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TYLER – On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Tyler City Council approved an agreement with Via Transportation, Inc. to provide passenger trip assistance for MicroTransit and ParaTransit services. This agreement allows independent contractors to operate in their own vehicles, providing coverage for overflow services in a model that combines the efficiency and affordability of public transit with the convenience of rideshare services. The independent contractors will begin driving for Tyler Transit on Nov. 19. This agreement will enable Tyler Transit to meet the growing need for its on-demand rides, particularly during peak ridership times when City-operated vehicles are fully scheduled. Continue reading City approves Via partnership for Tyler Transit

SMITH COUNTY – Habitat for Humanity of Smith County (HFHSC) is now accepting applications for its affordable homeownership program through January 30, 2026. Homeownership is becoming increasingly out of reach for local families. In fact, the required income to purchase a home in Smith County has risen 126% since 2017 (Texas A&M University, Texas Real Estate Research Center). Yet research also shows that when families are able to become homeowners, the impact is transformational—U.S. homeowners hold 400% more net wealth than renters with similar demographics and income (Federal Reserve System).

“Research consistently shows that when families have access to safe, stable and affordable housing, their health improves, financial stress decreases, and children perform better in school,” said Robert Manley III, CEO of HFHSC. “We believe affordable housing is not just a benefit to one family, but that it strengthens the entire community. A healthier, more stable Smith County starts with ensuring more families have a safe place to call home.” Continue reading Habitat for Humanity application window is open

ANDERSON COUNTY – A company from the Dallas area is suing the local groundwater conservation district for impeding the installation of forty-three high-capacity water wells in East Texas. This year, the proposed project, which was supported by Conservation Equity Management and its CEO Kyle Bass, angered East Texans. One state lawmaker even attempted to halt the project during a special session. Bass has maintained that the company’s objective is to determine the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer’s water content before starting to extract from its depths.

The Groundwater District did not respond to requests for comment. The Dallas Morning News and The Texas Lawbook were the first to report on the lawsuit.

In April 2025, the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District declared the applications to be “administratively complete,” which is a legal term that indicates they were properly completed. By completing that step, the project was one step closer to receiving district approval. Continue reading Stalled water plans lead to lawsuit

TATUM – The Tatum City Council met on Monday night and the first item on their agenda was reviewing formal complaints and concerns raised against chief of police James Smith.

Leading up to the meeting, council members received an anonymous email from concerned citizens asking them to review past conduct from their police chief and asking what the council will do to restore public trust. The city’s mayor responded with his own email saying he will bring all facts forward, but the council will have the final decision.

Following the closed-door executive session, the council voted on the four written complaints against Chief Smith, deciding unanimously to take no action on three complaints. The city council acted on the fourth complaint, voting for a hard verbal warning and directing him to take a class.

“Because it is a personal concern, we are exempt from discussing that in open session, so at that point, we will adjourn to executive session, council will discuss the matters in regards to the complaints,” Mayor Michael Henry said.

Chief John Smith declined to provide a comment to our news partner KETK.

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities are investigating an entrapment involving a cement mixer that occurred in Smith County on Monday evening.

According to our news partner KETK and the Community Outreach Coordinator for Smith County ESD2, Nikki Simmons, the incident occurred on County Road 3181 and FM 14 in Lindale. Simmons also confirmed that smoke was coming from one of the vehicles. Simmons confirmed injuries have been reported.

CANTON — Canton ISD is working with local law enforcement after a school bus was involved in a crash on Monday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK and Canton ISD all students were checked by school personnel and emergency responders, and no injuries were reported. Canton ISD said they are working closely with laws enforcement to investigate the incident and that safety is their top priority.

Anyone with questions or concerns regarding the incident can reach out to Canton ISD Administrative Office at 903-567-4179.

SMITH COUNTY — Non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed Tuesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. According to a news release, Commissioners Court will not be held on Tuesday. There will be a Special-Called Commissioners Court meeting at 9:30 a.m. Friday, November 14, to canvass the results of the November 4 Special Election.

