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TYLER – School leaders in East Texas share their opinions following the Texas House’s passage of the private school voucher program early Thursday morning.

The Texas House and Senate have each passed different versions of the bill and will now need to negotiate a compromise. Once an agreement is reached, the final version will be sent to Gov. Abbott’s desk.

Joel Enge, Director of Kingdom Life Academy, is a vocal advocate for the proposed bill, which he believes empowers families with greater educational choice .“Parents now have the opportunity to choose,” Enge said. “They have educational freedom.”

Kingdom Life Academy, a project-based micro-Christian school in Tyler, sees education savings accounts as a game-changer—one that could open doors for more students to access schools like theirs. Continue reading Schools react to the passage of school vouchers

HENDERSON COUNTY – A Mabank man was arrested Wednesday night after officials located a sock with suspected meth.

According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, around 10:52 p.m., narcotics investigators stopped a 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the 8200 block of US Highway 175 West in Kemp and watched the driver, Joseph Duane Whitworth, 52 of Mabank, throw a sock into the grass ditch.

Officials said after locating the sock, they found a gallon-sized plastic bag with a large amount of suspected meth inside alongside clear plastic baggies known for packaging narcotic sales.

Whitworth was arrested for the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair. He is currently being held at the Henderson County Jail.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for running a nationwide counterfeit meth-laced pill operation from his rural property in Cherokee County.

According to our news partner KETK, Robert Jessie Martin, 47 of Alto, was sentenced to 18 years and four mounts in prison on Thursday. Martin reportedly distributed five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, according to the evidence presented in court.

As part of the operation, Martin allegedly set up multiple rotary tablet presses on his 75-acre property near Alto, where he produced hundreds of thousands of fake pills lace with meth. These pills were then trafficked across the United States for profit. Continue reading ETX man gets 18-year sentence for drug operation

SMITH COUNTY — Two men have been sentenced to prison after investigators found communication between the two, where one sent child pornography files in exchange for nude pictures of the other.

According to our news partner KETK, Antonio Guevara-Valderrama and Nathaniel Connor Mitchell pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and received combined sentences of 50 years. An affidavit obtained from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office revealed that during a search of Mitchell’s phone in November 2023, officials found “several files containing apparent child pornography.” During the investigation, officers learned that these files had been shared by Guevara-Valderrama in what appeared to be in exchange for shirtless pictures of Mitchell.

“I located about 29 files containing obvious child pornography,” the affidavit said. “The videos depicted children from infancy to pre-teen years in various sex acts with adults, including full penetration of the sex organs.” Continue reading Two Smith County men sentenced for possession of child porn

UPSHUR COUNTY – The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has confirmed 19 cases of measles at an isolated location in Upshur County. According to our news partner KETK, all of the cases have been linked to two people who visited the county from out of the state and at the moment officials state that no known cases emerged from Upshur county residents.

DSHS Officials said in a release, “All affected persons are isolated from the public and are in quarantine at this same location, and are in daily contact with DSHS and are following all the appropriate guidelines.”

Upshur County has advised residents on what to do if they start feeling any symptoms related to measles. They said, “Seek emergency care if the patient has a hard time breathing or breathing faster than normal, signs of severe dehydration, confusion, decreased alertness, or severe weakness, young children having a blue mouth or crying without making tears, or unusually low energy of loss of appetite.”

DSHS reps also said that none of the cases are critical and everyone currently affected are over the age of 17. They added there are no reports of measles cases at any of Upshur County’s public schools, public buildings, county operations or medical facilities.

BEAUMONT – A multi-agency drug task force has arrested 16 people in drug trafficking ring. According our news partner KETK, Operation Take Back America, has teamed up with the U.S. Marshalls Service and the Department of Justice.

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office said, “This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
Continue reading 16 arrested as federal authorities break up east Texas meth ring

SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man is being held on a $1 million bond after a Wednesday police chase where he allegedly shot at officers, buildings and pointed guns at citizens.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday, around 10:55 a.m., the sheriff’s office began receiving reports of a person, later identified as Mason Lowell Ahrens of Hideaway, shooting his gun out of an older model of a black Chevrolet Z71. Officials said Ahrens was shooting at buildings and pointing guns at citizens, and then left out the back gate of Hideaway. At this time, the last known location of Ahrens was on FM 16 heading towards Lindale. A detective located Ahrens and watched him pull into a gas station.

