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TYLER — Our news partners at KETK report that a former Tyler ISD substitute teacher pleaded guilty Friday to assaulting a disabled student at Moore Middle School. Joacim Castro-Lacayo, 28, was arrested in April after the Tyler ISD Police Department investigated an incident that happened on April 1.

An affidavit states that video obtained during the investigation showed Castro-Lacayo in a verbal confrontation with a special needs student that turned into a physical altercation.

The footage reportedly shows Castro-Lacayo restraining the student’s arms with the help of two aides, twisting her arms behind her back, causing her to scream in pain. He then pushed the student into a wall while continuing to restrain her and later tackled her to the ground. When the student had threatened to tell her father about the incident Castro-Lacayo responded “Tell him, tell whoever, your grandpa, your daddy.”

Castro-Lacayo was arrested April 9 and charged with injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.

Castro-Lacayo appeared in the 114th Judicial District Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty, according to lead attorney Brett Harrison. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8.

ANDERSON COUNTY – A status conference has been scheduled for East Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson after he was granted an execution stay this past October, according to our news partners at KETK. Roberson’s attorney’s office announced, his status conference has been set for Feb. 27 and will be held over Zoom. The conference is a pre-trial meeting where attorneys will review the case’s progress and explore possible settlement options. Continue reading Status conference in Roberson case

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report fire crews responded Thursday night to a house fully engulfed in flames, according to the Grand Saline Fire Department. Public Information Officer Caden Mosher said firefighters arrived around 6:15 p.m. at a home near the intersection of County Roads 1224 and 1225. When crews reached the scene, the fire had already consumed the structure and had begun spreading into nearby woods. The family was not home when the fire started, and no injuries were reported. Continue reading Overnight fire destroys home

TYLER – On Friday, 2,000 local kids received bags of joy from the Salvation Army of Tyler for their annual Angel Tree program according to our news partners at KETK. On Wednesday, 350 senior citizens received their presents. The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program has been providing gifts to local children and seniors for more than 40 years. Families write their wish lists and needs on cards which are then placed in grocery stores and malls for local donors to pick up. Continue reading Tyler children get Angel Tree gifts

RUSK – Our news partners at KETK report Rusk Police Chief Scott Heagney has been placed on administrative leave for the second time this year, according to Rusk City Manager Bob Goldsberry. Goldsberry told KETK News on Friday that Heagney is being put on administrative leave in connection with an “internal personnel matter” within the police department. Continue reading Rusk chief placed on administrative leave

MARSHALL – During Thursday’s Marshall City Council meeting, officials approved a $338,663 contract for emergency repairs to the collapsed section of East Grand Avenue, according to our news partner KETK.

The Marshall City Council said in a release, “Tonight, the Marshall City Council awarded a $338,663 contract to WMS Road & Bridge to make emergency repairs to the cave-in on US Highway 80/Grand Avenue. An agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation will partially reimburse the City for repair work underneath the state’s right of way,” the city said on Thursday. “It is an agreement that Council members say will help with cost recovery and move the project along quickly. Repair work could begin as early as Monday. WMS Road & Bridge is a Texas-based general contractor from Marshall. The City Council’s vote tonight underscores its commitment to infrastructure maintenance and project efficiency.”

TYLER – Beginning Friday, Dec. 12, visitors to Downtown Tyler will have a new, free way to get around the area during evening hours. The City of Tyler is partnering with Tyler Valet to offer a fixed-route shuttle service with clearly marked pick-up and drop-off points. Shuttle stops are easy to find, with bright yellow signs placed throughout the Downtown area.

Riders can hop on and off at any stop along the route at no cost. The Downtown evening shuttle will operate during the following times: Thursdays 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. 
Continue reading Free evening shuttle in Downtown Tyler 

TYLER (AP) – Four years ago, James and Mary Robinson put the last Christmas tree they would ever plant in the ground. “Once you plant the tree, it takes four years to harvest it,” James said. “But once you plant your last tree, it takes four years to get out of the business.” On Sunday, they sold their last tree. Continue reading Christmas tree farm closes after 40 years

TYLER — A panel of GOP candidates took place in Tyler, featuring Stuart Hene, John Nix and James Wynne, all of whom are competing for the position of mayor of the City of Tyler.

