Mountain lion collides with Longview patrol car

Mountain lion collides with Longview patrol carLONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that a mountain lion collided with a Longview police patrol vehicle around 3 a.m. on Tuesday in the 3800 block of Loop 281.
According to the Longview Police Department, an officer was patrolling when his vehicle hit the mountain lion.

“Due to the extent of its injuries, the animal was put down at the scene,” the police department said. “A Texas Parks & Wildlife biologist and game warden were contacted.”

Texas Parks and Wildlife said mountain lions are also called cougars and in Texas are found “throughout the Trans-Pecos, as well as the brushlands of south Texas and portions of the Hill Country.”
Although the animal was hit in the city, TPWD said they are generally found in remote mountains or hilly areas that have cover. Mountain lions are usually active in the mornings and nights. The police department said the game warden took the animals carcass.

Teacher accused of inappropriate relationship with a student

Teacher accused of inappropriate relationship with a studentHENDERSON – A High School teacher is behind bars accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, the district said. According to Henderson ISD officials and our news partner, KETK, authorities informed them on Tuesday that one of their teachers, whose identity is not being released at this time, had been arrested after a police investigation.The police department’s investigation came from a report that claimed the high school teacher was having an inappropriate relationship with a student, whose age and identity was not released.

District officials said the teacher was placed on paid administrative leave and they are cooperating with law enforcement. HISD said they remain “committed to the safety and security” of their students.

Search continues for second person following armed robbery in Nacogdoches

Search continues for second person following armed robbery in NacogdochesNACOGDOCHES — One person is in custody and another still on the run following a Monday afternoon armed robbery in Nacogdoches according to our news partner KETK.

According to the Nacogdoches Police Department, on Monday at around 2:33 p.m. officials responded to a 911 call from a gas station employee in the 3200 block of North St. The employee said the store was robbed by an armed man who had taken an unknown amount of money and merchandise before leaving the scene. Authorities conducted a search for a second person driving a blue car connected to the robbery. Police later located the car and the occupant, Isaiah Hartsfield, 22 of Nacogdoches, in the 200 block of E. Lakewood St. and developed a probable cause linking them to the crime.

Hartsfield has since been arrested for aggravated robbery and is being held at the Nacogdoches County Jail. Continue reading Search continues for second person following armed robbery in Nacogdoches

More than 400 fentanyl pills seized in Longview

More than 400 fentanyl pills seized in LongviewLONGVIEW – A 35-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were arrested after authorities found hundreds of pills containing fentanyl on Tuesday in a Longview home. According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Police Department, the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit and Longview SWAT conducted a search on a home in the 900 block of Doyle Street.

The police department said around 440 counterfeit Percocet fentanyl pills, two stolen handguns and a rifle were found during the search. Desmond Simmons, 35 of Longview, and Baylin Harris, 20 of Ore City, were arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Continue reading More than 400 fentanyl pills seized in Longview

Lindale boil water notice rescinded

Lindale boil water notice rescindedLINDALE — (UPDATE) – The City of Lindale is rescinding the boil water notice for the customers on Pine Dr from 17386 Pine Dr to 17679 Pine Dr. Due to a water main break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality  required the City of Lindale public water system to notify residents on Pine Dr from 17386 Pine Dr to 17679 Pine Dr to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Rusk Rural Water Supply also issued a boil water notice due to a Tuesday main line leak. Continue reading Lindale boil water notice rescinded

Gilmer man sentenced after police find black tar heroin

Gilmer man sentenced after police find black tar heroinUPSHUR COUNTY — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after police found black tar heroin in a tin can buried in his backyard.

According to the Upshur County Criminal District Attorney, on Monday William Avery Griffin pled guilty to possessing more than 20 grams of black tar heroin with intent to sell prior to a jury being seated. In March, a search warrant was conducted by the Gilmer Police Department at Griffin’s home at 813 Frazier Street. Police reportedly found “cocaine, marijuana, pills, digital scales, bags for packaging drugs, a loaded 9 mm handgun and a large amount of cash.”

