KTBB News, Weather, Talk

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office says a man working for a tree service company died after falling out of a tree on Thursday. Authorities say the man was trimming a tree on FM 346 east. According to our news partner KETK, paramedics and deputies were called to the scene around 8:48 a.m. Further details weren’t immediately available.

WELLS — A man has been arrested in Wells following a standoff, and a variety of weapons were discovered, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Officials say officers responded to a home Tuesday in reference to a welfare check and that Emmanuel Muraira threatened to harm children inside if the officers did not leave. The sheriff’s office’s Regional Special Response Team was finally able to arrest Muraira after a long negotiation, according to a news release. Authorities say a search warrant led to seizure of several assault rifles, handguns, shotguns, high capacity magazines, and bulk ammo. Muraira faces charges of interference with public duties, assault on a public servant, and felon in possession of a firearm. Officials say the investigation continues.

TYLER – Last week, The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine received approval for their Doctor of Medicine program from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Earlier this year, the school received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME). These two achievements mean the school has accomplished all of the necessary accreditation milestones to begin instruction, according to a news release. “This is a critical milestone for the School of Medicine,” said Dr. Brigham Willis, Founding Dean of the new School of Medicine, as quoted in the release. “I’m thrilled by the progress we’ve made throughout this past year.” The first class is scheduled to enroll in July 2023.

JACKSONVILLE — Police say a suspect turned himself in Wednesday night in a Jacksonville homicide and was jailed without incident. An arrest warrant had been issued for Tarasian S. Baker (pictured), 26, for capital murder after police received multiple calls in reference to a shooting in the area of Wilkens and Border Streets in Jacksonville on Dec. 20. The bond has been set at one million dollars. The victim has been identified as Anthony L. Miner, 22, of Tyler. According to JPD and our news partner KETK, several calls about gunshots fired came in around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday. Upon arrival, officers found Miner deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. The Texas Rangers and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Special Investigative Unit are assisting with the investigation.

BIG SANDY — An East Texas family is mourning the loss of two dogs they say were poisoned. Brandie Howell, who lives in Big Sandy, says her son went to feed their three dogs last week and found two of them dead. A veterinarian in Gilmer examined them and said they died from rat poisoning. Our news partner KETK reports Mrs. Howell suspects some people who live on nearby property. She says she has heard taunting voices at night calling out the surviving dog and has seen lights in the woods. And as police were taking fingerprints from a bedroom window, she says someone was watching. Big Sandy Police Chief David Easterling says the dogs died from “a pretty decent concentration of strychnine.”

MARSHALL – A Marshall man and former NFL wide receiver was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday for continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14. According to our news partner KETK, Kendrick Starling, 42, was arrested on Feb. 3, 2021, and was held on a $100,000 bond. The trial began Dec. 15. Starling graduated from Marshall High School in 1999 before attending San Jose State University and starting his NFL career with the Houston Texans.

TYLER — A man is in critical condition after a shooting at the Finley apartments on Old Bullard Road in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, police received a call about an aggravated assault in progress around 1:20 Tuesday afternoon. Arriving officers found a man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital and is listed in critical but stable condition. Police are searching for a female suspect. Additional information was not available.

SHERMAN (KRLD) — An East Texas constable indicted on federal charges will probably go on trial next summer. In a hearing on Monday, attorneys for Wood County Precinct 2 Constable Kelly Smith asked for a June 2023 trial date. Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury in Sherman last month on a charge of “deprivation of rights under color of law.” He is accused of unnecessary use of a police dog while arresting a suspect last July, causing needless injury to the man. KLTV television in Tyler reports Smith’s attorney says he was simply doing his job of arresting a violent, uncooperative suspect, and that Smith himself was injured in the incident.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Louie Gohmert has a lot of problems with the spending bill currently before Congress. He tells KTBB Thursday is the tentative target day for a vote, but he’s not overly optimistic. According to Gohmert, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer had said representatives could hope to have 24 hours to review the bill. Gohmert says you can’t effectively review a 4,000-page bill in 24 hours. The East Texas congressman says the measure needs a lot of work — and lawmakers should be prepared to work through the Christmas holiday if necessary. Using the term “slush fund” to describe the bill, Gohmert says, “Let’s give the American people a break” and get the measure “down to something reasonable.” We’ll keep you posted as the bill makes its way through Capitol Hill.

