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PALESTINE — Our news partner, KETK, reports that an East Texas couple has been arrested for child negligence after police found decaying food, piles of trash and cockroaches crawling throughout their home.

The Palestine Police Department said officers responded to a welfare check request in the 3000 block of N. Jackson at around 2:11 p.m. on Thursday. Before they arrived to the location, officers were advised that Code Enforcement had spoken with individuals at the residence concerning code violations.

During this visit, code enforcement observed child neglect and reported that the home emitted a foul odor and the home appeared to be in disarray. Once officers arrived, they spoke with Gina Jeter, 37, and her fiancé, Benjamin Quintanilla, 35. Both reportedly gave officers consent to enter the house. Continue reading East Texas couple arrested for child negligence

TYLER – On February 13, 2025, Smith County Deputies responded to the UT Health Emergency Room regarding a possible sexual assault of a child.

They contacted the mother of a six-year-old female victim who made an outcry of the assault. Smith County Investigators were notified and began their investigation. The suspect was identified as Brandon Darrell Couey – 32 of Winona. Couey is the husband of the child victim’s babysitter. A forensic interview took place at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Tyler on February 18, 2025. During the forensic interview the child victim described deviate sexual activity performed on her by “Brandon.” The child victim was able to give detailed information to the interviewer both verbally and with the use of male and female anatomy drawings. Continue reading Suspect arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler for 2025 had the third highest Uniform Certified Public Accountant exam pass rate among Texas public universities and ranked sixth overall among all state universities. UT Tyler’s pass rate is 62.14%, which is above the national average of 50%. This is the third consecutive year UT Tyler made the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy’s Top 10 list, and the university’s pass rate has consistently been above the national average for several years. Continue reading UT Tyler accounting students continue excellence on CPA exam

GRAND SALINE – Our news partners at KETK report that following a “raid” by Game Wardens and federal agents at an East Texas zoo, the company has released a statement to ease concerns. On Wednesday, the Canton Grand Safari Adventure was met with authorities who were allegedly there to find documents they could use on a “few active cases already under investigation.” As to what these cases are, is unknown. “This had absolutely nothing to do with the care of the animals or honestly anything to do with the zoo or its animals,” a zoo representative said. The zoo is allegedly not under investigation and have received “the all clear” to continue business as normal. The representative said they gave the U.S. Fish and Wildlife all documents they were seeking. Continue reading Grand Saline zoo responds after being ‘raided’

POLK COUNTY – Three Polk County jailers were arrested after allegedly assaulting an inmate, according to our news partner KETK.

DPS reports that Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons contacted Texas Rangers after the incident occurred on Feb. 3. DPS identified the victim as a 34-year-old man from Kingwood. The three employees reportedly involved in the assault have been identified as 27-year-old Ty Paredes, 29-year-old Christopher Damian and 31-year-old Agapito Correa. They have since all been charged with aggravated assault by a public servant.

At this time, DPS said they will not release any additional information and people are encouraged to ask the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for the employment status of the three jailers.

UPDATE: On Thursday, Lufkin ISD unanimously voted to shut down Coston Elementary and Kurth Primary during a school board meeting.

LUFKIN – More than 500 students may soon need to find new schools as the Lufkin ISD school board will decide this week whether to close two elementary schools, according to our news partner KETK.

In September 2024, the district established the Future Facilities Advisory Committee, to assess facilities and educational needs. It has since conducted reviews of all facilities in the district including “campus enrollments, building capacity, condition, usage, programs and educational programs offered on each campus.”

The district has seen a steady decline in student enrollment, with 1,600 fewer students enrolled in 2024 compared to 2013. After analyzing the data, the committee recommended several actions, with the top suggestion being the closure of Coston Elementary and Kurth Primary. Continue reading Lufkin ISD votes to close 2 elementary schools

HARRISON COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that two Harrison County residents were arrested on Thursday after guns and narcotics were found inside their home.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said a search warrant was conducted at a home on 8841 U.S. Highway 80 in Scottsville. Once officers entered the home, they recovered 51 grams of methamphetamine and 19 grams of Psilocybin, commonly known as shrooms. Seven firearms were also found inside the home, including a stolen Rugger Mini-14 gun along with an illegal Short Barrel Rifle.

