KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The NET Health Board of Directors has voted unanimously in favor of a mask requirement for Smith County and the City of Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the order calls for people age two and over to wear a face covering unless they have a medical condition that exempts them, which must be documented by a physician. Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran said he does not plan to issue any orders requiring residents to wear masks in public. “I encourage individuals and businesses to make healthy choices in their daily practices and routines…There is still no need for fear. Our community strength, response and readiness is second to none,” said Moran. While the mask requirement is recommended by NET Health, it will be up to city and county officials to develop, enact, and enforce the mandate.

TYLER — The Texas Rose Festival in Tyler has been canceled for 2020, according to Liz Ballard, Executive Director and Museum Curator at the Texas Rose Festival Association & Tyler Rose Museum. According to our news partner KETK, the festival is expected to return in 2021, but there will be no events in 2020, which would have been the 87th year. Anna Grace Hallmark was crowned this year’s queen in January. Ballard says Hallmark and her court will reign for another year. Continue reading 2020 Rose Festival Cancelled

WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman Louie Gohmert spoke on the House Floor regarding H.R. 51 – Washington, DC Admission Act Friday morning, a bill spearheaded by House Democrats. “It’s amazing to hear people that have been trained in the Constitution disregard it so, but we’re taught at law school the ability to rationalize absolutely anything.” The District One Congressman then told KTBB, “It’s so disingenious they know it’s unconstitutional, but they stand up and argue these things anyway. And not one of them has every been willing to co-sponsor my bill to stop the unfair federal income tax, to the citizens of D.C. That is what should be done, it is so outrageous what they are doing.” Continue reading Gohmert takes on HR51

LONGVIEW — Free COVID-19 testing continues to ramp up in East Texas. On Thursday, Longview announced multiple sites and times that will begin next Tuesday and go through July 7th. Walk-up testing will happen from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with no appointment required and no pre-screening will be conducted. The tests will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those being tested are asked to provide a phone number where they can be reached with results. Continue reading Free coronavirus test announced for next week in Longview

TYLER — The Village Bakery in Tyler has temporarily closed their doors following a positive coronavirus test. The bakehouse has been a Rose City mainstay for over 70 years, but will temporarily close after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. According to the sweet shops social media page, they are taking action steps to have all employees tested and the bakery professionally cleaned. They will not reopen until all of the test results are back, and they can do so safely.

TYLER — The Caldwell Zoo reopened in May, but had limited certain aspects of the park. According to our news partner KETK, the Reptile House has made its return, featuring a new member of the family, ‘Ana the Anaconda.’ Even after reopening, all exhibits were restricted due to social distancing guidelines in enclosed spaces. Guests can now have an up-close view of the newest resident, that weighs in at nearly 70 pounds and is 12 feet in length. For more modifications on the zoo located in Tyler, click the link. https://caldwellzoo.org/.

TYLER — The Tyler Senior Center has closed a second time due to COVID-19. Adriana Rodriguez told KTBB why the center did not open on Thursday. “Monday when we reopened, we found out that the cases in Tyler and Smith County were just going up rapidly. The numbers were just to shocking for us to not do anything. So we decided yesterday afternoon that we would close the Senior Center until further notice.” Continue reading Tyler Senior Center closes due to coronavirus surge

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank has set a restart for its farmers-market style produce distributions. ETFB’s Lauren Barnes told KTBB, “The give-a-ways will start on Friday, and we will continue those distributions the first and third Friday of every month, with the exception of July 3rd for the holiday, from 10 to 12 as well.” The allotments are given out on a first-come first-served basis. Continue reading ETFB starts Farmers-Market style produce distributions Friday

TYLER — The TEA says an increase in COVID-19 cases has forced a delay in final recommendations for the start of school in the fall. TISD Superintendent Marty Crawford, told our news partner KETK, “We are certainly not going to be reckless about it, but I am certainly excited to get back to in-school learning.” Dr. Crawford went on to say, “We are going to make sure we are doing what we can to appropriately distance away from each other, a lot of hand-washing, a lot of re-enforcement day to day about whenever you do sneeze, or cough, were you to do that, into your elbow, wearing masks.”

