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MARSHALL – An illegal immigrant from Mexico has been sentenced to prison in Marshall for the death of his girlfriends little girl in 2015. In a plea agreement, Jose Luis Casiano-Aburto, 31, pleaded guilty to the death of 2-year-old Yeli Madalyn Jimenez. State District Judge Brad Morin, who accepted the plea agreement Wednesday, sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Casiano-Aburto was arrested in the case in Mexico in December 2013. He was then extradited back to Harrison County.

LONGVIEW – A Longview burglary suspect has been arrested fleeing the scene of the crime. Just before 2:00 Wednesday morning, officers responded to a reported commercial burglary on East Highland Avenue. They were told an employee had chased the suspect from the building. When officers found the suspect nearby, he started to run. After a short chase they arrested Lauro Palencia Sanchez, 21, of Longview. He was arrested for burglary of a building, evading arrest, giving false identification and a class C misdemeanor warrant. He’s in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $12,500.

TYLER – Only one suspect remains at large in connection with a social media robbery in Tyler. They are accused of robbing a person they contacted by way of the social media to buy a car. When the victim arrived, they pulled firearms and robbed him. 21 year old Keelan Rashod Smith has been arrested by the US Marshal’s Service Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force following a Crimestoppers tip. Previously arrested were 21 year old Harley Dee Linton and 22 year old Kendrick Shaun Warfield. Authorities are still looking for Terryaun Lamar Rodgers, 22. Continue reading Tyler Robbery Suspect Busted

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith says a former law enforcement officer and his wife are on the run as they face charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and tampering with physical evidence. 41-year-old Angela Elaine Crocker is believed to be traveling with Johnny Crocker, who Smith says should be considered armed and dangerous. According to Smith, statements have been made by the Crockers that they “will not be taken alive.” He says Angela Crocker is known to drive a gold 2010 Subaru Outback. She’s described as 5’8″ in height, 180 pounds, with hazel eyes and brown hair. Contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600 with any information.

TYLER — New life is on the way for the old New York Store in downtown Tyler, a favorite of shoppers in years gone by. Hearts designed by local residents covered the building this week — a so-called “heart bomb” aimed at showing love for the space. And starting this summer, the building will be transformed into eight apartment lofts. During a Valentine’s Day announcement, new owner John O’Sullivan told KETK he plans to maintain some of the building’s history during the renovation process. “We’ll go in with an engineered structure but at the same time save every beam — and we’ll probably convert some of these huge beams into brand new late 1800s flooring.” O’Sullivan has renovated other downtown properties including Rick’s on the Square. The apartments are expected to be move-in-ready by summer of 2018.

LONGVIEW – As part of Thursday’s Law As a Career Day at Longview’s LeTourneau University, members of the Texas Supreme Court will be on campus. The court will hear oral arguments in a case concerning inheritance law and medical malpractice. This will give you a chance to see first hand how the highest court in the state for civil appeals operates. The oral arguments will be followed by a public question-and-answer time. Doors open at 8:00am, a full hour before oral arguments begin. Those planning to attend are asked to arrive at least 45 minutes early to pass security screening. Activities will continue at 11:00 with a Legal Career Fair. These activities will be held in the Belcher Center on the LeTourneau campus.

TYLER — An East Texas man is behind bars after being arrested for sexual assault of a child. According to KETK, Michael Moore, 48, Murchison, was arrested in Smith County by the United States Marshal Service around 6:15 Tuesday night. The arrest warrant for Moore was issued out of Kaufman. Moore was booked into the Smith County Jail on $250,000 bond.

LONGVIEW – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a toddler. The youngster died just outside of Longview at a mobile home park on Whitehurst Drive. Sheriff’s department Lt. Floyd Duncan told the Longview News Journal that the initial report was that two 18-month-old twins were sleeping together when one child rolled on top of the other, smothering him. The youngster’s body has been sent to a Tyler lab for autopsy.

LAKEPORT – A Hallsville woman, Sarah Coomes Armstrong, 41, has been killed in a one vehicle accident in Rusk County. The accident happened shortly before 4:30 Tuesday morning south of Lakeport on County Road 2121. The Department of Public Safety reports the victim’s SUV was heading southeast when she left the road on a curve. The vehicle hit an embankment and then rolled. The driver was partially ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER – Tyler police are asking your help in locating two robbery suspects. Officers are looking for Terryaun Lamar Rodgers, 22, and Keelan Rashod Smith, 21. The men are said to have posted on social media a vehicle for sale. The victim made contact with the suspects and agreed to meet them at 3:00am in Tyler to complete the sale. When the victim arrived, the suspects pulled firearms and took the victim’s money. Continue reading Tyler Robbery Suspects Sought

