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LUFKIN — An Angelina County double murder suspect has surrendered to authorities. Kevin Jabbar McKelvey, 37, of Lufkin turned himself in to authorities last night. Angelina County Sheriff Greg Sanches said McKelvey showed up at the sheriff’s department around 8:00 last night with his parents. After talking with his parents he decided to turn himself in. He fled after he reportedly shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and her mother late Sunday night. It happened in the 100 block of Carlton.

HOOKS (AP) — Investigators say three people have been killed and several hurt in a pickup truck rollover accident on Interstate 30 in Northeast Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety says the wreck happened around dawn Monday on eastbound Interstate Highway30 in Bowie County near Hooks. DPS officials told KSLA-TV that seven people were in the vehicle and the driver may have fallen asleep. DPS says three people were dead at the scene. Several others were injured and transported to hospitals. Details on the victims weren’t immediately released. Investigators say the truck apparently was bound from Mexico to Indiana. Further details weren’t immediately available.

LONGVIEW — About twenty people gathered outside the Longview library Monday to bring attention to the need for immigration reform. According to KETK, Organizing for Action is calling for support of the immigration bill that was passed by the Senate in June. Speakers from the local NAACP, Organizing for Action, and immigration lawyers addressed the crowd. The groups are asking for community members to call their reps to support the reform.

MARSHALL — Former Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy Eddie Nichols has been found guilty of indecency with a child in his trial in state district court, according to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. KETK reports the case was investigated by the Harrison County District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Rangers. Nichols, who was also a pastor, was arrested in September 2011 for two counts of sexual indecency with a child by contact. He was also arrested on a sex charge that involves another alleged victim in December 2011. It’s now up to jurors to decide Nichols’s punishment.

WINONA — A Monday afternoon fire in Winona was extinguished thanks to a quick response by the Winona Fire Department. KETK reports firefighters responded to a call around 1:30pm, with reports a detached garage/shop was on fire in the 11000 block of Smith County Road 313. Due to high winds, the fire spread to the grass, which encompassed about two acres. According to the Winona fire chief, the fire was put out but the detached structure was destroyed. No injuries occurred in the incident.

TYLER — A judge announced Monday there would be no plea bargain in the case of Ricky Neal, Jr., 23, of Tyler. According to KETK, Neal (pictured) allegedly murdered former Chapel Hill High School and Stephen F. Austin State University football player Chris Mass, 23, of Tyler. Neal has also been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police claimed he also shot at Jonathan Lamone Dews, 29, of Tyler. On Saturday, February 9, 2013, Neal allegedly killed Mass following a dispute involving Twitter. Neal’s trial is slated to begin October 7. Continue reading Trial to Begin October 7 in SFA Footballer’s Death

TYLER — A Center, Texas couple, now living in Elgin, Texas, and a Center, Texas man have been indicted on charges of conspiracy and health care fraud. The former owners and operators of North East Texas EMS, Cathy Harvill, 56, and Bill Harvill, 59, and the former supervisor of the North East Texas EMS Nacogdoches office, Shon Cooper, 42, were indicted by a federal grand jury last month. If convicted, the defendants face up to ten years in federal prison. Continue reading Three Indicted in East Texas Health Care Fraud Scheme

HOUSTON (AP) – Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin says the university is gathering facts after a report that quarterback Johnny Manziel was paid for signing hundreds of autographs in January. Speaking to the media Monday before the Aggies open camp, Sumlin says he learned of the ESPN report Sunday. ESPN says the NCAA is investigating whether the Heisman Trophy winner was paid for the autographs, which could potentially violate its amateurism rules and put his eligibility in question. Sumlin said he would not speculate whether Manziel will be his starter when the season begins August 31 against Rice. He also said starting defensive tackle Kirby Ennis, who was arrested in February on a weapons charge, will be suspended for the Rice game.

TYLER — There’s a change in how underserved people in the Tyler area get access to health care services. First, according to KETK, Total Healthcare in Tyler will no longer see patients effective Friday, August 2. According to a sign on the door of the facility, the clinic closed its doors for good at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Last year, the city suspended funding to the Total Healthcare organization after what the city called a “chronic inability to maintain leadership.” In 2011, the Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against Total Healthcare alleging several violations including negligent mismanagement. Total Healthcare had operated as the community’s only Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Continue reading Health Care Switch for Tyler’s Underserved

LONGVIEW — A man and woman are behind bars in Gregg County. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Longview police say they attacked two men near Newgate Mission. Mary Johnson, 42, and Jason Green, 33, allegedly attacked a 76-year old man, reportedly beating him with his wooden walking cane. Another man saw what was happening and tried calling the police. That’s when Johnson and Green started attacking him as well, according to authorities. Police arrived and arrested the two. Both men suffered head injuries and we taken to a local hospital for treatment.