TYLER — Let’s Talk Tyler will offer a Virtual Town Hall on Thursday. Dr. Pamela Phoenix told KTBB on Wednesday, “This week our focus will be on Millennials. We want to sit down and have a chat and get an understanding from their generations perspective about race and the generational gap between the Millennials and the Baby Boomers, the Millennials and Generation C, Generation D and the Baby Boomers and every other generation twixt in between.” Continue reading Let’s Talk Tyler plans virtual meeting for Thursday night

TYLER — The Foundry Coffee House announced Tuesday, they would be temporarily closing after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. According to our news partner KETK, the popular downtown Tyler coffee shop will be using the time to thoroughly clean the building. The establishment is expected to be closed at least on Wednesday, and will post to their social media with more information about when they will be reopening.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Louie Gohmert shared his thoughts on the Executive Order of President Trump to extend and expand the suspension of certain visas through the end of the year in an interview with Fox’s Lou Dobbs. On Tuesday night Gohmert said, “He’s [Sen. Graham] right when he says it’ll hurt the economy. It will hurt the economy of China, the economy of India – and it will be good for America’s economy. It will be good for the working people who are out of work. It will be good for those who have seen their wages stymied and stagnant over recent years when the Obama Administration was letting people pour in here…” Continue reading Gohmert on Trump’s Executive Order halting foreign worker Visas

ATHENS — The Athens ISD board of trustees has announced Dr. Janie Sims as the lone finalist for superintendent. The board released the decision early Wednesday morning on their social media page. Dr. Sims will be leading the district following the death of Mr. Blake Stiles, who died in May at the age of 45. Stiles had led AISD for 9 years. Sims has been with the district for 20 years and served in a variety of roles including Deputy Superintendent and most recently Acting Superintendent. Sims also brings 26 years of educational experience to the new role.

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank will resume its farmers-market style produce distributions on Friday. The East Texas State Fairgrounds will host the disbursements from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The events will give free produce and fresh items, pending availability, on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no eligibility or ID requirements. Moving forward, the provision allotments will be held on the first and third Friday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with the exception of July 3.

TYLER — A University of Texas at Tyler professor will assist in efforts to send humans back to the moon by 2024. Dr. M. A. Rafe Biswas, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has been named a 2020 NASA Faculty Glenn Fellow. Biswas will help build and design futuristic, renewable fuel cell systems to power spacecrafts for the proposed lunar missions. Biswas has served at U.T. Tyler since 2014.

TYLER — County Commissioner’s in Smith County voted Tuesday, to approve the sale of the third tranche of voter-approved road bonds at an historically low interest rate. The court noted in the release, they had received seven competitive bids. Specialized Public Finance Inc. bid general obligation bonds, and will net the county $7.75 million towards the third year of the first phase of the three-year bond package. Of the 7 bids received, Huntington Securities, Inc. won the bid at a true interest cost of 0.959 percent.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Historical Summer Lecture Series continues on Thursday. Larry Ferguson will speak on “The History of Texas Longhorn Cattle.” Organizers say the story starts in Europe and progressively ends with the cattle drives in the 1880’s. This free lecture will show the quality of the cattle and how they created a culture in society that is still growing. The series continues each Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at the Lacy Crain Exhibit Center, and is limited to 40 guests.

TYLER — The introductory draft of the Smith County Budget for the Fiscal Year 2021 seeks to lower the property tax rate from 34.5 cents per $100 valuation to 33.5 cents. On Tuesday, Judge Nathaniel Moran told KTBB, “You know these are extraordinary times with an economic downturn as a result of COVID-19, and we want to take extraordinary measures to hopefully provide some economic relief to property tax owners in Smith County.” Continue reading County Commissioners hold first fiscal year 2021 budget workshop includes proposal to lower tax rate

TYLER — TISD said in a news brief on Tuesday, they will proceed with the previously approved 20-21 School year calendar. The District has a start date of August 19th, and is planning to end next year on May 26th. District leaders have given consideration to multiple scenarios and factors surrounding COVID-19. The District will attach any missed instructional days, to the end of the calendar, pushing the last day of school past the planned May 26 date. Continue reading Tyler ISD continues with previously approved 20-21 calendar

KILGORE — Kilgore College announced on Tuesday, that 576 students have been recognized for the Spring 2020 President’s and Dean’s list. Students earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average and enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, excluding developmental classes, have been named to the President’s List. Dean’s List honorees achieved at least a 3.5 GPA and were enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, excluding developmental classes.

