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UPDATE: TYLER – The Texas Game Wardens have confirmed that a 75-year-old was killed when a jet ski crashed into a boat at Lake Tyler West on Saturday.

Stephen Ward, 75 of Tyler, was killed when his jet ski crashed into what game wardens called a “recreational vessel” that had four occupants. Those four occupants were uninjured in the crash and no alcohol was involved, according to a press release from the Texas Game Wardens.

An autopsy has been ordered and the Texas Game Warden State Forensics Reconstruction and Mapping Team is investigating the crash. Continue reading UPDATE: One dead after jet ski crash in Lake Tyler

PALESTINE – Residents of Palestine can be assured that the city is taking steps to control the mosquito population this summer thanks to scheduled maintenance, according to our news partner KETK.

The City of Palestine will spray for summer mosquitoes starting on Monday, May 26. To ensure coverage, mosquito control is divided into six areas which are sprayed twice annually.

The first three areas will be covered on May 26, while areas four, five and six are scheduled to be sprayed on May 29.

The spraying will begin at 9 p.m. and continue until 5 a.m. on those days. Continue reading City of Palestine to start spraying for mosquitos

PALESTINE – According to our news partner, KETK, a Palestine family who lost their infant daughter last year, donated their infant preservation device to a local hospital so other families could spend more time with their recently deceased babies.

A Palestine family, who lost their infant daughter last year, donated their infant preservation device to a local hospital so other families could spend more time with their recently deceased babies. While nothing could sooth their pain, all they wanted was another moment with Skipper Kate. The moment may not have been the way they imagined it, but the family was able to use a Cuddle Cot to make it happen.

“This device gave us the gift of time,” Pierce said. “It keeps them cold. And by keeping them cold, it allows families to get time they otherwise would not have gotten without the aid of this cooling device.”

Now Sayler and Noah Pierce are giving the same gift to other families by donating the device to Palestine Regional Medical Center. Continue reading Infant preservation device donated to hospital

GUN BARREL CITY – Three people were injured with one person being airlifted to a local hospital on Thursday after three vehicles were involved in a major crash in Gun Barrel City, officials said.

Gun Barrell City Fire Department said they responded to a major accident in the 200 block of Legendary Lane where three passengers of a red sedan were injured. One passenger was flown to a local hospital.

Legendary Lane was closed for two hours while an investigation of the accident was conducted.

WOOD COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that four people have been arrested following a high-speed chase in Wood County where multiple shots were fired.

According to Wood County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived at Lake Holbrook recreational area on Thursday evening at around 10:03 p.m. after receiving reports about a suspect who had stolen a firearm, had threatened several people with it and had threatened to shoot at law enforcement.

Once on the scene, deputies witnessed a white SUV attempting to leave from the recreational area at high speed, nearly striking several officials. As deputies began to pursue the vehicle, shots were fired by a suspect from the SUV, according to officials. Continue reading Four arrested in high-speed chase

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect who was caught on video breaking into a house in the Ben Wheeler area on Friday morning, according to our news partner KETK.

Video footage shows the suspect, who appears to be a man walking around the home at around 7 a.m. Friday morning. In the video, posted on Facebook, the suspect’s face remains partially covered by what appears to be a rag.

The Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone who may be able to identify the suspect through the video to contact the Van Zandt County Criminal Investigation Division at 903-567-4133.

TEXARKANA – Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,500 reward for any information that can lead to the arrest of the man wanted for shooting and injuring a mother and her 10-year-old daughter while they were sleeping in March.

According to our news partner KETK, 20-year-old Omarion Owens is wanted for multiple violent felonies in Texarkana Texas and Arkansas, including a shooting that left a mom and daughter wounded.

Officials said on March 15 around 12:30 a.m. in the 3000 block of Mason Street a mother and her 10-year-old daughter were shot while sleeping in bed leaving the mom wounded and her daughter in critical condition. “More than 60 bullets were fired into their home in the middle of the night in just 11 seconds,” the department said. Continue reading Police search for shooting suspect that injured 10-year-old

HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Larue man was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon after the court heard his extensive criminal history since the 1990’s.