LONGVIEW — Longview city officials are alerting the public to a couple of street closures. Ward Drive between West Marshall Avenue and Memphis Street was closed down at 8:00 Monday morning and will remain closed in that location until 6:00 Tuesday evening. A detour is sending traffic to Enterprise Street from W. Marshall and Memphis. During the weekend, crews closed down Enterprise Street between West Marshall and Memphis. The Ward/Enterprise project is for railroad crossing work and additional work. Continue reading Longview Street Closures

CENTER (AP) — A 7-year-old boy and a man have drowned after the child drove an all-terrain vehicle into an East Texas pond and the adult jumped in the water to try to save the youth. Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell on Monday identified the victims as 50-year-old Danny Porterfield Center and a family friend, Carter Amburn of San Augustine. The ATV accident happened Sunday afternoon near the Porterfield residence. The sheriff says Carter was a friend of Porterfield’s grandchild and both youngsters were visiting the home. A deputy located Carter’s body in the water and started CPR. The boy was declared dead at a hospital. Porterfield’s body was found several hours later by a dive team.

LONE OAK — Fire has extensively damaged a tire shop in Lone Oak. KETK reports it happened Sunday on Kay Street, just off U.S. Highway 69 in Hunt County. There were no reports of injuries and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

TYLER – Construction crews from TxDOT contractor Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt, have begun several months of work to widen State Highway 64 to five lanes between Tyler Pounds Regional Airport and Farm Road 2661 just west of Toll 49. “This section of SH 64 is a bottleneck,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “Particularly now that Toll 49 is putting additional traffic on it. This project will be an immediate improvement to the safety and mobility through this area.” The $2.4 million project is scheduled for completion next summer. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

AUSTIN (AP) – The main sticking point on greater transportation spending centers on what is the most conservative way to fund it without raising taxes, and an East Texan is taking a high-profile role in the process. Governor Rick Perry has called the Legislature back for a third special session to approve more money for roads. Republican Senator Robert Nichols of Jacksonville (pictured) has proposed a constitutional amendment that would take 50% of the money flowing into the Rainy Day Fund and divert it for roads and bridges. Nichols easily won two-thirds support in the Senate, but El Paso Rep. Joe Pickett says he doesn’t have votes in the House to send the question to voters. The House meets Monday to see if a compromise is possible.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman accused in the early March shooting of her husband, Gregg County Justice of the Peace Sam Lawson, faces arraignment Friday in 188th District Court. That’s after Ina Lawson was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the JP’s wife was arrested after police said she shot her husband in the back as he tried to flee through the kitchen to the laundry room. He was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center, where he remained for weeks. Continue reading Gregg County JP’s Wife Faces Arraignment on Assault Charge

MARSHALL — Closing arguments are heard this morning in the indecency with a child trial of former pastor and Harrison County sheriff’s deputy Eddie Nichols. The youngest of Nichols’ accusers testified a second time Friday. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report that she said she recanted from her outcry at one point because she wanted to believe he hadn’t touched her. The prosecution’s witness broke down under cross examination from defense attorney Vernard Solomon, who asked if she was being truthful when she said Nichols never touched her. “At that point, I wanted to believe it was true,” she said. She was led from the witness stand for five minutes to collect herself. Continue reading Jury Hears Closing Arguments in Former Deputy’s Trial

TYLER (AP) – Veteran Texas newspaper journalist Bill Earl Martin, former publisher of the Longview News-Journal and Lufkin Daily News, has died. He was 81. Martin died Friday of congestive heart failure, according to an obituary on the website of the Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler. Continue reading Veteran Texas Newspaper Editor Martin Dies at 81

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities worked a three-vehicle accident Saturday in southern Smith County. It happened around 2:45 p.m. at Highway 69 and Farm to Market Road 346. According to KETK crews, the wreck began as a fender bender. No one was seriously injured. No other details were immediately available.

WHITEHOUSE — Officials say a man shot himself during an attempted gun sale in Whitehouse. KETK reports that around 10:30 Saturday morning, Whitehouse police were called to Action Pawn. On arrival, they found a man shot in the leg. Crews say the victim was trying to sell his gun to the pawn shop when he accidentally fired the weapon on himself. The man, whose name was not immediately released, was sent to a local hospital for his injury.