“Smith County closes for Veterans Day to honor all of the men and women who have served in the United States military,” the release stated.

Smith County has more than 100 employees who are veterans, serving the community through their positions in the Commissioners Court, Fire Marshal’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Road and Bridge Department, Juvenile Services Department, IT Department, Facility Services Department, Veteran Services Office, County Court-at-Law 3, Precincts 1, 3 and 4 Constable’s Offices, Tax Office and Judicial Compliance/Collections Department. Continue reading Smith County closes offices Tuesday

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office seized around 38 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, a deputy stopped a 2024 black GMC pickup truck on Friday while on Interstate 20. During the stop, the deputy discovered around 38 pounds of marijuana in bags inside the truck.

Malcom Hampton, 30, of Louisiana, was identified by the sheriff’s office as the driver of the truck. He was arrested and booked into the Van Zandt County Jail on a charge of possession of marijuana between 5 and 50 pounds.

The sheriff’s office connected the arrest with their criminal interdiction program. Continue reading 38 pounds of marijuana seized in traffic stop

BIG SANDY – Our news partners at KETK report the City of Big Sandy issued a burn ban on Monday, effective immediately. Mayor Linda Baggett announced the order on Monday, reinstating the restriction several days after the city lifted its previous burn ban on Oct. 31. Under the new declaration, all forms of outdoor burning are prohibited within the incorporated city limits until further notice.

PANOLA COUNTY — A 4-year-old boy has been shot in the leg after discharging a pistol. According to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday at around 5:39 p.m., the sheriff’s office dispatch received a 911 call from a parent who said their spouse was taking their child to an emergency room for “an unknown problem.” When law enforcement arrived, they found the 4-year-old being treated for a gunshot wound to the leg. “The father and child were preparing to leave a deer stand near Ragley Road (County Road 182) when the child discharged the pistol that the father was carrying in a holster,” the sheriff’s office said. Continue reading Toddler shot in Panola County hunting incident

LUFKIN – Our news partner KETK is reporting that two people were sent to a local hospital on Sunday after a crash at Loop 287 and U.S. Highway 59.

According to Lufkin PD, the feeder lanes at Loop 287 and U.S. 59 south were shut down after two trucks crashed at around 2 p.m. on Sunday near the Palms Shopping Center.

A Lufkin PD post said that two people involved in the crash have been taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The roadway was cleared and reopened by 4 p.m. on Sunday.

GREGG COUNTY — The Kilgore Fire Department and Gregg County Emergency Services District 2 responded to a grass fire burning a pasture off of FM 3053 on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, firefighters at the scene reported that hay bales were burned in a pasture in the 1400 block of FM 3053. The road was closed at around 4 p.m. on Sunday but has been reopened since Kilgore Fire Department left the scene.

“We advise that anyone burning outside have a way to extinguish their fire as the fire risk is very high over the next several days with increased winds and low humidity,” Sabine Fire & Rescue said.

The Texas A&M Forest Service said the 10.2-acre fire was around 100% contained as of 4:59 p.m.

Tyler – Smith County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Andy Dunklin will announce his re-election campaign in the March 2026 Republican primary. The campaign kick-off will be on Tuesday, November 11, at 9:00 AM at The Place on Main at Solon Douglas & Co in Bullard. Judge Dunklin will make a formal address regarding his bid for re-election at the Campaign Kick-Off. Continue reading Dunklin to announce for re-election

LUFKIN — Our news partners at KETK report that a man is dead after a Thursday night shooting in the 200 block of Bowles Street in Lufkin. The Lufkin Police Department said gunshots were reported at around 10:40 p.m., and when officers arrived at the scene, they located a man “who had been shot multiple times.” Despite attempts to save his life, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect has been identified as 49-year-old DeMarcus Jones, who has since been charged with murder for the death of Tyrone Williams. Continue reading One dead after Thursday night shooting

