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KILGORE – A suspect is in custody in connection with a Kilgore school threat. They tracked him to a residence in Rusk County. Kilgore police say the suspect is facing multiple felony charges. They said, since it is still unfolding, they would not give out a lot of details at this time. They did say the suspect was an adult male, a former student, and that his name will not be released until he has been formally charged and arraigned. Continue reading Kilgore School Threat Suspect Arrested

TYLER – A Tyler jury has given a Tarrant County man three life sentences in a fatal Smith County accident. The panel found Gilberto Gomez, 27, of Saginaw guilty of three counts of intoxication manslaughter. The jury sentenced him on Friday. The wreck he was involved in, which occurred in February, killed three persons and an unborn baby. The accident was on State Highway 110, 8 miles west of Lindale. The Department of Public Safety reports the pickup, driven by Gomez, was heading south when it crossed over the double yellow lines and hit a northbound car. Two Lindale residents, and their unborn child, in the car were killed as was a passenger in the Gomez truck.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches County escapee is back in custody. Arrested early Friday afternoon was Robin Copeland, 56, of Nacogdoches. She had escaped Wednesday after being taken to the hospital after making a medical complaint. A manhunt started around 7:00 Thursday night after she was spotted on foot. A search all night turned up no trace of the woman. Early Friday afternoon a resident saw her inside an abandoned vehicle behind her house. Within minutes of the arrival of sheriff’s deputies, she was taken into custody. Copeland has been transported to a local hospital for minor injuries sustained while running through the woods all night. She will then be transported to the Nacogdoches County Jail and booked in for escape along with her other original charges.

LONGVIEW – A former East Texas teacher has been arrested following an investigation of local and state authorities. The Texas Rangers assisted in the investigation of Lauren Nicole Nolan, 24, of Longview. She is in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $50,000. The charges are improper relationship between and educator and a student, and online solicitation of a minor. The former Carthage Junior High School teacher was placed on administrative leave in March. She submitted her resignation, which was effective in the summer. More information about the charges were not immediately available.

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman has been sentenced in a fatal Gregg County accident. State District Judge David Brabham found Ellen Virginia Hicks, 34, guilty of criminal negligent homicide. He sentenced her on Thursday to 5 years probation. The Department of Public Safety says Hicks was driving her car above the speed limit the morning of November 30, 2015, when she became distracted by a dog in her car. Her car then crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and hit a car nearly head-on. The driver of that car, an Avinger woman, later died at a Longview hospital.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department and the DEA are hosting a medication drop off. It will be Saturday from 10:00 till 2:00 in the northeast parking lot of the Broadway Square Mall. This is a good way to get unused and expired medications out of your home so they won’t be a temptation to children. The medications include prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, veterinary medicine, vitamins, minerals and medication samples. Just drive-up, and, without getting out of your vehicle, you can drop off the medications for safe disposal, no questions asked. And, the service is free.

TYLER – The Tyler city council has approved spending over $10 million for long-term infrastructure projects. Besides replacement of a drainage structure and the rehabilitation of two sanitary sewer basins, the money will be used to relocate and build two new fire stations. Fire Station 1 will move from Elm Street and Fannin Avenue to the more central coverage location of Gentry Parkway and Palace Avenue. And Fire Station 4, currently located on Martin Luther King Boulevard, will be relocated to Cherryhill Lane. Both capital projects are funded out of the Half Cent Sales Tax Fund.

EAST TEXAS — Incumbent Senator Ted Cruz holds a slight advantage of the congressmen from El Paso, Beto O’Rourke. Both made stops in East Texas Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, Cruz attributes his current lead over O’Rourke to Texans standing strong with Texas values. “If you want higher wages, more jobs, a secure border and safety in schools then you have to get out and vote,” said Cruz. Cruz refers to his contender as a far left radical agenda that can’t compromise the truth behind the Lone Star state.

O’Rourke is the closest candidate to trump a Republican for a senate seat in decades. “I’m ready to win, the people of Texas are ready to win,” said Beto O’Rourke. “We want to be able to begin the work that we have described over the last 22 months of this campaign.” Thursday’s stops will be O’Rourke’s last in the area before the November 6th elections.

TYLER – A Tyler jury has convicted a Tarrant County man in a fatal Smith County accident. The panel found Gilberto Gomez, 27, of Saginaw guilty of three counts of intoxication manslaughter. The trial is now in the punishment stage. The wreck he was involved in, which occurred in February, killed three persons and an unborn baby. The accident was on State Highway 110, 8 miles west of Lindale. The Department of Public Safety reports the pickup, driven by Gomez, was heading south when it crossed over the double yellow lines and hit a northbound car. Two Lindale residents, and their unborn child, in the car were killed as was a passenger in the Gomez truck.