TYLER — Students in Tyler Junior College’s A+ Certification Preparation program are preparing for careers in information technology by building computers that will be donated to Smith County nonprofit organizations. The program is a partnership between TJC and Workforce Solutions East Texas. The students are three weeks into the intensive, four-week program comprising 120 hours of classroom instruction and 60 hours of hands-on training in a computer lab. Continue reading TJC Students Building Computers to Be Donated to Area Nonprofits

NACOGDOCHES — Three men are in custody in Nacogdoches and are charged with felony possession of marijuana. Willie Whiteside of Indianapolis, Indiana, was operating a 2003 Lincoln Navigator in the 5000 block of Northwest Loop 224 when he was stopped by a Nacogdoches Police K-9 officer for a traffic violation, according to police. Officers established probable cause to search the vehicle, and they say 17.5 lbs. of marijuana was located in the rear of the vehicle. Continue reading Three Arrested after Over $22,000 Worth of Marijuana Seized

LONGVIEW (AP) – Elizabeth Smart has told an East Texas audience that she sees each day as a gift and refuses to be burdened by the torment she felt when taken captive as a child. Smart was 14 when she was abducted from her Salt Lake City home in 2002 by a homeless street preacher. She was sexually assaulted repeatedly before her captor was recognized on a Utah street nine months later, setting in motion her release. The Longview News-Journal reports she spoke Thursday at an event organized by Longview Regional Medical Center, telling the crowd that people have the choice to keep moving forward or to “allow our trials to suck us back.” Smart says her abduction left her “shattered,” but she decided “to survive and make it home again.”

NACOGDOCHES — A man wanted by authorities in Nacogdoches County for multiple burglaries has been caught by authorities, according to the Nacogdoches Sheriff’s Office. KETK reports Jeffrey Holliman, 50, is described as a “survivalist” who has allegedly been squatting in abandoned houses and in make-shift shelters. He is accused of stealing weapons, clothes, money, survival equipment, and large quantities of food from local houses and vehicles. Law enforcement was searching for stolen property at an undisclosed location. The burglaries are said to have taken place on Nacogdoches County Roads 411, 419, and 331. We’ll update this story as more information comes in.

MARSHALL — Thursday morning Fenton Motor Group and East Texas Baptist University leaders met to exchange a check for one hundred thousand dollars for the students of West Rusk High School to attend ETBU in the fall. KETK reports the donation was given in response to the fact that funds never came through from a scholarship announcement made by Robert Jordan on May 29. Jordan said that his friend, Nick Sturghill, would provide full ETBU scholarships to the 2013 class. Continue reading ETBU Receives Funds for West Rusk Students

JACKSONVILLE — A one vehicle accident in Cherokee County has killed a toddler and injured three others. The accident happened shortly before 6:00 Thursday night on U.S. Highway 79, midway between Jacksonville and New Summerfield. Dead at the scene was Alexis Arredondo, 1, of New Summerfield. His dad, the car’s driver, Jose Arredondo, 28, is hospitalized at East Texas Medical Center in Jacksonville. Also injured was Ana Torres, 21, of New Summerfield and Vanesa Arredondo, 10. The Department of Public Safety reports their car was east bound when it ran off the road and hit a tree.

TYLER — Aiming to boost interest in medical and scientific careers, AT&T has donated $10,000 to UT Health Northeast to support 10 biomedical science internships for high school and college students. This gives them the opportunity to learn about advanced lab procedures such as gene cloning and DNA analysis. The students will work on biomedical research projects alongside experienced scientists whose research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and organizations such as the American Heart Association, the Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute, and the American Lung Association. Continue reading AT&T Gives $10,000 to UT Health Northeast

LUFKIN –Two rare Louisiana Pine Snakes hatched at Lufkin’s Ellen Trout Zoo. They hatched on July 29th after a 72 day incubation period. According to the zoo’s web site, “Louisiana Pine Snakes are a moderately large species of harmless snake related to the Bull and Gopher Snakes but are found only in isolated areas of west central Louisiana and East Texas. They are thought to be one of the rarest snakes in the United States and are being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act.’ Continue reading Rare Snakes Born at Lufkin Zoo

TYLER — A 48-year-old Whitehouse, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations. Jeffrey Blaine pleaded guilty yesterday to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine when he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. Blaine faces a minimum of 10 years and up to Life in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set. Federal prosecutors say up until July 20 of last year, Blaine agreed with others to acquire and distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine in east Texas.

JACKSONVILLE — A Cherokee County woman is in stable condition in a Tyler hospital after accidently shooting herself in the chest while cleaning her gun. The 59 year old woman called 9-1-1 around 9:00 Wednesday night to report the shooting. Her residence is located on CR-3143 near the South end of Lake Jacksonville. A High Point, 9mm semi-automatic pistol was found in the house. Continue reading Woman Accidentally Shoots Self in Chest