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LUFKIN – The Lufkin Police Department headed a multi-agency sting operation on Thursday at a massage parlor for suspected prostitution leading to the arrest of an unidentified woman. According to our news partner KETK the City of Lufkin detectives launched the investigation into the supposed illicit activities at two parlors following complaints from citizens. The unidentified woman was charged with prostitution. Assistant City Manager Gerald Williamson said that in addition to the illicit operations there were employees reportedly living at the establishment.

Blue Water Spa and Lufkin Massage in Lufkin have been closed following the arrest. The City of Lufkin said that Code Enforcement “shuttered the businesses” citing ordinance violations. Continue reading Two Lufkin massage parlors closed

MURCHISON – Murchison ISD announced Thursday afternoon that classes are canceled Friday due to a number of students and staff having a “variety of illnesses.” According to district officials, available staff will do a deep cleaning of the campus to try and minimize the spread of illness. The district said they plan to have everyone back at school on Monday.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine has received a $1.25 million dollar gift in support of Dr. Jennifer R. Honda’s lung disease research according to our colleagues at KETK. The university said the gift from the Padosi Foundation will help fund Honda’s research into nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), an infection that UT Tyler said is an emerging public health threat that damages and scars the airways making those infected more at risk to other infections. Continue reading UT Tyler Medical School gets large research grant

CORRIGAN – Our news partners at KETK report that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said a Corrigan ISD teacher has been arrested following an investigation that began on Jan. 30 in relation to an improper relationship with a student. DPS said that Anthony Jernigan, 35, a government and economics teacher, has been charged with multiple counts of online solicitation of a minor and improper relationship between educator and student. Officials said that Jernigan was placed in the Polk County Jail. Continue reading Teacher arrested for solicitation of minor

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a Wednesday night homicide. Officers responded to a report of a person in the roadway off Highway 69 at CR 489 around 11:40. A male victim was found dead at the scene from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. An autopsy has been ordered. The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of family. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Tyler-Smith County Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.

BULLARD — Bullard ISD earned a $950,000 security grant from the Texas Education Agency to be put toward keeping students and staff safe. According to our news partner KETK, Bullard ISD said the funds will be used to add more fencing, replace old doors and to update surveillance cameras to be equipped with facial recognition software in all of their facilities. Due to the new school and safety law passed in Austin, districts now have to meet stiffer security requirements, including the mandate that requires all campuses to have at least one armed guard. “We’re here to keep the students and the staff safe, that’s our primary job here,” Chief of Police for Bullard ISD Pat Hendrix said. “We are a police department but our main job, we’re not here to police the students or the faculty, we are here to protect them.”

HENDERSON – Henderson ISD announced that all security lock downs and holds have been released after it was determined there was no immediate danger to students or staff. According to our news partner KETK and a release from the school district, the “information was relayed through a third-party agency that was in contact with the person making the threats.” Henderson ISD said the phone being used to send the threat was located in Europe and not near an HISD campus. Henderson ISD had announced on Wednesday that two of their campuses are under lock down as a precautionary measure due to “an unconfirmed report regarding a potential threat to our schools.”

“While this was very inconvenient for our staff, students and their families, our top priority remains the safety of the HISD family. We appreciate everyone’s efforts today which helped ensure the day went smoothly in spite of the many obstacles that arose. We also appreciate the Henderson Police Department and our campus SROs for their unwavering dedication to the safety and protection of our staff and students,” the school district said. Continue reading Henderson ISD lockdown: European threat source

GILMER — A man accused of killing his ex-partner and her sister has been indicted on capital murder. According to our news partner KETK and the Upshur County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Alvin “Pookie” Charles McKnight, Jr., 41 of Gilmer, was indicted on capital murder after being arrested in November 2023 when investigators found two sisters dead on Nov. 4. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said that the shooting happened at a house in the 2800 block of U.S Highway 271 South. When deputies arrived at the scene, they reportedly found Mandy Ray, 35 of Gilmer, and Dermetrica Dashaunda Waters, 37 of Gilmer, dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Officials said that McKnight and Waters lived with each other until recently. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the two victims were sisters and that McKnight has a child with Waters. Continue reading Double homicide suspect indicted

HENDERSON – Henderson ISD officials announced Wednesday afternoon that a security lockdown on their campuses had ended when it was determined there was no immediate danger to students or staff. According to our news partner KETK, a release from the district said about the threat, “information was relayed through a third-party agency that was in contact with the person making the threats.” They added the phone being used to send the threat was located in Europe and not near an HISD campus.
Continue reading Henderson ISD security lockdown ends safely

HOUSTON COUNTY — The Houston County Sheriff’s Office said a search warrant led to the arrest of a man in connection to child pornography. According to our news partners at KETK, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office helped the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to execute a residential search warrant in the Austonio area. The task force reportedly had been investigating an alleged offense related to the possession and distribution of child pornography from a residence on CR 3155. After the search warrant was executed, Jerry Wade Norsworthy was arrested and charged with two felony counts of possession of child pornography. Norsworthy currently resides in the Houston County Jail awaiting bail to be set by a justice of the peace.