The detective pulls up behind Ahrens with his lights and sirens activated and identifies himself when he sees Ahrens look at him in his rearview mirror and flee from him, heading westbound on FM 16. Continue reading $1 million bond set for Hideaway man involved in police chase

LONGVIEW — Our news partners at KETK report a Longview man was sentenced to 80 years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl for four months in 2023. According to the Gregg County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Justin Taylor Argo, 27 of Longview, was convicted after the ongoing sexual abuse of a six-year-old girl. The testimony at trial revealed that Argo assaulted the child multiple times a week over four months in 2023. Continue reading Longview man gets 80 years for assaulting six-year-old girl

TEXARKANA – According to our news partner KETK, a Texarkana federal inmate pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on Tuesday and was sentenced to 100 additional months in prison, officials said.

According to a statement from the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Texas, 38-year-old Jimmy Barrientos of Grand Prairie was sentenced to an additional 100 months in prison by a U.S. district judge. The statement also said that, according to court-presented information, Barrientos instructed a visitor to bring him methamphetamine at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana during a visitation.

The visitor brought a condom holding 20 grams of methamphetamine into the prison while visiting Barrientos, officials said. The visitor hid the condom with the methamphetamine inside one of the FCI’s restroom dispensers, according to the statement. Continue reading Texarkana inmate gets 100 additional months for meth

TYLER – A procession and funeral was held in Tyler on Wednesday morning to honor the life of Wood County Sheriff’s Office deputy Mellissa Pollard. The funeral service was attended by her family, loved ones and brothers and sisters in blue according to our news partner KETK.

It started with a solemn procession filled with heartache as law enforcement members with agencies from across East Texas accompanied deputy Pollard from Quitman to her funeral service at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. It was part of the final goodbye to Pollard, who had been with the sheriff’s office for eight years and was killed in a crash while on duty last week. People who knew her called her a true friend and a selfless hero.

Her only daughter Alexis Locke gave a tearful eulogy remembering the bond they shared and the type of life Pollard lived. Continue reading Funeral service honors life of fallen Wood County deputy

LINDALE – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has released more information following a shooting incident Wednesday morning in Hideaway, where a man fired at officers from inside his vehicle.

According to our news partner KETK, it all began at a gas station near the Hideaway community. A gas station cashier said something inside their store seemed to set off one of their regular customers. Around 11 a.m., officials received a call saying that someone was actively shooting out of a vehicle inside the Hideaway Lake Addition. Smith County deputies and investigators arrived on the scene, where they found the suspect exiting the back gate of the Hideaway addition and heading toward FM 16. Deputies attempted to pull the suspect over as he continued eastbound towards Lindale. The suspect then turned onto U.S. Highway 69 and traveled southbound towards I-20. While being pursued, officials stated the suspect was still armed and began pointing his firearm at officers.

As the suspect continued on U.S. 69, he allegedly began firing at officers, including Smith County deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety personnel. In response, officers returned fire while the suspect continued south before turning left onto Ann Campbell Road. Continue reading Hideaway man opens fire at law enforcement

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County officials announced Wednesday afternoon that all non-emergency Smith County Offices will be closed for business on Friday April 18, for Good Friday. These offices will be back open for normal business hours on Monday, April 21.
 

LINDALE – Smith County Sheriffs Department was involved in a high-speed chase late Wednesday morning leading to the arrest of a suspect firing guns at Hideaway Lake. According to Smith County Sheriff’s Sgt Larry Christian, the first report came in about 11 AM. It said that the suspect, 45-year-old Mason Lowell Ahrens of Hideway, had been firing gun shots out of a pickup truck towards unidentified buildings at Hideaway. By 11-30, deputies pursued Ahrens on highway 69 south through Lindale. He was arrested near Tyler Pipe south of Interstate 20. No injuries were reported.

AUSTIN – According to our news partner, KETK, Governor Greg Abbott has appointed a new member, Jay Herrington of Palestine, to the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority Board of Directors.

The Board’s purpose is to develop resources that help conserve water in the Upper Neches River basin in Anderson, Henderson, Smith and Cherokee counties.

Herrington is well educated in actuarial resources and science. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Actuarial Science from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Actuarial Science from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Before retiring from the financial industry after 34 years, Herrington was a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Jay Herrington’s term as a UNRMWA director will expire on Feb. 1, 2029.

TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a lawsuit has been filed by the East Texas Title Company in an attempt to block a rule requiring intrusive data collection and reporting for cash real estate purchases.

The lawsuit was filed against the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which is operating under the supervision of U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent. In 2024, the network finalized a rule that would require companies to report information about non-financial real estate transactions, including personal information from everyone involved in the sale. The rule is currently set to go into effect in Dec. 2025.

Luke Wake, an attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation representing East Texas Title Company, spoke about how they believe FinCen is unethically collecting personal information from citizens. Continue reading Secretary of Treasury faces lawsuit from an ETX company

SMITH COUNTY — A woman has been arrested in connection to a Saturday morning murder in Smith County after investigators uncovered text messages allegedly revealing she helped plan a robbery leading to the victim’s death.