Owners of the house, 49-year-old Joe Cisco, Jr. and 41-year-old Brittany Dyer, were arrested and booked into the Harrison County Jail. Cisco was arrested on three of charges of manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of prohibited weapon. Dyer was also arrested on three of charges of manufacturing a controlled substance. Continue reading Two arrested after meth, shrooms found in Harrison County home

CHANDLER — An elderly Florida couple appears to have been dropped off at an East Texas hotel after family members decided they “could not stay with them.”

The Chandler Police Department said they received a call of an elderly couple who seemed to be lost wandering around a hotel. According to our news partner,KETK, following an investigation, authorities learned that the couple had arrived the previous day and had a room at the hotel.

“Officers quickly discovered the couple appeared to be suffering from cognitive deficiencies and clearly seemed lost,” the police department said. “Although the couple had a room reserved for two nights the couple had no luggage, food, money or their needed medication with them.” Officers determined that due to their age, the couple could not care for themselves. Police later identified the man as Pastor William McCann and his wife Mary McCann from Fort Meyers, Florida. Continue reading Elderly couple abandoned at East Texas hotel

KILGORE — Our news partner, KETK, reports that a former Kilgore ISD employee was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly having an improper relationship with a student.

According to Kilgore ISD, the district began an investigation in early January of possible educator misconduct for Instructional Aide, Kayla Nicole O’Dell, 34 of Gladewater. O’Dell was an aide from August 2023 until her resignation on Jan. 7.Following her resignation, the results of the investigation were turned over to law enforcement, the district said. O’Dell was arrested for an improper relationship between an educator and student and is being held without bond in the Gregg County Jail.

HAWKINS – The City of Hawkins is down to one police officer after the mayor fired three officers at the city council meeting on Tuesday, according to our news partners at KETK. Hawkins Mayor Debbie Rushing fired two patrol officers and one investigator because she said they were not properly hired and didn’t receive approval from the council. According to the city’s ordinance, “the police chief and mayor shall interview all applicants for the job of police officers and shall make their selection and present this selection to the city council for their approval.” These three officers were hired under former Police Chief, Paul Holland who resigned on Jan. 25, marking the third chief to step down in three years. Continue reading Hawkins relies on one police officer

TYLER – The highly contagious measles virus kills more than 200,000 each year, according to the Mayo Clinic.

UT Tyler Health Science Center Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Richard Wallace explained what East Texans should know about measles and how to identify the “severe rash disease.”

Measles is a virus that spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. After a vaccine was introduced in 1963 the virus was considered eliminated in the United States by 2000, but now there has been an uptick in cases mostly affecting babies, children under five and adults older than 20. Wallace said that measles can appear seven to 14 days after contact and an infected person should start feeling better four days after breaking out with the diagnostic rash.

The biggest sign of measles is a rash, but Wallace said people can also experience other symptoms including a runny nose, drainage, sore throat and a cough. For most people, the virus will feel like an intense case of the flu, but it can be especially dangerous for babies and toddlers. “40% of people with measles are hospitalized either for complications of measles or for isolation,” Wallace said. Doctors claim there have been no confirmed cases of measles in East Texas, but health officials are staying alert.

TYLER – Habitat for Humanity of Smith County (HFHSC) has grant funds available to complete critical repairs within the homes of Smith County and Cherokee County neighbors who may not be able to afford home repairs otherwise. The affiliate is seeking veterans or surviving spouses who own their home and may be in need of repairs within and around their homes. Continue reading Smith County Habitat to provide critical repairs for veterans and spouses