HOUSTON – A Longview man was given four life sentences after being convicted of killing a mother and her three children while driving a vehicle drunk in Houston, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced. According to our news partner KETK, Daniel Canada, 37, was sentenced Dec. 12 after he was convicted of four counts of intoxication manslaughter in a three-week trial. The life sentences will run concurrently. Canada was visiting Houston and was driving around 100 mph on FM 2920 when he crashed into the car driven by 28-year-old Porsha Branch in March 2021. Authorities said his blood alcohol level was 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit, and his blood test also showed marijuana and Xanax. Branch’s sedan burst into flames in a seven-car pileup, instantly killing Branch and three of her sons, ages seven years, two years, and five months. Canada survived the crash with minor injuries.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College marks 30 years of offering an associate degree in health information technology (HIT). According to a news release, the degree program ensures that the region’s healthcare institutions are equipped with carefully trained staff. “It’s a very responsible, detail-oriented position,” said Charlotte Creason, the founding professor of the TJC program that began in 1992, as quoted in the release. Creason retired in 2011 to re-enter the profession. “I always told students that if they wanted a career in healthcare, but maybe direct patient contact wasn’t for them, this was a great opportunity,” she said. HIT professionals ensure the accuracy, accessibility, quality and security of patient health records, and they are vital to the daily operations management of health information and electronic medical records, according to the release. Continue reading TJC HIT program celebrates 30 years

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has recently announced its partnership in UT System’s Grow with Google initiative that will make Google Career Certifications available to students across eight UT System academic institutions. UT System’s announcement earlier this month marks Google’s largest university partnership to date, according to a news release. Through this initiative and with the support of the Coursera platform, UT System institutions, including UT Tyler, will embed the certificates into undergraduate degree programs and co-curricular experiences at no additional cost to students. Continue reading UT Tyler announces partnership in UT System’s Grow with Google initiative

SMITH COUNTY — There were no major injuries after two crashes on I-20 east of Lindale on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the first crash involved seven vehicles. A vehicle tried to take the ramp onto I-20, then an 18-wheeler behind it tried to avoid hitting the car and swerved, DPS said. The 18-wheeler overturned as a result. Six other cars crashed into each other to avoid the 18-wheeler, officials said. There was a separate crash on I-20 involving four other vehicles, according to DPS. This included two truck-tractors, a truck pulling a trailer, and another vehicle.

LONGVIEW — Longview police continue to investigate two weekend homicides. On December 17 at approximately 9:23 a.m., officers responded to a Texas Street location regarding an assault that had just occurred. They found the body of 52-year-old Juan Hernandez-Rodriguez of Longview and quickly identified and detained a juvenile suspect. The suspect was transported and booked into the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center. On December 18 at approximately 11:48 p.m., officers responded to a shooting at the Churchill of Longview Apartments on East Whaley. Officers located a man with apparent gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The victim was identified as 19-year-old Codie Polk of Longview. There was no immediate word on a suspect. Click here for more information.

TYLER — Tyler police say a suspect has turned himself in following an early Monday morning shooting as they continue to investigate the incident. Officers were called to Sherwood Street around 12:45 following a report of gunshots. Upon arrival, authorities say they found a juvenile male who had been shot multiple times. He was transported to a local hospital where he is stable but in critical condition. An arrest warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was issued for 18-year-old Jakobe Deandre Lacy of Tyler, with a bond of $500,000. Police say Lacy has been jailed after surrendering without incident.

