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TYLER – U.S Attorney Brit Featherston announced that a Tyler man was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for child exploitation violations on Thursday. On March 28, 2022, Daniel Dylan Skipworth, 20, pleaded guilty to transporting a 13-year-old girl from Alabama to engage in sexual activity at his home in Tyler. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker sentenced Skipworth to 216 months in federal prison for the charge. Officials said that Skipworth’s conviction was the result of cooperation between the FBI, Tyler Police Department and Smith County Sheriff’s Office. According to Featherston, GPS data from the child’s phone was analyzed as a part of official’s investigation. The case is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a program launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, according to officials.

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Coffee City Police Department said they responded Thursday morning to a report of a woman walking on the center median of the bridge on SH 155. According to our news partner KETK, Lesa Phillips was identified as the woman. When officials arrived, Phillips was allegedly uncooperative and attempted to walk onto the southbound lanes during rush hour traffic. According to a release, officers were able to get a hold of Phillips right before she was struck by a vehicle clocked going 70 mph. Phillips continued to resist and allegedly kicked one of the officers trying to detain her. Once detained, Phillips allegedly attempted to kick out the windows of the unit transporting her to the Henderson County Jail. Phillips was booked and charged with felony assault of a peace officer, resisting arrest, search or transport, public intoxication, failure to identify and walking on a highway with traffic.

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a large commercial building on fire Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK there were no injuries, and officials said crews were continuing to work Thursday morning to extinguish the fire that has been enhanced by high winds. “When firefighters arrived, the building was 90-100% involved with fire,” officials said. According to officials, Lindale, Red Springs and Winona Fire Departments responded around 6:30 a.m. to a 30,000 square foot building on fire in the 11700 block of County Road 497 north of I-20. According to Smith County Fire Marshal Chief Deputy Chad Hogue, the building belongs to Keyla’s Furniture, and was used for cutting lumber and building furniture.

TYLER — A pedestrian has died after being struck by a vehicle in Tyler Wednesday night. It happened around 9:15 at the intersection of Loop 323 and Erwin Street. Investigators said a pickup was traveling north on Loop 323 approaching the intersection with E. Erwin St in the inside lane. The female pedestrian, identified as Denise Kay Brown, 60, from Tyler, reportedly walked in front of the truck and the driver was unable to avoid her. There was no indication of impairment on the driver. The case remains under investigation awaiting autopsy results.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man is wanted for criminal mischief by the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office after he allegedly set a woman’s property on fire. According to the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office and  our news partner KETK, officials have been searching for Christopher Feemster, 35, for several months. He’s described as 5’6″ and about 160 pounds with green eyes and brown hair. Feemster lives at 9881 County Road 274 and is possibly living in the woods behind his home. Feemster is currently out on bond for an evading charge and is known to flee from police. He  has previous arrests for assault. According to his warrant, on Aug. 13, fire officials were called to a home where a woman, who identified Feemster as her “ex-lover”, reported he had set her personal items on fire. Continue reading Tyler man wanted by Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office

TYLER — Tyler Police have released the identity of a woman whose body was found over the weekend. Officers responded to a report of a deceased female in her vehicle around 12:30 Saturday morning in the parking lot of Clear Springs on Broadway. She’s now been identified as Samantha Atkinson, 34, of Tyler. Her body was sent for autopsy. Police said foul play was not suspected.

TYLER — Smith County donated surplus computer equipment Wednesday to Mustard Seed Ministries that will be refurbished and given to local school children. Items included 153 desktops, 44 laptops, 82 monitors, 22 printers, four servers, three scanners, two switches, and three DVRs. The donation was approved Tuesday in Commissioners Court. For years, Smith County has donated outdated and broken computer equipment to Mustard Seed Ministries. The nonprofit organization dismantles and reassembles the equipment and donates them to school children who do not have computers. Click here to read more.

