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TYLER – Our news partner KETK is reporting that Texas House Bill 2000, also known as Audrii’s law, went into effect on Monday, ending a loophole that kept convicted child groomers off the sex offender registry. The bill was named for Audrii Cunningham, an 11-year-old girl from Polk County who was kidnapped and murdered in Feb. 2024.

Audrii was the subject of a Feb. 15, 2024 Amber Alert after she never showed up to school. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Trinity River Authority found Audrii’s body five days later in the Trinity River on Feb. 20.

Don McDougal lived in a camper on the Cunningham’s property and was supposed to drop Audrii off at the bus stop on the day she went missing.

McDougal, who pleaded guilty to Audrii’s murder, was previously accused of indecency with a child in 2007 but he pleaded down to the charge of enticing a child and that kept him off the Sex Offender Registry. Continue reading Audrii’s law goes into effect, ending loophole

TYLER — UPDATE: As of Wednesday afternoon, Tyler PD PIO Andy Erbaugh said the department is no longer looking for a suspect in Tuesday’s lockdown at UT Health East Texas. All possible efforts to contact possible witnesses have not led to an arrest at this time.

The lockdown at UT Health East Texas in Tyler was lifted at around 1 p.m. after reports of a person carrying a gun at the Olympic Plaza.

During a press conference at around noon on Tuesday, Officer Erbaugh said witnesses saw an argument between two people and one of them displayed a gun. At that point, the active shooter alarm was activated. According to our news partner KETK, law enforcement responded within seconds. The original call came from the Olympic Plaza on Beckham Avenue. Other reports stated the person was heading to the main hospital using the skyview over the chapel area on the second floor; however, officials did not locate the person.
Continue reading Search for suspect called off after UT Health lockdown, no shots fired

TYLER – A lockdown at UT Health East Texas in Tyler was lifted at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday after reports of a person carrying a gun at the Olympic Plaza. At a press conference that afternoon, Tyler Police Department public information officer Andy Erbaugh, said witnesses saw an argument between two people, when one of them flashed a gun. That’s when the active shooter alarm was activated.

Erbaugh said law enforcement responded to the alert within seconds. While the original call came from the Olympic Plaza, there were reports of a person going to the main hospital using the skyview over the chapel area on the second floor. But, officials didn’t not locate that person. Erbaugh stated the person wanted is a black man wearing green hospital scrubs. He noted, no shots were fired and no injuries have been reported. The hospital is functioning back to normal. Tyler Police asks residents if you see or know something about Tuesdays events, to call law enforcement.

RAINS COUNTY – NET Health received confirmation of a travel-related positive case of measles in an adult resident of Rains County, Texas. The individual has voluntarily remained isolated at their residence throughout their contagious period and has recovered from their case of measles. Persons who have been fully vaccinated against measles with two doses of the MMR vaccine have a very low risk of contracting the disease. However, unvaccinated individuals remain at higher risk, as do those in some other groups, including:

Children too young to have received both doses of the MMR vaccine yet
Anyone who have received only one dose of MMR
Those with compromised immune systems Continue reading Confirmed adult case of measles

EAST TEXAS — NET Health received confirmation of a travel-related positive case of measles in an adult resident of Rains County, Texas. The individual has voluntarily remained isolated at their residence throughout their contagious period and has recovered from their case of measles.

Continue reading Confirmed adult case of measles

TYLER – Our news partners at KETK report that the lockdown has since been lifted, the Tyler Police Department confirmed. During a press conference at around noon on Tuesday, Tyler Police Department PIO Andy Erbaugh said witnesses saw an argument between two people and one of them displayed a gun. At that point, the active shooter alarm was activated. Erbaugh said law enforcement responded within seconds. The original call came from the Olympic Plaza on Beckham Avenue. Other reports stated the person was heading to the main hospital using the skyview over the chapel area on the second floor; however, officials did not locate the person. Other law enforcement then arrived at the scene to help clear the hospital floor by floor. Authorities are currently reviewing footage. Continue reading Lockdown lifted at UT Health Olympic Plaza, Police search for armed man

LIBERTY CITY – A shooting Monday afternoon at Hugh Camp Memorial Park in Liberty City has claimed two lives. According to our news partner KETK, killed were 49-year-old Shawn Blake and his 16-year old daughter, Hailey. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday morning the suspect in the shooting is Christopher Hicks Jr. Hicks was taken to a hospital after suffering self-inflicted life-threatening injuries.

Because Hicks was Hailey Blake’s boyfriend, Deputy Chief Craig Harrington said, “This incident was believed to be a targeted attack and not a random act of violence.”

The sheriff’s office asks if anybody witnessed the shooting, to please contact them.

LIBERTY CITY – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting at Hugh Camp Memorial Park in Liberty City. According to our news partner KETK, they’re investigating an active crime scene at the park and there’s currently no threat to the public. The Sabine Emergency Services District and the Texas Department of Public Safety have also responded to the scene.

KETK will update this article as more information becomes available.

LUFKIN – Our news partner, KETK, is reporting that Lieutenant Mike Shurley is retiring from the Lufkin police department after three decades to serving East Texas.

Shurley officially retired from the department on Aug. 28, ending a 32-year career in public service. He began his career as a reserve police officer with the Diboll Police Department after graduating from Angelina College with an associate’s degree in criminal justice. In 1995, Shurley joined the Lufkin Police Department, starting as a patrol officer and eventually advancing to lieutenant. He also served on the department’s SWAT Team for 10 years as an entry team leader.

“As Shurley steps into retirement, the Lufkin Police Department and the entire community extend their deepest gratitude for his unwavering service, leadership and integrity,” the Lufkin Police Department said. “His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of law enforcement professionals.”

WHITEHOUSE, Texas (KETK) — According to our news partner KETK, a boat caught on fire in Whitehouse on Monday morning. The incident occurred at Lake Tyler Self Storage, and the cause of the fire remains unknown, the Whitehouse Fire Department said. Two RVs and another boat were impacted by the fire.

Members of the Whitehouse Fire Department put out the fire, and no injuries were reported.

LINDALE – City officials are closing Commerce Street in downtown Lindale starting on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the street will be closed for around five to six weeks while crews work on the Highway 16 drainage improvement project. While work is being done, drivers will be able to turn left off of Highway 16 onto Waters Street. The city asks drivers to plan ahead, especially when there is movement with school traffic.

ATHENS – Two Henderson County deputies had some unusual work cut out for them on Saturday morning according to our news partner KETK. Deputies Draven Matich and AJ St. Clair responded to Athens at around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday after someone’s kangaroo escaped. According to the sheriff’s office, the two deputies found the kangaroo safe and wrangled it into their vehicle.

The kangaroo was then returned to it’s grateful owner. The sheriff’s office shared the above video of the kangaroo being corralled on Saturday.

“After a daring escape, this marsupial was safely located and returned to her grateful owner, thanks to the quick thinking and calm handling by our Henderson County Sheriff’s Office team,” the sheriff’s office said. “From narcotics busts to kangaroo rescues — we do it all.”

LINDALE – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office confirms 17 people have reportedly been injured after six vehicles and two 18-wheelers were involved in a crash on Interstate 20 near Lindale Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the crash occurred on Interstate 20, westbound near mile marker 558. Those injured were take to local hospitals for treatment. No fatalities have been reported.