KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW –According to a press release from the office of the Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs, a Mexican national illegally living in Longview has been sentenced for unlawfully returning to the United States.

According to information presented in court, on August 13, 2024, Jose Refugio Jara-Palafox, 45, was arrested in Gregg County. Following the arrest, it was determined that he had been deported on five prior occasions and has multiple convictions including two DWIs, indecent exposure, leaving the scene of an accident, and presenting false documentation at a port of entry.

Jara-Palafox pleaded guilty to illegal reentry following removal, and was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on August 21, 2025. Jara-Palafox will be deported once he has served his sentence.

TYLER – Drivers may want to take a closer look at the cars around them, according to a report from our news partner KETK. The Texas Department of Public Safety has rolled out new low-profile patrol vehicles across East Texas, designed to blend in with everyday traffic while watching for unsafe driving.

Known as “slick-top ghost-letter units,” the vehicles carry subtle markings and fewer visible lights than traditional patrol cars. DPS officials say the design gives troopers an advantage in spotting reckless drivers, impaired motorists and other roadway dangers without being easily recognized right away.

The ghost units are part of DPS’s broader push to make Texas highways safer, especially as speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving continue to be leading causes of deadly crashes statewide.

MARSHALL – UPDATE: According to Marshall PD, Highway 59 South and Travis Street have reopened after a multi-vehicle accident on Thursday morning.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Marshall Police Department is asking the public to avoid Highway 59 South and Travis Street on Monday morning while they are working a multi-vehicle accident, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Marshall Police officers are currently investigating the cause of the crash that led to multiple lanes being blocked.

As they work to clear the scene, police are encouraging the public to avoid the area. More information will be released as updates becomes available and when lanes open back up.

TYLER – Texas Parks and Wildlife is reporting several bear sightings across East Texas and encouraging people to stay away from its path. According to our news partner KETK, it’s a rare sight for East Texans to spot a bear because the last few bears in the state are predominantly found in the southwest; however, one bear is being spotted all across the piney woods.

“We believe it’s a male, young male, subadult,” Texas Parks and Wildlife District biologist Ruben Gay said. “It has a signature upside-down Nike swoosh in a way that looks like it is on the right side of his face, so that’s helping us verify it.” Gay said with over 14 reported sightings across East Texas, they’ve been able to track his travels as he moves loosely.

“We first started tracking it in the park’s Texas area near Mud Creek, kind of over there near 204 and 110 area in Cherokee County on July 15th,” Gay said.

Seemingly every corner of East Texas has seen this bear with sightings in Anderson, Cherokee, Rusk and Panola counties. This youngster has potentially found the bare necessities in the piney woods. Continue reading Bear sightings in East Texas prompts caution

AUSTIN– Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday evening that he will be adding three items to the Special Session two agenda, including a proposal that protects East Texas aquifers.

According to our news partner KETK, the proposal will shut down production and export permits while the Texas Water Development Board conducts a thorough study on East Texas groundwater.

State Rep Cody Harris (R-Palestine) says the proposal has been tied to House Bill 27 and will be heard on Thursday in the House Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs. “I made a promise to you that I wouldn’t stop fighting big-money interests trying to profit off East Texas water, and this is the next big step,” Harris said.

In Abbott’s message to the Texas Legislature, he explained that the agenda item is intended to protect East Texas aquifers. “We need to ensure appropriate studies are conducted to protect the health of East Texas aquifers,” Abbott said.

BULLARD – The former bookkeeper for an East Texas construction company was arrested after she allegedly stole over $67,000 from that company. According to our news partner KETK, the owners of the unnamed company contacted the Bullard Police Department and said that the bookkeeper, Danielle Marie Stanley, had been skimming money from the company over the past year. The owners said Stanley had wrote herself unauthorized checks from two business accounts totaling $67,670.84.

Authorities said she was able to conceal unauthorized withdrawals by manipulating the accounting software the company was using. The owners also told police that the checks written by Stanley were forged with their signatures. This was verified by police. Stanley was arrested on August 13th for theft of property, but posted a $100,000 bond the same day.

