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LONGVIEW – The City of Longview is asking the community to help various non-profits collaborating with the city for Homeless Resource Day on Jan. 25. According to our news partner KETK. Mayor Andy Mack’s Task Force on Homelessness is asking residents to help with Homeless Resource Day by giving directly to a local organization, giving to the Mayor’s Go Giver Fund or by donating items for Homeless Outreach Bags. The city is also asking for volunteers to work directly with local homeless service organizations and on Homeless Resource Day. The city also suggested that people could help by get others involved in volunteering and by encouraging local businesses to take part in the Homeless Work Program.Visit the of Longview online to see a full list of organizations to support, information about the Go Giver Fund and a list of items needed for Homeless outreach bags.

ANDERSON COUNTY – TOur news partners at KETK report that two people are dead after a crash Wednesday morning on US 287 north of Elkhart. According to a preliminary DPS report, a 2022 Toyota Tacoma towing a trailer was traveling south on the highway when it approached a curve and the trailer began to sway. Officials said this caused the truck to lose control and cross into the northbound lane, striking a 2018 Nissan Armada that was traveling north. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Tacoma was identified as Alfred Velma, 62 of Seagoville, and the driver of the Armada was identified as 32-year-old Celsey Lively, of Elkhart. Lively was reported by officials to not have been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

COFFEE CITY – Frank Serrato was booked into the Henderson County Jail Friday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, the 53-year-old Serrato was charged with six counts of tampering with with government records with intent to seal, defraud or cause harm. He was held on a $900,000 bond. Serrato posted bond this afternoon. This comes after the recent arrest of former Coffee City Police Chief JohnJay Portillo and the deactivation of the Coffee City Police Department in September. Serrato resigned from his position of mayor in August of 2022 after the resignation of three Coffee City Council members and the city secretary.

Christmas can get hectic, so to save East Texans time KETK put together a list of local restaurants, grocery stores and movie theaters open on Christmas Day 2023. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of places to eat and and shop that will be open for Christmas this year. Please click here to view the list.

COFFEE CITY – Henderson County Sheriff’s Department said that Frank Serrato, former mayor of Coffee City is wanted for tampering with government records. According to our news partner KETK, also wanted along with Serrato on the same charge is former Coffee City police officer Lonnie Hicks. Serrato resigned from the mayor’s office August of last year. In September of this year, the police department was dissolved and its Chief Of Police JohnJay Portillo was arrested.
Continue reading Former Coffee City mayor wanted for record tampering

LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that Seth Estes Vanover, aged 52 of Diana, has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan to a period of 12 years and 11 months in federal prison. Additionally, Vanover has been mandated to undergo a 15-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and surrender four phones. In July of 2022, undercover agents began an operation designed to lure people into meeting minors for sexual acts. The FBI arrested Vanover in October of 2022 and he resigned from the police department that same day. His patrol car was searched and a cellphone was found. Procecutors said the device contained, “at least 234 videos and 133 photos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants, toddlers, and other young children.”

HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that six individuals were arrested following the execution of a search warrant at a home in the Tool area of Henderson County. Investigators reportedly discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, a shotgun, an ATV that had been reported as stolen from Parker County, and stolen credit cards. Among the arrested were:
-Robert Hogue – Arrested for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana
-Thad Love – Arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, fraudulent possession identifying information
-Robert Chewning – Arrested for possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon
-Ralph Brown – Arrested for possession of marijuana
They were brought to the Henderson County Jail and are currently waiting for their arraignment.

TYLER – The Tyler solid waste department in association with Keep Tyler Beautiful is providing two Christmas tree drop off locations for those in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the drop off locations will be at Golden Road Park and Fun Forest Park. Those dropping off trees are asked that the tree be non-flocked, not decorated, natural Christmas trees. The city asks that all lights, ornaments, tinsel and garland be removed as well.
Continue reading Tyler Christmas tree recycling locations

TYLER – In an announcement made on Thursday, UT Health East Texas says patients now have full access to MyChart. Services such as paying bills, scheduling appointments and prescription management are now back online. In the release, UT Health also suggested that users reset their passwords and to still expect some small features to still be unavailable on MyChart.