TYLER – A Grapeland man and his girlfriend have been sentenced in Tyler to federal prison in a murder-for-hire plot. Reynaldo Campos, Jr., 45, pleaded guilty on August 12, 2022, to murder for hire and was sentenced Wednesday to ten years. According to the indictment, on Feb. 9, 2022, Campos contacted an individual who he believed was a hitman, but who was in fact an undercover federal agent, and solicited the supposed hitman to murder a former associate of Campos, claiming the intended victim had either stolen drugs from him or owed him money. Campos discussed the intended murder with the agent on multiple occasions over the next several weeks. Continue reading Houston County man sentenced to 10 years in solicitation of murder plot

O.H. IVIE LAKE – An East Texas man recently caught the eighth biggest largemouth bass in Texas history with the Toyota ShareLunker Program. According to our news partner KETK, Jason Conn, a professional bass fisherman and a Lake Fork guide, caught a 17.03-pound largemouth bass from O.H. Ivie Lake, east of San Angelo. Conn’s bass is considered a Legacy Class Lunker with the Toyota ShareLunker Program through Texas Parks and Wildlife, which is the highest class they offer.

LONGVIEW — Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 15, Mobberly Avenue in Longview is scheduled to be closed to southbound traffic at Bostic Avenue. Southbound truck traffic will be detoured to High Street at Cotton Street. All other traffic will be detoured at Bostic Avenue. According to a news release, lane closures continue along High Street between Mobberly Avenue and Edwin Street. High Street remains reduced to one lane in each direction, and Mobberly Avenue access will be limited to northbound traffic only. Stop signs will be used to control traffic Edwin Street during the lane closure to improve safety for all involved, according to the release. Continue reading Mobberly Avenue southbound traffic closed at Bostic Avenue

EAST TEXAS – The Feeding Texas network, made up of 21 food banks across the state, is calling on state lawmakers to increase funding for the Surplus Agricultural Products Grant today in a virtual day of advocacy. With the cost of groceries rising, many Texans are turning to food banks for support. The loss of the increased pandemic SNAP benefits (known as “emergency allotments”) in March will lead to even greater need, with all SNAP households experiencing a minimum reduction of $95 a month in SNAP benefits. “Texans everywhere are struggling with the rising cost of food, and as a result, more Texans are seeking emergency food from food banks,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas. Continue reading Texas Food Banks urge legislators to increase funding

SMITH COUNTY — A jail reform advocate demands improved care for inmates at an East Texas jail. At their meeting Tuesday in Tyler, the Smith County Commissioners Court heard from a member of the Texas Jail Project, Dalila Reynoso, who called for greater mental-health resources at the Smith County Jail. She was responding to the recent hanging death of an inmate, Nathan Lee Johns. A sheriff’s office statement said that Johns hanged himself with an electrical cord he concealed from guards after he took it from an inmate phone box.  Reynoso says the death should have been prevented. The Texas Rangers are investigating the hanging.

TYLER — The Smith County Criminal District Attorney’s Office announces the opening of registration for its first public Citizen Prosecutor Academy. According to a news release, that’s an opportunity to learn in a small group setting about the interworking of the Smith County District Attorney’s Office and obtain valuable insight into the crimes that regularly occur in Smith County and how the criminal justice system functions. Attendees will hear from prosecutors and investigators about a variety of crimes and topics. The Academy will begin March 30 and will meet for three hours each Thursday night from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for a period of eight weeks. Dinner is provided each night. Continue reading Smith County District Attorney’s Office begins Citizen Prosecutor Academy

DIANA – Joining a growing number of school districts in East Texas and elsewhere in the state, the New Diana ISD Board of Trustees voted Monday to switch to a four-day week, effective with the coming school year. According to our news partner KETK, after discussion and some parent comments, the board passed the new calendar in a 4 to 3 vote. The vote comes after parents, staff, and students voted overwhelmingly to switch to the four-day week in a survey that the school district conducted. According to the results of the survey, 78.1% of New Diana ISD staff voted to a adopt the new schedule, along with 63.2% of parents and 76.1% of students.