The current mayor, Don Warren, was first elected in 2020. His six-year term will conclude in 2026, following his third term. Voters in Tyler will have the opportunity to elect Warren’s successor in May 2026. Hene currently serves as the councilman for District 1 in central Tyler. He attended Rice Elementary, Hubbard Middle School, and Tyler Legacy High School (prior to its renaming). Hene earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Baylor University and obtained his law degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.

John Nix describes his journey to Tyler as a young carpenter armed only with tools and an old used car. Over the years, Tyler has become a place that he and his family proudly call home. As a small business owner, Nix says he understands the importance of having a well-functioning city. Nix served as Tyler City Councilman for District 6 from 2013 to 2019. Nix currently works as the president of Nix Construction, Inc. and Nix Builders and as the owner of Nix Properties, LLC. Continue reading GOP candidates gather in Tyler

TYLER – A Tyler driver is warning other motorists of a worn out curb that pops tires at the entrance of Sprouts on Broadway Avenue.

On Sunday night, Levi Rodriguez hit a curb on the driveway into the main entrance to Sprouts Farmers Market in Tyler. It was late at night and he did not see the hole before the jagged edge instantly flattened his tire. He said he talked to the Sprouts night manager who told him it happens multiple times a day to their customers. Rodriguez was not the only one that succumbed to this curb. He instantly posted to social media about what happened and received hundreds of comments with some people saying the exact same thing happened to them.

Rodriguez said the night manager told him it was a battle between the City of Tyler and the Texas Department of Transportation, to see who’s responsible for the repairs. The storm water inlet is owned by the City of Tyler and South Broadway Avenue is under the care of TxDOT. The city told our news partner KETK that private owner of the driveway is responsible for maintenance. Continue reading Driver warns of tire popping curb at Sprouts

TYLER — Tyler fire crews were called to the Shiloh apartment complex early Thursday morning after a resident spotted flames on a neighbor’s balcony. According to our news partner KETK, the fire was reported around 4:30 a.m. at 2911 Shiloh Road. Crews evacuated the building as a precaution. While the flames did not damage the inside of the apartment, they did spread into the attic.

Structural damage to the roof forced the evacuation of all four top-floor units, and apartment management worked to relocate displaced residents into vacant units within the complex.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

BULLARD — Changes are expected for those traveling near Bullard ISD in December and January as TxDOT looks to upgrade U.S. Highway 69 and FM 2493, which includes the construction of a new overpass and a realigned on-ramp. According to our news partner KETK, beginning the week of Dec. 19, the speed limit at the intersection of U.S. 69 and FM 2493 East, located in front of Bullard ISD’s middle school, will be reduced to 45 mph. A temporary traffic signal will also be installed at the intersection on Jan. 5 to ease congestion and improve safety. TxDOT said message boards will be placed to alert drivers ahead of the change. Drivers are urged to stay alert and use caution in the area while improvements continue.

KILGORE — The Kilgore Fire Department is currently responding to a wildland brush fire on FM 2276 in Rusk County. According to our news partner KETK, the fire, which has spread across roughly one acre, originated from a burn pile ignited on Tuesday. Kilgore FD is urging residents to use extreme caution when conducting any outdoor burning, especially on windy days or when dry grass is present.

LONGVIEW — A Texas DPS trooper was involved in a crash in Longview on Wednesday during an emergency call. According to our news partner KETK, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, escaped injury Wednesday after another vehicle struck the side of his patrol unit.

The trooper was responding to an emergency call when the crash occurred at the intersection of Gilmer Road and Loop 281, authorities said.

Albritton said the trooper is unharmed, and the other driver was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

LINDALE — Investigators with the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested a Lindale man Tuesday following an online tip from X Corp, formerly known as Twitter.

According to our news partner KETK, the tip indicated that an individual had posted and sent direct messages soliciting child pornography in exchange for pornographic pictures of a minor in his family, Smith County arrest papers revealed. Some messages also included a video depicting an adult assaulting a child believed to be 12 to 14 years old.

Investigators traced one of the X accounts’ IP addresses to Lindale and obtained a search warrant for the resident’s home. An email linked to the account identified the suspect as Joshua Zane Attaway. On Tuesday, Smith County officials arrived at Attaway’s residence, where he was sitting outside. Attaway was interviewed, where he admitted to owning the X account and allegedly sending the messages. Continue reading Tip leads to arrest for child porn