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TYLER — Pets Fur People officially named their new executive director on Tuesday, according to our news partner KETK, Kat Cortelyou joins Pets Fur People after most recently serving as the animal service manager for the City of Athens. In Athens, Cortelyou led animal control initiatives and developed fostering and transport programs. Previously, she spent eight years as director of operations for the SPCA of East Texas in Tyler. During her role with the SPCA, Cortelyou expanded lifesaving programs and increased intakes and adoptions by 40%.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kat to the Pets Fur People family,” Board President Angie Bullington said. “Her enthusiasm, experience, and heart for animal welfare make her an outstanding choice to lead our organization into its next chapter.”

TYLER – On Monday, February 23, Lieutenant Jon Thornhill was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief in a ceremony attended by friends, family, and co-workers. In his new role, he will supervise the Investigative Division.
 
Assistant Chief Thornhill said, “I am truly honored to be able to serve with the men and women of the Tyler Police Department who work continuously to improve the quality of life in Tyler.”
 
Jon Thornhill was hired by the Tyler Police Department in May of 1996. After attending the police academy, Jon worked in the patrol division until November of 2001, when he was assigned as a Crimes Against Children Investigator at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County. Jon served as an investigator at the CAC for five years.  He was selected to attend the Texas DPS Polygraph School in Austin. Upon returning from this school, Jon completed his internship as a polygraph examiner, assigned to the Youth Crimes/Forgery Division. 
  Continue reading New Tyler PD Assistant Chief

EAST TEXAS — In the past year, Texas’ job growth rate has outpaced the national rate, with three East Texas cities seeing significant non-farm job additions along labor force growth.

According to data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and our news partner KETK, Texas added 146,300 non-farm jobs for an annual growth rate of 1%, faster than the nation as a whole by 0.4%. In East Texas, the metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) of Longview, Texarkana and Tyler saw the addition of over 3,000 non-farm jobs, supporting the growth of the labor force from November 2024 to November 2025.

The civilian labor force for Texarkana MSA and Tyler MSA had over-the-year (2024 to 2025) growth rates of 1.9% and 2.1%, respectively. While both cities saw employment rates increase, however, the over-the-year rates for unemployment also increased with Texarkana’s at 10.7% and Tyler’s at 5.5%. Continue reading Cities see labor force expansion

WHITEHOUSE – The security research firm Safewise has ranked the city of Whitehouse as the 6th safest city in the state for 2026. According to our news partner KETK, Safewise has tracked a decline in violent crime in the city of Whitehouse over the past four years, along with a two-year decline in property crime. According to Safewise, the violent crime rate has fallen from 1.6 violent crimes per 1000 Whitehouse residents in 2024 to 0.6 violent crimes per 1000 residents in 2026.

“In Whitehouse, violent crime has decreased for the last four years in a row, and property crime has declined for the past two years,” Safewise said. “This has resulted in a 65% decrease in violent crime and a 74% decrease in property crime.”

This decline has secured Whitehouse’s spot as Safewise’s 6th safest city in Texas. The ranking prompted the city to thank the community for helping to keep the area safe. Smith County has also seen a decline in reported crimes, with the county’s reported crime rate falling 3.75% between 2024 and 2025. Continue reading 6th safest city in Texas

TYLER – East Texas lawmakers are chiming in as tensions escalate in Iran following Saturday’s unprecedented attacks by United States forces. Congressman Nathaniel Moran fully throws his support behind President Donald Trump following this weekend’s missile strikes against Iran, which killed their supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and 40 of their top officials. It became a huge blow to the nation and marks a shift in power since the regime took over in the late 1970s.

“This is a national security interest matter for the United States long term,” Moran said.

As tensions rise overseas, the congressman’s attention turns to our troops’ safety and the safety of residents on U.S. soil.

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations is a big issue now, more than it was a couple of weeks ago,” Moran said. “When homeland security is heightened, that level of security is necessary.” Continue reading Rep. Moran speaks on Iran strikes

TYLER — Brad Brookshire, the grandson of Brookshire Grocery Company founder W.T. Brookshire, is retiring as the chain’s CEO after working in his family’s business for 49 years. According to our news partner KETK, Brad Brookshire spent 20 years as the company’s chairman of the board and 10 years as CEO. Brad has also worked as a Brookshire store director, vice president, executive vice president and as president of the company.

According to a Brookshire press release, Brad Brookshire was part of the creation of the Super 1 Foods banner over 41 years ago. During his time as CEO, Brookshire Grocery Company grew from 152 stores to 222 stores.

