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UPDATE: Nine local fire departments worked together to contain a 13-acre pasture fire Sunday evening and two structures were saved, Elderville-Lakeport Volunteer Fire Department said.

“We ask that you use extreme caution when burning outdoors,” officials said. “The relative humidity will be low for the next few days, and fires will grow rapidly with the wind.”

Elderville-Lakeport VFD said it took over two hours to contain the fire.

Rusk County Commissioners had discussed a burn ban for the county but decided that the weather doesn’t require that right now. Continue reading Several fire departments contain 13-acre pasture fire

TYLER – Two adults and a juvenile have been taken into custody for capital murder after a man’s dead body was found in the trunk of a burning vehicle in Turnertown on Sept. 1. At a press conference on Saturday, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith and Rusk County Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez, described how the body of Kameron Montre Anderson, a 20-year-old Black male from Bedford, was found in the back of his own car after he’d been shot and killed.

According to our news partner KETK, Anderson was shot at a home near Troup on County Road 2163. He was then put in the trunk of his own car, which was then driven to Turnertown in Rusk County and burned with an accelerant.

An investigation by Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers determined that Nathaniel Hall, 18 of Troup, was a suspect. Hall was arrested by the Tyler Police Department on Wednesday after a traffic stop in which a stolen 9mm handgun and an AR15 were reportedly found. Continue reading Three in custody after dead body found in trunk of burning car

UPDATE: The Longview Police Department said that Creer has been found safe.

LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Police Department is searching for an 85-year-old Black woman who was reported missing on Saturday. Gracie Creer, 85 of Longview, is 5’7″ tall, weighs around 100 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Creer was last seen near Toler Road at 1 p.m. on Saturday while wearing a black jacket, dark pants and a black wrap around her head.

She was last seen driving a silver Dodge Journey with the Texas license plate RXV4402 and a dented front left fender.

Anyone who’s seen her is asked to contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199.

KILGORE – Our news partners at KETK report that Kilgore-native and Oscar winning songwriter Will Jennings died at 80-years-old in Tyler on Friday. Jennings, who co-wrote Celine Delion’s Oscar winning song “My Heart Will Go On” from “Titanic”, was at his home in Tyler when he died on Friday morning. No immediate cause of death was reported but his health was declining for several years. The 2006 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee attended both Tyler Junior College and Stephen F. Austin State University.

PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department is searching for three people after several different kinds of drugs were found in a local residence. According to our news partner KETK, on Aug. 29, 51-year-old Jerryl Mims Sr, was arrested by officers at his home on Texas Avenue. Mims was reportedly clutching a bag of suspected methamphetamines and had another bag of suspected methamphetamine in the seat of his vehicle. Palestine PD said he had over 13 grams of methamphetamine. Continue reading Palestine PD looking for three people on drug and distribution charges

TEXARKANA – Our news partners at KETK report a 38-year-old man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after Texarkana police said he ran away from a four-vehicle crash that he caused. According to the police department, Frederick Duckett, 38 of Texarkana, caused a crash on W. 7th Street and Jarvis Parkway and then took off running. An official, who was there when the crash happened, caught up to him and took him into custody, the Texarkana Police Department said. TPD said Duckett claimed he could not use his legs or move his body, “despite having just ran more than a quarter mile moments before.” Duckett was medically cleared at a hospital and was then taken to the Bi-State Jail. Texarkana police said one of the drivers involved in the four-vehicle crash was injured, therefore Duckett is facing a felony charge. Duckett is being held on a $15,000 bond for collision involving injury.

MORRIS COUNTY — Omaha police are searching for a man who has not been seen since mid-August and are asking the public for assistance in locating him. According to our news partner KETK, Dustin Perkins was last seen Aug. 15 in Naples, Texas. Perkins is approximately 6 feet tall and about 175 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans. Officials in Omaha said that with information on Perkins, to call the Omaha Police 903-844-2305 or the Morris County Sheriff’s Office at 903-645-2232.

