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LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, a Longview ISD student was arrested after allegedly making continuous threats while off campus.

The Longview Police Department was made aware of the threats on Wednesday and charged the student with Terrorist Threat, a third-degree felony. The student was then taken to the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center.

“The Longview Police Department remains committed to thoroughly investigating all threats made toward or on school campuses,” Longview PD said. ” Appropriated charges will be pursued in every case to ensure the safety of students.”

Anyone who may know of any suspicious activity is asked to contact Longview PD at 903-237-1199 to ensure the safety and security of all students and staff.

TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that STAAR testing could soon hear its final bell as Texas. As lawmakers move toward overhauling the annual exams, educators and parents alike say they fully support its end.

“The STAAR test is very stressful for small kids,” East Texas parent, Jourdan Ballou said. “Knowing that if you don’t pass the STAAR test, you cannot go to the next grade.”

House Bill 4 would change the test format from one test that lasts hours, to three exams taken over the year. Several school districts are also showing their support. Tyler ISD superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said the district is excited the bill passed the house and that they had a hand in its creation. Parents, too, believe the move would also help reduce their children’s test anxiety.

“I would support it because it would give them a chance to prepare the kids for not one big test but rather smaller tests,” East Texas parent James Sholar said. Continue reading East Texans react as STAAR testing ends in Texas

TITUS COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner KETK, an affidavit reveals that a man has been arrested after sexually assaulting a minor at a hotel in Mount Pleasant.

On April 23, the Titus County Sheriff’s Office was assigned to an aggravated sexual assault of a child case that occurred in January 2022. The following day, the victim participated in a forensic interview.

During the interview, the child said she was nine or 10-years-old when she was sexually assaulted in the parking lot of a hotel in Mount Pleasant. She identified the suspect as Camilo Hernandez Jr., and provided more details on the assault.

On Monday, officials interviewed Hernandez, who allegedly “admitted to having had sex [with the victim] when she was nine or 10-years-old. Hernandez justified this act by stating [the victim] had come on to him.”

Following the interview, Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Titus County Jail without incident.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler was awarded $800,000 from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to fund a project led by Dr. Julie George, School of Nursing clinical assistant professor, and Hillary Oliver, School of Nursing simulation hospital and skills lab director. Through this grant, George and Oliver will develop curriculum for nursing faculty across Texas, covering the topics of simulation planning, pre-briefing, facilitation strategies, debriefing, assessment and evaluation and continuous quality improvement.

GREGG COUNTY — TxDOT has announced an eastbound, outside lane closure on I-20 in Gregg County at the Sabine River bridge (mile marker 593) due to damage to the bridge deck. There is no damage to the structure of the bridge. The repairs will begin Wednesday morning, May 14 and are scheduled to take 4-5 days to complete. Motorists are encouraged to pay attention when driving through the work zone and be aware that delays may occur.

HUNTINGTON — The Huntington Police Department said a cyclist was allegedly threatened with a knife by four minors at a park last week, according to our news partner KETK.

The minors confronted and verbally threatened a man bicycling through Huntington City Park. One of the minors then took out a knife while another held a two-by-four wooden plank.

Huntington PD is actively investigating these threats and considering charging two of the juveniles with aggravated assault. “This decision underscores the seriousness of the incident and the potential legal consequences faced by the individuals involved,” Huntington PD Chief Brandan Lovell said.

Lovell added that the two other juveniles involved in the confrontation may also face charges.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department has released body cam footage after a woman grabbed an officer’s firearm and discharged it during an altercation on Sunday afternoon. According to the department and our news partner KETK, around 2:09 a.m., officers responded to a theft at Dollar General on 306 W Gentry Parkway and the officer located two suspects nearby at Albertson Avenue and Whitten Avenue. Officials said that while one complied with the arrest, Brianna Nicole Erwin tried to walk away and resisted when ordered to stop.