ATHENS – The Henderson County Sheriff’s office says it is looking for a man who has an outstanding warrant for injury to a child. According to our news partner KETK, a news release says officials are seeking help finding Phillip Westley Flynn. If you have any information in reference to his location, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 903-675-5128 or Henderson County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-545-TIPS.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Commissioners Court gives some help to the county Sheriff’s Office in its employee shortage. The court gave its approval to transferring funds from the salary and benefit lag fund to overtime for the Sheriff’s Office. Lag pay is payment of employees for work already performed. The overtime will allow the Sheriff’s Office to cover costs for its current employees. Gregg County Chief Deputy Craig Harrington told commissioners that the Sheriff’s Office has been 40 employees short since the start of the pandemic, making it necessary for existing employees to work extra shifts.

LONGVIEW – Longview police say a woman has been found safe after being reported missing Feb. 1. According to our news partner KETK, a missing person report on Trinity Ross was originally filed with the Kilgore Police Department. Police later learned that Ross had last been seen in Longview, so Longview authorities took over the case. That sighting was January 29 near the intersection of Avenue D and West Marshall Avenue.

TYLER – Dr. Amy H. Schwartz has been selected as the new dean of The University of Texas at Tyler Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, effective March 2023. “Dr. Schwartz impressed us with a depth of knowledge throughout her 30 years of experience as a pharmacist, and I am very pleased that she has accepted the role to lead our faculty and educate our students,” said UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun as quoted in a news release. A board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist, Schwartz is known for her extensive experience in pharmacy and higher education, according to the release. She has had recent publications in Pharmacotherapy, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and American Medical Association Journal of Ethics. Continue reading Dean announced for Fisch College of Pharmacy at UT Tyler

LONGVIEW — The city of Longview is putting out the word that citizens can use the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool to report damage from recent weather events including the Jan. 29 ice storm/winter weather event. Businesses, homeowners, and renters can use the tool to report damages. Visit this link to move forward with the process.

LONGVIEW — Structural upgrades and building improvements to district facilities were just some of the agenda items approved by the Longview ISD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting Monday, according to district officials. They say an elevator located near the library at Longview High School requires extensive repairs and updates. LISD Maintenance Supervisor Mike Gipson explained that the elevator is from the original construction of the high school in 1976. Trustees also approved a bid of $915,020 to repair damages to the district warehouse on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Initial damages were sustained in the hailstorm on Jan. 19. Board members later approved using $163,000 in grant funds for the purchase of MERV 13 Air Filters for district campuses. Click here to learn more.

CHAPEL HILL – The Chapel Hill Independent School District School Board of Trustees has called for a bond to build a new Junior High School, Career and Technical Education Center, Multi-purpose Activity Center, Operations Facility, and classroom additions. “I urge Chapel Hill voters to educate themselves on the proposed bond and make an informed decision during May’s elections,” said President Les Schminkey as quoted in a news release. On Monday, board members voted unanimously to call the $113,920,000 school bond for May’s election. If all three propositions pass, officials say the property tax rates will increase by .27 cents. For a home valued at $100,000, the tax bill is estimated to increase no more than $13.53 per month. Click here to learn more.

TYLER — Frustrated and upset Smith County voters gathered Monday night, and Grassroots America We the People explained in detail the 2020 election audit irregularities that led to the discovery of 584 absentee ballots that they say were not counted. According to our news partner KETK, analysts emphasized that a straightforward and trustworthy voting process is a cornerstone of democracy in our country. “That is precious to people and we need to make sure that we don’t take a casual approach to that. Even if one vote isn’t counted, that means an American citizen was disenfranchised and we want to do everything we can to make sure that in Smith County we get election results we can count on to be accurate a verifiable,” said JoAnn Fleming, Executive Director of Grassroots. Continue reading Grassroots America presents audit findings to public

TYLER — Officials say the Smith County Jail is no longer on a remedial order. According to a news release, Sheriff Larry Smith and County Judge Neal Franklin appeared before the Texas Commission on Jail Standards in Austin regarding the status of the order. Subsequent to the testimony, including improvements made, checks and balances put in place and replacement of key personnel, Executive Director Brandon Wood made a recommendation to the Commission that the jail be removed from the remedial order. The Jail Commission unanimously concurred. The Smith County Jail is also in compliance with minimum jail standards, according to a news release. Continue reading Smith County Jail no longer on remedial order

