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TYLER — Oncor Electric Delivery is upgrading electric facilities in the downtown Tyler area. The area can expect a power outage from 10:30pm through 6:00 Wednesday morning. According to a news release from the county, Oncor says the Smith County Elections Office, which is conducting the primary runoff elections, will not be affected. But, as a precaution, the county has brought in a backup generator. Early voting totals were expected to be released shortly after the polls close at 7:00. Because of the threat of a potential power outage, election workers planned to count the election totals without stopping to post any updates, in an effort to get the complete but unofficial totals released before 10:30pm.

MARSHALL – The Marshall School District is a step closer to getting a new school superintendent. At a called meeting Tuesday, school trustees named Jerry Gibson as the lone finalist for the post. Now comes the 21 day waiting period before the selection can become final. Gibson is currently Superintendent at Coldspring-Oakhurst ISD, a post he has held since 2013. He was selected from over 50 applicants for the Marshall position. Gibson succeeds Marc Smith who left a couple of months ago to become school superintendent in Duncanville.

BROWNSBORO — School trustees in Brownsboro have named the lone finalist for the superintendent’s position. At a called meeting Monday, the Brownsboro School Board selected Tommy Hunter for the post. As required by law, they must now wait 21 days before making a final appointment. Hunter was selected from over 50 applicants for the position. He is currently superintendent of the S & S Consolidated School District north of Sherman. He will succeed Dr. Christopher Moran, who has become school superintendent in Whitehouse.

LONGVIEW — The decline in sales tax revenue is forcing cities like Longview and Gladewater to go into “conservation mode.” KETK reports East Texans are spending less than they used to at local businesses and that’s causing Longview to tighten its budget planning. The city says it’s been a trickle effect since the decline in oil and gas prices. The state Comptroller’s Office says Longview sales tax revenues have dropped over 15 consecutive months. Continue reading Longview Deals with Falling Sales Tax Revenues

LONGVIEW — As the investigation into a fatal shooting in Longview continues, the victim’s family has released his name. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, Devin Newson, 20, of Lakeport, was shot in the parking lot of a Food Fast convenience store on South Eastman Road just before 2:00 Monday morning. He was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Talyna Carlson. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact police. Continue reading Family Identifies Longview Shooting Victim

AUSTIN (AP) – A retired Texas schoolteacher who claims President Barack Obama is a gay prostitute is the front-runner in a Republican primary runoff for a seat on the influential state education board. Mary Lou Bruner is back on the ballot Tuesday after nearly clinching the Republican nomination outright in March. That was despite her lengthy social media history of posting about conspiracy theories, including that Democrats orchestrated John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Her election would be stunning, even given that the 15-member Texas State Board of Education was chaired until 2011 by a creationist who tried weakening evolution lessons in science classes. The board more recently fought over whether textbooks contain anti-American biases. Bruner has said she wasn’t intending to run for office when she posted her beliefs on Facebook.

TYLER — Voters around the area will be going to the polls today to decide some runoff elections. Two candidates are seeking to succeed Senator Kevin Eltife, who did not seek re-election. State Representatives Bryan Hughes of Mineola and David Simpson of Longview are on the ballot. In the Texas House District 5 race, the runoff to succeed Hughes is Jay Misenheimer of Lindale and Cole Hefner of Mount Pleasant. In the race for Smith County Constable, Precinct 4, it’s incumbent John Smith challenged by Josh Joplin. And in the race for place 9 on the State Board of Education, it’s Mary Lou Bruner, who lives in northern Smith County, and Kevin Ellis of Lufkin on the ballot. You’ll be able to follow the returns at KTBB.com.

AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott has named appointees to the Texas Board of Respiratory Care. One of them is from Tyler. The Tyler appointee is Dr. Jim Stocks, professor of medicine at U-T Health Northeast. He is also medical director of the Tyler Junior College Respiratory Therapy Program. Dr. Stocks is a Fellow of the American Sleep Disorders Association and the American College of Chest Physicians and a member of the American Thoracic Society, Smith County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association. His term expires February 1st of 2019.

SMITH COUNTY — The New York-based American Kennel Club has announced the first “AKC Paw of Courage” medal winners. One of them is Ogar, a Belgian Malinois, who was shot and killed following a January 19th traffic stop in Smith County. Ogar was working for the Precinct 5 constable’s office out of Lindale when he was shot. The suspect, 36 year old Michael Koch of Grand Saline, was later arrested in Dallas. He was indicted by the Smith County Grand Jury last month. Continue reading K-9 Ogar Receives National Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP/Staff) – A central Kentucky church is remembering a father and three sons who were killed in a weekend crash while visiting family in Texas. Pastor Jeff Fugate of Clays Mill Road Baptist Church in Lexington told local media that the family was “an intricate part of every ministry of our church.” Investigators say the four died Saturday in a three-vehicle crash in Panola County when their van was struck from behind by a Chevrolet Tahoe while waiting for another car to make a left turn. The van was pushed into oncoming traffic, where a tractor-trailer rig slammed into it. The Texas Department of Public Safety says 46-year-old Israel Avelar, 17-year-old Kevin Avelar, 13-year-old Daniel Avelar and 6-year-old Matthew Avelar died in the crash. KLTV reports three other van passengers were hospitalized, as were the drivers of the Tahoe and the 18-wheeler.

LONGVIEW — Nearly two dozen Longview drivers have been ticketed during “Operation Life-Saver.” Union Pacific says every three hours a vehicle or a person is hit by a train. Friday Longview police and the Union Pacific teamed up to tackle illegal crossings at railroad stops. With officers along a four mile route, and one on the train, they caught drivers on Friday who were accused of breaking the law. KETK reports over 20 drivers were ticketed, five of those at the crossing on Enterprise Street. This is not the first time such and operation has been staged, and it will not be the last.

