KTBB News, Weather, Talk

UPSHUR COUNTY – Several volunteer fire departments across Texas, including the New Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, received a $10,000 grant from State Farm and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), according to a report from our news partner KETK.

This was the second year in a row that the NVFC and State Farm partnered up to support local volunteer fire departments. The grants help departments secure the necessary equipment to keep first responders safe and protect their communities. Continue reading East Texas fire department receives $10K grant

TYLER – Indivisible Smith County, a local nonprofit political group, held a “Fight The Trump Takeover” protest on the S. Saunders Avenue overpass of Highway 31 in Tyler on Saturday, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Fight The Trump Takeover protests were held all across the country on Saturday in response to the ongoing mid-decade redistricting effort being undertaken by Republicans in Texas. The East Texas organization Indivisible Smith County took part in the protests by hanging banners over Highway 31 in Tyler. Continue reading Smith County group protests Trump and redistricting

TYLER – Chapel Hill ISD held a ribbon cutting on Saturday for their new Academies of CHISD career and technology center and their new Multipurpose Activity Center. According to our news partner KETK, the two new buildings are located at the Chapel Hill High School campus and were funded as a part of Chapel Hill ISD’s 2023 bond. The career and technical education facility was designed to improve on the district’s Academies of Chapel Hill education model with new classrooms and technical workshops.

“It’s almost like Christmas morning when you get a chance to open up that present for the first time that you’ve been wishing for just about a whole year,” Chapel Hill ISD superintendent Lamond Dean said. “It’s been awe-inspiring to see our community, all the hard work and dedication our staff have come through and for our children to have such facilities that will give them so many great opportunities that they did not have before.” Continue reading Chapel Hill ISD unveils new technology center, multipurpose facility

WINONA – Winona ISD announced that their campuses will be closed on Monday due to a sewer line issue. They plan on being back open for their first day of school on Tuesday.

“We will be back Tuesday for our 1st day of school and can’t wait to see our students and staff back on campus. Go Cats!! It’s going to be a great year,” Winona ISD said on Sunday.

To stay up to date with the district, visit Winona ISD on Facebook.

LITTLE ROCK – The Little Rock FBI Field Office is asking for the public’s help in its search for a wanted Texarkana man. According to our news partner KETK, 31-year-old Brandon Lakeith Jenkins is wanted after allegedly shooting three people in an Aug. 29, 2023, home invasion robbery in Texarkana, Texas. They said they believe Jenkins has fled across Arkansas to avoid capture. The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest and conviction.

Jenkins was charged on Sept. 11, 2023, with engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated assault by the Bowie County Magistrate in Texas. Officials say Jenkins has ties to Texarkana, Texas, and Hope, Arkansas.

Jenkins is described as a 5-foot-5-inch Black man weighing 153 pounds. He should be considered armed and dangerous and is an escape risk, FBI officials said. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department at 903-798-3165.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – The Lilbert-Looneyville Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene of a major rollover crash on State Highway 204 near Trawick on Saturday.

According to our news partner KETK the crash occurred in the 4500 block of SH 204 at 11:49 p.m. on Saturday. Nacogdoches County EMS and the Texas Department of Public Safety were part of the rescue and recovery team.

Lilbert-Looneyville VFD said a car was heading east towards Trawick, north of Nacogdoches, when it left the roadway and rolled over multiple times, flattening several road signs in the process. Luckily, the driver of the car was able to escape the wreckage before any first responders arrived at the crash scene. EMS then transported the driver to a local hospital to be treated and evaluated for any injuries.

TYLER – U.S. Congressman for Tyler Rep. Nathaniel Moran visited our news partner KETK on Friday to discuss several topics including the quorum break in the Texas State Legislature and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Moran applauded Trump for meeting with Putin in person.

“I appreciate the fact that President Trump is going to sit down with him face to face,” Moran said. “Because I think that’s going to help to communicate how serious President Trump is about achieving peace in the region there in Europe and how, Putin needs to back off of what he’s doing presently and to put a pause on all that he intends to do even in the future, because, frankly, I don’t think he intended to stop with Ukraine.”