“Erwin continuously thrashed about, twisting her body, biting and pulling her arms away from officers,” an affidavit from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said.

“During the struggle, a backup officer arrived to assist with the arrest. The suspect continued to resist arrest and grabbed an officer’s firearm, discharging the weapon,” the police department said. “To prevent further escalation and the use of deadly force, an officer quickly utilized a closed-hand strike. Shortly afterwards, the suspect was taken into custody.” Continue reading Woman discharges officer’s gun during arrest

MOUNT PLEASANT – The City of Mount Pleasant’s newly elected Mayor, Wesley Lyon, will be sworn into office on Wednesday, according to our news partner KETK.

“The biggest thing I want is for the citizens to trust the government again,” Lyon said. “If something needs to be said or something needs to be done, then I’m going to say it or I’m going to do it.”

He was elected to this role on May 3, beating Incumbent Mayor Tracy Craig Sr.

“I certainly wish the new administration the best of luck because I want them to succeed, because if they succeed, the people in the city of Mount Pleasant will succeed,” Craig said. Continue reading Mount Pleasant’s new mayor to be sworn in

LUFKIN – A Lufkin man has pleaded guilty to various wire fraud schemes after he stole more than $9 million through fraudulent means.

Matthew Jess Thrash who had been running a multitude of fraudulent schemes and has been under investigation since 2020, pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Monday, according to a press release from Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas Abe McGlothin, Jr.’s Office.

An investigation revealed that Thrash had stolen approximately $9,170,124 from over 100 victims through fraudulent methods. McGlothlin’s press release indicates that Thrash “intended to devise schemes and artifices to defraud others, and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises.” Continue reading Lufkin man commits wire, steals more than $9 million

ANDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that deputies are seeking information after multiple cars and houses were burglarized in Houston County and Anderson County.

According to officials, on Monday the Houston County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls about burglaries that had happened in the area of FM 1272 and CR 2290. Deputies believe the suspects entered two different homes and attempted to enter two cars.

The sheriff’s office said that they believe the suspects are entering houses that appear to not be occupied full-time and cars that appear to be vacant outside residential neighborhoods to look for firearms, cash and jewelry.

The Anderson and Houston County Sheriff’s Office are currently working together to seek information and are asking individuals with security systems in the area to check their footage between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Monday.

RUSK COUNTY– UPDATE: At 8:10 p.m., Tuesday, the Rusk County Emergency Management announced that 911 service is restored for both Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and Henderson Police Department.

ORIGINAL STORY: Our news partner KETK reports that the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and Henderson Police Department said Tuesday morning that their 911 system is down.

According to Rusk County Emergency Management, there is an interruption of 911 service for the sheriff’s office and Henderson Police Department. People can call the agencies for emergencies and non-emergencies using these phone numbers Continue reading UPDATE: Rusk County emergency service system back up

CHEROKEE COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner KETK, a 78-year-old woman was found dead inside her home after a Monday evening fire in Cherokee County.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received a call around 8 p.m. about Gallatin Volunteer Fire Department responding to a fire in the 5000 block of FM 347 near Dialville with an elderly woman possibly still inside. Officials said after the fire was extinguished, the 78-year-old woman was found dead inside her home along with some animals around 12:30 a.m.

The state fire marshal’s office will be assisting in the investigation.

GILMER – East Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran spoke along with Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb in Gilmer on Monday to show their appreciation for law enforcement.

Moran’s speech was a part of the East Texans for Liberty political action committee’s Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner according to our news partner KETK. The free dinner was hosted at the Barbwire HALO Cowboy Church at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

“We need to do more of saying thank you to our law enforcement community day in, day out. It shouldn’t just be one week of the year, one day of the year, but we should go out of our way constantly to remind those in the law enforcement community, our first responders, how appreciative we are that they keep our property safe and that they keep us safe,” Moran said.

The event was held as a part of National Police Week which President Donald Trump declared as May 11 through May 17 in a proclamation on Monday.