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TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office reported during Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting that it has become necessary to house nine county inmates outside Smith County. Last week, the Sheriff’s Office began housing 96 female inmates in the newly opened 384-bed facility in downtown Tyler. In order to meet the detention officer to inmate ratio required by the Texas State Jail Commission of 1 to 48, the personnel managing those inmates had to be moved with the inmates, according to a news release from Sheriff Smith. Continue reading First Inmates Housed Out of County in Several Months

PALESTINE (AP/Staff) – Authorities in Palestine have identified a man fatally shot by police after he allegedly stole beer and pointed a BB gun at officers trying to question him. Palestine police say 47-year-old James D. Bushey of Anderson County was shot while outside a restaurant. Police Chief Mike Alexander says officers Sunday night responded to a theft report at a Wal-Mart and a suspect seen leaving the store. Alexander says officers located the man hiding in the bathroom of a nearby restaurant. Police say Bushey left the restaurant, struggled with officers, and pointed what appeared to be a pistol at them. Both officers fired. Bushey was declared dead at a Palestine hospital. Police later determined he had a BB gun and recovered some alleged stolen items. The officers have been put on administrative leave.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court has delayed a proposal to implement cameras in local school zones. KETK reports that in a meeting Tuesday morning, officials said they will take no action at this time, due to no appropriate locations available to suggest to the vendor, American Traffic Solutions (ATS). Smith County Judge Joel Baker first announced the program in late April. “Smith County is focused on public safety and limited enforcement to ensure the safety of the community’s school children,” Baker said at that time. “I believe it is a more efficient way to enforce laws that are already in place.” The program would include five cameras rotating in county school zones. The cameras were then delayed in early May following an uproar from the public. Continue reading Smith County Delays School Zone Cameras

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are investigating an early Tuesday morning shooting. It happened around 2:10 near the intersection of Harley Ridge Road and Bernice Drive. One of the men involved was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with serious injuries. The other man involved received non life threatening injuries. He was treated and released from Longview Regional Medical Center, then transported to the Gregg County Jail on unrelated outstanding warrants. The case remains under investigation.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – East Texas native Adrian Peterson will be returning to the Minnesota Vikings, and the star running back tells The Associated Press that he hasn’t lost his love for the team. Peterson, of Palestine, sent an e-mail to the AP early Tuesday morning saying he’s excited to put on a uniform again after missing the final 15 games of last season while addressing child abuse charges in Texas. The Vikings opened their second set of three voluntary practices on Tuesday. Continue reading Adrian Peterson Returns to Minnesota Vikings

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is investigating a missing person case involving a white female with special needs. Courtney Denise Dollgener, 26, was last seen at her home, 6100 Hollytree Drive, around 9:00 last night. She’s described as 5 feet tall, about 200 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a red and white striped shirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information in reference to this missing person is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

AUSTIN –The Texas Workforce Commission is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) as a result of the Presidential Disaster Declaration (FEMA 4223-DR) for workers who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to damage sustained from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding. Severe weather, including destructive flooding, has devastated multiple counties and hundreds of homes and businesses have been lost, resulting in disaster-related unemployment. Applications for DUA must be submitted by July 1, 2015. TWC’s website contains more information about Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Continue reading Assistance Available for Some Workers Affected by Severe Storms

MARSHALL — A 24-year-old man died early Monday when he ran through a stop sign near Marshall. According to KETK, DPS says at 1 a.m., a pickup was headed east on Liberty Church Road approaching Highway 59 when it ran the stop sign. The truck crashed into the passenger side of a semi traveling south on Highway 59. The driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Clarice Watkins at 1:45 a.m. He has been identified as Marshall resident Edward Lee Williams, Jr. The driver of the 18-wheeler, 54-year-old Anthony Craig McQuerry of Georgia, was not injured. Williams’s body was taken to the Meadowbrook Funeral Home in Marshall.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott Monday signed Senate Bill 339, co-sponsored by Tyler Senator Kevin Eltife, which will allow individuals with intractable epilepsy (IE) to access cannabidiol (CBD oil) to reduce seizures. “There is currently no cure for intractable epilepsy and many patients have had little to no success with currently approved drugs,” said Governor Abbott. “However, we have seen promising results from CBD oil testing and with the passage of this legislation, there is now hope for thousands of families who deal with the effects of intractable epilepsy every day.” Continue reading Abbott Signs Cannabis Oil Bill

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman involved in a 2014 crash injuring two sanitation workers has been arrested by authorities. According to KETK, Lt. Jay Webb says law enforcement took Susan Skinner into custody May 29 on Harrison County Road 968. She is charged with intoxication assault. On June 30, 2014, Skinner drove her car into the back of a sanitation truck on Alpine Road, according to officials. They say the collision threw Darron Craig, 46, of Longview, a few feet from the truck. The jaws of life had to be used to remove Dennis Montgomery, 33, of Longview, from in between the vehicles. Continue reading Woman Arrested in 2014 Crash with Longview Sanitation Truck

