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EAST TEXAS — The last day to register to vote in Texas is Monday, marking a crucial deadline for residents to ensure their participation in the upcoming November election.

Eligible to register to vote if:

• United States citizen
• Resident of the county where your application is submitted
• At least 17 years and 10 months old on the date of your voter registration application is submitted and your 18 years old on Election Day
• Not a convicted felon (You may be eligible if you have completed your sentence, probation and parole)
• Not declared mentally incapacitated by a court of law

Continue reading Texas voter registration ends Monday

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Animal Shelter is operating with limited staff and is asking community members to call to make an appointment to adopt one of the available dogs, according to our news partner KETK.

“The Smith County Fire Marshal and Smith County Animal Shelter staff are working hard to take care of the 65 animals, despite being short staffed and continuing to respond to emergency dog calls,” the county said “Thank you for your dedication and service.”

The shelter said on Friday that there are 19 dogs available for adoption, including several puppies. Community members can make an appointment by calling the shelter at 903-266-4303.

SMITH COUNTY – On November 18, 2020, two Smith County Deputies were working drug interdiction at the Greyhound Bus Station located at 16243 US Hwy 271 North at Interstate 20. While checking the bus, they located a “suspicious blue backpack” at the back of the bus, and no one would claim it. Subsequently, the Deputies located over $4,000 in cash and approximately 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine within the unclaimed blue bag. Continue reading Drug offender sentenced in federal court

PALESTINE — Our news partners at KETK report that two years after the case went cold, two Texas people have been arrested in connection with human trafficking of their own family members.

In October 2023, the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division was notified by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services of several complaints of sexual misconduct and possible prostitution in the Cleveland area of San Jacinto County.

The case went cold until September 2025, when the county reopened the investigation and identified two suspects, Glyn Banning and Jeremy Waltrapp, who are suspected of engaging in human trafficking. Law enforcement obtained statements from victims and witnesses that confirmed the allegations, county officials said. Continue reading Palestine woman accused of trafficking family members

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler opened the new expansion to the Longview University Center and announced the launch of the first physician assistant program in East Texas.

With the support of Texas Rep. Jay Dean, funding for the building expansion and the PA program was provided by the 88th Texas Legislature. The Legislature provided $10 million for the 10,144 square-foot expansion that includes a large classroom, multipurpose lab space, nursing skills and health assessment labs and centralized study areas. This additional space enables UT Tyler to
broaden its undergraduate and graduate degree offerings — like the new PA program — in Longview and across Gregg County. Continue reading UT Tyler opens new building at Longview campus

TYLER – Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock today unveiled a new interactive data dashboard designed to put the latest economic and demographic information directly into the hands of Texans. The announcement came during a regional event hosted by the Tyler Chamber of Commerce, where Hancock kicked off the Good for Texas Tour: TexStats Dashboard Edition.

The new TexStats Regional Data Dashboard consolidates a wide range of state, county and regional data into a single, user-friendly site. Visitors can explore everything from population growth and job trends to health care access, education levels, industry strength and trade activity. Continue reading Acting Texas Comptroller unveils new interactive TexStats dashboard

TYLER – Lisa Renee Schuyler was arrested on Wednesday evening after a witness reported to the Tyler Police Department that he saw a woman leave two dogs in a hot vehicle for at least an hour. According to our news partner KETK, two white Labrador retrievers were spotted in a grey Ford on Skidmore Lane. Police documentation said neither had water. A nearby witness told police that he saw Schuyler leave the Ford an hour before the officers arrived. Animal control later arrived on the scene and checked the temperature inside the vehicle, which read 90.1 degrees. Schuyler was arrested on two counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals: failure to provide, and is currently being held at the Smith County Jail.