In 2020, Brad Brookshire was named to Governor Greg Abbott’s Strike Force to Open Texas as the representative for the state’s grocery industry. That same year, he was also inducted into the Food Industry Hall of Fame. Continue reading Grocery CEO retiring after 49 years

TYLER – Democratic Party representatives and officials from East Texas and across the country are speaking out against military escalation on Saturday, following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Our news partner KETK spoke with Interim Smith County Democratic Party Chair Cam Ray about the strikes on Saturday. She called the attacks “Deeply disturbing” and questioned what United States President Donald Trump’s end goal would be in a war with Iran.

“It’s deeply disturbing that we are now diving into another endless war from our president, who has said he’s the peace president. First there was Venezuela. Now there’s Iran and this is our seventh war that the President has started since he’s been in office, which is just barely over a year,” Ray said. “So how long is this going to continue? And what is the end goal for Iran? We had a deal in place that President Trump withdrew from and so what is the goal for for bombing Iran now?” Continue reading Democrats response to Iranian airstrikes

EAST TEXAS — East Texas GOP leaders are voicing strong support for U.S. military strikes against Iran, calling the action necessary to confront terrorism, protect American national security and stand alongside Israel as tensions escalate in the Middle East. According to our news partner KETK, U.S. officials say the strikes, that were carried out in coordination with Israel, targeted Iranian military infrastructure to deter future attacks linked to Iran-backed forces.

The action follows months of increasing regional conflict, threats against U.S. and allied interests, and concerns over Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions. The operation, called Operation Epic Fury, prompted swift reactions from lawmakers nationwide, including East Texas leaders who voiced support and concern for deployed U.S. troops. Continue reading Republicans agree on Iran strikes

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County will have 33 polling locations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, March 3.

During the two weeks of early voting, there was a total of 27,964 ballots cast, consisting of 27,010 in-person and 954 mail-in ballots. That surpasses the total of 18,019 early votes in 2024; 18,688 early votes in 2022; and 19,219 early votes in 2020.  Smith County has 160,066 registered voters.

Smith County residents can choose any of the 33 voting centers to cast their ballots on Election Day. There is an easy-to-use interactive map that tells you what is on your ballot and what voting location is closest to you. Find it here.

 

The March 3 Election Day locations include: Continue reading Election day information

TYLER – Democratic Party representatives and officials from East Texas and across the country are speaking out against military escalation on Saturday, following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Our news partner KETK spoke with Interim Smith County Democratic Party Chair Cam Ray about the strikes on Saturday. She called the attacks “Deeply disturbing” and questioned what United States President Donald Trump’s end goal would be in a war with Iran.

“It’s deeply disturbing that we are now diving into another endless war from our president, who has said he’s the peace president. First there was Venezuela. Now there’s Iran and this is our seventh war that the President has started since he’s been in office, which is just barely over a year,” Ray said. “So how long is this going to continue? And what is the end goal for Iran? We had a deal in place that President Trump withdrew from and so what is the goal for for bombing Iran now?” Continue reading Democratic reaction to Iranian airstrikes

EAST TEXAS — East Texas GOP leaders are voicing strong support for U.S. military strikes against Iran, calling the action necessary to confront terrorism, protect American national security and stand alongside Israel as tensions escalate in the Middle East. According to our news partner KETK, U.S. officials say the strikes, that were carried out in coordination with Israel, targeted Iranian military infrastructure to deter future attacks linked to Iran-backed forces.

The action follows months of increasing regional conflict, threats against U.S. and allied interests, and concerns over Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions. The operation, called Operation Epic Fury, prompted swift reactions from lawmakers nationwide, including East Texas leaders who voiced support and concern for deployed U.S. troops. Continue reading Republicans praise Iran strikes

LONGVIEW – Two people have been rescued from a hot air balloon basket after it crashed into a cell phone tower in Gregg County on Saturday morning. According to the Longview Fire Department and our news partner KETK, multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the intersection of State Highway 300 in north Gregg County at around 8:15 a.m. after reports came in that a hot air balloon had crashed into a 920-foot cell tower.

First responders started climbing the tower by 8:50 a.m. through the use of multiple rope systems. The climbers contacted two people who were stuck inside the hot air balloons basket at around 10 a.m. on Saturday. Longview Fire Marshal Marcus Delaney told KETK News that both people have been removed from the basket. The two balloonists were both uninjured in the crash.