TYLER – Tyler Junior College Director of Bands Jeremy Strickland has been elected to membership in Phi Beta Mu, an international school bandmaster fraternity. It is an honorary fraternity with about 350 active members in Texas, with additional chapters in most of the 50 states as well as Canada, Japan and Europe. To be considered for membership in Phi Beta Mu, prospective members must have at least 10 years of successful teaching experience and must have produced and maintained an outstanding and consistent band program in the public schools. Strickland was named TJC director of bands in 2015. The TJC band program consists of: Apache Band (marching band), three concert bands, two jazz ensembles, jazz combo, two percussion ensembles and indoor drumline. Before joining TJC, Strickland was assistant director of bands at Texas Christian University and had served as both assistant and head band director at Springtown High School.

LONGVIEW – Longview police say a woman found dead over the weekend was murdered. Investigators say, now that autopsy results are in, the death of Ivory Wilson, 57, Longview, is a homicide. Late Sunday afternoon, officers were sent to a welfare check on Avalon Avenue. They were told that no one had been able to get in touch with the resident of the apartment for several days. Wilson’s body was found inside.

MINEOLA – The Mineola School Board has approved a $41 million school bond referendum, which will go to voters on May 6th. The bond package provides for a new High School including a Performing Arts Center and Career and Technical Education classrooms. The action follows a multi-year long range facility plan developed by local parents, staff, business and community members over the course of the past year. It started with the Strategic Planning Committee in January 2016. Continue reading A School Bond Issue for Mineola

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — A plant in Fort Smith that makes residential heating and cooling equipment is set to shut down this year, leaving 250 employees out of work. Trane announced Monday that it is shifting production of its residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning manufacturing from Fort Smith to plants in Lynn Haven, Florida; Columbia, South Carolina; Vidalia, Georgia; and Tyler, Texas. The company will still operate its plant in Fort Smith that makes HVAC equipment for commercial use. Trane is owned by Ingersoll Rand. A company spokeswoman says the transfer of work from the residential plant will occur in phases and is expected to be complete by this summer.

TYLER — Tyler Police arrested a Gilmer man following an aggravated robbery at the Texaco, 2700 East Fifth Street. Around 8:35 Monday night, officers received a report of an armed robbery by a white male wearing blue latex gloves and a hospital mask. The suspect, later identified as Jason Adams, left the scene in a white Toyota Tundra. Witnesses followed the vehicle until officers were able to initiate a traffic stop at the Valero station, 1301 W SW Loop 323. During a search of the vehicle, officers found gloves, a mask and what was determined to be two toy handguns. Adams was booked into the Smith County Jail on a charge of aggravated robbery.

TYLER – Tyler school trustees have approved putting a bond package before voters on May 6th. School trustees unanimously approved the measure at a Monday night meeting. The $198 million bond proposal would fund renovations for John Tyler and Robert E Lee High Schools. Even though John Tyler was 95% rebuilt in 1981, by today’s standards, it is still outdated. Under the proposal, students will no longer have to walk out in the open from building to building between classes. At Lee, the campus will be nearly totally rebuilt and the campus pushed southward. The only buildings to remain will be the auditorium, varsity gym and the field house. The bond proposal would raise the tax rate for a home valued at $155,000 by $39.00 a year.

TYLER – A former pharmaceutical benefits manager has pleaded guilty in federal court in Tyler to engaging in illegal kickbacks in East Texas. Douglas M. Pick, 57, of Omaha, Nebraska, pleaded guilty Monday to making unlawful kickback payments before United States Magistrate Judge John D. Love. At sentencing, Pick faces up to three years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. Continue reading Illegal Pharmaceutical Scheme Has Tyler Connection

PALESTINE – A Palestine shooting remains under investigation. It happened shortly before 6:45 Sunday evening as officers were sent to the intersection of South Jackson and Dye Streets on reports of shots being fired. Several witnesses told officers the shooting occurred on South Jackson Street. The victim was later found at Palestine Regional Medical Center where he was being treated for a gunshot wound to his arm. The shooting remains under investigation and more information will be released at a later date.

LONGVIEW – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division continues its investigation into a Friday death. The death is that of Jerry Wayne Milam, 51. He was said to have fallen from a moving vehicle around 2:30 Friday afternoon. Arriving EMS personnel said Milam was dead at the scene. The accident happened on State Highway 42, south of the Sabine River. The vehicle he was in stayed on the scene and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division has identified and interviewed all occupants of that vehicle. Sheriff’s department Public Information Officer Joshua Tubb says this remains an active investigation and at this time there is no other information they can release.

