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TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating an armed robbery at the Family Dollar store on Bow Street. Officials said the clerk was approached by an armed suspect wearing green cammo pants, a black jacket, winter gloves and a white mask over his face. The suspect fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect is described as a black male about 5’7 and close to 170 pounds. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Cherokee County authorities have positively identified a body found in a home Thursday as Michael Alan Davis, 60, from the Alto community. The sheriff’s department said just after 11:00 a.m., a property owner called 9-1-1 to report that he had stopped by one of his properties near the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 69 and County Road 2430 and had found a deceased person in the living room. The owner told deputies that he had last checked the property on March 31 and was unaware that anyone had been staying there. Continue reading Body Found on Cherokee County Property Identified

TYLER – Chief Gary Swindle has promoted four supervisors. On Friday, Chief Swindle promoted Sergeant Paul Robeson and Sergeant Jon Thornhill to Lieutenant. He also promoted Officer James Freeman and Investigator Ethan Johnson to Sergeant. Continue reading Promotions at the Tyler Police Department

TYLER – A Dallas woman has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to bank robbery and car jacking charges. Chanel Collins, 27, was one of two persons arrested in March of last year in connection with the robbery of the First National Bank in Big Sandy. She is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison plus a fine of $250,000.00. A sentencing hearing for Collins will be held at a later date. Continue reading Bank Robber Pleads Guilty in Tyler

AUSTIN – A Northeast Texas student is one of 54 Texas students awarded scholarships By Governor Greg Abbott to attend the Texas Governors Science and Technology Champions Academy. Connor Bailey, a 6th grade student at Sulphur Springs Middle School, is one of the students who won competitions at the 2016 Texas Science and Engineering Fair, hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio. Bailey placed third in Biochemistry. At the The Governors Science and Technology Champions Academy, participants will engage in hands-on activities in the areas of analytical chemistry, aerospace engineering, veterinary science, and cyber security. The scholarships awarded to science fair winners cover the entire cost of the residential summer camp.

MOUNT PLEASANT – A wanted fugitive has been found hiding in a Mount Pleasant business. He was arrested early Friday morning after the Titus County Sheriff’s Department received a tip. Officers went to the “B&A Center” at 201 East 1st Street and began a search inside the building, which houses a restaurant and an automotive shop. They found Eduardo Flores, 32, and a woman, hiding inside a cabinet. Along with Flores, authorities arrested Harlee Breeann Hill, 20. Both have been charged with criminal mischief and numerous other violations. Flores is being held on bonds totaling $27,500 and Hills’ bonds total $16,500.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches woman is arrested after being accused of attacking her ex-boyfriend with a box cutter. Charged with aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance and fleeing police was 20 year old Jennifer Moreno. She was accused of cutting the victim in the parking lot of Wal-Mart. He was not seriously injured. Police saw her driving by the parking lot and gave chase. They were able to catch her and put her under arrest. Found in her car was the weapon and a small amount of a controlled substance. At last report she remained in the Nacogdoches County Jail under bonds totaling $16,500.

TATUM – A former Tatum school teacher has been arrested for an improper relationship with a student. Booked into the Rusk County jail Friday was Kallie Lynn Boxell, 23. Her bond was set at $10,000. The school district started an investigation last month into a report that a teacher had an improper relationship with two students. The teacher resigned. That investigation led to a grand jury indictment and then Boxell’s arrest.

MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating one of their most wanted fugitives. They are trying to find James Michael Milton. He is wanted for an outstanding felony warrant for forgery of a financial instrument. The case stems from a forgery that occurred at Brookshire’s Grocery Store here in Marshall. Milton is described as 5’7″, 153 pounds with a medium build. He has black hair and brown eyes with several scars and tattoos on both arms. The last known address for Milton was in Longview.

LONGVIEW – Longview authorities have arrested a Kilgore man on animal cruelty charges. 26 year old Torian Dewayne Rodgers was arrested after a warrant was issued for his arrest. It came as the result of the deaths of four dogs at a Longview address and several more at another location in Gregg County. Following an investigation, Rodgers was was located and arrested without incident by a Longview K-9 Officer. He was then booked into the Gregg County Jail. Rodgers is currently free on bond. Continue reading Man Charged with Animal Cruelty

TYLER — The Don’t Mess with Texas 30th Anniversary Trash and Treasure Hunt is today at 9:00 a.m. at Southside Park and Rose Rudman Trail in Tyler. It’s hosted by Keep Texas Beautiful and the Don’t Mess with Texas Campaign of the Texas Department of Transportation. You’re invited to join in this fun trash pickup event with a chance to win great prizes from YETI, NASCAR, McDonald’s, and more.