According to the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office, Jeremy Wayne Costlow, 47 of Larue was sentenced to life in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and 20 years for possession of a controlled substance after the jury found him guilty in March.

“During punishment, the court heard that Costlow’s punishment was enhanced due to his extensive criminal history and was on parole at the time of this offense,” the DA’s office said. Continue reading Henderson County man gets life in prison

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank released their 2025 Map the Meal Gap numbers showing that one in five adults in the East Texas area do not have enough food to eat. According to our news partner KETK, this amounts to nearly 44.6 million meals, an increase from last year’s close to 41 million meals. Many families who depend on the food bank yearly also rely on their SNAP benefits to fill their pantries.

“Snap benefits stretch much, much further than the meals that you get,” East Texas Food Bank Chief Impact Officer Kim Morris said.

Recently, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee voted on its portion of a bill that includes $230 billion in spending cuts. One of those proposals would make cuts to SNAP benefits, and changes to qualification requirements. Something U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran from East Texas supports. Continue reading East Texas Food Bank responds to possible SNAP cuts

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the Calendars Committee did not advance House Bill 2109 to be heard on the House floor. The 57-year-old bill would have ended the Marvin Nichols project to flood tens of thousands of East Texas land to supply water to the DFW metroplex.

East Texans have strong emotions about HB- 2109 being one hurdle away from a House floor hearing. Many East Texans said they called all 11 Calendars Committee members and went to the capitol to please their case even as the clock was running out. They all agree after nearly six decades on the front lines that they will not stop fighting. In the next legislative session, they are hoping another bill will be introduced to finally put a stop to the reservoir, once and for all.

The Texas Water Board is still allowing anyone to submit their comments regarding the Reservoir. The deadline is June 9.

AUSTIN – Gov. Greg Abbott has increased the reward offered for information leading to Trevor McEuen’s arrest, after a manhunt ensued earlier this month, hours before he was due in court on a murder charge.

According to our news partner KETK, the reward is up to $30,000 after Abbott, the Kaufman County Crime Stoppers and the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office each offered $10,000 for any information that leads to McEuen’s arrest.

“I urge all Texans with information on McEuen to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online to help law enforcement apprehend this heinous criminal. Working together, we will bring fugitives like Trevor McEuen to justice,” Abbot said.

To be eligible for the reward, people must submit their tips to Texas Crime Stoppers at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or online. Anyone with information will remain anonymous and should avoid apprehending McEuen as he is considered armed and dangerous. Continue reading Reward increased to $30K for East Texas fugitive

POLK COUNTY — In Texas, each county jail requires a minimum ratio of one guard for every 48 inmates. According to our news partner KETK, that’s not enough for Polk County.

Sheriff Byron Lyons says, like many other jails across Texas, his jail is facing staffing shortages and overcrowding, and has now looked into exploring alternative housing options for inmates.

“The only viable in-state option was in Eagle Pass, which could accommodate 60 to 100 inmates. However, it is located approximately six hours away, one way,” Lyons said. “In contrast, the facility in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, though out of state, is only a two-hour drive and can also house between 60 and 100 inmates. This proximity allows us to keep our inmate population centralized, rather than spread out across multiple locations.” Continue reading Jail moving inmates to Louisiana amid overcrowding issues

WHITEHOUSE – According to our news partner KETK, a motorcyclist died in Whitehouse following a crash with a vehicle, according to officials.

The crash occurred around 7:42 p.m. at the intersection of State Highway 110 and Acker Tap on Thursday evening, according to Nikki Simmons, the Community Outreach Coordinator for Smith County ESD2. Simmons also stated the motorcyclist died on the scene while the driver involved in the crash was transported to the hospital and their condition remains unknown.