TYLER — The former Bishop of the Diocese of Tyler Bishop, Joseph Strickland, is speaking out over an historic ruling at the Vatican., our news partner KETK reports. On Monday, in a landmark decision, Pope Francis gave formal approval for priests to bless same-sex couples as long as they do not appear to endorse their marriage. “It’s really the first time that there’s been any sort of opening to blessing same sex couples,” said Father James Martin. Members and supporters of the LGBTQ community and traditional Catholics are both reacting differently to the change. Now, Strickland has shared his reaction to the news. “We really simply need to be a united voice saying ‘no, we will not respond to this, we will not incorporate this into the life of the church,’ because we simply must say no.” Strickland said to LifeSiteNews. Strickland has been critical of the Pope in the past and has kept a low-profile since his removal by the Pope on Nov. 11. Continue reading Former Bishop breaks silence over same-sex couples

LONGVIEW — Our news colleagues at KETK report the Longview PD is investigating a shooting that occurred on Tuesday that injured one person. According to a release, Longview officers responded to a shooting at the Preserve Apartments located at 600 W. Avalon Avenue at around 6:24 p.m. When officers arrived, they reportedly discovered a juvenile male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was reportedly taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Officials said the case is ongoing with detectives still gathering information. The public is asked if they have any information on this case to contact Longview PD at 903-237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP(7867) or online at greggcountycrimestoppers.org.

PRINCETON — Three children have reportedly been abducted in the Princeton area. According to our news partner KETK, an Amber Alert has been issued for 16-year-old Zainab Ali, 5-year-old Umar Ali and 8-year-old Ayesha Ali.
Princeton PD suspects 37-year-old Nazia Ali, the mother of the three, as the person taking them. She was driving a black 2017 Mercedes 300 with a Texas license plate NBV-5334. They say the three children left with Ali, their mother, who does not have the rights to the children because of bond conditions.
Continue reading Amber Alert issued for three kids taken in Princeton

HENDERSON COUNTY– A Henderson County Commissioner’s crew is accused of illegally dumping near the Trinity River. According to our news partner KETK, the Henderson County Fire Marshall received a complaint about County Commissioner Precinct 1 work crews dumping items on the property of the Trinity River Authority. The Trinity River Authority supervises the surface water resources of the Trinity River Basin. Due to the complaint, the Fire Marshall’s office and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality are doing a joint investigation.
Continue reading Henderson County personnel accused of illegal dumping

LONGVIEW – Longview Transit, in partnership with R&K Distributors – Your Local Budweiser Distributor, is preparing to provide a “Safe-Ride-Home” on New Year’s Eve. For the seventeenth consecutive year, Longview Transit will give free rides to anyone within the Longview city limits on New Year’s Eve between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. Rides can be scheduled by calling Longview Transit at 903-753-2287 ext.10. The curb to curb service will be available to any destination within the city limits of Longview. The service is offered to the general public, including individuals that have had a couple of drinks or those that simply do not want to drive that evening. Longview Transit encourages riders to schedule trips in advance, if possible. Advanced reservations will begin December 27, 2023, at, 8 a.m. Continue reading Longview Transit Safe-Ride-Home on New Year’s Eve

TYLER — A man was sentenced to one year in prison for his role in an attempt to sell elephant tusks. According to our news partner KETK, Dusty Caudill was sentenced to one year in prison and three years supervised release on Tuesday for conspiracy to transport wildlife in interstate commerce. Caudill was charged alongside two other men. Their federal indictment claimed Caudill posed with the African elephant tusks in Ardmore, Oklahoma for photo and video recordings to promote the sale of the tusks. Another man then sent three photos and two videos to an undercover United States Fish and Wildlife special agent to negotiate the sale of the tusks. Prosecutors said that the tusks had been stolen in a burglary of a home in Ardmore in late 2020. Continue reading Man sentenced for tusk trafficking scheme

LONGVIEW — In a program that started Tuesday, Longview ISD is awarding more than $7.3 million in incentive pay for achieving teachers,. Some of its highest-performing teachers are projected to receive more than $20,000 extra in their December paychecks. The district noted in a press release that 11 of their classroom teachers will make over $100,000 this year.
Continue reading Longview teachers to get big bonus pay

