Additional “injury to child” charge

Additional “injury to child” chargeTYLER — A man who was arrested in early 2025 in connection to a Tyler apartment shooting that left a woman dead has been additionally charged with injury to a child by a grand jury on Feb. 26.

Jorian Jackson of Plano was arrested on Jan. 22, 2025, for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend, Cheyenne Russell, in a Tyler apartment shooting. According to our news partner KETK, on Jan. 6, 2025, two children found their mother’s body and alerted an adult after an apartment shooting on Bellwood Lake Road. Upon arrival, Tyler Police Department officers made contact with Russell’s roommate, who found her dead on a couch underneath a blanket with blood on her face.

According to arrest documents, Jackson was at the apartment that day to drop off some Christmas presents for a child of his and Russell’s. The roommate told officials that the victim and Jackson had a rough relationship. Continue reading Additional “injury to child” charge

Mighty forces.

This image provided by U.S. Central Command shows a F/A-18E Super Hornet preparing to make an arrested landing the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on Monday, March 2, 2026. (U.S. Navy via AP)

One of my favorite quotes comes from a 1921 book by Canadian author Basil King. It says:

Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid.”

That quote has informed most of my 35 years as an entrepreneur. I don’t hear those words as an excuse for ill-considered recklessness. I hear them as saying that bold action taken after thoughtful consideration of the risks has a way of unleashing positive reactions. Bold, decisive action can be infectious. Properly calibrated boldness can attract the favorable notice of people and organizations that can prove helpful in an effort or a cause.

So President Trump hopes.

Unleashing hell from above upon a sovereign nation run by sociopaths is about as bold as it gets. Having done exactly that, the president now very much needs mighty forces to come to his aid. (And to be clear, by saying his aid I mean our aid. Trump is acting on behalf of every American.)

The left is reflexively attributing Trump’s military action to every malign motivation they can think of. But I believe his motivation was entirely rational. I believe that he had information leading him to believe that despite last year’s Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran was closing in on a nuclear weapon. That, along with their well-documented possession of the ballistic missiles to deliver said weapons, and coupled with their murderous, apocalyptic rhetoric, meant in Trump’s mind that not acting would have been an impeachable offense.

Much good can come from this kinetic action in Iran. First and most obvious is the elimination of a homicidal regime that for nearly 50 years has been bent on the annihilation of Israel, the annihilation of the United States and indeed the immolation of the entirety of Western civilization.

But beyond that, putting the Iranian regime out of business – after having put the Maduro regime in Venezuela out of business – puts the squeeze on China, our number one strategic adversary. China is the largest oil importer in the world and Iran and Venezuela taken together account for about 25 percent of those imports. (For some perspective, the 1973 Arab oil embargo reduced total oil supply in the U.S. by only three to five percent, yet those of us who were alive remember the gas lines and the severe economic impact.)

If this operation succeeds, the U.S. gains de facto control of the Strait of Hormuz through which about 20 percent of the world’s daily oil supply transits.

Also, the defensive systems in both Iran and Venezuela that were provided by China have proved themselves essentially useless. Developing countries that might have been inclined to look to China for defense have certainly noticed.

But for all that, wars can destroy presidencies. Just ask Lyndon Johnson and George W. Bush.

So, let’s pray for those mighty forces that Trump is going to need. Because success would reshape the world for the better. But the negative impact of failure upon the fortunes of the U.S. and the West is simply too awful to contemplate.

Biker severely injured in collision

Biker severely injured in collisionSMITH COUNTY — A wreck involving a car and a motorcycle Thursday morning left the rider in critical condition. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County ESD2 said the wreck happened around 7:08 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 155 and FM 2868 near Noonday. The motorcyclist was taken to a hospital in critical condition following the wreck. Two people in the passenger car were not injured.

Roadwork planned for week of March 9

Roadwork planned for week of March 9SMITH COUNTY — As part of the ongoing US 69 and FM 2493 improvement project, a traffic switch is scheduled to occur the week of March 9, weather permitting.

Traffic will shift to the newly constructed, realigned section of FM 2493 at US 69 in Bullard. Once the switch is in place, the existing portion of FM 2493 (S. Houston St), south of CR 3801, will be closed to thru traffic.

Motorists should use caution in the area and anticipate possible delays as crews continue work in the area.

Gas prices surge amid U.S.-Iran conflict

Gas prices surge amid U.S.-Iran conflictBULLARD – East Texas drivers are feeling the pain at the pump in a place where fuel normally hovers around the two-dollar-a-gallon mark. The offensive launched against Iran happened just four days ago and drivers in Tyler are already feeling the effects. Zippy J’s on Old Bullard Road in Tyler had their regular gas priced at $2.44 a gallon last week. As of Wednesday, the price has jumped to $2.79.

