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TYLER — An American Civil Liberties Union attorney has filed paperwork to halt the execution of an East Texas man convicted of murder. According to the Smith County 114th District Court, attorney Brian Stull has filed a post-conviction writ of habeas corpus in order to halt the execution of Robert Charles Ladd. KETK reports Stull has filed the paperwork challenging Texas legal procedures to determine intellectual disability in the wake of Hall v. Florida. “Undersigned counsel has insufficient time to prepare a more thorough application, but begs the Court’s patience to consider this important issue, to grant a stay, and to set this case for further briefing and a hearing,” wrote Stull. Continue reading Attorney Seeks to Halt Execution in 1996 Tyler Murder

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler has responded to an ethics complaint by saying his actions were proper. On Thursday, the liberal group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint against Gohmert with the Office of Congressional Ethics. According to KETK, the group claims Gohmert violated House ethics rules by using campaign funds to pay for a trip to England last fall unrelated to any campaign activities. “Rep. Gohmert’s legendary tirades may put him in high demand for public speaking engagements, but that doesn’t give him license to bill a luxury London vacation to his campaign,” said Anne Weismann, CREW’s Interim Executive Director. Continue reading Gohmert Responds to Ethics Complaint

TYLER — A local credit card fraud case has led Tyler police investigators to an international fraud scheme linked to Russia, according to authorities. Officials say a victim living in Tyler reported to police that his credit card had been compromised for $5,260 worth of fraudulent charges that he had not made. Investigators followed up and learned that some of the items that were charged were actually shipped to a local address in Tyler, according to police. Continue reading Local Fraud Case Investigation Leads to Overseas Origin

ATHENS — 37-year-old former Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Hanes of Athens was killed Wednesday in a head-on collision near Athens. According to KETK, DPS Trooper Jean Dark said a truck driven by Hanes was traveling east on Loop 7 when his vehicle smashed into a car heading west at around 1:30 p.m. A preliminary investigation determined Hanes had crossed into the westbound lanes and hit the car. Both drivers were taken to a Tyler hospital, where Hanes was pronounced dead. The other driver was identified as Bobrow Gunnels, 77, of Kemp. He was also taken to a Tyler hospital and was last reported in serious condition.

TYLER — East Texas is getting a new primary care clinic for veterans. KETK reports construction crews are already hard at work, turning the old Kids Depot building in Tyler into a massive clinic for local vets. Officials say the expansion will allow doctors and nurses to treat an extra 1,200 patients every year. The newly renovated clinic on South Broadway should be open sometime in June.

RUSK COUNTY — A suspect has been arraigned and bond set at $1 million in the death of John Cecil Clements. According to KETK, Arp Police arrested Dustin Vanhalst, 33, Wednesday evening. Vanhalst has been charged with murder. He was transferred from Smith County and booked into the Rusk County Jail. Clement’s body was discovered January 16 following a structure fire at his home on CR 291 in the northern portion of Rusk County. Rusk County Sheriff Jeff Price said a preliminary autopsy indicated that Clements was killed. The cause of his death has not been released.

KILGORE — An East Texas man is behind bars accused of sexually assaulting a child. Tyler Jennings Camacho, 22, Kilgore, was arrested Friday on warrants for aggravated sexual assault of a child younger than 14. According to police, the child spoke up while at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Gregg and Harrison Counties. The child accused Camacho of forcing the child to perform oral sex on him. The crime reportedly took place on December 26, 2014. Camacho is being held in the Gregg County Jail on $500,000 bond.

GREGG COUNTY — Longview police on Wednesday named a suspect in the fatal shooting of a South Longview man last week. According to KETK, Jose Zamarripa, 27, Longview, is a suspect in the shooting death of Omar Hernandez, 22. A warrant has been issued for Zamarripa’s arrest. Police responded to the shooting Friday in the 500 block of Jones Street, where they found Hernandez dead inside the home. According to the Longview Police Department, it is believed that an argument Friday morning between Hernandez and Zamarripa led to the shooting.

TYLER — Authorities have arrested two more people in connection with the Klein Animal Shelter in Jacksonville. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Jason Craft, 29, and Ashley Ruhl, 29, were taken into custody by the Jacksonville Police Department. Both are charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals, however, Ruhl is charged with a felony. Craft was booked into the county jail on a $1,000 bond for his misdemeanor. Ruhl’s bond was set at $2,500. Both suspects have been released on bond. On Friday, the shelter’s director, Angela Wallace, was arrested for assault, cruelty to animal and illegal euthanasia. The city of Tyler has since canceled its contract with the shelter and announced Tuesday the purchase of additional cages to house strays until the permanent location is built next year. Continue reading Two More Arrested Following Animal Shelter Investigation

KILGORE — A mobile home was destroyed Monday night near the Kilgore city limits. According to KETK, the Kilgore Fire Department says crews responded around 8:20 p.m. to a report of a house fire and found a mobile home engulfed in flames. They were later joined by other crews. Firefighters were able to quickly get the flames under control and put out, according to authorities. Crews conducted a final walk-through to confirm that all the hot spots were out. Officials left the scene around 11 p.m. No one was home when the fire began.