Tyler — In an initiative to fight impaired driving ahead of Labor Day weekend, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) staff and volunteers are partnering with law enforcement in Texas for “Saturation Saturday” on August 23, 2025. This coordinated effort aims to save lives by intensifying impaired driving enforcement during one of the year’s busiest travel periods. Labor Day weekend celebrations often lead to a dramatic rise in fatal impaired driving crashes. In 2022, there were 490 crash fatalities nationwide over the Labor Day holiday period — 39% of which involved a drunk driver, according to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). In an effort to prevent these devastating tragedies, MADD Texas volunteers and staff are teaming up with Bullard PD, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson County DPS, Mineola PD, Troup PD, and Tyler PD to host increased DUI patrols. Saturation Saturday also aligns with the annual National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which mobilizes its Labor Day high-visibility enforcement efforts in August and September.
Continue reading MADD teams up with law enforcement for Labor Day

JACKSONVILLE – On August 20, 2025 Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was notified by Jacksonville Police Department that they had received reports of a woman lying in the roadway on Cr 4209. Jacksonville Police Department and Jacksonville Fire arrived on scene and found a female to be critically injured lying in the roadway. EMS took her to a local hospital where she was subsequently flown to a Tyler hospital. During the same time frame an individual called Jacksonville Police Department wanting to report a criminal mischief to his vehicle. After an investigation, it was determined that the vehicle in question was involved in the incident on Cr 4209. Investigators responded to both locations and it was determined that Danny Porras 22, of Jacksonville was involved in a disturbance with his spouse on the county road where she was found. During the course of the disturbance Danny intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury to another with his vehicle. Also, during the course of the disturbance, a 2-year-old child was left unattended inside the residence. Continue reading Jacksonville man arrested for family violence

Tyler – Having a last will and testament is important. But safeguarding it is vital. Smith County has a service that does this and its inexpensive. Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips talked to KTBB and explained the filing procedure.

“All they have to do is come in, with will in hand, with 11 dollars and their drivers license. They fill out an envelope. The envelope has name, address, listed there three times. They have to have three people and their attorney that drew it up for them. We give them a case number and then we give them a piece of paper that has my name on it. It’s got the signature of the deputy and it has their case number written in. if someone finds that, they can see that has been deposited in the county clerks office for safe keeping.”

The Smith County Clerk’s Office is located on the third floor of the Smith County Annex, at 200 East Ferguson Avenue. To get more information go here.

JACKSONVILLE – An 18-year-old has died after a two-vehicle crash in Jacksonville on Monday morning. According to the Jacksonville Police Department, around 10:23 a.m., police and firefighters responded to a two-vehicle crash involving a white box truck and a silver SUV in the 1200 block of East Rusk Street. Officials said that first responders determined that the box truck was traveling eastbound in the 1200 block of East Rusk Street when the SUV failed to yield the right-of-way from a private drive and entered onto the street, causing the two vehicles to collide. The driver of the SUV, Zara Jazmine Homes, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the box truck driver was not injured, officials said.

TYLER – Dr. Yanira Oliveras, an associate professor of education with The University of Texas at Tyler College of Education and Psychology, has been selected to serve on the Texas Education Agency Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System Stakeholder Advisory committee. T-TESS is designed to improve teaching practices and student outcomes through a comprehensive evaluation process. Oliveras will contribute her insights and expertise to TEA as a committee member. Continue reading UT Tyler education faculty to serve on TEA committee

OVERTON– A Leverett’s Chapel ISD school bus was involved in a crash on Tuesday afternoon near the school. According to our news partner KETK, the crash occurred on Highway 42, approximately two miles north of the school. The district said the bus was rear-ended by another vehicle; however, all of the students and the driver of the bus were unharmed. The driver of the other vehicle was also uninjured.

“The safety of our students remains our highest priority, and we appreciate the prompt response of all who assisted,” Leverett’s Chapel ISD said.

LONGVIEW – The Spring Hill ISD Board of Trustees is asking voters to consider approving a tax rate increase and a $20 million bond proposal for facility maintenance and improvements. According to our news partner KETK, the bond package is designed to address the district’s important needs without increasing the district’s current tax rates. It’s been broken down into three propositions, with all three focusing on upgrading campus facilities, including renovating the district’s junior high school, improving its tennis complex and updating the football stadium.

Proposition A ($17.2 million) focuses on renovations to the junior high school and HVAC replacements.
Proposition B ( $1.975 million) addresses updates to the district’s football stadium.
Proposition C ($802,256) looks to improve the district’s tennis complex, including its restrooms.