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler received a $300,000 grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for lab research. According to our news partner KETK, the research is going to be headed by Dr. Shashikant Srivastava, a tenured associate professor for the department of medicine and the department of cellular and molecular biology at UT Tyler School of Medicine.
Continue reading UT Tyler gets cystic fibrosis research grant

TEXARKANA — Our news partners at KETK report that one person is dead after a three vehicle wreck on Monday at 7:20 p.m. in Texarkana. According to a release from the Texarkana Texas Police Department, Linda Reed, 66, died when her car was reportedly struck as she attempted to cross North Stateline Avenue from East 9th Street to Hazel Street. The two other drivers were reportedly driving southbound on Stateline. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, police said.

VAN – A former Van police officer was indicted after an investigation into allegations of official oppression. Santos Rodriguez was indicted on Friday for one count of official oppression. According to our news partner KETK, Van Police Chief Melissa Davis “received information regarding the conduct of an officer” on July 10. After gathering information on the incident, Davis confronted the officer about the allegation. “He immediately resigned from the Van Police Department, and although the complainant requested that the discipline be minimal, all information collected to that point was turned over to the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office by Chief Davis,” according to Van The investigation is ongoing. Official oppression, a Class A Misdemeanor, carries a punishment range of a fine up to $4,000 and/or one year of jail for those found guilty.

SHELBY COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK a 28-year-old woman was arrested after turning herself into authorities on Tuesday. The sheriff reported Sarah Ramon, of Joaquin, was arrested for indecency with a child, sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between educator and student after a lengthy investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation is ongoing, and officials said no further information will be released at this time.

EAST TEXAS — Texas senators are ranked from most liberal to most conservative in a new study. The Texas Tribune bases the rankings on the 31 senators’ votes during this year’s regular session and four special sessions. Among the Republicans, Senator Bryan Hughes (pictured), of Mineola, is ranked as the most conservative. Senator Robert Nichols, of Jacksonville, is the most liberal Republican, but he’s still more conservative than the most conservative Democrat, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, of McAllen. Senator Sarah Eckhardt, of Austin, and Senator Roland Gutierrez, of San Antonio, who is running in the primary next year for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Ted Cruz, are the most liberal Democrats.

TYLER — Nicholas Pet Haven is raising money to buy a transport van that can take some of their animals in Tyler to their partner shelter in Chicago. According to our news partner and Nicholas Pet Haven, their partner shelter has agreed to accept some of their long timers and that will allow Nicholas Pet Haven to help Smith County Animal Control and Tyler AC by taking in some of their urgent pets while they also continue to manage their own strays. Illinois has a mandatory spay and neuter law so they don’t have as many strays as Texas, meaning their shelters sometimes have room to take other state’s dogs. Nicholas Pet Haven said that they’ll easily be able to send their partner all of their puppies and cats and they plan to send a van load of animals every other week once they get the van. Click here to visit Nicholas Pet Haven online.

TYLER – After having its sanctuary closed for nearly a year, Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Tyler reopened their sanctuary Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, on Christmas Eve 2022, a busted water heater flooded the church and the church had to hold services elsewhere. For the Colonial Hills congregation, this has been in the church gymnasium while repairs were being done. Sunday, after 51 weeks, parishioners returned to worship in the cleaned-up and renovated sanctuary.
Continue reading Colonial Hills Baptist Church reopens its sanctuary

LONGVIEW — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said that a man and a woman were injured in shooting on Juanita Road in Longview on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, officials said that around 10:53 a.m. on Sunday, dispatchers got a call from a distraught woman who said she needed help on Juanita Road. During the call, the dispatcher reportedly heard a man’s voice say “no, no” before a struggle happened and the call ended. The dispatcher called back and determined the address where the phone was located. Later they called back a second time and reportedly spoke with an “emotionally distraught” man who stated that he wanted to kill himself before he hung up the call. Continue reading Two injured in Harrison County shooting

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK Tyler Police responded to a shooting in the 3200 block of Copeland Road around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. According to Tyler PD, a man was loading his car onto a trailer when someone on Tech Plaza shot at him. It’s unknown if anyone was injured in the shooting at this time. Tyler PD is continuing to investigate.