TYLER — U.S. News and World Report named The University of Texas at Tyler’s School of Nursing among the nation’s top 50 online graduate nursing programs and as the seventh graduate nursing program for veterans, according to a news release. UT Tyler ranked fourth best in Texas. UT Tyler’s Master of Business Administration and graduate education degree programs were also ranked on the list of best online programs.

“This is a significant accomplishment for the UT Tyler School of Nursing,” said Dr. Julie V. Philley, executive vice president and vice provost for UT Tyler health affairs. “We are proud to contribute to the shaping of health care leaders who will drive positive change in patient care and nursing practice.” Continue reading UT Tyler ranked in top 50 nursing programs

LONGVIEW — Residents of a Longview neighborhood where a man was apparently mauled to death by a dog say it’s not a new problem. On February 1, officers found the body of a 46-year-old man with wounds consistent with those of a dog bite near South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Rayburn Drive. The investigation is ongoing. People who live nearby say the dogs in the area need to be controlled. City of Longview Spokesman Richard Yeakley says a dog owner in the area was cited 50 times in recent years but it is not confirmed that a dog on that property attacked the victim last weekend. Yeakley says the city is considering possible policy changes.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday that a new district attorney has been appointed to the 159th Judicial District in Angelina County. According to our news partner KETK, Layne Thompson, of Pollock, is set to take office after he is found qualified. He has previously served as an assistant district attorney for Angelina and Harris counties. The current District Attorney Janet Cassels, confirmed she submitted her resignation in December, effective in February. In a release, Abbott stated Thompson is former counsel for Mike Love & Associates and former vice president of Thompson Cattle Company. He is chairman of the Angelina Arts Alliance.

TYLER — According to Tyler Police, the 3600 block of Old Bullard Road is blocked off after a vehicle hit a telephone pole, causing the lines to fall in the roadway. Motorist are asked to seek an alternate route. Repairs are expected to be completed by mid-morning.

LONGVIEW – Additional charges have been filed against two women, formerly employed by Longview ISD, in connection to alleged abuse at an elementary school. According to our news partner KETK, Cassandra James, 49, and Linda Lister, 62, were both originally indicted for endangering a child in June 2022. The women are two of six total facing charges in connection to abuse allegations stemming from a Longview ISD elementary school. The four other former district employees indicted for charges related to the mistreatment of students are: Paula Hawkins Dixon, Priscilla Johnson, Cecilia Gregg and Cynthia Talley. The latest indictments, filed at the end of 2023, charge the women on one count of endangering a child and 16 counts of injury to a child for dates that occurred in September and October 2021. Continue reading Additional charges in Longview ISD abuse case

ANGELINA COUNTY — The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office said one of their reserve deputies passed away on Saturday after complications from a fall injury that occurred while playing pickleball. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, Randy Ware, who served the county for 39 years, died around 8 p.m. at a Tyler hospital on Saturday. Ware reportedly had a broken vertebrae in his neck and was in serious condition after he fell in a pickleball game on Jan. 24. Continue reading Angelina County deputy died from injuries

TYLER – 29-year-old Harley Morris has been missing from Tyler since Jan. 21. Crimestoppers is offering a reward up to $1,000 for information on Morris’ location. According to our news partner KETK, his family is now offering a reward of $10,000 for any information on his whereabouts. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.

Police said he was last seen wearing a black jacket with grey sleeves, black pants and a black Prime 102 baseball style hat. He is described as 6’3, 160 pounds with blond hair and brown eyes. He was last seen on Jan. 21 at 3 a.m. walking north in the 2100 block of North Grand Avenue alone after leaving the 50 Grand Club. Police are asking residents and businesses north of Gentry Parkway to North Loop 323 to check cameras or doorbell cameras from Jan. 21 between 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. and report to them if you see anyone walking. Police also ask that people check their residence or business for items Morris was wearing when he went missing: a Prime 102 cap, black shoes and a black/grey hoodie.

TEXARKANA — The Texarkana Police Department arrested four young men in connection to multiple robberies on Feb. 2. Texarkana PD arrested Vincent Threadgill, 18, Jamarjay Williams, 17, Jaqaveyies Williams, 17, and Kaderies Williams, 23, for organized retail theft and booked into the Bi-State Jail. A $10,000 bond was set for each of them. According to our news partner KETK officers received a call of four men stealing ammunition from Academy Sports before leaving in an older model gold Chevrolet sedan. Officers reportedly searched for the vehicle in the area, but could not find it. An hour later, police were dispatched to Ross Dress for Less, where an employee reportedly told dispatchers that they had seen four guys in red hoodies stealing items from the store and were leaving in a gold car.

Authorities said police were close by and saw the car as it drove across the parking lot. Police were able to stop the vehicle and an officer recognized the four guys from the surveillance video at Academy Sports. Inside the car, police officers reportedly found new clothing items with tags from Ross, Burlington Coat Factory and another store. Officials said police found new gun magazines and two boxes of ammo. Police later spoke to workers at Burlington and discovered that the four men could be seen on video stealing items there between the time they were at Academy Sports and Ross.