PARIS, TENNESSEE — Escaped convict Michael Rotunno has been captured in Paris, Tennessee Thursday night after he was spotted at a motel in a stolen vehicle from Hallsville. According to KETK, the series of events brings an end to a days long manhunt after the 30-year-old escaped from Florida law enforcement officers Monday while being transferred to a penitentiary. Rotunno used a stolen vehicle from Mississippi to make his way to Longview, where he allegedly abandoned that vehicle, and submerged it in a small lake. Another vehicle was reported stolen from Rader Funeral Home, near the lake, and it was discovered in an area north of Hallsville on Thursday. Continue reading Escaped Inmate Arrested in Tennessee

GLADEWATER — A couple has been arrested in connection with what were termed extremely malnourished horses in Upshur County. According to KETK, the Gladewater Police Department says Alisha Duvall Knox and her husband, Ronnie Arthur Knox, were arrested and charged with cruelty of livestock animals after a grand jury indicted them. Ronnie Knox was taken into custody on April 1 and Alisha on April 7. Both suspects were booked into the Gregg County Jail and bonds are set at $10,000. Continue reading Couple Arrested in Upshur County Animal Cruelty Case

TYLER – The UT Health Northeast has been awarded a $5.8 million contract from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The grant is to monitor and help reduce the number of Texas babies who suffer from injuries related to abuse. The new program is in addition to several other projects being funded through the newly created UT health Northeast School of Community and Rural Health. Projects funded by the contract will evaluate hospital-based programs designed to prevent abuse, especially head injuries, in a child’s first year of life. The statewide effort will be funded through August 2020. Continue reading UT Health Northeast Receives $5 Million Grant

LONGVIEW – A proposed Longview road project is being scrapped over community objections. Improvements to U.S. Highway 259 at Eden Drive and Tryon Road in Longview are being halted after comments from a March 17th open house-style public meeting revealed a lack of public support for the proposed project. The Longview Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said no changes will be made to the intersection. Continue reading Proposed Longview Road Project Halted

LUFKIN – An Angelina County Teacher is being accused of sending nude photos of herself to a student. Our news partner, KETK, reports Huntington middle school teacher Kylie Modisette was arrested on a charge of selling/distributing/displaying harmful material to a minor. She is free on a $1,500 bond. Huntington School Superintendent David Flowers says Modisette is currently on administrative leave.

LONGVIEW – The final suspect in a drug trafficking conspiracy in Gregg County has been arrested. Taken into custody Wednesday afternoon at the Gregg County North Jail was 34 year old James Lamar Fountain. He was one of 17 persons named in indictments in a federal firearms and drug trafficking conspiracy. Besides the drug charges, Fountain is also accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Fountain could face up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million if convicted in the federal case. Continue reading Final Gregg County Drug Suspect Arrested

TYLER – John Tyler High School Criminal Justice students have advanced to the national competition scheduled to take place in Louisville, Kentucky this summer. This comes after the students competed in the Skills USA state competition earning 3rd place in both Criminal Justice Quiz Bowl and Building Search categories. They then took top honors with a 1st place finish in the Crime Scene Investigation category. Continue reading John Tyler High School CSI Team Advances

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s department has alerted residents that a wanted sex offender may be in the area. He is Tyrone Edward Gott. He is also known as Ty Gott. He is wanted for parole violation on the original charge of indecency with a child by sexual contact. He has fled from his registered address in Houston and has not been seen. Gott is described as a 42 year old white male, 5’8” tall and weighs around 170 pounds. He has hazel eyes, very short brown hair. Gott also has tattoos all over his body including both arms, his chest, right wrist and left hand.

MARSHALL — A Marshall man has been found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of two girls and sentenced to 35 years on each count. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report 37-year-old Stephen Blane Fultner pleaded not guilty to the crimes, which dated back to 2014. His sentences will run concurrently. During the trial, the defense argued that Fultner was not guilty and the allegations had been concocted by the children’s grandmother, who didn’t like him. Kristin Kaye, one of the prosecutors, said the defendant deserved a life sentence because he ruined the two children’s lives. There was no immediate word on a possible appeal.

