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Longview — The second phase of the construction project to renovate Green Street in downtown Longview will begin today. To accommodate construction, Green Street will be closed from north of the Tyler Street intersection up to and including the Methvin intersection. Drivers are urged to drive cautiously in these areas for the safety of construction workers. The Phase 2 street closures are expected to remain in effect through early December. Continue reading Second Phase of Green Street Construction Begins

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday voted unanimously to execute an agreement with the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC) to provide mutual funding for the Energy Center addition project located on the Tyler Junior College West Campus. The project will expand the Skills Training Center located on the campus and will provide 51,024 square feet of additional space for student training. The new Energy Center will contain space for HVAC labs, three power plant labs connected to the adjacent Luminant facility, computer labs, a large assembly room, and as many as nine classrooms for alternative energy programs. Continue reading City Contributes toward Energy Center

TYLER — Tyler City Manager Mark McDaniel presented his proposed 2013-14 budget to the City Council Wednesday morning, calling it a responsible restoration budget. “Because of the recession of the last four years, City staff has done everything possible to cut spending to keep the property tax rate flat (and even lowering the rate in 2012) for our citizens,” said McDaniel. “With strong signs of a recovering economy, we must now take steps to restore funding for our core functions. We cannot count on use of savings any longer to fund costs that reoccur every year.” Continue reading Tyler City Manager Talking Tax Increase

TYLER — More than 300 employees at Tyler’s Carrier Plant will lose their jobs by the end of this year. KETK reports the company decided to move about 102 of those jobs to its civil manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico. Tyler’s Carrier Plant has been up and running since the late 1940s. “We have employees there that are multi-generation, second, third-generation families at that plant,” said Chamber of Commerce president Tom Mullins. But soon its doors will be closing, and about 100 employees will be laid off by the end of September, and even more by the end of the year. Continue reading Tyler Carrier Plant Closing Soon

NACOGDOCHES — Authorities with the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office confirm local teen Makenzie Speer has been found safe. KETK reports an Amber alert was issued Tuesday for Makenzie, 15, who had last been seen on Friday, August 2. Further details weren’t immediately available.

LAKE JACKSONVILLE — A man accused of fleeing officers, injuring one in the process, has been arrested by Cherokee County authorities. Richard Ryan Cook, 42, was arrested at his home in the area of FM 747 South around 2:30 Tuesday afternoon. He was arrested without incident on a pardon and parole warrant as well as aggravated assault on a public servant. Continue reading Man Arrested after Allegedly Injuring Officer

TYLER — The City of Tyler has been notified that a grant application submitted for the 2012 Transportation Enhancement Program offered through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been selected to receive a maximum of $1,648,322 in federal funds. The grant funds will allow the City of Tyler to be reimbursed for 80% of the construction cost for sidewalks to be placed in numerous locations around the City. Continue reading City Announces New Program to Fund Sidewalks

CANTON — The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department, Canton Police Department, and Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office executed two search warrants on two separate businesses in the area Monday, with an eye on alleged K-2 sales. A sheriff’s office news release says the Van Zandt County Drug Task Force has had these businesses under investigation for illegal activity. According to authorities, the sale of K-2, spices, bath salts, etc. is a growing trend among young people in the community. These items have been the cause of over 600 calls to poison control in the last year. The effects are said to be compared to marijuana. The State of Texas has banned the sale, possession, and use of these items. Continue reading Authorities Target K-2 in Van Zandt County

TYLER – Habitat for Humanity of Smith County announces the 100 For 100 In 100 Campaign: 100 sponsors for the 100th home to be built in just 100 hours. Traditionally, Habitat homes are sponsored by one or more businesses, churches or organizations. For the 100th home, however, Habitat is inviting at least 100 sponsors to be involved. Continue reading Habitat for Humanity of Smith County Announces 100th Build

DALLAS (STAFF/AP) — The Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Dallas Division has announced a timeline of events in the Israel Keyes investigation. Diego G. Rodriguez says the timeline includes information about possible unsolved homicides and other crimes. Based upon the investigation conducted following his arrest in March 2012, Keyes is believed to have committed multiple kidnappings and murders across the country between 2001 and March 2012. Keyes lived in Washington from 2001 to March 2007, at which time he moved to Alaska. While living in Alaska, Keyes traveled extensively while working as a general contractor. In a series of interviews with law enforcement, Keyes described significant planning and preparation for his murders, reflecting a meticulous and organized approach to his crimes. Continue reading Officials Seek Leads on Alleged Serial Killer

LONGVIEW — Longview police Tuesday identified a man hospitalized after being shot by an officer. Police were called shortly after 8:45 Monday night to an incident involving an armed suspect at the Penwood Apartments, in the 500 block of Scenic Drive in west Longview. Police spokesman Kristie Brian says Shaun Antonio Thompson, 26, confronted officers and one of the officers shot the man. Thompson, of Longview, was taken to Longview Regional Medical Center for Treatment. The officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay. The Texas Rangers are now investigating the shooting, which is Longview’s third officer involved shooting of the year.

