show that Bowen was arrested for sexual assault of a child on Oct. 25, 2023, for an offense that happened two days prior.

Bowen is required to pay a fine of up to $10,000 and will have to register on the Sex Offender Registry for life.

ANGELINA COUNTY — An East Texas teen has been arrested after leading deputies on a high-speed chase on Wednesday night. According to our news partner KETK, Angelina County deputies noticed a driver in a white Cadillac going 77 mph on a 55 mph zone on Highway 94 in Hudson. As deputies attempted to catch up with the vehicle, the driver reportedly accelerated and took off.

The driver turned onto FM 1194 South and reached speeds of 85 mph. The driver, identified as Caleb Perez, 18 of Hudson, attempted to make a turn onto Parks Circle but ran off the road, through a ditch and then struck a telephone pole.

At this point, authorities arrested Perez, who had an active warrant for aggravated robbery, the sheriff’s office said. He was also charged with evading arrest with a vehicle and possession of marijuana.

Perez remains in the Angelina County Jail and is being held without bond for the active warrant.

AUSTIN – During a Natural Resources Committee hearing on Thursday, Texas State Representatives voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 27, which looks to protect East Texas aquifers. According to our news partner KETK, the bill will shut down production and export permits of certain aquifers for 16 months while the Texas Water Development Board conducts a thorough study on East Texas groundwater.

The proposal was added to the Special Session two agenda by Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday evening and he explained that the bill is intended to protect East Texas aquifers.

Before the bill was passed, State Rep Cody Harris (R-Palestine) said the proposal solidifies a promise he made to East Texans to protect their water rights.

“We need to ensure appropriate studies are conducted to protect the health of East Texas aquifers,” Abbott said in a statement Wednesday. Continue reading Committee passes bill intended to protect ETX aquifers

PALESTINE, Texas – Palestine ISD trustees this week approved calling for a $60 million bond election to be held this November. District officials quoted that a new career and technology education center, renovations to aging facilities, traffic flow improvements, and safety upgrades would be funded through the bond. The impact on someone in a home valued at $200,000 in Palestine ISD with a homestead exemption would be about $5 a month according to the district. Find more information on the bond here.

Update: KTBB confirmed Thursday afternoon with the Longview Police Department that all power has been restored.

LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that power outages in the Longview area have caused some city and school district facilities to close operations for the day.

According to the City of Longview, the Development Services office, Green Street Recreation Center and Parks and Recreation Administration building are currently without power.

Longview ISD said the LEAD Academy and the DADE center experienced a power outage. They say SWEPCO expects power to be restored later today, but the afternoon classes are canceled. Students were dismissed starting around 10:15 a.m. with buses running.

Both the district and city said they would update residents when power has been restored.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson is seeking another stay of execution and a new trial after claiming the Anderson County Judiciary acted unconstitutionally multiple times in his case, citing new evidence brought to Roberson’s legal team in June.

Roberson was convicted in 2003 of killing his chronically ill 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, by violently shaking her before taking her to a hospital. A 125-page petition filed Wednesday in the 3rd District Court in Anderson County claims Nikki was taken off life support at the direction of her grandparents — despite Roberson being her sole conservator — only after representatives with the Anderson County Judiciary falsely told hospital staff the couple was Nikki’s legal conservators. Roberson was arrested for capital murder after Nikki died. Continue reading Robert Roberson claims judicial misconduct in bid for new trial

CHEROKEE COUNTY- A Jacksonville convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, according to a press release from the Acting U.S. Attorney’s office.

According to information presented in court, on November 17, 2023, local law enforcement responded to a call regarding reckless driving. When they arrived at the location, they were shown doorbell security camera footage of an individual later identified as Eric Pryor, 52, stepping out of a car and firing four shots at a truck. The truck went through the front yard of the residence to avoid the shots. The two vehicles were soon located on Highway 135 and Pryor admitted to firing the handgun at the truck. Continue reading Cherokee County man sentenced to federal prison for firearms violation

LONGVIEW –According to a press release from the office of the Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs, a Mexican national illegally living in Longview has been sentenced for unlawfully returning to the United States.

According to information presented in court, on August 13, 2024, Jose Refugio Jara-Palafox, 45, was arrested in Gregg County. Following the arrest, it was determined that he had been deported on five prior occasions and has multiple convictions including two DWIs, indecent exposure, leaving the scene of an accident, and presenting false documentation at a port of entry.

Jara-Palafox pleaded guilty to illegal reentry following removal, and was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on August 21, 2025. Jara-Palafox will be deported once he has served his sentence.

TYLER – Drivers may want to take a closer look at the cars around them, according to a report from our news partner KETK. The Texas Department of Public Safety has rolled out new low-profile patrol vehicles across East Texas, designed to blend in with everyday traffic while watching for unsafe driving.

Known as “slick-top ghost-letter units,” the vehicles carry subtle markings and fewer visible lights than traditional patrol cars. DPS officials say the design gives troopers an advantage in spotting reckless drivers, impaired motorists and other roadway dangers without being easily recognized right away.

The ghost units are part of DPS’s broader push to make Texas highways safer, especially as speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving continue to be leading causes of deadly crashes statewide.

MARSHALL – UPDATE: According to Marshall PD, Highway 59 South and Travis Street have reopened after a multi-vehicle accident on Thursday morning.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Marshall Police Department is asking the public to avoid Highway 59 South and Travis Street on Monday morning while they are working a multi-vehicle accident, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Marshall Police officers are currently investigating the cause of the crash that led to multiple lanes being blocked.

As they work to clear the scene, police are encouraging the public to avoid the area. More information will be released as updates becomes available and when lanes open back up.

TYLER – Texas Parks and Wildlife is reporting several bear sightings across East Texas and encouraging people to stay away from its path. According to our news partner KETK, it’s a rare sight for East Texans to spot a bear because the last few bears in the state are predominantly found in the southwest; however, one bear is being spotted all across the piney woods.

“We believe it’s a male, young male, subadult,” Texas Parks and Wildlife District biologist Ruben Gay said. “It has a signature upside-down Nike swoosh in a way that looks like it is on the right side of his face, so that’s helping us verify it.” Gay said with over 14 reported sightings across East Texas, they’ve been able to track his travels as he moves loosely.

“We first started tracking it in the park’s Texas area near Mud Creek, kind of over there near 204 and 110 area in Cherokee County on July 15th,” Gay said.

Seemingly every corner of East Texas has seen this bear with sightings in Anderson, Cherokee, Rusk and Panola counties. This youngster has potentially found the bare necessities in the piney woods. Continue reading Bear sightings in East Texas prompts caution

AUSTIN– Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday evening that he will be adding three items to the Special Session two agenda, including a proposal that protects East Texas aquifers.

According to our news partner KETK, the proposal will shut down production and export permits while the Texas Water Development Board conducts a thorough study on East Texas groundwater.

State Rep Cody Harris (R-Palestine) says the proposal has been tied to House Bill 27 and will be heard on Thursday in the House Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs. “I made a promise to you that I wouldn’t stop fighting big-money interests trying to profit off East Texas water, and this is the next big step,” Harris said.

In Abbott’s message to the Texas Legislature, he explained that the agenda item is intended to protect East Texas aquifers. “We need to ensure appropriate studies are conducted to protect the health of East Texas aquifers,” Abbott said.