TYLER – With only a few days left before Christmas, The Salvation Army in Tyler finds itself falling behind its red kettle goal for 2022. The annual Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army’s primary fundraiser of the year. This year’s goal is $385,000, and as of Monday, only 60 per cent of that goal had been reached. The Salvation Army encourages you to give, with bell ringers staying out through Christmas Eve. And don’t forget the virtual kettle option. Along with donors, volunteer bell ringers are also sought. Click here or here for more information.

LONGVIEW — Beginning in early 2023, TxDOT and contractor crews will begin construction of a new bridge on High Street in Longview. The construction will require a change in traffic in the area. Traffic will travel in both directions on only one side of the bridge while demolition and construction are underway on the opposite side. Traffic flow will then switch to the other side so the project can be completed. The project is scheduled to last approximately two years. Signs warning motorists of the construction project will be put into place before the construction begins. The work will be done just south of Nelson Street, with the bridge crossing over the Union Pacific railroad tracks.

TYLER — TxDOT schedules another week’s worth of roadwork in the Tyler District for the week of December 19. In Gregg County, Longview maintenance will perform mobile operations to patch potholes on various roadways throughout the county. Also, crews will be working on erosion control throughout the county. In Smith County, Tyler maintenance will have a base failure crew on FM 16 west, before the SH 155 intersection. When complete, the crew will move to FM 206 near the intersection of SP 364, to perform base repair. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic in all of the aforementioned cases. Click here for the complete rundown of roadwork around the district.

LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, a five-vehicle crash Friday on Longview’s East Hawkins Parkway also involved a school bus. Authorities said three persons went to the hospital for treatment, but none of the students sustained injuries. Officials with Longview ISD were especially thankful for the the bus monitor, whose actions at the scene of the accident were praised by first responders.

KILGORE – The Kilgore Police department says a Kilgore off-duty police officer was no-billed after a fatal shooting at a Longview emergency room. According to our news partner KETK, authorities said a 61-year-old man died Nov. 27 after he allegedly pulled a gun on Sgt. Joshua Vercher and threatened him Vercher had a security job at Hospitality ER, and the altercation broke out in the parking lot around 9 p.m. “As the struggle intensified the officer pulled his weapon and fired in an attempt to stop the aggression, striking the suspect,” officials said in a prepared statement. “Immediately following the shooting the officer summoned ER staff who attempted life-saving measures.” Continue reading Kilgore off-duty officer no-billed after fatal shooting at Longview ER

LONGVIEW – CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System President and CEO Todd Hancock has been named Longview’s 2022 Distinguished Citizen by the East Texas Area Council Boy Scouts. The honor was presented in a ceremony at Pinecrest Country Club. According to a news release, it came in recognition of Hancock’s leadership, community service, and charitable conviction. The Scouts praised what they termed Hancock’s leadership and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scouts also pointed to Hancock’s support of their organization and others, such as Greater Longview United Way, Longview 20/20, and the Chamber of Commerce. Hancock said CHRISTUS and the Scouts share many of the same values.

TYLER – A Jacksonville man was sentenced to three years in prison for the lesser charge of aggravated assault after being arrested for murder in connection to the 2021 shooting at a Tyler daiquiri shop. According to our news partner KETK, Dycorrian Lofton, 24, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Dec. 9. He turned himself in to Tyler police in July 2021 after a warrant for his arrest was issued. The shooting left one woman dead and two others injured. Police in 2021 said a fight in the parking lot started the shooting and that more than 50 shots were fired in total. Jaderick Willis, 23, of Jacksonville, was injured in the shooting and originally listed as a victim by police. He has since been charged with murder and was booked into Smith County Jail on July 2, 2021. Continue reading Jacksonville man gets three years in Tyler daiquiri shop shooting