Even though the U.S. doesn’t import oil from Iran, China and India and the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to open waters, is blocked, that sends a ripple effect throughout the world, even on countries that don’t heavily rely on oil from the Middle East. Continue reading Gas prices surge amid U.S.-Iran conflict

No deadline for removing campaign signs

No deadline for removing campaign signsTYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) confirmed there is no state-mandated deadline for removing campaign signs from roadsides following an election. The agency oversees signage within its highway jurisdiction but primarily focuses on placement rather than duration.

While the state agency does not enforce timing restrictions, officials noted that local governments may have their own specific requirements. Cities and counties retain the authority to set individual rules and time limits on how long political advertisements may remain in public view. Regulations on the duration of political displays vary by local municipality.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KETK. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KETK staff before being published.

One jailed in sting operation

One jailed in sting operationSMITH COUNTY — A man was arrested in Smith County following a sting where he allegedly made plans for a prostitution operation involving someone he believed was a 15-year-old. The operation began on Feb. 27 when an undercover officer posted a commercial sex advertisement on a website known for prostitution and the exploitation of minors, according to our news partner, KETK. The officer was contacted by Christopher David Stevens, a man with a prior conviction as a sex offender, according to an arrest affidavit from Smith County.

In communications with the undercover officer, Stevens allegedly acknowledged he was interacting with a minor and expressed his intention to engage in sexual activities. He offered to secure a hotel room in his name for their meeting. As part of the arrangement, the undercover officer informed Stevens that she would be traveling from Abilene to Tyler. Continue reading One jailed in sting operation

Suspect charged in roommate’s murder

Suspect charged in roommate’s murderHENDERSON COUNTY — A 38-year-old man has been charged with murder after surveillance video at an Athens sober living home allegedly showed him dragging what appeared to be a body from a bedroom, a Henderson County arrest affidavit revealed. On Tuesday evening, law enforcement was called after Derris Reynolds’ family members reported him missing. He was last seen on Feb. 25 at a sober living residence.

According to our news partner KETK, family members then requested the property owners to check the security footage of the residence where Reynolds was last seen. Once the homeowners reviewed the security video, they contacted the Athens Police Department.

Officers reviewed the security footage and saw Nicki Lee Gibby, 38, also a resident of the home, entering Reynolds’ bedroom. An argument between the two could be heard on the recording, and Reynolds was never seen leaving the room, according to the affidavit. Continue reading Suspect charged in roommate’s murder

Man arrested for stabbing

LUFKIN — A man injured in a stabbing in a Lufkin parking lot Sunday evening led to the arrest of one, Lufkin city officials said. Lufkin police responded around 5:30 p.m. to a report of a stabbing in the 4500 block of South Melford Drive. Officers found the victim, a 32-year-old man, with a wound to his upper back and a woman applying pressure to the injury. Police assisted until emergency medical services arrived, according to our news partners at KETK. Surveillance footage from nearby stores showed the victim and a another man, identified as 30-year-old Justin William Benton, preparing to fight. Benton appeared to cut the victim in the back before leaving the scene. Benton was arrested and booked into Angelina County Jail for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was released on Monday after posting bail.

Three vehicle crash reported on Hwy 110

Three vehicle crash reported on Hwy 110SMITH COUNTY — Crews are responding to a three-vehicle crash on Highway 110 South at Toll 49 in Whitehouse Wednesday morning. Smith County officials say the Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash, which was reported at 11:17 a.m. Fire crews and EMS are on scene, and traffic is being affected. Injuries have been confirmed.

More details will be provided as they become available.

Two dead following fatal crash

Two dead following fatal crashRUSK COUNTY– Two people are dead, and one child is currently in critical condition following a single-vehicle crash in Rusk County over the weekend. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and our news partner KETK, following an initial investigation, officials believe the vehicle was traveling north on the 7400 block of State Highway 323 and attempted to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone. The driver, later identified as River Burks, lost control of the car and hit a tree.

Following the crash, Burks and a two-year-old child were pronounced dead on the scene, while a six-year-old in the car was airlifted to a hospital in Shreveport and is currently in critical condition.

The crash is being investigated by DPS, and no further information is available at this time.

2025 fatal crash statistics released

2025 fatal crash statistics releasedTYLER — In 2025, factors such as “unsafe speed”, “failure to drive in a single lane”, and “intoxication” contributed to 148 fatal crashes and 165 total fatalities in the Tyler District. The 165 fatalities are one more than the 2024 total (164), and the second lowest total since 2019 (148).

The TxDOT Tyler District, which includes Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Smith, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties, revealed the top five combined contributing factors of fatal crashes in 2025: Continue reading 2025 fatal crash statistics released