Authorities also found black tar heroin buried in a tin can in Griffin’s backyard. Police went undercover and successfully purchased heroin from him on at least two occasions. Due a lengthy arrest record, Griffin was charged as a habitual offender.In 1996, he was sent to prison for 10 years for felony theft in Upshur County. In 2000, he was sentenced for 20 years for possession of heroin with intent to deliver.And in 2008, he was sentenced back in prison for 15 years.

Griffin was on federal probation but will now be transferred back into their custody where he will serve the remainder of the sentence before beginning to serve the 50-year sentence.

Congress may scale back Medicare payments for outpatient care

HOUSTON – The Houston Chronicle reports that Texas hospitals like Houston Methodist have devoted big parts of their businesses in recent years to buying up doctors’ practices and rebranding them as part of their outpatient networks. But they may soon have to figure out a different strategy. Under existing federal Medicare rules, hospital-operated outpatient facilities get higher fees than what a traditional doctor’s office would receive for the same procedure or treatment — sometimes double or even five times the amount, according to KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation. Now Congress is considering whether to end the practice as part of a larger effort to reduce the cost of Medicare, the more than $900 billion program that provides healthcare to more than 2.3 million Texans 65 years of age or older. The Congressional Budget Office estimates such reforms could save the federal government up to $100 billion over the next decade, on the back of recent cuts to reimbursement rates for in-hospital care for Medicare patients.

“It would be a big deal for hospitals,” said Kristie Loescher, a healthcare professor at The University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business. “A lot of outpatient care is actually being done in hospitals (and the facilities they operate) and it’s driving a lot of revenue.” Hospitals are lobbying hard to block the reforms, arguing the higher fees are justified by the fact they are required to treat all those who come through their doors, regardless of whether they have insurance or not. Without the extra fees, Texas hospitals would likely be forced to eliminate some outpatient services, hurting access for patients, said John Hawkins, president of the Texas Hospital Association, a trade group. Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, for instance, received more than $43 million from Medicare for outpatient care in fiscal year 2023, according to data compiled by the Rand Corporation. Houston Methodist took in more than $140 million. Methodist and other Houston-area hospitals declined or did not respond to requests for comment for this story. “A lot of these systems have expanded their outpatient capability outpatient to provide a pretty high level of care without patients having to go into the medical center,” Hawkins said. “A small (physicians) group wouldn’t necessarily be able to do that.”

Senator Joe Manchin speaks at ETBU’s largest fall commencement ceremony

Senator Joe Manchin speaks at ETBU’s largest fall commencement ceremonyMARSHALL — United States Senator for West Virginia, Joe Manchin, delivered a commencement address for East Texas Baptist University’s largest ever fall class of graduates on Saturday.According to our news partner KETK, 202 graduates walked across the stage throughout the day’s ceremonies, including 140 undergraduate and 62 graduate students. It was ETBU’s largest fall class in university history.

“This milestone commencement is a result of the combined efforts of faculty and staff focusing on ETBU’s mission of graduating Christian servant leaders so they can follow their calling to God and humanity,” provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Thomas Sanders said.

Hannah Hobson, a Bachelor of Arts graduate in Worship Studies at ETBU, was awarded ETBU’s President’s Award for the Fall of 2024. Hobson, who’s from Shreveport, maintained a perfect 4.0 throughout her time at ETBU and she’s also done practicum hours at the First Methodist Church in Marshall. Continue reading Senator Joe Manchin speaks at ETBU’s largest fall commencement ceremony

“Tyler Gives” raises $289,460 for United Way

TYLER – “Tyler Gives” raises 9,460 for United WayFor the fifth consecutive year, the United Way of Smith County hosted Tyler Gives, a local Giving Tuesday fundraiser benefiting United Way’s partnering nonprofits. This year’s campaign brought in $214,460 through online donations on December 3rd. Event sponsor Express Employment Professionals and the United Way matched the first $50,000 donated beginning at 8 a.m., and another $25,000 at 2 p.m., bringing the total to an impressive $289,460 that will be allocated by year’s end. Continue reading “Tyler Gives” raises $289,460 for United Way