The tax increase would provide the district with over $300 thousand in additional funding to help with increased pay for teachers and staff. The extra funding would also support Spring Hill ISD’s extra-curricular activities and provide the district with new instructional materials. Continue reading Spring Hill ISD ballot includes bond proposal, tax increase

RUSK — According to our news partner KETK, a 19-year-old woman was arrested in Rusk on Monday night after she fled from Bullard Police and sped up to 110 miles per hour through East Texas cities.
Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said he received a call around 10:30 p.m. Monday concerning a person who was being pursued out of the Bullard area while driving a vehicle on U.S. 69.

According to Bullard Police Department Sergeant Judith Tuell, officers initiated a traffic stop when Hannah Sweet fled the scene. She then made her way through Jacksonville toward the Rusk area while reaching speeds of up to 110 miles per hour. Officials with the Rusk Police Department deployed road spikes as Sweet was approaching the city limits coming from Jacksonville. Sweet was stopped and arrested by members of the Bullard Police Department and booked on charges of evading arrest with a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

Sweet was also charged with evading arrest with a vehicle by the Bullard Police Department.

TYLER – A party with legal claim to The Oil Palace in Tyler has requested that the venue be sold, due to failed obligations, according to Smith County records. A document dated Aug. 7 shows the Oil Palace and Bobby Manziel as the borrower of $3.94 million on Dec. 4, 2017. The sale of the building is required to fall under Section 51.002 of the Texas Property Code. That means the must be put up via an auction held between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. of the first Tuesday of a month. The Tyler Gun Show scheduled for Sept. 13 and 14 at the venue is canceled. The last event to be held at The Oil Palace was the 2025 God & The Great Outdoors Hunting & Fishing Expo.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler was given a $971,195 grant that will support research on treatments for pleural infections that cause fluid buildup in the lungs, according to a report from KETK. The research is being led by Professor of Cellular and Molecular Biology Dr. Andrey Komissarov with the UT Tyler School of Medicine.

Komissarov, along with the biopharmaceutical company SignaBlok, will conduct projects that give students the opportunity to analyze data, perform lab research and present scientific findings.

According to UT Tyler, 65,000 people in the United States are affected by empyema every year, which is caused by pneumonia. Treatment options are not always safe and could possibly lead to other complications, leading Komissarov’s team to find other methods. Continue reading UT Tyler receives $971K research grant

CHEROKEE COUNTY — A Texas man has died after a fatal crash on Sunday evening southeast of Alto, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Pye Kervantez Jr., 41 of Wylie, was traveling north on US 69 at around 6:20 p.m. on Sunday when his vehicle went off the road and into a ditch. There, he hit a culvert and went airborne, causing him to be thrown from the vehicle.

DPS confirmed Kervantez was pronounced dead at the scene.

Update: Lindale Police reports a car crash in downtown Lindale has been cleared for through traffic. No significant injuries were reported.

LINDALE – Lindale Fire Department reports a serious crash at Main Street near Texas National Bank in downtown Lindale early Tuesday afternoon. Emergency crews are on hand. No details have been provided on the number of vehicles or if any injuries had occurred. Officials ask drivers to avoid this area for the time being.

MINEOLA – Due to an eight inch break in a city water main, a boil water notice is in effect for Mineola. City officials say the break is on Old Tyler Hwy behind Joe Tex Diesel, then South to Loop 564 to Sanderson Farms and CR 2724. To make sure all bacteria is destroyed, water should be brought to a boil for two minutes and then cooled before consumption. Bottled water can also be used instead for drinking and cooking until the notice has been lifted.

GILMER – The head of the Texas Education Agency made a stop at Gilmer ISD on Monday, happening days after the TEA released this year’s report card for schools across the state, according to a report from our news partner, KETK.

Gilmer Elementary is celebrating their success in the classroom after the school saw a 7-point jump this year. In this year’s TEA ratings, the school raised from 83 to 90, scoring them an A.

Overall, the district scored a B in this year’s TEA ratings. Gilmer Elementary School principal Gina Treadway said the better grade is in part thanks to a new math and phonics program but that the students and teachers are who are really to thank. Continue reading Gilmer Elementary receives high Accountability Test score

TYLER – A bill that would expand access to Ivermectin and permit it to be bought over the counter is now a priority in the Texas House.