HENDERSON COUNTY — DPS said a man is dead after traveling at an unsafe speed at a curve and striking several trees on Monday at 11:03 a.m. Our news partners at KETK report that according to a preliminary investigation, George Perez, 41, the driver of a 2000 Suzuki motorcycle, was driving west on FM 773 about three miles northeast of Murchison at an unsafe speed while going around a curve. Perez was reportedly wearing a helmet when he drove off the roadway, “striking several trees and ejecting the driver.” Perez was pronounced dead at the scene.

TYLER – The Texas Department of Public Safety said that a 7-year-old girl died in a State Highway 64 crash on Sunday around 7:15 p.m., according to our colleagues at KETK. Sharya L. Snow, 18 of Tyler, was driving a 2018 Kia Forte in the west turn lane of State Highway 64 West, when a 2014 Ram 35000 pickup truck was heading east. DPS said that Snow failed to yield the right of way and turned left in front of the Ram which then hit the Kia. Snow had incapacitating injuries and was taken to a local hospital. A 7-year-old girl in the Kia was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace James Meredith. According to DPS, a 12-year-old boy suffered non-incapacitating injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The driver of the Ram was also taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-incapacitating injuries, according to DPS.

WHITEHOUSE – Our news partners at KETK report the Texas Department of Public Safety said that a 22-year-old man died after hitting a tree on County Road 2177 on Friday around 10:50 p.m. Colton B. Killingsworth, 22 of Jacksonville, was travelling south on County Road 2177 5.5 miles south of Whitehouse in a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, when DPS said he lost control of the truck and hit a tree on the east side of the road. Killingsworth was pronounced dead by Dr. K. Records at UT Health Hospital in Tyler. According to DPS, Killingsworth was not wearing a seat belt and it was raining at the time of the crash.

TYLER – Smith County Jail records show that Patrick Mahomes Sr. was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Tyler on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the Tyler Police Department arrested Mahomes his alleged third DWI or more. Mahomes Sr. is the father of Patrick Mahomes II, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Mahomes Sr. was arrested for his second driving while intoxicated charge in 2018. His 40 day sentence was served on weekends through Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Mahomes Sr. played for several MLB teams as a pitcher. Mahomes bond was set at $10,000 and he was released on Sunday, according to jail records from Smith County.

TYLER — According to our news partner KETK a Tyler man was sentenced to life in prison for the violent murder of a mother of four on Friday. David Thompson, 51, was found guilty for the murder of Jaci Wilkerson, who was found dead at The Lodge Apartment Complex on South Broadway on May 25, 2022. According to the affidavit, Willison’s body was found in a pool of blood inside of the apartment and authorities believed she was killed with a machete. A machete was reportedly found on Thompson’s bed inside the apartment with a “significant amount of blood.”

Authorities said an investigation with Thompson’s roommate revealed that he was in the apartment at the time of the murder, according to officials but said he did not heard anything because he was on muscle relaxers. The roommate said when he woke up for the second time to use the bathroom, walked up to Thompson’s door and found Wilkerson on the floor, but said he never heard any struggle. The roommate said Thompson was “crazy” and was in “a violent relationship” with Wilkerson. Police also spoke with the upstairs neighbors who said she heard a woman yell, “Oh my God! Please stop!” followed by a loud thud. The neighbor said the commotion scared her awake, and they recalled hearing the sound of doors closing and a vehicle starting.

GLADEWATER – According to our news partner KETK Upshur County Sheriff’s Office conducted a raid on a residential compound that led to several arrests. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) lead a raid on a residential compound in the 9000 block of Bob-O-Link Road in Gladewater. Officials said the raid was the culmination of the nearly two-year-long drug distribution investigation. Members of the SIU, Upshur County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigators and patrol deputies raided the compound on Friday “just after daybreak.”

Authorities said that during the raid they found a malnourished dog chained to a dog house in a cage with no food or water, and the dog has reportedly been transported to a veterinarian for evaluation. During the raid, a deputy was injured after being bitten by another dog, and the deputy was treated at a medical facility and released. That dog is being quarantined due to no evidence of rabies immunization, authorities said. Continue reading Residential compound raid leads to arrests

TYLER – Texas A&M AgriLife released a crop and weather report on Wednesday that Texas hay supply is near a 50-year low, and prices near record highs. “There’s just no hay,” said Peter Sorensen, Midway Package & Feed Frankston employee. According to our news partner KETK and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, hay supply remains low and prices rise as Texas cattle ranchers try to feed their herds through winter. “Outside of fertilizer costs, then the actual cost of producing hay so it just depends on, it’s a lot different things that have accumulated over time that have influenced our shortages as well as our prices,” said Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Professor & Forage Extension Specialist. “A lot of the farmers and ranchers around here are having to go out of state to get it. Prices are way up and it’s a vicious cycle what’s happening through the country though with the economy, it’s affecting the small guys, the farmers, the ranchers,” said Sorensen. Sorensen is optimistic about the upcoming East Texas weather for crops. Continue reading Texas faces hay shortage, high prices