TYLER – A Tyler pharmacy burglary is under investigation. It happened just before 4:00 Thursday morning at the the Woody Weaver Pharmacy on West Gentry Parkway. The suspects forced their way into the business. Then, surveillance cameras show them clearing shelves of bottles of pills and placing them into a bags. A similar pharmacy burglary occurred in Mineola late last month. Tyler police are are asking area pharmacies to keep an eye out for anyone that may be acting suspicious and to double check their security measures.

LONGVIEW – Another school threat is under investigation in Gregg County. On Wednesday, the threat was against Kilgore High School. Thursday’s Snapchat threat didn’t mention any school, but was said to be from a Longview High School student. Because of what is being termed a “vague threat,” extra police officers starting arriving at the high school around 7:00 Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon the police said there are no credible threats against any LISD campuses. There will be a continued increase in police and LISD staff presence at district facilities and events as this investigation is ongoing. Longview police say they are coordinating with the Kilgore Police Department in their investigation. Kilgore police say they but don’t believe the two threats are related.

NACOGDOCHES – One man has been killed and one arrested following a Nacogdoches shooting death. It happened around 7:00 Wednesday night at the University Club Apartments, on Pearl Street. Dead from a gunshot wound to the head was Michael Brucks, 19, of Nacogdoches. Charged with manslaughter is Paul Ivan Gutierrez, 20, of Nacogdoches. He was found walking down the road a short time after the shooting. Witnesses told investigators the two men were horsing around with a high powered rifle when it fired.

TYLER — Governor Greg Abbott made a stop in Tyler Wednesday to support down-ballot candidates in East Texas. He told our news partner KETK, “We’ve gotta make sure we are both securing our border, make our communities safe. We gotta do a better job with regard to educating our students, paying our teachers more. There’s a lot to do.” But the governor’s primary message was that Republicans need to “turn out and vote.” He said, “Their values are at stake in this election. They need to turn out and vote if they want their values represented in Texas.” Abbott was joined by state Senator Bryan Hughes along with state Representatives Matt Schaefer and Cole Hefner.

TYLER – Tyler will soon be testing drones to see if they can be a help to first responders. The city council on Wednesday approved an agreement with Phirst Technologies of Tyler. This will allow the company to conduct testing of its automated drone first response system. The drone and a port will be located in a secure enclosure at Fire Station #9 on South Paluxy. The testing will be done within FAA part 107 rules for drones and last six to ten months. The company is bearing all costs for the installation and testing. Phirst Technologies is developing a network of autonomous drones across the United States to allow first responders to see what is happening at a fire, accident, or disaster before they arrive. It will also have the ability to ‘sniff’ and report on volatile gasses at the scene.

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation has closed the westbound outside lane of Interstate Highway 20 at the Little Saline Creek Bridge, just east of Jim Hogg Road, for repairs. Work is underway and the closure will remain in place for several days. Motorists can expect I-20 traffic to flow a little slower at this location due to the lane closure. Use alternate routes to avoid delays. The work is expected to be completed by Monday.

LONGVIEW – An assault that occurred in Longview remains under investigation. Three persons were sent to the hospital, even the suspect in the incident. It occurred around 10:30 Wednesday morning on Avalon Avenue. Longview police were called to the scene after shots were reported to have been fired. They found two persons injured at the scene. A third person, the possible suspect, was later located. No other information has been released.

TYLER – A report of a suicidal suspect brought Tyler police to an East Front Street residence early Wednesday afternoon. He was reported by a family member. Officers started talking to the 53 year old man. After brief negotiations, the man surrendered to officers shortly before 3:15 Wednesday afternoon. He was taken to a Tyler hospital for a mental evaluation. No injuries were reported.

KILGORE – A threat posted on social media caused extra police officers to be stationed on the Kilgore High School Campus. The anonymous threat appeared on Snapchat Wednesday morning. It warned people not to go on the school campus. The person said they were shooting up the school because they were tired of “y’all making fun of me and it’s time for y’all to pay.” Assistant Police Chief Roman Roberson said Wednesday afternoon that “there’s no active threat” at the school. They are trying to determine who posted the message. The students were kept on the campus and were not released early.