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Police Department said that a pedestrian is dead after being hit by a train at the crossing on North Gillespie Avenue on Friday according to our news partners at KETK. According to Jacksonville PD, the crash happened in 100 block of North Gillespie Avenue near Highway 79 at around 11:01 a.m. when the pedestrian was walking in front of the train. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and officials are notifying his family members. The railroad crossing has reopened to traffic, Jacksonville PD said.

LINDALE – The Lindale News & Times recently announced that the newspaper is closing down after 124 years of covering the area. According to our news partner KETK, the paper’s publisher says that the paper lost money for five years straight before it was decided to shut it down.

Jim Bardwell, the paper’s publisher, said that much of the advertising for Lindale’s small businesses has moved into print magazines and social media platforms like Facebook. Decline in local news outlets is accelerating despite efforts to help. The shift to online advertising led the paper to launch a digital version which ended up having more subscribers than their physical newspapers but even that wasn’t enough, according to Bardwell.

“That’s why we also have a digital version of the paper each week. And we have many digital subscribers. Actually many more than print subscribers. The cost is the same, but they get their news much quicker. But again – no ad revenue means no newspaper,” said Bardwell.

Any Lindale News & Times subscribers who would like a refund for the remaining time on their subscriptions are asked to email [email protected] with their name, address and phone number.

HAWKINS – Hawkins ISD Superintendent Susan Morton was arrested for driving while intoxicated in La Marque, Texas on Aug. 23. According to our news partner KETK, Morton was arrested by the La Marque Police Department after a “minor accident” which happened in the 2400 block of Gulf Freeway at around 7:49 p.m. in La Marque. According to a La Marque PD arrest report, there were three vehicles involved in the crash a 2005 Ford Explorer, a 2018 Kia Forte and Morton’s 2023 Ford F-150.

Morton was then booked into the Galveston County Jail for charges of driving while intoxicated and collision involving damage to a vehicle less than $200.

Hawkins ISD Board President Blake Warren released the following statement when asked about Morton’s arrest: “Due to state confidentiality laws, Hawkins ISD cannot comment on this personnel matter or release any information at this time.”

Morton was still listed as Superintendent of Schools on Hawkins ISD’s website, as of Thursday evening.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – A bridge demolition will cause all I-20 lanes at FM 859 near Canton to close over the weekend, TxDOT said. According to TxDOT, the demolition is expected to begin on Saturday night and end Sunday morning. “Traffic will be diverted to the frontage roads using the FM 859 exit ramps, which will travel past FM 859 and re-enter I-20 using the FM 859 entrance ramps. Motorists should use caution when traveling through the work zone and expect delays,” TxDOT said in a statement. In place of the existing bridge that is set to be demolished, TxDOT said a new bridge is expected to be completed by March 2025.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler is ranked in the top 500 nationwide by the Wall Street Journal as noted on the publication’s America’s Best Colleges for 2025 list. The ranking aims to guide prospective students across the nation while recognizing the colleges doing an outstanding job in higher education. Continue reading UT Tyler ranked among America’s Best Colleges by Wall Street Journal

PANOLA COUNTY — An East Texas student was arrested on Wednesday after a loaded .38 caliber handgun was found in their vehicle in the school’s parking lot, according to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office.The sheriff’s office said Panola Charter High School notified them at around 9:30 a.m. that a firearm was found in a students vehicle on campus. Deputies say the 17-year-old student was overheard talking about having a gun in his vehicle.

“During a subsequent search by school staff, a loaded .38 caliber handgun was recovered,” according to the report from the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office said the student was taken into custody for possession of a firearm in a prohibited location and was taken to the Panola County Detention Center. ‘We have no reason to believe that this incident was related to any school-related threat,” PCSO said. “Upon review of the situation we have no reason to believe that any specific student or campus was targeted.” Continue reading Student arrested after loaded gun found on campus

HOPKINS COUNTY – Three suspects have been identified in connection to the overdose death of a 16-year-old girl, the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office said. According to our news partner KETK, a death investigation began on July 17 when a 16-year-old girl reportedly overdosed. “The toxicology report showed a newer synthetic drug found in her blood stream called N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene,” the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office said. “This drug is 25 times more potent than fentanyl.”