According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 2 a.m. on Saturday after a person reported seeing a man lying on the side of the road in Flint. Further information revealed the man had been shot. When officials arrived, they found James Michael LittleJohn unresponsive and he was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. An affidavit obtained from the sheriff’s office revealed the victim was sitting in the front passenger seat with Ashley Kate Joiner as the driver. A second suspect, John Floyd McDaniel, 55, was in the back passenger seat.

“While she was operating the vehicle…she witnessed McDaniel grab the victim from the back and attempt to rob Littlejohn with a handgun,” documents show. “Joiner stated she heard McDaniel tell [Littlejohn], ‘Don’t move, or I’ll shoot you, give me your phone.’”

After LittleJohn took out a knife to defend himself, McDaniel shot him one time, according to the affidavit. Continue reading Robbery plot leads to two arrested for capital murder

LUFKIN – According to our news partner KETK, a Lufkin man was arrested following a Monday night stand-off outside his home that lasted several hours. Lufkin officers arrived at the home after receiving a call at 10 p.m. from a witness who claimed that Flint Thompson, 46, had locked his family members inside a room and would not let them out, according to the police department.

Once at the home, patrol officers called for members of the SWAT team and crisis negotiators to help remove the family from the home. Eventually, officials stated, the family was removed except for Thompson.

After hours of requesting Thompson to surrender peacefully, officers obtained an arrest warrant and search warrant, allowing SWAT to enter the home and take him into custody. He was charged with unlawful restraint.

TYLER – UT Health East Texas is continuing to expand their health care operations by building a new facility in Tyler.

According to our news partner, KETK, the new state-of-the-art facility will have an area of more than eight thousand square feet. It will open up at Loop 323 and Earl Campbell Parkway in West Tyler near the Sam’s Club, and the new building will offer an urgent care center, a pediatric clinic, and a primary care clinic.

UT Health CEO Todd Hill spoke about the need for the new facility due to Tyler’s continued population growth.

“This location is at the heart of Tyler’s rapid growth along the western corridor,” Hill said. “As our community expands, we remain committed to meeting the increasing demand for quality healthcare close to home. This investment ensures that families in this area have convenient access to the care they need, when they need it.”

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility will be held at 10 a.m. on April 17 and the building is anticipated to be opened later this year.

UPSHUR COUNTY – According to our news partner, KETK, an Upshur County deputy received the lifesaving award on Tuesday after saving a man’s life during an overdose in March.

Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb presented Deputy Lucrecia Davidson the lifesaving award after she responded to an overdose call on March 27 where a man was found unresponsive and lying on the floor.

Officials said Davidson was the first on scene and administered two doses of Narcan and continued to provide CPR while keeping his airway clear until EMS arrived and transported him to the hospital.Then man slowly began to respond and survived the incident due to Davidson’s quick actions.

The Sheriff’s office commented, saying, “Thank you, Deputy Davidson, for your unwavering service to the citizens of Upshur County.”

TYLER –A Tyler tax preparer has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a tax refund fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Karistha Johnson, 38, pleaded guilty to making false and fraudulent statements on a tax return and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on April 15, 2025. Johnson was ordered to pay $1,244,934 in restitution.

“Ms. Johnson, in her role as a tax preparer, took advantage of those seeking assistance by filing fraudulent returns,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. “By fabricating deductions and business expenses, she filed hundreds of false returns, resulting in more than $1.2 million in fraudulent refunds. The women and men of IRS-CI remain dedicated to safeguarding our tax system and ensuring that individuals who engage in fraudulent activities face the full consequences under the law.” Continue reading Tax preparer sentenced for role in refund fraud scheme

TYLER – The City of Tyler announced that a portion of Rose Rudman Trail will be closed all day Thursay, April 17 for tree trimming. The part of the Trail in question runs parallel to South Donnybrook Avenue, north of Shiloh Road. Officials stressed this area should be avoided until work is completed. This part of the trail will reopen Friday, April 18.

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Smith County deputy and K9 placed second out of 39 teams at a narcotics competition in Florida.

According to the Smith County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office, Deputy Alvin Gordon and K9 Blaze attended the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) National Training Conference at the Hyatt Conference Center in Titusville, Fla., from April 7 through April 11, where they competed against other K9s and handlers.

NNDDA holds an annual seminar for hundreds of K9s and their handlers with extensive training, including K9 liability, K9 supervisor’s course, training sites and certification, K9 troubleshooting problems, patrol competition, and narcotics competition. Officials said Gordon and Blaze came home with second place in the narcotics competition out of 39 teams.

“We could not be prouder of these two, and the work they do for Smith County,” the precinct 5 constable’s office said.