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — A cold case in Tarrant County heats up, with an East Texas connection. It was a murder case that dominated the news at the time. Keith Bauman with North Richland Hills police says Marianna Wilkinson was at home on Dec. 9, 2007, when someone apparently came to the wrong house, mistook her for someone else, and gunned her down. Bauman says Oak Farms Dairy has renewed a $10,000 reward as investigators focus on East Texas. According to Bauman, somebody in the Palestine area may have information that will help law officers put some closure to the case. He says Dennis Michael Taylor and Vincent Lane were persons of interest in the case and may be able to assist investigators. The murder of the 67-year-old was once featured on “America’s Most Wanted.”

EAST TEXAS — Wildfires in Titus and Cass counties threatened homes on Monday, according to the Texas A & M Forest Service DispatchTracker. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report the fire in southeast Titus County destroyed about eight acres, at times threatening two houses. The Cass County fire was contained after burning ten acres. A fire in Marion County was contained after scorching 30 acres, the DispatchTracker reported. A fire in Camp County, about six miles south of Pittsburg, was contained after scorching 14 acres.

TYLER — Tyler residents gathered Monday evening at Greater New Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church for a Community-Wide Summit on Non-Violence. The meeting occurred the same day police announced that Rakheem Goldstein, 20, had turned himself in for the July shooting death of Bri’ana Young, 20. The shooting was the incident that spurred the nonviolence summit. Continue reading Tyler Non Violence Summit

GLADEWATER — A lieutenant with the Gladewater Fire Department has been arrested for assaulting his girlfriend and trying to prevent her from calling authorities for help. Arrested Sunday night was William Todd Orendorff. KETK reports his girlfriend told authorities after he assaulted her, Orendorff took the phone and damaged it. She said when she went to another phone to call police, he prevented her from doing so. His girlfriend said she had to run to a neighbor’s house to call her mother who called 9-1-1. He has been charged with assault family violence and interference with an emergency phone call. His bond was set at $2,000.

MARSHALL — Harrison County authorities are preparing to release a man charged with a December 2011 murder. William Penn Jones Jr., 31, of Marshall, was arrested in Montgomery County in May of last year in the murder of Kenneth Dillard Jr., 22. His body was found near St. James Cemetery in Harleton. He had been stabbed repeatedly, investigators said. The Longview New-Journal is reporting that charges against Jones will be dropped and he will be released from jail due to insufficient evidence connecting him with the death.

EAST TEXAS — The list of counties that are under burn bans has grown by four. The latest counties added to the list on Monday are Anderson, Franklin, Houston and Hunt. The ten counties that had already been on the list are Camp, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Kaufman, Panola, Sabine, San Augustine and Shelby. The Hunt County burn bad is up for 90 days. The other burn bans are in effect until lifted.

ATHENS — A Henderson County fugitive, who had been on the run for ten years until he was arrested last year, will be spending time in prison for sexually assaulting two family members. On Monday, State District Judge Mark Calhoon sentenced Travis Wayne Jones, 51, to 33 years in prison.

KETK reports Jones was first indicted by a Grand Jury for indecency with a child by sexual contact in July of 2001. He posted bond and made a few court appearances before missing an August 2002 setting. He was indicted for another sexual assault by a Henderson County Grand Jury in November of 2003 while a fugitive and again in 2010. Jones was arrested in Arkansas in April of last year.

TYLER — A suspect in a Tyler shooting has surrendered to authorities. Officers have been looking for Rakheem Goldstein, 20, of Tyler, ever since he was named in an arrest warrant on Friday. He is believed to have been involved in the shooting death of Briana Raquel Young. State District Judge Jack Skeen has set his bond at $1,000,000. Police spokesman Don Martin says they were notified by the Smith County Sheriff’s Department that Goldstein, around 12:30 Monday afternoon, turned himself into the Sheriff’s Department. Tyler Investigators took Goldstein into custody at the Sheriff’s Department and booked him into Smith County Jail on the Murder warrant. Continue reading Tyler Shooting Suspect in Custody

GREGG COUNTY — Officials investigate an accident at a local business over the weekend. It happened around 12:50 on Saturday afternoon. Gregg County Deputies, the Longview Fire Department and the Gregg County Fire Marshal responded to the scene of an industrial accident at 1010 Cox Dairy Road. Three individuals contracted by Exxon / Mobil; 54 year old Kenneth Shahan of Center, 26 year old Brent Ellison and 25 year old Antonio Exner, both from Hawkins, were injured by an explosion at the oil field site. Continue reading Several Workers Injured in Oil Field Explosion