TYLER – D.P.S. Troopers responded to an overturned truck-tractor semi-trailer on I-20 Monday night, near the city of Marshall in Harrison County. The investigators preliminary report indicates Aundre Brenard Bagley, 35, of Henderson, lost control of the vehicle, entered the median and rolled while in a side skid, and struck a tree. Another vehicle, driven by Marvin Thomas Cureton, 60, of Kilgore was beside the truck and trailer and sustained damage from the towed trailer. Bagley died at the scene. Cureton was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler Police have made an arrest in the Friday night shooting at a South Tyler convenience store. Officers arrived at the City Fuel Express on S.Broadway finding Milburn-Rudee Beam, 32, of Whitehouse, had been shot in the leg. Beam, an employee, was shot while taking the trash out. Sonjay Pgsee, 17, of Tyler, was located and arrested two days later. During his arrest, officers say, Pgsee gave false identification to officers. Pgsee was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, and failure to identify as a fugitive from justice.

TYLER — Tyler City Council meetings will open back to the public starting Wednesday. Adriana Rodriguez tells KTBB, “Wednesday we are going to be opening the council meetings back up to the public. They will still be available on Facebook live, and on-demand after the meeting is over. But, people can also come. We will have a maximum capacity of 22.” Continue reading Tyler City Council meetings to reopen to the public

TYLER — The City of Tyler Beauty and the Box program has added 2 new vinyl-wrapped boxes in their beautification program. In 2016, the program began which takes traffic boxes and covers them with works of art by local artists. The program has grown to 56 total boxes across the city, from the initial start with 10 boxes in the Downtown Business Arts and Culture District. The most recent are at South Beckham Avenue and East Houston Street: Sponsored by Tyler Museum of Art. Artwork is by Courtney Wrenn. Continue reading Beauty and the Box expands in Tyler

TYLER — Tyler Police and the Tyler Fire Department responded to a report Monday, of a naked man on top of a building on Bonner Ave. Officer’s got on the roof after finding a man threatening to jump. Responders say Kenneth Hampton, 21, of Tyler, was in an agitated state. They gave him water and attempted to talk him off the roof. A ladder truck arrived and a Fire Fighter talked Hampton onto the ladder. He was brought down safely and transported to UT Health for a mental evaluation.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are investigating a Saturday morning homicide. According to our news partner KETK, just before 10:30, officers were called to a house on 8th Street for a welfare check and found a deceased male. He was later identified as Llewellyn Williams, 58, of Longview. The preliminary autopsy and evidence at the scene determined Williams’ deaths was a homicide. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Longview Police (903)237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers (903)236-7867.

TYLER — An 8-year-old Lindale girl was killed in a two vehicle wreck on Toll 49 Monday. DPS Troopers responded to the scene on the just south of Hwy-64 W in Smith County around 8:30. The preliminary report indicates that the driver of a 2018 Mazda CX5, Daisy Pineda, 28, of Lindale, was traveling south on Toll 49 at a speed that was unsafe for the roadway conditions. The driver lost control of the vehicle and traveled into the path of a north bound Dodge 2500 pick-up towing a trailer driven by Steven Joseph Worl, 69, of Whitehouse. The vehicles collided causing extensive damage to both. Continue reading Fatal Toll 49 wreck under investigation

TYLER — The debate to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler has resurfaced. According to our news partner KETK, over 75 protestors supporting the change showed up outside Monday night’s board meeting with one goal – to put the topic back on the board’s agenda. Back in 2018, after several months of debate, the motion to change the school’s name was ultimately tabled with no action taken. Continue reading Robert E. Lee High School name change debate resurfaces