AUSTIN — State Senator Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, was elected the Texas Senate President Pro Tem Monday morning. KETK reports he succeeds Craig Estes. The Senate president pro tem is the third highest ranking state official, behind only the governor and lieutenant governor. Eltife has served the state since March 5, 2004. He also served on the Tyler City Council for three terms before becoming mayor of Tyler for three more terms. The senator is a Tyler native and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

TYLER — Jack Ryan’s Steak and Chophouse of Kilgore has found a second home in what’s termed downtown Tyler’s most prestigious historical building – the People’s Petroleum Building. According to a news release, renovations are underway, and Jack Ryan’s is expected to open its doors this fall. The owners of Jack Ryan’s, brothers Brad and Wes Ebey, are both graduates of Le Cordon Bleu in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and have experience at some of the nation’s finest restaurants and hotels, according to the release. The Ebey brothers say Jack Ryan’s cuisine is handcrafted each day from the freshest ingredients. Continue reading Jack Ryan’s Opening at People’s Petroleum Building

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials continue to work with the community on recovery efforts following an EF-2 tornado last month. KETK reports David Chenault, public information officer with the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management, updated the community Monday morning. Chanault says as of 8 a.m. Monday, both Rusk County Electric Cooperative and AEP SWEPCO reported that all customers have had power restored. Continue reading Rusk County Offers Storm Recovery Update

PALESTINE — The Palestine Police Department and the Texas Rangers are investigating an overnight officer involved shooting which left one person dead. According to KETK, just before midnight Sunday, Palestine Police responded to Wal-Mart on Loop 256 in reference to a theft. Officers were told that a man had stolen beer from the store and fled towards Applebee’s, also on Loop 256. He was found a short time later in the men’s restroom of the restaurant. Continue reading Fatal Officer Involved Shooting Under Investigation

TYLER — Tyler Firefighters are mourning the loss of one of their own. Firefighter Travis Milligan, 32, experienced a sudden illness while at his home on Friday. He was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away the following day. Milligan was hired by the department in November 2008. He was named the 2010 Firefighter of the Year and was a well-respected and valuable member of the Tyler Fire Department. Milligan is survived by his wife Erin and his 18 month old daughter Rori, along with his parents, his siblings, and his extended firefighting family. Arrangements are pending at this time. Continue reading Tyler Firefighter Dies of Sudden Illness

GRAMBLING, La. (AP/Staff) – A committee set up to find the next president of Grambling State University has narrowed the list to five, including one from East Texas. The candidates are Glenda F. Carter, executive vice president and provost and professor of education at Wiley College in Marshall; W. Wayne Brumfield, former vice president for student affairs at the University of Louisiana at Monroe; Thomas J. Calhoun Jr., vice president for enrollment management at the University of North Alabama; Willie D. Larkin, chief of staff at the office of the president at Morgan State University; and Gilbert L. Rochon, president’s council of the University of New Orleans and former president of Tuskegee University. Candidates will sit for public interviews Tuesday and Wednesday on Grambling’s campus. The University of Louisiana System Board is expected to announce a decision Thursday.

VAN — Children in Van were grinning from ear to ear on Saturday because they got an early visit from “Jolly Ole Saint Nick.” KETK reports the Lone Star Santas took to Van over the weekend to bring some much needed cheer in the wake of their disaster. With a convoy of toys, the Santas set up shop at Van Middle School. They handed out toys and presents to children affected by the twisters. The Santas said they wanted to restore a little bit of joy into the lives of little ones and continue to spread joy. Continue reading Santa Brings Toys to Children in Van

WOOD COUNTY — Saturday’s storm activity has taken its toll on another East Texas road. TxDOT reports FM 69 from SH 37 to FM 515, two miles north of Quitman in Wood County, has been closed due to flooding. TxDOT says crews are monitoring the situation. We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

LONGVIEW — Longview police Friday arrested 29-year-old Sondra Rene’ Kroll of Longview in the 100 Block of White City Street following a series of dog attacks. Longview police say they worked closely with Longview Animal Control officers on four cases involving Kroll’s dogs that reportedly occurred over a period of several days. In all the cases Kroll’s three pit bull dogs are believed to be the dogs that attacked citizens in the 100 Block of White City. On all four occasions the victims went to the hospital for treatment of their injuries. One of the victims required emergency surgery to repair the damage he received during an attack. Kroll was charged with attack by dog causing serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony, and booked into the Gregg County Jail without incident, according to police.