TYLER – Jury duty in Smith County on Wednesday has been cancelled. Smith County residents who were planning to report for jury duty Wednesday with their yellow cards don’t have to make the trip to the courthouse. No new panels will be needed on Wednesday. Smith County Jury Coordinator Lisa Bennett said, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court on Wednesday, you must still report. This cancellation for jury duty is Wednesday only. Jury duty is scheduled, as usual, for Tuesday.

TYLER – Tyler police are reporting traffic lights are out at Front and Glenwood and Front and Lyons. It was caused by a tree falling on power lines. Police spokesman Don Martin says it’s possible the signals may be out for several hours. Power lines crews are are assessing the damage and will then start the repairs.

TYLER – There was a small fire in the kitchen area of The Met in the University Center at the University of Texas at Tyler. The building was evacuated for about 45 minutes. At last report, the Met remained closed. Hannah Buchanan at the university said the fire was quickly contained and extinguished, but it set off the sprinklers and the smoke alarm. There were no injuries. Water damage was contained to back of The Met. Environmental Health and Safety at the school is currently waiting on the health department to come and authorize them to open The Met.

SMITH COUNTY – One westbound lane of Interstate Highway 20 west of Hideaway Lake has been reopened following a truck fire. The truck is near State Highway 110. KETK reports the truck was hauling vehicles. There is no report of injuries. The initial word is the fire started from a tire or a bearing on the truck.

KILGORE – The new deputy director of Kilgore College’s East Texas Police Academy in Kilgore is Dan Reigstad. Reigstad began his career in law enforcement in 1992 with the Longview Police Department after serving almost nine years in combat and combat training units in the U.S. Army. Reigstad retired from LPD in 2015 with more than 20 years of experience processing crime scenes throughout East Texas. He began as a part-time Instructor with the ETPA in 2002 and became a full-time Instructor in 2015. Continue reading New Deputy Director of KC’s East Texas Police Academy

TYLER – Tyler school trustees have a called a meeting tonight. The executive session is at 6:00 and the open session at 7:00 deals with a proposed bond election. The discussion centers around $198 million in renovations for John Tyler and Robert E Lee High Schools. Even though John Tyler was 95% rebuilt in 1981, by today’s standards, it is still outdated. Under the proposal, students will no longer have to walk out in the open from building to building between classes. At Lee, the campus will be nearly totally rebuilt and the campus pushed southward. The only buildings to remain will be the auditorium, varsity gym and the field house. If approved tonight, it will go to the voters May 6th.

GREGG COUNTY — Longview Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a woman’s death. Officers were dispatched to a Check Welfare call in the 600 Block of Avalon Avenue Sunday evening. According to KETK, the officers were told that no one had been able to get in touch with the resident of the apartment for several days. The body of Ivory Wilson, 57, Longview was found inside the apartment. Police are investigating Wilson’s death as suspicious.

SMITH COUNTY — One student was taken to the hospital for evaluation following a Whitehouse ISD school bus accident. According to KETK, it happened Monday morning around 7:30 when school bus 022 reportedly clipped an unoccupied, parked car while turning around. One student complained of back pain. They were assessed by EMS and taken to the hospital for further evaluation. There were no other injuries reported and the remaining students were taken to school.

LONGVIEW – Some Longview residents are making efforts to fight local gang activity, with a city department helping lead the charge. KETK reports Lyndell McAllister is the Mentoring and Bridges program director under the auspices of the city’s Partners in Prevention initiative. “If we’re gonna do prevention we’re particularly thinking about elementary and middle school,” says McAllister. “By high school students have figured out which way they’re gonna go.” The program offers mentorship and a new initiative, “Hope for Youth,” aimed at keeping children involved in positive activities. Continue reading Longview Residents Address Gang Problem

HAWKINS — A trustee of Jesus Christ Open Altar Church in Hawkins says the city is wasting taxpayer dollars on a lawsuit over the “Jesus Welcomes You To Hawkins” sign. Mark McDonald claims the city has spent more than $50,000 suing the church to have the controversial sign removed. McDonald says he’s started a petition to help gain support for the city to drop the lawsuit and to protect religious rights. Continue reading Jesus Sign Controversy Continues in Hawkins

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the Tyler TxDOT district during the Week of February 13, 2017. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

In Tyler, motorists are encouraged to avoid the Loop 323 project at SH 31 with nighttime demolition operations being implemented at 7 p.m. Sunday, February 12, to remove the shoofly bridge. The work will cause major delays with traffic being moved for safety purposes to the alternate lanes of where work is occurring. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update