Police arrest man for cruelty to puppies

Police arrest man for cruelty to puppiesHUNT COUNTY, Texas – Our news partner KETK reports that after nearly 10 months since a man was accused of dumping puppies in a secluded county road, Hunt County authorities have arrested him for animal cruelty. Forensic exams were performed on the puppies that determined they were eight to nine-weeks-old when abandoned. West Tawakoni PD spoke with the puppies’ owner, Billy Joe Byerly, who reportedly admitted that he had abandoned them on a secluded county road. Criminal charges were later filed against Byerly and in September the Hunt County attorney’s office issued a warrant for his arrest. Byerly was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals, a Class A misdemeanor.

Austin has few ‘forever chemicals’ in its drinking water

AUSTIN – KUT reports that new testing results show Austin has little to no traces of forever chemicals in its drinking water. Exposure to these chemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, have been linked to prostate and kidney cancers, thyroid conditions, decreased fertility and other health problems. PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they take thousands of years to break down. The chemicals are “bioaccumulative,” meaning they build up in an organism faster than they can be excreted. Over 1 million people in the greater Austin area get their drinking water from the Highland Lakes. Out of the 29 PFAS compounds Austin Water officials tested in the lakes, only faint traces of six were detected. The test results were verified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Water samples were tested at each of Austin’s three water treatment plants four times over the past year. At the Handcox Water Treatment Plant, none of the tested PFAS compounds were found. PFAS are found in seemingly everything, including clothes, nonstick pans, cosmetics and probably your bloodstream. The EPA announced earlier this year that it would start regulating five of the most dangerous PFAS. So far, almost 50 Texas water systems have reported PFAS levels exceeding the new limits, two of which are in Williamson County. Water systems in Seguin and San Antonio have also reported levels exceeding the limits. The EPA estimated that somewhere between 6% and 10% of all public water systems will fail the new guidelines. But Austin didn’t. Why? Kasi Clay, the water quality manager for Austin Water, said the results are thanks to protections on the Highland Lakes. “Our drinking water is less impacted by industries and activities that can introduce PFAS,” she said. Clay said traces of PFAS found in Austin’s drinking water were so low they were barely even testable.

185-year-old Marshall church destroyed in fire

MARSHALL –185-year-old Marshall church destroyed in fire A historic church in downtown Marshall is destroyed following an early morning fire. According to our news partners t KETK, no one was injured during the significant structure fire Monday morning. “Please keep this church congregation in your prayers,” church officials said. “God has amazing plans ahead.” The church, that usually holds worship every Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m., is located on 300 East Houston St. According to the church’s website, it was established around 1839.

Marshall PD reminds drivers of DWI risks after three arrests in an hour

Marshall PD reminds drivers of DWI risks after three arrests in an hourMARSHALL — Three people were arrested in one hour on Wednesday in Marshall for drunk driving and the police department is reminding drivers of the risks especially during holiday celebrations. According to the Marshall Police Department and our news partner KETK, the holidays can be one the most dangerous times for drivers on East Texas roads. On Wednesday, police conducted three separate driving while intoxicated arrests and the department said they’ll continue to enforce traffic laws in full force to keep the community safe.

Officials said 68-year-old Jimmie Ann Carter(pictured), of Ashdown, Ark., 29-year-old Lauren Paulk and 53-year-old Ricky Norman, both of Marshall, were arrested and received a DWI charge. Continue reading Marshall PD reminds drivers of DWI risks after three arrests in an hour

Texas Medical Board suspends Tyler doctor

Texas Medical Board suspends Tyler doctorTYLER — A Tyler doctor has been suspended for being intoxicated at work, the Texas Medical Board said. According to our news partner KETK, a disciplinary panel temporarily suspended Adam Rance Corley’s medical license after “determining his continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to the public welfare.”

The panel said that Corley was often intoxicated at work and had been to alcohol rehab multiple times but did not “properly delegate his prescribing authority.” A temporary suspension hearing is expected to be held soon. According to the Texas Medical Board, Corley worked at Hospitality ER on Old Jacksonville Highway.

The temporary suspension will remain until the board takes further action.