EAST TEXAS — Senator Ted Cruz will head to East Texas this week. Our news partner KETK reports he’ll make campaign stops on Thursday in Tyler and Longview, before heading down to Nacogdoches on Friday. Congressman Beto O’Rourke will also visit with East Texans. On Thursday he will be in Lufkin, followed by a stop in Longview, and one final appearance in Tyler. All of these events are listed on their campaign websites.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — A search is underway by Nacogdoches County law enforcement officials for an escaped inmate. Robin Copeland, 56, was transported to a local hospital after making a medical complaint. That’s when she made a break for it just after midnight this morning. Copeland was last seen wearing a blue county issued jump suit. She was arrested in September on warrants for tampering with a government record, theft of service and failure to appear, all felonies. A new warrant has been issued for her arrest for the offense of escape, a 3rd degree felony. Anyone with information on Copeland’s whereabouts is asked to immediately contact law enforcement. Continue reading Search for Escaped Nacogdoches County Inmate

TYLER – State Comptroller Glenn Hegar brought his “Good for Texas Tour” to Tyler Tuesday. The tour highlights women in the Texas workforce and their impact on the Texas economy. In Tyler, Hegar celebrated the work of Janie Clapp, founder of Janies Cakes. She started in 1987 selling all-natural pound cakes fresh from her bakery. The business, run by Clapps daughter, Katherine Crow, has been featured on “Good Morning America” and “The Jimmy Kimmel Show”. In 2016, it made Oprah Winfreys “Favorite Things List”.

TYLER – Early voting in the November general election is off to a roaring start in Smith County. On the first day of early voting on Monday, 4,963 ballots were cast in Smith County. This appears the be the largest opening turn out for early voting the county has ever seen. But, despite the turnout, the lines have been moving smoothly and quickly. Early voting will run through Friday, November 2nd. There are 5 early voting locations in the county, including Lindale Public Library, Noonday Community Center and Whitehouse Municipal Court. In Tyler, you can vote at the Heritage Building on Bellwood Road and at the HUB on East Ferguson. Smith County voters can use any of those locations. Continue reading A Big Early Voting Turnout in Smith County

TYLER – Governor Greg Abbott is on the road, not only for his re-election, but in support of other Republicans. As the governor puts his campaign operation to use in down-ballot races, he has a stop scheduled in Tyler on Wednesday. Governor Abbott will be joined by State Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler at 11:30 at Bruno’s Pizza & Pasta on the Old Jacksonville Highway. Also scheduled to join the two are state Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola and State Representative Cole Hefner of Mt. Pleasant.

TYLER – The police are trying to find the persons who shot at a Tyler home. One man was slightly grazed by one of the shots, but did not require medical attention. It happened shortly before 3:15 Tuesday morning on Redbud Avenue, near Bell Elementary. The house had had numerous .223 rifle rounds fired at it. Officers found 29 spent shell casings in the street in front of the residence. Investigators believe that the residents and suspects know each other.

LONGVIEW – A man involved in a fatal Longview accident has been indicted by the Gregg County Grand Jury. Our news partner KETK says Christopher Roman Darden, 47, of Longview, was indicted on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault. The charges stem from an accident back in April. Darden was traveling north on Eastman Road near the East Marshall Avenue intersection when he veered into oncoming traffic and struck a southbound vehicle head-on. The driver was killed and her passenger was critically injured. Darden is still in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $75,000.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man originally charged with murder has plead guilty to a lesser charge. Randall Lamont Britton, 32, of Tyler, was in Judge Kerry Russell’s court Monday. According to our news partner KETK, Britton pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 30. Back in 2014, Smith County Sheriff Deputies were called to a house in the northeastern part of the county shortly before 2 a.m. August 18. The body of RL Britton, 56, of Tyler, was found inside the home. The victim was said to be the suspect’s adoptive father.

RUSK COUNTY — Rusk County officials are searching for a man accused of sexual assault of a child and other crimes. According to our news partner KETK, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is searching for James Paul Calvert, 47. He is wanted on two counts of child sexual assault, burglary of a habitation and escape. Anyone with any information on Calvert is urged to call the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department at 903-657-3581 or Rusk County Crime Stoppers at 903-655-tips (8477).

TYLER – Starting Monday, Tyler began converting its water disinfection process to free chlorine for a period ending November 19th. The city uses a combination of free chlorine and ammonia to disinfect its drinking water supply prior to customer distribution. It is standard industry practice to periodically convert back to free chlorine to improve and maintain the highest water quality standards. Generally, there are no noticeable changes in water quality as a result of this temporary conversion. If you should experience a discoloration, temporarily flush faucets, tubs and toilets, until the water has cleared. Clothing should not be washed during times of discoloration to reduce the possibility of staining. Prior to washing clothing, customers may want to run a little water in a bathtub to check for discoloration. Periodic pressure drops may also be experienced due to the City’s extensive flushing efforts. Noticeable water quality changes associated with conversions are normally short lived and are not public health risks. Continue reading A One Month Change in Tyler’s Water Disinfectant Process

KILGORE – Authorities are looking for two persons who led officers on a two county chase in East Texas. It started around 8:45 Monday morning when a state trooper tried to pull over a black Mercedes Benz in northeastern Smith County. The speeding vehicle lead officers on a chase at speeds topping 100 miles an hour. The chase ended in Kilgore, off State Highway 135, when the driver and his passenger split up, and fled on foot. A search for the men, which included K9 units from Smith County, turned up no trace of the suspects.