TYLER — Authorities say they are investigating a suicide at the Smith County Jail. According to a news release, at approximately 12:50 p.m. on February 9, a county detention officer alerted staff of an emergency situation in a side cell of the jail. Officials say officers immediately responded to the cell and subsequently observed that an inmate had wrapped an electrical cord around his neck and hanged himself. Detention staff cut the cord and paramedics began CPR on the inmate but were unable to revive him, according to the release. Officials say the inmate had previously pulled the electrical cord from the inmate phone box and was able to conceal it from staff. Continue reading Authorities: Jail inmate commits suicide

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities say a murder/suicide is under investigation in Smith County. Officials say at 8:53 p.m. on Friday, Smith County Communications received a 911 call from a reportedly frantic female advising that her son, Cody Hand, had just shot her husband, Dale Hand, and she believed her husband was dead. Deputies responded to an address on County Road 3111 near Gladewater. While deputies were responding to the location, they were informed that Cody Hand was still armed. Moments later, deputies were informed that Cody Hand had just shot himself. Continue reading Sheriff’s Office investigates murder/suicide

TYLER — The City of Tyler Municipal Court is offering a Warrant Solution Program for the month of February. According to a news release, any defendant with outstanding City of Tyler warrants may voluntarily appear in Court to request a payment plan without the risk of being arrested. Defendants eligible for the Warrant Solution Program will receive 1) a $50 reduction on each outstanding case and be allowed 14 days to make the initial down payment to establish a payment plan, or 2) receive a $50 reduction on each outstanding case and an additional $25 reduction on each unadjudicated case if the entire balance is paid in full. Defendants who are unable to pay the authorized monthly installment will be allowed the opportunity to see a judge to explain their circumstances. Continue reading Tyler Municipal Court offers “Warrant Solution Program” throughout February

TYLER — Officials are releasing details on a brief weekend chase that involved a collision and injuries. According to a news release, at 5:50 Saturday morning, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received information that Steven Shelton-Groves was in the area of Hebron Road and County Road 384 driving a U-Haul van, allegedly with stolen property.  It was also discovered that Shelton-Groves had an outstanding warrant for parole violation stemming from an alleged weapons violation and was flagged as potentially being armed and dangerous.  A Smith County deputy was driving near the area and was stopped at Old Longview Road and Loop 323 when she observed a U-Haul with a man driving.  She then followed the vehicle, reportedly observed multiple traffic violations, and initiated a traffic stop.  Continue reading Man arrested after short pursuit involving crash, injuries

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District for the week of February 13. In Gregg County, weather permitting, Longview maintenance will continue mill and inlay operations on FM 2207. Crews will also be patching potholes at various locations throughout the county. This will be a mobile operation. In 
Smith County, Tyler maintenance will have a crew performing ditch work on Loop 323 near FM 14. Expect one lane closure. When that’s complete, this crew will move to FM 850 to perform fog seal operations. Both locations will be off SH 31 towards Overton. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. Click here for a complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has announced the successful transition of its Honors Program to a new Honors College, according to a university news release. Honors programming, which began in 2009 with an inaugural cohort of 20 students, has grown to about 200 students and is projected to reach 300 students by fall 2025. Dr. Paul Streufert, UT Tyler associate professor and founding director of the former Honors Program, has been appointed inaugural dean-elect for the new college. UT Tyler’s Honors College is the sixth within the UT System. Continue reading UT Tyler announces new Honors College

SMITH COUNTY — In a Tyler Federal Court last week, Dusty Caudill and David Bartlett pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to transport wildlife in Interstate Commerce and to violating the Endangered Species Act. In February of 2021, Caudill and Barlett attempted to negotiate the sale of two African elephant ivory tusks with an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent. The tusks were transported from Ardmore, Oklahoma, to Tyler. A third man, Darryl Garcia, still awaits his day in court.