State Rep. Joanne Shofner of Nacogdoches is proposing the bill as she believes it would give patients easier access to Ivermectin if passed. The bill would allow drugs like Ivermectin, which was created to kill parasites, to be bought over the counter with no prescription required. The proposal has received a priority bill number from the House Speaker, which makes Shofner hopeful that the bill will be added to the agenda for the current special session.

“What it says is that House District 11 is very, very important to the state capital and that, you know, sometimes rural Texas needs to jump up higher and louder to overtake some of the big cities,” Shofner said.

Update: Boil water notice for Mineola was rescinded late Wednesday morning.

MINEOLA – Due to an eight inch break in a city water main, a boil water notice is in effect for Mineola. City officials say the break is on Old Tyler Hwy behind Joe Tex Diesel, then South to Loop 564 to Sanderson Farms and CR 2724. To make sure all bacteria is destroyed, water should be brought to a boil for two minutes and then cooled before consumption. Bottled water can also be used instead for drinking and cooking until the notice has been lifted.

LINDALE – The City of Lindale announced Monday afternoon that a boil water notice for those living on Aspenwood, Timberwood and Stonewood Drive. The release from the city did not mention the reason for the notice. To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria are destroyed, water for drinking, cooking and ice making should be boiled for two minutes and cooled prior to use for human consumption. If you have any questions, call the City of Lindale at 903-882-4918.

EMORY – Rains County Justice of the Peace Judge Robert Jenkins Franklin has been given 12 months of deferred adjudication, to avoid a verdict in his driving while intoxicated case.

Franklin was arrested on March 21, 2024 for driving while intoxicated. According to an affidavit for Franklin’s arrest, he was contacted by a Rains County Sheriff’s Office deputy investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle on the night of March 20. According to out news partner KETK, at 11:25 p.m. on March 20, Rains County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch contacted a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper to respond to County Road 2250, where Franklin’s vehicle was on the side of the road.

“Franklin stated that he had received some bad news earlier in the day and he was just sitting in his truck on CR-2250 approximately one mile from his residence. The strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was coming from his breath and when he would speak, he was slurring his words. I attempted to start the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and Franklin quickly refused to do any testing,” the trooper said in a DPS probable cause affidavit. Continue reading Rains County judge gets deferred adjudication for DUI

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, enough lawmakers showed up at the state capital on Monday to make a quorum for the start of the second special session called by Governor Greg Abbott.

Shofner said “It was a very dramatic day today here at the Capitol, House Bill 1, which covers flood relief for the Hill Country, has taken precedence in the second session, along with gaveling in bills that have been referred to committees.” “We can finally get that done and get that passed, so we are excited about doing that.” “Another one is property tax relief for our Texans.” Continue reading East Texans react to State House starting second session

JACKSONVILLE – UT Health Jacksonville and the Texas Department of Transportation partnered on Monday to hold free child car seat inspections for the public.

According to a report from our news partner KETK, the event is being held at UT Health Jacksonville’s front parking lot from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with no registration or appointment requirements. This safety check can help give parents piece of mind that they’re children are protected while riding in a vehicle. Certified child passenger safety technicians are on site to inspect appropriate harnessing, correct seat type and size, direction and placement, expiration dates, seat condition, and proper installation and positioning. Continue reading TxDOT and UT Health hold free child car seat inspections

PALESTINE — The Westwood ISD Athletic Director and head high school football coach was served an additional two years of probation on Monday, following an incident where an un-enrolled 7th grade student participated in workouts during the summer, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

On Oct. 24, 2024, Westwood High School football coach Robert Bishop met with the State Executive Committee of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) to discuss an incident involving Westwood staff allegedly filming an opposing team’s signals. The committee placed Bishop on probation for the 2025-2026 school year and decided that the Panthers football team did not have to forfeit their undefeated season. While still on probation, Bishop has just been served another two years of probation for violating another one of UIL’s rules. Continue reading Westwood HS football coach gets additional two years of probation

UPSHUR COUNTY – Several volunteer fire departments across Texas, including the New Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, received a $10,000 grant from State Farm and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), according to a report from our news partner KETK.

This was the second year in a row that the NVFC and State Farm partnered up to support local volunteer fire departments. The grants help departments secure the necessary equipment to keep first responders safe and protect their communities. Continue reading East Texas fire department receives $10K grant