WOODVILLE (AP) – Authorities are trying to confirm whether a body found in a pickup truck is an elderly East Texas man with medical issues who was last seen in June. Lufkin police say a body discovered last week in Tyler County is believed to be 79-year-old Arthur Foster of Lufkin. Sgt. Mike Shurley says dental records and DNA will be used to identify the person. The Tyler County Sheriff’s Office in Woodville did not immediately provide an update Monday. The Lufkin Daily News reported Sunday that relatives have said Foster was diagnosed with diabetes, has heart issues and showed signs of dementia. Foster drove away from his Lufkin home on June 1. Security video from a convenience store showed he stopped at the business and then drove southbound on Highway 59.

GILMER — An Upshur County mobile home has been destroyed by fire and a fireman who fought the blaze was treated for heat exhaustion and released from the hospital. KETK reports the fire started just after 4:00 Sunday afternoon at a mobile home inside Holiday Village Mobile park, just off highway 154. The home owner was burning a tree stump when embers from the fire was carried by the wind to a storage area, which caught fire. The fire then spread to the mobile home.

TYLER — Still no trace of a suspect wanted in a Tyler shooting death. Police have obtained an arrest warrant for a suspect in the July 30th shooting death at P.T. Cole Park. Named in the warrant is Rakheem Goldstein, 20, of Tyler. He is believed to have been involved in the shooting death of Briana Raquel Young. State District Judge Jack Skeen has set his bond at $1,000,000. So far, authorities have not been able to locate him. Continue reading Tyler Shooting Suspect Still at Large

DALLAS (AP) — Dozens of mourners have attended a vigil for the four slain and four wounded in two Dallas-area shootings that are being blamed on one man. Dallas County Jail records show Erbie Bowser, formerly of Tyler, was being held Sunday on $6.5 million bond on three counts of capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Continue reading Dozens Attend Vigil for Texas Shooting Victims

NACOGDOCHES — Dozens of firemen have battled a large forest fire in Nacogdoches County. The weekend fire by Sunday afternoon, spread to 86 acres. The Texas Forest Service Tells KETK the fire started around Farm Road 226 and County Road 422 has been contained. It is believed the fire started from lightning from strong thunderstorms Saturday afternoon. No buildings were in danger and no injuries were reported.

SMITH COUNTY — The Dixie Fire Department battled a vehicle fire near Tyler Saturday afternoon. The fire started just after 1:30 in the 3900 block of County Road 1303. Firefighters on scene tell KETK a lawn mower caught fire inside the family’s garage. The fire then jumped to a vehicle inside the garage. The blaze was contained and put out before it could cause any major damage to the garage. Officials are investigating the origin of the fire. No injuries were reported.

GILMER— Power had to be shut down Saturday after a tree feel onto a power line, sparking a fire on Highway 155 near Gilmer. Gilmer firefighters tell KETK the fire started around 12:30 Saturday afternoon in a heavily wooded area near the highway, burning around 3 acres. Gilmer and the Texas Forest Service responded to the fire, and were able to contain and put it out before it damaged any structures. Power was shut off in the area and lanes were shut down for a short period of time as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

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, are scheduled on Monday to begin several months of work to resurface and add turn lanes to Spur 364. Crews will be adding turn lanes to the entire roadway between State Highway 31 west of Tyler and Loop 323 in Tyler, and adding additional shoulder width to Spur 364 between Greenbriar Road and Loop 323. “This project is long overdue with all the growth we’ve been experiencing in Tyler and across East Texas,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “We’re outgrowing a lot of our highways around here, and Spur 364 is another example of that. We’ve pleased we’re finally able to address this longtime need.” Meanwhile, Krantz added, motorists should plan to encounter daytime lane closures and traffic controlled by flaggers and pilot vehicles. The $2.9 million project is scheduled for completion next summer. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

HALLSVILLE — Two Hallsville Firemen have been treated and released from Longview Regional Medical Center after being treated for heat exhaustion while fighting a house fire. The fire was reported around 11:15 Saturday morning in a rural area of Harrison County. The home was destroyed by the blaze. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

EL PASO (AP) — The attorney for Johnny Manziel says even if the NCAA investigation of the Heisman Trophy winner isn’t completed by the start of the season the quarterback should be able to play in Texas A and M’s first game. Jim Darnell, Manziel’s El Paso, Texas-based attorney, (pictured) says he has met with Manziel and his family, but provided few details about the status or nature of the investigation.

He did say he believed that Manziel would play August 31st when the Aggies open the season against Rice, but could not put a timetable on the case. ESPN has reported the NCAA is investigating Manziel for receiving payment for signing autographs, a violation of amateurism rules that could put his eligibility in question for the coming season.