Moran also commented on the Republican effort to redistrict Texas to have more Republican seats in the U.S. Congress and how Texas Democrats have broke quorum, halting work in the State Legislature. He suggested that Texas Democrats will have to come back to the state in order to continue the work of the Texas Legislature. Continue reading Rep. Moran discusses war in Ukraine, quorum break

UPDATE: The Texarkana Police Department said that Seth Harrel was found safe at around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

TEXARKANA – Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Texarkana Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating an autistic boy who went missing on Saturday. 12-year-old Seth Harrel is an autistic child who was reported missing at around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday from his home, which is to the south of Texarkana College.

He was last seen on foot heading in an unknown direction and could be wearing a black shirt and jeans. Anyone who sees Seth is asked to call 911 immediately.

LIVINGSTON – According to our news partner KETK, a Livingston man was arrested for impersonating a police officer in Montgomery County on Aug. 1.

William Caruthers, 38 of Livingston, was originally wanted on a warrant filed by the Livingston Police Department after an incident in July where he was seen chasing a motorcycle with police lights flashing on his gray 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, according to Livingston PD. Then on Aug. 1, Livingston PD said that Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Caruthers because they believed he was impersonating an officer at the scene of a crash he was in. He was then booked into the Montgomery County Jail on two counts of impersonating a public servant.

According to Livingston PD, Caruthers’ Ford had a black push bar on the front fender and several flashing emergency lights and that Caruthers had body armor and handheld radios in his possession when he was arrested. Continue reading Man arrested for impersonating police officer

TYLER – According to our new partner KETK, a member of the Tyler City Council has announced his intention to run for mayor of Tyler in the upcoming 2026 election.

James Wynne has spent the past six years as a councilmember of District 4, and he’s now looking to transition into the role of mayor. Wynne posted a video on YouTube on Friday announcing his intentions to run for mayor.

“No race is run alone,” Wynne said. “I humbly ask for the support of our community in this race for the future of Tyler. Together, we can ensure our city continues to thrive for generations to come.”

More information about Wynee and his experience in local government can be found on his website.

SMITH COUNTY – Two people have been injured after their vehicle crashed into trees on Highway 31 in Smith County according to our news partner KETK. First responders from UT Health, Smith County Emergency Services and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of the crash and had to use chainsaws to clear the brush around the vehicle.

The two people injured in the crash were extracted from the vehicle put into an ambulance to be transported to a local hospital. Traffic heading westbound on Highway 31 is currently blocked by first responders.

LONGVIEW — Our news partner KETK is reporting that Pine Tree High School assistant principal, Annette Johnson, was selected as an Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year Region 7 representative in the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP). Johnson is currently in her fourth year as an assistant principal and has been a member of the leadership team at Pine Tree High School since 2023. She has taken on various roles in education including high school principal, elementary assistant principal and director of technology.

TASSP recognizes outstanding principals and assistant principals across 20 regional Education Service Centers in Texas.

“I am truly honored to serve alongside my principal, Mr. Beeper Kraus, and my assistant principal colleagues each day,” Johnson said. “Together, we build relationships with the students and their parents, which is a privilege for me each year. The community of Pine Tree supports our teachers and students on a continual basis, and I’m proud to be a part of it.” Continue reading Pine Tree ISD named most outstanding in Region 7

TYLER – The Tyler Fire Department responded to a fire at a recycling center on Highway 31 last night. A nearby business told KETK that they felt their whole building shake as if was hit by a car. They said what they felt must have been an explosion that’s started a fire in a scrap heap at K&L Recycling.

According to our news partner KETK, the Tyler Police Department temporarily shut down traffic in the 4000 block of Highway 31 while firefighters worked to control the fire at K&L Recycling. A KETK reporter at the scene could see smoke rising from the area on Friday. More details as they become available.

TYLER – The owner of the Carlton Hotel, Norf Companies, announced on Friday that the compromised south wall of the hotel’s garage has been fully demolished. According to our news partner KETK, the demolition was undertaken in a collaboration between the Tyler Fire Department, City officials and Norf Companies’ demolition contractor. The sidewalks near the garage are still closed but Elm Street and Spring Street are now back open to road traffic, according to Norf Companies.