GLADEWATER — A Kilgore woman was taken into custody Monday after she allegedly was found with drugs and later tried to run from officers. According to KETK, the Gladewater Police Department reports Maegan Larae Ebarb, 25, was arrested in the 1300 block of West Upshur. Police reportedly found the woman in a vehicle with marijuana after a caller reported a person asleep in an automobile. The woman was then taken to the a local hospital after she reported having health difficulties. Once Ebarb was released from the hospital, an officer cuffed the suspect and was taking her to a patrol car when she allegedly ran. Police say the woman was quickly caught running across the parking lot. Ebarb was charged with possession of marijuana over four ounces, possession of a controlled substance, and evading arrest. She was booked into the Gregg County Jail on $10,000 bond.

TYLER — The East Texas Human Needs Network (ETHNN) will conduct a homeless survey Thursday in what’s termed a continuing effort to address the homelessness issues facing community members in Smith County and throughout the state.”We will be carrying out this survey and count on the same day as other agencies all over Texas,” said Christina Fulsom, ETHNN founder. Continue reading Human Needs Network to Conduct Homeless Survey

TYLER – BOND 2013 construction projects continue to take shape, according to a news release from Tyler ISD. Projects include the new 150,000-square-foot Career and Technology Center (CTC), two new middle school campuses at the existing Moore MST Magnet School and Boulter Middle School locations, the new Three Lakes Middle School, and renovations and additions to Dixie and Rice elementary schools. All projects are on schedule to be completed before the 2015-2016 school year, according to the release. Continue reading Tyler ISD BOND 2013 Construction Update

HUGHES SPRINGS (AP) – A 13-year-old Northeast Texas boy has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the shooting deaths of his 12-year-old brother and their father. The Longview News-Journal reported Wednesday that the boy pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to two counts of capital murder in a plea deal. The child will remain in juvenile custody until he’s 19, when he’ll be transferred to an adult prison. Cass County sheriff’s deputies on June 27 responded to a 911 call from the teen. Officers found the bodies of a 32-year-old man and his 12-year-old son at the family’s home near Hughes Springs. The teen was later arrested and taken to a Gregg County juvenile facility. Prosecutors say the teen apparently planned to only kill his father, then his brother walked in.

LONGVIEW — A Longview staple will soon be closing down shop. According to KETK, owner Cathy Cace says Johnny Cace’s will shut its doors on March 28, just a few weeks after celebrating its 66th anniversary on March 10. The move was announced to management last week and the full staff Tuesday after about six months of considerations. Cace said there were a lot of things that needed to be done when her husband, whom she worked with daily, passed away about two years ago. “The building is 13,000 square feet with a lot of maintenance. The cost of things, we can’t maintain the building we need to give quality service,” she said. Continue reading Johnny Cace’s to Close in March

SMITH COUNTY — One person is dead after an 18-wheeler and car collided on Toll 49 Tuesday morning. KETK reports that around 8:00 a.m., DPS responded to a call of a wreck at Toll 49 and Old Jacksonville Highway. A semi traveling westbound collided with a passenger car traveling eastbound after the car turned sideways into the westbound lane. An explosion then ensued. The driver of the car, William Zachary Barnes, 29, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was able to escape and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

TYLER — For its work on major renovations to the county jail, Smith County wins Heart of Tyler’s annual Brick Award. The honor is handed out each year by the downtown organization for contributions to revitalization of the city’s downtown area. The announcement came at Heart of Tyler’s annual meeting at the Martin-Walker Law Firm. That venue was among those recognized at the meeting, for its renovations and its use as a community gathering place. Continue reading Heart of Tyler Annual Meeting Held; Smith County Wins Brick Award

WACO — The “Loan Ranger Bandit” pleaded guilty to 13 counts of bank robbery in a Waco federal courtroom on Friday. KETK reports Richard Wayne Swicegood of Waxahachie entered a guilty plea in the West District Court of Texas Waco Division. He was arrested July 1, 2014, by Arkansas State Troopers after robbing a bank in Benton, Arkansas. The guilty plea covered robberies in two states with the majority in Texas and two in Tyler. Continue reading “Loan Ranger Bandit” Pleads Guilty to 13 Counts of Bank Robbery

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman remained in jail on Tuesday on $200,000 bond after police say she kidnapped a man they found her with at a gas station. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Heather Rebecca Beck, 47, is charged with aggravated kidnapping after she was arrested just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday at the Zippy J’s in the 4000 block of Estes Parkway, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Continue reading Woman Accused of Kidnapping Man, Holding Him at Gunpoint

LONGVIEW — Jury selection has started in the trial of an East Texas man accused of murdering his ex-wife and her daughter. According to KETK, judicial records indicate jury selection began Tuesday in the case of Joshua O’Steven Reese. He allegedly killed La Toya Nicole Reese, 28, and 11-year-old Mya Rosetta Nichol Sebron in 2012. A court order filed July 13, 2013, revealed Reese’s alibi for the night his ex-wife and stepdaughter were shot and killed inside their Pine Tree duplex. Reese reportedly told investigators on October 10, 2012, he was being followed by two men who he believed killed the woman and girl. Continue reading Jury Selection Begins in 2012 Murders