TYLER – Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics has announced Fadi Nasrallah, M.D., as the new Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of Mother Frances Hospital Tyler effective June 1. Dr. Nasrallah joins Trinity Mother Frances from the University of Colorado at Denver, where he has served as an Associate Professor, Medical Director of the Operating Rooms, Director of Quality Improvement, and Associate Director of the Medical Science Anesthesiology Program. Continue reading Mother Frances Hospital Adds New Senior Official

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – An East Texan is weighing in after Texas lawmakers voted Friday to dismantle the state’s high school steroids testing program. The program ran eight years and saw more than $10 million spent collecting thousands of samples that turned up only a handful of cheaters. Once lauded as a model for the nation, the program instead turned into a target for critics who called it an ineffective waste of money. Several lawmakers defended it Friday as an effective deterrent against steroid use, but said it was no longer needed. “We spent a lot of money. We raised awareness. We saved lives,” said Rep. Dan Flynn of Van, a Republican who helped write the original testing law in 2007. The budget will be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott to sign into law.

AUSTIN – President Obama Friday evening granted a request for funds that will aid Texas counties, including hard-hit Van Zandt County, as they continue to recover and rebuild. On Friday afternoon, Governor Greg Abbott had requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the counties due to damage sustained from the severe weather, tornadoes and flooding. Continue reading Presidential Disaster Declaration Granted For Texas Counties

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department has released the name of a driver involved in a fatal crash last week. According to KETK, police say the crash killed Todd Lane Davis, 19, of Waskom, when a car headed southbound on Highway 59 disregarded a red light and hit another vehicle traveling east on Highway 80 at around 3:23 a.m. Sharketra Shardae Hilderth, 29, of Houston, has been identified as the driver the of the car that allegedly ran the light. In the car with Hilderth were her two children, a 10-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son. No further information is available at this time. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Charges are pending based on the findings of toxicology reports and medical records on the driver.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office Friday transitioned 91 female inmates into the new jail facility located on Elm Street in downtown Tyler. These are the first occupants of the new addition to the Smith County Jail upon its completion and inspection by the Texas Jail Commission, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Larry Smith said this is considered a transition due to the fact the new facility has direct supervision of inmates as opposed to indirect supervision — two totally separate jail operations. In a direct supervision environment, the detention officer is actually inside the jail pod with the inmates. Continue reading First Inmates Housed in New Jail Addition

TYLER — A Longview man has pleaded not guilty in the murder of a Tylerite. 21-year-old Carlton Champion Jr.’s pre-trial hearing is set for June 26 at 8:30 a.m. in Tyler, with jury selection slated for July 7. Judge Christi Kennedy has set Champion’s bond at $1,000,000. According to KETK, Don Martin with the Tyler Police Department says on January 29, police served a warrant on for the murder of Tyrone Lee Underwood, a 24-year-old transgender woman. Police say Champion and Underwood were, at some point, romantically involved. Continue reading Longview Man Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Transgender Tylerite

SMITH COUNTY — Another dam has broken in Smith County following a downpour of rain over the past week. According to KETK, county officials say the dam of a private pond failed Thursday night and damaged County Road 4114. The road is still passable. The road is located west of FM 1804, north of Lindale. This is at least the third reported Smith County dam to give way to floods.

LONGVIEW — Four more Gregg County residents have tested positive for active tuberculosis following an initial confirmation weeks ago, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State and Health Services said Thursday. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Christine Mann said “four close contacts” of the person who initially was diagnosed with active TB tested positive and are being treated. She also said about 60 residents are being screened. They are people who had possible contact with an infected person. Kilgore College officials and the state agency recommended tuberculosis testing for some students and Gregg County residents after a case of the disease was confirmed at the college in mid-May. The identity and other information about the student with tuberculosis were not released, college spokesman Chris Craddock said. Continue reading Four More Test Positive for TB in Gregg County

HENDERSON — Rusk County and the city of Henderson continue their recovery effort following severe storms that included an EF-2 tornado. KETK reports county and city leaders met Friday morning to discuss the current state of their efforts to repair damage across the area. The Office of Emergency Management says according to National Weather Service forecasts, additional rainstorms are expected to move through the area this weekend which could bring one to two additional inches of rain​. Officials say this could cause additional delays in cleanup efforts or cause partially damaged trees to fall. Residents are asked to be extremely careful and aware of potential problems to avoid injuries. Continue reading Rusk County Prepares for More Rain

CARTHAGE — The judge presiding over Bernie Tiede’s new punishment trial has moved it to January at the request of the special prosecutor and the convicted murderer’s lawyer. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Officials in the office of Panola County District Clerk Debra Johnson confirmed Thursday that visiting Judge Diane DeVasto also moved a hearing to settle pretrial issues to Dec. 1. That’s about six weeks before Tiede is scheduled to be resentenced for the 1996 fatal shooting of 81-year-old Carthage widow Marjorie Nugent. That trial is scheduled Jan. 11 in the 123rd District Court in Carthage. Continue reading Sentencing Rescheduled in Tiede Case