“Completing the demolition of the compromised south wall is a significant step toward ensuring public safety,” development director at NORF Companies Ilse Stough said. “We are grateful for the continued support and swift coordination from the City of Tyler, our engineering team, and the demolition contractor. Our focus remains on protecting the public and resolving this matter responsibly.”

Elm Street was first closed after bricks were noticed falling from the wall in August.

TYLER – Tyler City Council has approved an agreement with the Tyler Economic Development Council that will expand sanitary sewage service to a future business par, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The $992,353.84 development agreement was approved by Tyler City Council on Wednesday, and will expand the city’s sewage system to cover the Wisenbaker Tract. The tract is a 282-acre stretch of land on Highway 271 and FM 14 that the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC) acquired to build a new business park. TEDC will manage the design, permitting, bidding and construction of the sewer expansion and the city will cover eligible costs after the project is completed, according to a City of Tyler press release. Continue reading Tyler approves sewer expansion for future business park

MARSHALL – According to a press release from the Marshall Police Department, an juvenile suspect was arrested in an armed robbery on Thursday, August 14. The arrest led officers to recover property stolen in several recent burglaries. During the search for the suspect, officers also apprehended an unrelated individual wanted in connection with an ongoing investigation.

A few minutes after 10 a.m., an Marshall Police officer observed a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway in the 150 block of W. Grand Avenue. The driver reported she had just been robbed at gunpoint in a store parking lot while meeting someone that she believed was interested in purchasing a pair of shoes she had listed on Facebook Marketplace. The victim provided officers with a photograph of the suspect. The officer immediately broadcast the suspect’s description, and additional units began searching the area. During this search, an individual fled from officers, and was detained. Continue reading Marshall police arrest juvenile in armed robbery

Update: According to the City of Tyler, Chandler Highway has reopened except for the outside eastbound lane following a fire near K&L Recycling. Tyler Firefighters remain on-site to monitor the situation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

TYLER – The Tyler Fire Department is responding to a fire Friday afternoon at K&L Recycling, located at the Chandler Hwy. A press release from the city said the roadway is closed at this time. Tyler PD is doing traffic control, and asks drivers to avoid this area. The road will reopen after the fire is out.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in finding a missing 26-year-old man with intellectual disabilities, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s office says that around 6 p.m. on Thursday, Devon Michael Head left his home in Jacksonville carrying a bag with clothes and his Xbox, leaving his wallet and phone. He was last seen on CR 3108 on Friday. Head is described to be 6 feet tall, red hair, weighing 170 pounds, and has intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Authorities believe that after leaving his home, Head may have been picked up by individual(s) he connected with online. If anyone has any information about his location, please contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office 903-683-2271.

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents about an increase in stolen side-by-side (SxS) vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility task vehicles (UTVs) so far this year.

The sheriff’s office said the increase in stolen vehicles is a nationwide problem, and they have reported that since the start of the year, 10 ATVs and SxS vehicles have been stolen in Smith County and only two have been recovered.

According to the sheriff’s office, the majority of the thefts occurred between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., and incidents have taken place at various locations, including locked buildings, attached carports, and large, secluded properties. Continue reading Smith County residents alerted to a surge in ATV and UTV thefts

RUSK — A man deemed armed and dangerous is wanted by the Rusk Police Department and Cherokee County SWAT team as a suspect in Thursday’s shooting in Rusk, according to our news partner KETK.

The Rusk Police Department announced that Donald Everitt Casper is wanted for aggravated assault with a firearm, and is considered armed and dangerous. According to Rusk Police Chief Scott Heagney, Casper is wanted in connection to a shooting at a residence on Main Street that injured one man. Heagney said Casper is suspected of shooting a man in the leg during a “drug deal gone bad”. The victim was driven to a local hospital and sustained non-life threatening injuries, according to Heagney. Officials with the Rusk Police Department and Cherokee County SWAT team are currently searching for Casper, and they suspect he is still in the Rusk or Jacksonville area. Continue reading Rusk Police, SWAT searching for armed suspect

UPDATE: According to Brownsboro Fire Rescue, as of 2:40 p.m. FM 314 and Highway 31 are now open.