WHITEHOUSE — A multi-vehicle wreck that ground traffic to a halt early this morning in Whitehouse has since been cleared. Police were urging motorists to use caution when traveling in the area near Whitehouse High School.

SAN ANTONIO — With the death of music superstar Prince, the danger of prescription painkillers is in the spotlight — and now a Tyler icon is weighing in. Many don’t know that John Tyler Lions, Texas Longhorns, and Houston Oilers legend Earl Campbell struggled to overcome an opioid addiction. He told a fundraiser for San Antonio’s Rise Center, which helps addicts, that it was one of his five doctors who got his kids involved. Campbell said his son Tyler told him the children had checked out what he was doing — and that if he kept doing it, he’d “be dead like Michael Jackson.” Campbell says it’s too easy to get prescriptions for painkillers. He used to drive from Austin to Houston to get pain shots.

LONGVIEW — Police have charged a Longview woman with shooting her brother in a domestic dispute. According to the Longview News-Journal, Celia Nicole Hall, 32, is in the Gregg County Jail awaiting arraignment. Longview police say officers were dispatched to a shots fired call in the 3700 block of Dowell Drive around 10:00 Friday night. Officers said they were told Hall and her brother were arguing, and the argument led to Hall retrieving a gun and shooting her brother in the face. She was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault/family violence with a deadly weapon. He bond was set at $40,000. Continue reading Woman Accused of Shooting Brother Remains Jailed

GLADEWATER — A 34-year-old woman has been hospitalized after officials said she was struck by a train. According to KETK, Talishia Foreman, of Gladewater, was reportedly attempting to cross the railroad tracks when she was hit around 5:30 Saturday morning. She reportedly suffered minor lacerations and an injured hip. Foreman was transported to the hospital by EMS. Her condition is unknown at this time.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man has been arrested following a high speed chase with numerous law enforcement officers. The pursuit began Saturday afternoon on Loop 323 in Tyler and continued onto County Road 45. The driver, later identified as Kenny Leroy Johnson, 37, drove into a wooded area where he ditched the car and fled on foot. DPS helicopters and Smith County K-9 units were called in and Johnson was apprehended a short time later. Tyler police also assisted in the pursuit. According to online judicial records, Johnson has a lengthy criminal history including evading arrest, nonpayment of child support, failure to appear and parole violation.

LONGVIEW — One man is killed in a motorcycle wreck early Saturday morning in Longview. According to KETK, Ronnie Gene Fleet, 35, of Longview, was traveling Northbound on Pine Tree Road just after 1:00 am when a vehicle pulled out from a private drive in the path of the motorcycle. Fleet died as a result of his injuries. Police said they believe speed and distracted driving may have been factors in the crash.

SMITH COUNTY – One child has been flown to a local hospital after a near-drowning incident at The Villages. According to KETK, officials were unable to release any information about the child’s condition. The incident is under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler Police were at the scene of a car crash last night at the intersection of Loop 323 and New Copeland Road. Officials said a car crashed into a utility pole causing the lines to fall across the roadway. Oncore crews were at the scene making repairs. Traffic was rerouted for several hours. No word on the driver’s condition.

TYLER – A state pageant is coming to Tyler this fall. At a news conference Friday, it was announced that the Ms. Texas Senior Classic Pageant will be in Tyler October 1st. It will be held at the Holiday Inn on South Broadway. State Director and Pageant President Peggy Wagner said the hotel in Plano, where it had been held, has been sold. And the reiging queen, Jo Anne McMeans of Tyler, suggested the Rose City. After talking about it and visiting the city, Wagner said there couldn’t be a more perfect place to hold the pageant. Continue reading Senior Pageant Coming to Tyler

LONGVIEW — Police have arrested a Longview man for drug violations. Arrested as officers served a search warrant at a house on South 15th Street was Robert Lee Oliver Jr., 68. Officers report finding a large quantity of narcotics, cash, and a handgun in the house. Oliver was booked into the Gregg County Jail on a charge of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance.

LONGVIEW — A man who was dressed as a woman during a Kilgore robbery has been sentenced to prison. Gene Williams, 45, of Shreveport had been accused of the 2012 robbery of Rose Package Store #3 in Kilgore. He even fired his handgun during the robbery. No one was injured. Williams, who had previously pled guilty to the robbery, has been sentenced by State District Judge Alfonso Charles to 75 years in Prison. He will be eligible for parole in 30 years.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin burglar went to a lot of trouble to get nothing. Lufkin police, early Friday morning, responded to a burglar alarm at Beard Fine Jewelers on South First Street. They found a front window broken out. The surveillance video shows the window was broken by a man with a crowbar who was wearing a black jacket with a white and gray hood, gloves and maybe a mask. Inside the store he placed seven Rolex boxes in a bag an fled. He later found the watch boxes were empty.

HENDERSON – A Henderson man reported missing at midweek has been found. Dominique Rashawn Cade, 22, was last seen between 6:30 and 7:00 Monday night. He was leaving work from the parking lot of Sadler’s Smokehouse on North Frisco Street. Henderson police report Cade returned home Thursday.

EAST TEXAS — Mary Lou Bruner, a candidate for State Board of Education District 9, has responded to heavy criticism of comments she made at a superintendents’ meeting at Region 7 earlier this month. KETK reports her response also follows the withdrawal of support for Bruner from Grassroots America – We The People (GAWTP). On her Facebook page, Bruner says, in part, “I have been severely criticized for statements I made at the superintendent’s meeting in Kilgore on May 4, 2016. This incident has Saul Alinsky’s demolition tactics written all over it.” Continue reading Bruner Responds to Criticism, Withdrawal of GAWTP Support