TYLER — After more than four decades of service to the people of Smith County, Judge Jack Skeen Jr. is retiring. According to our news partner KETK, for his retirement party on Thursday, Skeen was surrounded by the people he’s been around since 1971. That’s when he first started to work for the county as an assistant district attorney. In 1982, Skeen was elected to be the Smith County District Attorney. During his time on the bench the judge became an ally to local law enforcement, who he worked with side by side for many years, including his friend Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith. Skeen also served as Tyler’s first full-time city attorney and as a judge for municipal court. Continue reading Judge Skeen retires after 40 years of service

SMITH COUNTY — One man was shot and injured in Smith County on Thursday, said the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. According to our news partner KETK, the shooting happened on CR 1145. The victim was taken in a private vehicle to a Dairy Queen on Highway 31 West and FM 2661 and then transported in an ambulance to a local hospital. Officials said the man’s injuries were non-life threatening. Deputies were on their way to the hospital around 6 p.m. to investigate the incident. The sheriff’s office said they are trying to identify who shot the man.

LONGVIEW — Community organizers and the City of Longview will host a variety of events from Friday, Jan. 13, to Monday, Jan. 16, to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Celebrations will kick off with an opening reception and jazz concert featuring Mack Guice and Low D starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13, at the Longview Community Center. A parade will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, followed by a community festival. Saturday will also include a Humanitarian Award Celebration. On Monday, Jan. 16, residents are invited to participate at 11 a.m. in a march from Broughton Park to Mt. Olive Baptist Church, where officials say a Memorial Service will be held at noon honoring Dr. King’s legacy of social justice. Click here for all the details.

LONGVIEW — Longview ISD is awarding more than $5.1 million in incentive pay for achieving teachers, with a few of the very highest-performing teachers projected to receive more than $30,000 extra in their December paychecks, according to a school district news release. “We’re thrilled with the excellent progress all our teachers and staff are making with students across the entire district,” said district Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox, as quoted in the release. Wilcox said the goal of the district in starting the program was to maintain the most successful and effective teachers in the regular classroom. Incentive bonus distribution will come in “lump sum” disbursement beginning Friday, Dec. 16. Click here for more details.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to execute three contracts for sanitary sewer system rehabilitation projects. A contract was approved for the rehabilitation and repair of 242 sanitary sewer manholes and 171 sanitary sewer cleanouts. Additionally, the Council approved a contract to repair four creek crossings and seven sanitary sewer line point repairs with new sewer lines, manholes, and appurtenances. Finally, the City Council approved a contract for the design of two sewer line projects to increase capacity in 5.3 miles of sewer line in the collection system. It’s all being done under a 2017 consent decree with the EPA to address what’s termed the city’s aging wastewater collection system and resulting discharges. Click here for more information.

TYLER — The City of Tyler said they are working to fully open a busy intersection after a sinkhole opened up nearly two weeks ago. According to our news partner KETK, the sinkhole that appeared on Rice Road has been patched, but it’s a temporary fix to allow for the heavy holiday shopping traffic. The city is also working on a short-term solution to open up Old Bullard Road, which remains closed. The initial sinkhole was caused by a hole in the storm drain and revealed several problems with old pipes, sewers and manholes in the area. “That pipe all along Old Bullard is very old clay sewer pipe….and connect with our pvc pipe has been difficult,” said Kate Dietz, the Director of Utilities for the city of Tyler. Continue reading City of Tyler working to reopen Old Bullard Road

HARRISON COUNTY — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is reporting storm damage in the southeastern portion of the county after a tornado touched down in the area late Tuesday afternoon, according to our news partner KETK. “It sounded like a freight train, you know, like a convoy, a bunch of trucks,” Nickie Fitzgerald said of the tornado that damaged her home. “I was warning my other family and I got in the house and it came through the woods, it was snapping trees, and then I got in the house and it all hit.” No one was injured, but Fitzgerald said it “looks like a war zone out here.” Continue reading Widespread damage reported in Elysian Fields after tornado touchdown