MOUNT PLEASANT – Our news partners at KETK report that a former Mount Pleasant ISD (MPISD) special education teacher’s aide, Jaquaven Rogers, was arrested on Friday for allegedly having an improper relationship with a student. According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department (MPPD), MPISD was told about an alleged improper relationship Friday morning. The district contacted MPPD and detectives arrived on campus to investigate the allegations. Probable cause led to Rogers’ arrest at P.E. Wallace Middle School. Rogers is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student from a different Mount Pleasant ISD campus, according to Mount Pleasant PD. Continue reading Teacher’s aide arrested for child sex crimes

LONGVIEW — Our news partners at KETK report that a Longview man arrested in connection with a deadly 2023 shooting has pleaded guilty to murder and been sentenced to 25 years in jail. According to court records, 45-year-old Michael Dashaun Jackson entered a guilty plea Friday morning in the 188th District Court for the murder of Martin King, 45. The incident occurred in May 2023, when Longview police were called to the 1300 block of Twelfth Street after reports of gunfire. Officers found King lying on the side of the road suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Following an investigation, Jackson was identified as a suspect and later arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail for murder. As part of his guilty plea, Jackson received a 25-year sentence that he will serve in the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Jail.

KILGORE – Our news partners at KETK report a Kilgore ISD student was struck in a hit-and-run on Friday morning. The school district stated that the student was waiting to be picked up for school by a bus when the incident occurred. The hit-and-run happened at the intersection of CR 2105 and CR 2106 at around 6:15 a.m., the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. The student was struck by a “dark colored vehicle,” and no other description has been provided at this time. The Kilgore Police Department said the student was treated by EMS on scene before being taken to a local hospital.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Tax Office is mailing out 186,349 property tax statements. This week, 168,378 bills were mailed out, and another 17,971 statements will be mailed next week to residents who live in the Whitehouse Independent School District area. January 31, 2026, is the deadline for paying property taxes. Payments can be made by scanning the QR code on your statement — it will take you directly to the payment page on your account.

“It has been a game changer in how people pay their property taxes,” Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber said of adding the QR code. “If you want to skip the long lines at the Tax Office, I highly recommend you pay online.”

Taxpayers can click here to pay their tax bills with debit or credit card or e-check, which is the easiest and fastest way to pay.

The tax statements mailed and online reflect the new homestead exemptions that were approved in the statewide Constitutional Amendment Election. Continue reading County property taxes mailed to residents

GLADEWATER – After a Dallas investigation, a former Gladewater Police officer was taken into custody and charged with indecency with a minor.

Kenan Robert Laza, 29 of Longview, was taken into custody and charged with indecency with a child, a third-degree felony.

According to a release, Gladewater Police Chief Kyle Ready stated that the Dallas Police Department initially called at approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday to inform him that Laza had been taken into custody at his home.

A release states that Chief Ready arrived at Laza’s house and fired immediately. In order to guarantee that justice is served “to the fullest extent of the law,” the department stated that they are working in tandem with the Dallas Police Department during an investigation.

LONGVIEW – At a court hearing Thursday, a Kilgore man convicted of killing a Hallsville teen in 2015 was given a reduced sentence. Coby Ray Hudgins, 33, was first given a 99-year prison term for killing 17-year-old Kayla Williams in 2013. Hudgins agreed on Thursday to a reduced sentence of 45 years in prison instead of a new sentencing hearing. Based on expert testimony that concluded Hudgins’ “traumatic history as a sexual assault victim combined with the physical and mental effects of that trauma” could have shortened his sentence, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted him a new hearing.

HENDERSON COUNTY – DNA evidence has led to the identification of a suspect in the 1987 murder of an East Texas man who was discovered dead beneath a bridge, following nearly 40 years of investigation. Rickey Herriage’s body was discovered under a bridge on Henderson County’s County Road 1500 on March 8, 1987. For decades, the case remained unsolved despite the deputies’ best efforts. As of 2025, authorities have identified Dallas Reynolds Casanova as a possible suspect based on DNA testing. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that Casanova, who was a resident of Henderson County at the time of the murder, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2008.
Continue reading Potential suspect in 1987 murder found

WHITEHOUSE –The grand opening of the new Whitehouse City Center took place on Thursday evening, offering a new gathering space for the community.