BROWNSBORO – A Brownsboro railroad crossing is closed Friday afternoon after a train and an18-wheeler collided on the tracks. According to our news partner KETK, the crash happened at the intersection of Highway 31 and FM 314. City officials ask drivers to use an alternate route because they don’t know how long it will take to clean up the area. The driver of the 18-wheeler is the hospital, his condition is not known.

LINDALE – Lindale Independent School District announced today that every campus within the district has earned an “A” rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the 2024–2025 school year, with the district as a whole also achieving an overall “A” rating. “This is a testament to the incredible teamwork that happens every single day in Lindale ISD,” said Stan Surratt, Superintendent of Schools. “Our students work hard, our teachers go above and beyond to provide engaging and rigorous instruction, and our families consistently partner with us to ensure success. We are grateful for a community that values and supports public education.” Continue reading Lindale ISD earns ‘A’ rating at every campus and districtwide

LUFKIN — A Lufkin felon facing prison for a federal firearms violation Thursday. Michael Antoine Lovelady, 53, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to information presented in court, on March 14, 2025, Lovelady was arrested during a traffic stop for outstanding warrants. During the arrest, Lovelady attempted to flee when firearm was discovered in his waistband. Lovelady is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.

Lovelady was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15, 2025, and faces up to 15 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

HENDERSON COUNTY — A Eustace man is being accused of aggravated sexual assault of a child after two young girls allegedly outcried to their mom. According to a report from our news partner KETK, the 69-year-old claims that if he did do it, ‘it happened in his sleep’.

At around 9:44 p.m. on Aug. 8, a Henderson County investigator received a phone call from the Eustace Police Department about a sexual assault of a child. The officer said on the phone that a woman was in their police department because her nine-year-old daughter told her James Malcolm McCrary, 69, of Eustace, sexually abused her. Continue reading Man accused of sexually assaulting two young girls

LUFKIN — The Lufkin Police Department said that one man is dead after he was fatally shot on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, detectives are currently at the scene of a fatal shooting that left a Lufkin man dead at around 4:30 p.m. in the 3000 block of South First Street. A Lufkin PD press release said one person has been taken into custody in connection to the shooting.

Officers with Lufkin PD do not suspect anyone else was involved in the shooting. Lufkin PD said the names of the victim and the person in custody will be released on Friday, along with more details on the shooting, after detectives finish their investigation.

LONGVIEW — Longview ISD was given a ‘B’ rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) based on student education levels. The TEA shared A through F ratings for all public schools across Texas this week, with Longview ISD landing an overall score of 88. The district’s Superintendent, Dr. Marla Sheppard, said Longview ISD has been working hard at achieving a higher standard.

According to our news partner KETK, students displayed higher levels of reading and math comprehension throughout elementary and secondary schools. The district received 52 campus distinctions in 2025 compared to 40 in 2024.

The TEA ratings are expected to be released to the public by this coming Friday.

SMITH COUNTY – Bella, a member of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, will be receiving a bullet and stab protective vest. According to our news partner KETK, this is following a generous donation from a nonprofit that strives to provide protection for K-9 units all over the United States.

The sheriff’s office received the vest from the Vested Interest in K-9s, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing protective vests to K-9 units nationwide. The nonprofit was founded in 2009, and since its inception, it has provided over 6,225 vests to K-9 units across the country.

Bella’s new vest is expected to be delivered in ten weeks, and like all Vested Interest products, it will weigh four to five pounds and comes with a five-year warranty.

Tyler, TX – For the 22nd year in a row, Tyler ISD has earned the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE) from the Association of School Business Officials International.

The recognition honors the district’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024. The COE is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, reflecting a tradition of accuracy, transparency, and accountability. “Tyler ISD is honored to be recognized for excellence in financial reporting for the 22nd year,” said Tyler ISD Chief Financial Officer Kasey Russell. “We are especially proud to have received the award without any comments or recommendations.”

The district credits this continued achievement to a shared commitment among its leadership, staff, and community to uphold the highest standards in financial stewardship.