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TYLER — Thursday night officially marked the start of preparations for the upcoming 93rd annual Texas Rose Festival during the annual Winter Gala, where this year’s theme and the Rose Queen were announced.

During the gala at the Willow Brook Country Club, it was announced that the theme of the 93rd festival will be ‘Celebrations through the Seasons,’ on which the floats, decorations and dresses for the festival will be based. According to our news partner KETK, during the gala, Miss Claire Ann Malone, who has a generational family connection to the parade, was named the queen of the 93rd Rose Parade.

“I’m the seventh in our family and my mom was queen, so it’s really special to kind of do what she did at her age when she did it in 1996,” Malone said. “It’s just really special to me, and it means a lot, and I’m excited to be a representative of the city that I grew up in.”

The gala was just the start of Rose Parade preparations, with more events leading up to the 93rd Texas Rose Festival Parade on Oct. 17.

 

GREGG COUNTY — A suspect in connection with the 2012 fatal shooting in Longview has been extradited from Mexico to face trial. Longview Police Department Public Information Officer LaDarian Brown confirmed Jose Amaro Olivarez has been extradited to face trial after being charged with murder due to allegedly killing Francisco Roque in 2012.

According to our news partner KETK, Roque was allegedly shot by Olivarez several times in the 800 Block of Dalston Avenue following an argument between the two. Roque, who was 38 at the time, was later taken to a local hospital, where he died due to his wounds.

Olivarez, who was 26 years old at the time, fled the scene before officers arrived and was last seen in a 1998 Ford Van prior to his arrest. Olivarez was booked into the Smith County Jail on Tuesday before being taken to the Gregg County Jail on Wednesday.

TYLER — Arrest documents detail the moment a 23-year-old man was shot five times outside a Tyler nightclub on Dec. 28 in what the Smith County Sheriff’s Office claims involved the West Side Rolling 60’s Crips gang. According to our news partner KETK, Aaron Gordon Johnson Jr. arrived at The Valley Blues Club on Dec. 28, 2025, with his two half-brothers. Smith County records indicate he had a 9mm Glock 19, but had left the firearm in his vehicle.

Johnson told investigators that while inside the club Westside gang members attempted to start problems with him and his half-brothers. At that point, he decided to return to his car so he could drive to the club entrance and pick them up but said he was being followed by gang members.

When the car failed to start, he retrieved the gun from the vehicle, placed it in his waistband and began walking back toward the club. Continue reading Nightclub victim shot 5 times

WOOD COUNTY — A man was arrested for theft as deputies investigate multiple burglaries in the Alba area. According to our news partner KETK, Wood County Sheriff’s Office deputies were sent to a suspicious persons call in rural Alba on Dec. 31 of last year. Deputies found Dillon Bell walking down the middle of the road, in an area that had several burglaries recently.Investigators found a stolen firearm on Bell’s person which he admitted to stealing from a nearby vehicle several days prior. Bell was booked into Wood County Jail for unlawful carrying of a weapon, theft of a firearm, debit/credit card abuse and burglary of a vehicle, with a total bond of $30,000

CHEROKEE COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a court is requiring the Cherokee County Republican Party to put a candidate on the primary ballot after she was denied due to errors found in her application to run. Karen Morris applied to run on the general primary ballot on Dec. 8 for the Cherokee County Republican Chair position, currently held by Janet Stanovich.

Morris’ application was denied on Dec. 12 as the party claimed the application was incomplete because she had not listed the office she is seeking and left two sections of the petition incomplete. After learning that her application was denied, she texted a respondent asking whether she could submit a new petition to have it accepted, but the respondent did not answer.

On Dec. 15, Morris provided the party with a declaration to be a write-in candidate for the primary ballot and a completed petition to run for the position. Morris also sent a formal written demand that the respondent accept her application. Continue reading Court mandates GOP to place candidate

TYLER — A Tyler homeowner is stuck with a $5,000 repair bill after a viral TikTok “Door?Kick Challenge” left her garage door damaged by a stranger caught on camera.