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office has taken an “aggressive stance” to arrest child predators and keep East Texas safe.

Our news partner, KETK, visited with Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, who makes sure his team is keeping the local community protected and raising awareness for victims of abuse.

“We have seen a rise. I think it’s the aggressive stance we have taken and the Crimes Against Children Task Force that was formed. We knew when it was formed that we would work more cases than we were originally…We knew the case load would go up… when you work one of these crimes, you do the interviews and start gathering physical and digital evidence, a lot of the times you get more and more victims,” Hillhouse said.

He also said that although these are serious crimes against children, every Texan has the ability to post bond when they are first arrested. Continue reading Sheriff takes ‘aggressive stance’ on child predators

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that two people have been arrested following a Saturday morning morning murder in Smith County.

According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, they received a 911 call around 2 a.m. on Saturday after a person reported seeing a man lying on the side of the road in Flint. Further information revealed the man had been shot.

When deputies, arrived the victim, James Littlejohn, 39, was unresponsive. EMS transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim’s body was taken to the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for an autopsy. An investigation was launched immediately and authorities learned that the suspect, John Floyd McDaniel, 55, was in the back passenger seat of a vehicle driven by Ashley Kate Joiner. Continue reading Two arrested in Smith County shooting

TYLER — A former substitute teacher with Tyler ISD has been arrested following a physical altercation with a special needs student, according to our news partner KETK.

The Tyler ISD Police Department launched an investigation on April 4 after obtaining video footage of the incident, which occurred on April 1 in a special needs classroom at Moore Middle School. Based on the footage, officials identified the substitute teacher as Joacim Castro Lacayo, along with two paraprofessionals who were also present during the incident. The video reportedly shows Lacayo engaging in a verbal confrontation with the student, which escalated into physical contact. At approximately 3:15 p.m., Lacayo began physically restraining the student’s arms with assistance from the two paraprofessionals, according to the affidavit. Moments later, Lacayo is seen allegedly twisting the student’s arms behind her back, causing her to scream in pain.

By 3:21 p.m., the affidavit states, Lacayo pushed the student into a wall and continued restraining her as she cried out. He later tackled the student to the ground and stood over her while yelling. When the student threatened to report the incident to her father, Lacayo allegedly responded, “Tell him, tell whoever, your grandpa, your daddy.” Continue reading Former substitute TISD teacher arrested

HENDERSON COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner, KETK, an East Texas child was severely injured after being run over by a lawn mower over the weekend.

Deputies from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident on CR 4235. According to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, while a family member was operating a zero-turn lawn mower, the child reportedly ran to the mower and grabbed a control handle, causing the mower to run over the child.

Following the incident, officials stated the victim was flown to the Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

QUITMAN – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a former Quitman water clerk accused of stealing money from the city back in 2021, has repaid the full amount.

Amber Raelynn Highnote of Alba was accused of stealing $23,250.00 from February 2018 to July 2021 while she was working at the city of Quitman’s water department, according to the Wood County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. Judicial records show she pleaded guilty on April 4, 2025.

About a month after Highnote resigned from the water department, another city of Quitman employee discovered that some customer payments were disappearing from the company’s bank deposits. A financial audit revealed the money reports had several holes and missing money. Continue reading Former Quitman City employee pays $23K in restitution

FLINT – Smith County Emergency Services District 2 responded to a church in Flint on Monday morning after it caught on fire, according to our news partner, KETK.

According to Smith County ESD2, around 6 a.m. firefighters responded to a structure fire at Lakewood Church on Highway 155. There was no one inside the church during the time of the fire and there was no reported injuries.

Officials said as of 7:40 a.m. several crews were still on scene but flames were no longer visible. Incident command has not called the control time yet because they are making sure there are not longer any hotspots. Firefighters believe the fire started in the attic but the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office will handle the official investigation.

Smith County officials have deemed the building a total loss.

KILGORE – With Kilgore set to enter one of the most significant election cycles in recent memory, an open forum was held on Monday allowing candidates a chance to share their viewpoints on current issues.

According to our news partner KETK, the forum took place at the Kilgore First Baptist Church and ran from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. During the event, candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions asked by moderators and vocalize why they would be a good fit for their respected office as Kilgore residents begin to prepare for local elections which will be held this May. Several different positions will be up for election this year, including spots on the Kilgore ISD school board, Kilgore College Board of Trustees and the position of mayor.

Ronnie Spradlin is currently serving as the Kilgore Mayor and has held the position since 2010. Spradlin will be running against local business owner Darrin Mallett in the upcoming election. Mallett joined the race with the focus on improving city functions and services. Continue reading Open Forum held in Kilgore for upcoming candidates