HENDERSON — A capital murder investigation is underway after a person was found dead Friday following a fire in a Rusk County home. According to KETK, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office says emergency crews found the body after being sent to the home on CR 291 in the northern portion of the county. The victim has been identified as 56-year-old John Cecil Clements of Kilgore. Officials say evidence collected at the scene and during the forensic examination of Clements supports their homicide ruling. They say investigators have been conducting interviews with persons of interest in the case. The victim was taken to Southeastern Institute of Forensic Science in Tyler for examination. If you have any information concerning this crime, you are asked to call the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office at 903-657-2271 or Rusk County Crime Stoppers at 903-655-8477.

LONGVIEW — For the first time in four years Longview does not appear in the top 10 of an annual national ranking of U.S. cities’ economic growth. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the Milken Institute ranking of the nation’s best-performing small cities shows Longview fell from no. 7 to no. 22 among 179 small metro areas in the latest ranking. It was seventh among Texas metro areas that made the list. Tyler moved up slightly, from no. 48 to no. 46 nationally. “It is not a bad measurement in terms of the ranking, simply because we have enjoyed, over the recent years, job growth, population growth, investment,” said Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt. “It has not stopped, but it has just slowed down to the pace it once was.” Continue reading Longview Falls Out of Top 10 in Milken Rankings

CARTHAGE — A Longview man has been arrested in last week’s death of a Carthage man whose body was found in a closet. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Timothy James Daniels, 23, was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Lamarcus Scott. Scott was found dead in a closet inside his residence on County Road 302 on January 12 after officers were called to check his welfare due to family members unable to make contact with him. Upon entering the residence, officers discovered a crime scene leading to the discovery of Scott’s body. Preliminary autopsy results indicated Scott died of strangulation.

CHAPEL HILL — The Smith County Department of Public Safety is following up on a school bus crash Tuesday morning. According to KETK, the wreck involved a Chapel Hill school bus and a sports car at Highway 31 East and County Road 24. The car reportedly slammed into the back of the bus. The students were transferred to another bus after they were checked out. The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening-injuries.

JACKSONVILLE — An East Texas hospital will face a Medicare penalty for a high rate of potentially avoidable mistakes that can harm patients, according to Kaiser Health News. Penalized hospitals will have their Medicare payments reduced by one percent over the fiscal year that runs through September 2015. According to KETK, East Texas Medical Jacksonville is on the list of hospitals to receive cuts. Continue reading Jacksonville Hospital Penalized for Patient Safety

TYLER — Heart of Tyler, Inc. will celebrate downtown revitalization achievements tonight at its annual meeting held at the Martin Walker law firm, 121 N. Spring. A social hour will begin at 6 p.m., with a business meeting set for 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, said Beverly Abell, leader of the City of Tyler Main Street Department. Heart of Tyler serves as an advisory board to the City on downtown revitalization matters. Continue reading Heart of Tyler Annual Meeting Set for Tonight

LONGVIEW — Deputies arrested a Longview man for allegedly shooting his wife in the face. According to KETK, Lt. Kirk Haddix said Gregg County deputies were dispatched to a home in the 500 block of Peatown Church Road at around 9:30 Sunday night on a domestic violence call. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found the wife of Sigmund Turner, Sr. with a gunshot wound to her left cheek. Haddix stated the bullet had exited out the back of her neck. The victim was rushed to a Longview hopsital and underwent surgery. She is expected to survive. Turner was arrested for allegedly shooting his wife once with a revolver and was charged with aggravated assault family violence with a deadly weapon. He remains in jail on $25,000 bond.

AUSTIN — An area lawmaker has re-filed a bill that would affect the sale of a common product that’s produced on farms throughout Texas. State Representative Dan Flynn from Van Zandt County says he filed a bill last session that would regulate the sale of raw milk. He says currently the only place it can be purchased is on the farm; his bill would change that. Flynn says the law should let farmers take the milk to farmers’ markets so people in cities like Austin, Houston, and Dallas, can buy it conveniently. Flynn says when he first filed the bill, he had 250 people testify in favor of it and the majority of them were from Travis County. He says naysayers contend raw milk is not healthy, but Flynn says Central Texas doctors and others have testified that it is a healthy product.

AUSTIN — The Tyler Junior College Apache Belles will appear in today’s Texas Inaugural Parade for Governor-elect Greg Abbott. The Apache Belles join groups from around the state as they perform for the new governor and celebrate his first day of holding the state’s highest office. The parade will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. today, and the parade route will extend up Congress Avenue to the Capitol. No information was immediately released on whether the parade will be televised or streamed live. Continue reading TJC Apache Belles to Perform in Texas Inaugural Parade

EAST TEXAS — Tyler and Longview both recognized the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, set aside as the annual holiday in Dr. King’s honor. Activities in Longview began early this month, while Tyler held a big celebration Monday morning. Continue reading Tyler, Longview Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.