Mishae Boren, a resident of Tyler, recounts a frightening experience when her daughter heard a loud bang as individuals struck the garage doors. The noise resembled thunder and caused the part of the house where her room is located to shake. When she and her husband ventured outside, the culprits had already left. In the darkness, they were unable to assess the damage, and it wasn’t until the following morning that they discovered the garage doors weren’t functioning properly. It was then that they reviewed their security footage to see what had happened.

Reports of this challenge have been circulating since 2021; the trend encourages individuals to kick and pound on doors, imitating a home invasion. Law enforcement agencies nationwide are advising against participation, highlighting the risks of injury as homeowners may defend themselves. Continue reading TikTok’s challenge leaves residents with repair bills

TYLER – A second person has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting at Valley Blues Club in Tyler last month. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Jaqwaylon Ogechi Pettigrew, 20, Tyler, was charged as the result of an arrest warrant affidavit. The warrants were issued for the following offenses: Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a 2nd degree felony – $400,000 Bond, Evading Arrest or Detention, a Class A Misdemeanor – $200,000 Bond and Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair, a 3rd degree felony – $300,000 Bond. Pettigrew remains in the Smith County Jail at this time. Continue reading Second arrest in nightclub shooting

GRAND SALINE — A man was arrested Monday after officials found two dead dogs and several others emaciated on his Grand Saline property. According to our news partner KETK, Kenneth Wayne Adams was arrested and charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals on Monday following an investigation in December by Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

On Dec. 13, 2025, Van Zandt County deputies responded to a report of deceased animals on a property, where they found two dead pit bull-mixed dogs chained to trees that were severely emaciated. The deputies made contact with Adams, the property owner, and requested the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigators (ACI) Unit to assist the investigation. Adams told investigators that the deceased dogs belonged to previous owners who had moved out two weeks prior. Continue reading Man arrested for animal cruelty

GILMER — Our news partners at KETK report that two juveniles were arrested after gunfire struck a Gilmer home late Monday night, sending bullets through a bedroom window, authorities said. The shooting was reported about 11:44 p.m. at a residence on Circle Drive, according to the Gilmer Police Department. Investigators said several bullets hit the home, with about three passing through a bedroom window. No injuries were reported. Police identified two juvenile suspects and a vehicle believed to be connected to the shooting. Around 1:54 a.m. Wednesday, officers located the vehicle in Gilmer. The suspects attempted to drive away, but the vehicle was later stopped and the occupants ran from the scene on foot, police said. Both juveniles were arrested shortly after. Investigators determined the vehicle had been reported stolen from Longview, and a handgun was recovered.

BULLARD — More than 400 middle school students start the new semester on Wednesday at the brand-new Bullard ISD campus, sparking traffic concerns on Highway 69. According to our news partner KETK, t he new middle school will house grades seventh and eighth and will be located on Highway 69 and FM 2493.

Out of caution, there will be increased police patrols in the area during the morning hours. TxDOT has reduced the speed limit to 45 in that section of Highway 69 and set up a temporary stoplight at the intersection in front of the campus.

“Just exercising caution, having patience and following all of the local traffic laws and safety precautions will help for a smooth transition,” Bullard ISD employee Amy Pawlak said. “We have systems in place and so now we are just excited to  get going and to start the spring semester.” Continue reading Traffic plan unveiled for new middle school

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man received an 8-year prison sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud, in which he was accused of acquiring over $9 million. According to our news partner KETK, Matthew Jess Thrash reportedly had more than 100 victims, from whom he defrauded millions through various fraudulent activities, including schemes related to sports investments.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Thrash used these funds for gambling, personal expenses and to repay other victims in an effort to evade detection.

On Tuesday, Thrash was sentenced to 97 months in prison and is ordered to pay in restitution $8,100,024. Continue reading Man sentenced in million dollar fraud scheme

Update: Boil water notice for the city of Gilmer has been rescinded.

GILMER — The City of Gilmer has issued a boil water notice for communities along US Highway 271 North until further notice. According to our news partner KETK, Monday, Gilmer officials issued a boil water notice due to a loss in water pressure requiring the city to make water system repairs. The notice affects residences and businesses off of US Highway 271 N on Crawford and Harvey streets.

The city encourages all residents to boil their water for two minutes prior to consumption or to purchase bottled water until further notice. Questions regarding the boil water notice may be directed to Gilmer’s public works director at 903-843-8206.