WINNSBORO, Texas – The Winnsboro High School teacher who was suspended after she was reported for striking a student in the back of the head has since resigned. Our news partner KETK reports that Aaron Nation, Interim Winnsboro ISD Superintendent, announced Friday morning that the teacher resigned after she was suspended last week. The district said they reported the alleged incident to law enforcement, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the State Board for Educator Certification and the Texas Education Agency.

WHITEHOUSE — A mother’s trust was shattered when she discovered her 4-year-old son, a high-functioning autistic child, had suffered second-degree burns while under the care of an after-school program. According to our news partner KETK, on Sept. 18, Marcella Boles, a mother from Whitehouse ISD, reported that she picked up her 4-year-old son from the Mentoring Alliance after-school program at Brown Elementary, finding burns on his arm.

She mentioned that her son, who is high-functioning autistic student, had been placed in a janitor’s closet by a staff member from Mentoring Alliance due to misbehavior. She has seen video evidence showing that Emma Souder took her son to the closet multiple times, locking him in there alone.

Whitehouse ISD has confirmed the incident occurred on school grounds and are cooperating with the investigation. Mentoring Alliance uses the district’s facility but does not work directly with them. Continue reading 4yr old suffers burns during after-school program

MARSHALL — The City of Marshall’s Local Rabies Control Authority (LRCA) confirmed on Thursday that a bat carrying rabies was found in the Marshall area earlier this week.

On Sept. 29, a Marshall Animal Control Officer collected a bat that was lying on the ground in the 200 block of North Washington Avenue according to our news partner KETK. The bat was later humanely euthanized and sent to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for testing, according to Marshall PD. DSHS told the LRCA that the bat tested positive for rabies, and the LRCA has been monitoring the area where the bat was found to look for any other animals that may have been affected.

“We don’t believe anyone has been exposed, but we are taking this public health issue seriously. Public education is the key because rabies is fatal if left untreated, and it is 100% treatable,” Director of the LRCA and the Marshall Pet Adoption Center Justin Serna said.

To learn more information about rabies and where to access local vaccines, visit the DSHS website.

TYLER — Texas comptroller introduces new statewide online tool designed to put the latest economic and demographic data directly into the hands of Texans. According to our news partner KETK, Texas comptroller Kelly Hancock launched the new online tool, ‘TEXSTATS Dashboard’, today during a visit to Tyler.

Hancock has been in this role since June, giving Texans easier access to information. The technology is all available right now on the Texas comptroller’s website.

“We provide this information online where they can access it and they can learn about education in the area,” Hancock said. “They can learn about population growth in the area. They can learn all the demographics as well.” Continue reading Texas comptroller visits Tyler on his ‘Good for Texas’ tour

QUITMAN — The Quitman Independent School District is investigating allegations that an elementary student was confined to a classroom restroom as a form of punishment. Our news partner KETK is reporting that the school district was informed on Tuesday at 4 p.m. that two staff members had placed a student in the restroom and held the door closed to restrict their movement.

A teacher and a paraprofessional have been placed on administrative leave while the district conducts an investigation. This investigation concluded on Wednesday, leading them to be “no longer assigned to any district campus.” The district reported the situation to the Department of Family and Protective Services and the Texas Education Agency. Additionally, parents of all students in the classroom have been notified of the allegations and the district’s actions.

“We know this is concerning, and we want to assure you that the safety and well-being of your children are our top priority,” Mason said. “Thank you for your trust as we continue to provide a safe, caring and supportive learning environment for all students.”

TITUS COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, six people were arrested in the first two days of October following a more than yearlong investigation by multiple agencies in Titus County.

Search warrants related to narcotics were conducted at houses in Mount Pleasant, Winfield and Naples on October 1. During the execution of the warrants, investigators found: 11 illegally possessed firearms, almost a pound of methamphetamine, almost a pound of cocaine and more than a pound of marijuana.

Mount Pleasant Police and the Department of Public Safety said that during the course of the investigation, several kilogram amounts of methamphetamine and several firearms were also seized. Continue reading Yearlong investigation leads to narcotics bust