HENDERSON (AP) – The re-sentencing trial continues for the East Texas mortician whose murder case inspired the dark comedy movie “Bernie.” Bernie Tiede was convicted in 1999 of killing Marjorie Nugent, a widow more than 40 years his senior whom he befriended in Carthage. Tiede was sentenced to life in prison but freed after a prosecutor said he believed Tiede deserved a reduced prison sentence because of abuse he suffered as a child. Jurors could now send him back to prison or let him remain free. According to The Dallas Morning News, prosecutor Lisa Tanner argued Wednesday that Tiede “was stealing Marjorie Nugent blind, and he was doing it cleverly.” But defense attorney Mike DeGeurin said Nugent controlled Tiede and had a “mean streak and an abusive streak.”

TYLER — The city of Tyler is showcasing a new facility while gathering input for the future of its parks and open space. It all starts as the Glass Recreation Center hosts a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house today from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for its brand new cardio room. The formal ribbon cutting and dedication of the new room will take place at 5:30 p.m. The new cardio room will be named in honor of Corneille Hutcherson, a city employee who worked for 19 years with the Summer Playground Program. Continue reading Input Sought on Tyler Park Facilities; Glass Center Showcases New Room

TYLER – Three Tyler School District employees have been honored by Young Audiences of Northeast Texas at their annual Arts in Education Awards banquet. They are retired music teacher Leslie Ring, and teachers Christolyn Milligan and George Brigman. Honorees were selected from nominations made to Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. Individual arts educators from public or private schools within the Region 7 ESC geographic area were eligible to be nominated. Finalists were selected by a panel of local arts professionals and community members. Continue reading Three Tyler Educators Honored

EAST TEXAS – Both Tyler and Longview are lagging behind the state’s figures in sales tax receipts. The State Comptroller’s office announced Tyler’s sales tax allocation for April is $2.9 million dollars. This is down just over 5% from April of last year. Longview was down just over 2% with an April sales tax allocation of $2.1 million. The yearly figures are also down, with Tyler down nearly 5% for the first four months. Longview is down nearly 8%. Over all, Texas is sending out over $591million in sales tax allocations. This is up about 2½% from April of last year.

AUSTIN (AP) – Four more Texas counties, including two in northeast Texas, have been declared federal disaster areas due to March storms and flooding that swamped roads and inundated a town. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday announced the designation for Henderson and Shelby counties along with Limestone and Tyler counties. Nine other Texas counties – Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Erath, Hood, Jasper, Newton, Orange, and Parker – were approved for government disaster help on March 19. The declaration clears the way for individuals and public entities to seek federal assistance for losses from storms, tornadoes and flooding March 7 through March 29. Disaster assistance could include grants and loans. Interstate 10 in Southeast Texas was closed for a time during early-March flooding that swamped much of Deweyville.

DALLAS (AP/Staff) – The Don’t Mess With Texas anti-litter campaign has been around for 30 years with more chances to pick up trash across the state — and a couple of high-profile Tyler tie-ins. The Texas Department of Transportation on Wednesday marked the slogan’s 30th anniversary with plans to display, in Dallas, some trash picked up along highways. Boy Scouts across Texas can try to earn a special merit badge to mark the anniversary by taking part in a trash-off Saturday targeting roads. The partnership involves TxDOT and the group Keep Texas Beautiful. TxDOT officials say about 1,500 trash-off events were held last year across the state. Continue reading Don’t Mess With Texas Anti-litter Effort Marks 30 Years

NACOGDOCHES – Police in Nacogdoches are investigating a drive-by shooting. It happened about 11:00 Monday night in the 300 block of Ritchie Street. Bullets are said to have hit a home and a vehicle. No injuries were reported among those in the home, including two young children. Investigators say they have no description of the shooter’s vehicle and have no suspects in the case.

KILGORE – Kilgore College photography instructor O. Rufus Lovett has been named the Charles T. Choate Adviser of the Year and The Flare newspaper staff won Sweepstakes in its division at the annual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association convention in Dallas. This marks the 26th time over the past 30 years the Kilgore College newspaper has scored the most points in its division to bring home Sweepstakes. The newspaper also took home a second place in Best of Show, competing against nearly 50 universities and community colleges from around the state. Continue reading Kilgore College Brings Home Honors from Dallas Convention