According to our news partner KETK, the center features an event space for over 100 people, a formal meeting room available for public use, a training room for city and local organizations, and a dedicated area for children to study and meet. The building housing the new center has a rich history, having previously served as a church, a gym, and a market. This historical significance adds to the community’s appreciation of the new center.

The project began in 2021 and was developed with input from the local community, reflecting the needs and desires of Whitehouse residents. The Whitehouse City Center is set to become a central hub for community activities, preserving the building’s historical essence while providing modern amenities for residents.

SMITH COUNTY — After protests were held in Smith County on Thursday afternoon regarding the county’s involvement in the Federal 287 (g) Immigration Enforcement Program, Sheriff Larry Smith released a statement defending his office and its policies.

In a statement, Smith reassured residents that the sheriff’s office has not changed its stance on immigration enforcement and public safety. Smith did, however, state that the sheriff’s office had joined the 287(g) program, claiming it strengthens their ability to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and to ensure that those who commit crimes in Smith County are held accountable.

“This program not only provides the Smith County Sheriff’s Office with the ability to ensure the immigration laws are enforced within Smith County, but it also mandates we enforce the Federal Immigration Laws,” Smith said. Continue reading Sheriff defends department’s policies amid protests

HOUSTON COUNTY — The Houston County Sheriff’s Office has fired one of their staff, after learning former Deputy Skyler Laza was arrested on alleged child sex crime charges. According to our news partner KETK, Laza was arrested late Wednesday afternoon by the DPS Criminal Investigation Division at his home in Palestine and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. That evening, Houston County Sheriff Zak Benge traveled to the Anderson County Jail, where Laza was being held and terminated him as a deputy in Houston County.

In a statement from Houston County Sheriff Zak Benge, “The allegations and supporting evidence against Laza are truly disturbing. It is sickening to me that a person who sought a position meant to help those in our community, especially the most vulnerable, our children, would be the very person arrested for abuse. My office will continue to work with the investigating agencies and assist in every way possible to ensure that Laza, and anyone else involved in these heinous acts of abuse against this juvenile victim, are punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

Update – Gabrielle Erin Toon of Tyler, was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to physically assaulting a disabled minor.

SMITH COUNTY — A 27-year-old Tyler nurse has pleaded guilty four months after a video surfaced of her physically assaulting a disabled minor. According to our news partner KETK, Gabrielle Erin Toon pleaded guilty on Oct. 30 to a third-degree charge of injury to a child following her July arrest, her defense team confirmed. While the state offered a straight probation sentence, the defense requested deferred adjudication. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday.

Toon’s case first came to light after the child’s grandparents reported to the Tyler Police Department that Toon, a live-in nurse, had been seen on video smacking and aggressively pushing their granddaughter while responsible for her care during evening hours.

According to court records, the child is immobile, non-verbal, dependent on nighttime oxygen, has a chronic lung disease and had a kidney transplant. The video, captured on July 1, shows Toon slapping the child multiple times and pushing her head onto a pillow while demanding she go to sleep. Continue reading Former nurse gets five years in prison for child assault

LUFKIN — According to our news partner KETK, a Lufkin man accused of shooting at police during a 2024 standoff has been found not guilty of aggravated assault.

Jason Penick, 47, was arrested in June 2024 after a disturbance call in the 700 block of Clark Avenue escalated into an hours-long standoff involving the Lufkin Police Department, its SWAT team, the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. At the time, police said Penick had fired at responding officers before barricading himself inside the home.

According to the Angelina County District Clerk’s Office, Penick’s trial in the 159th District Court began Tuesday and concluded Wednesday, when the jury returned a not guilty verdict. Penick’s district attorney confirmed that court testimony revealed no witnesses – including other officers – saw anyone fire a weapon during the incident but did report hearing what sounded like gunfire. Investigators later recovered a gun from the scene but found no shell casings or bullet holes.

Penick told investigators the sound the officers heard was caused by a dresser falling.