According to the release, they were able to identify the person who supplied the pills to the victim.

“At this time three suspects have been identified and the investigation is still ongoing,” the sheriff’s office said.

TYLER – The East Texas community is mourning fallen Dallas Police officer Darron Burks, who was a Tyler Junior College alum and was killed Thursday while on duty. According to NBCDFW, the 46-year-old Burks was sitting in his car when he was shot by a 30-year-old man who also shot two other officers.

Before becoming a police officer, Burks was a teacher. Prior to becoming a teacher, the TJC Alumni Association said Burks was an alum and member of the Minority Student Association. Burk also attended Dallas College. And was a graduate of Paul Quinn College.

The Dallas Police Department said in a statement, “Officer Burks served with unwavering pride and commitment on the Dallas Police Department until his untimely passing. His bravery, dedication, and selflessness were evident in every aspect of his work, and he was a beacon of hope and security for those he served.”

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Road 3203 reopened Wednesday, after road and bridge crews repaired the washed-out road and replaced the culvert damaged from severe weather in May and June of this year. Smith County has an interactive map that lists all county road closures. You can find that map by clicking here.

UPSHUR COUNTY – After being sentenced to life in prison in 2023, an appeals court upheld the conviction on Friday of a man who murdered and burned the body of a Longview woman according to our news partners at KETK. According to the Upshur County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, 43-year-old Carlton Grant will spend life in prison without parole after a Texarkana appeals court upheld his sentence for the murder of Rachel Rhoads.

The release said Rhoads’ roommate was mutual friends with Grant and his girlfriend. In March 2018, Grant strangled Rhoads with a homemade garrote and a zip tie in her vehicle after she agreed to drive him and his girlfriend home. Afterwards, he and his girlfriend would dispose of Rhoads’ body by dumping it in a utility right-of-way and burning it. Continue reading Appeals court upholds man’s life sentence

TYLER – The annual Tyler Rose Festival Arts and Crafts Fair is returning to Tyler’s Bergfeld Park, 1510 S. College Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Parks Department is now seeking vendors who hand-make and create the items they sell, author books, and sell plants and food items to participate in this annual event. Vendors must apply online through http://www.TylerParksandRec.com. The Fair will feature more than 90 booths offering handcrafted items for sale, including photography, fine and unique jewelry, hand-poured candles, furniture, bath and body products, clothing, pottery, sewing, wreaths and florals, art-mix-media paintings, and more. This will be an excellent event to get a jump-start on holiday shopping, especially for unique, one-of-a-kind gift ideas. Food trucks and live entertainment, including The Johnnie Helm Band and the Tuxedo Catz, will be available on both days. Admission is free. For more information about this event or about becoming a vendor, please contact Debbie Isham at (903) 531-1214.

WOOD COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas mother reportedly died from a cardiac event after being jailed for abusing her toddler, who was found to have severe physical injuries.

According to the sheriff’s office, investigators were notified of a child abuse/neglect case of a 23-month-old toddler girl with injuries that “resulted in an emergency removal from the mother.” The sheriff’s office identified the mother as Tori Huggins who lived with her boyfriend Adam Woods. The toddler was taken to a hospital where they determined she was severely malnourished, dehydrated and had a fractured left forearm that had reportedly been broken for at least two weeks and bruises from head to toe which were in various stages of healing.

The sheriff’s office said the toddler was consuming human feces and candy wrappers as food that caused a blockage in her abdomen. Continue reading Texas mother dies in jail after arrest for abuse of toddler

LONGVIEW — Over Labor Day Weekend, some Longview residents were left without a working car after pumping gas from Murphy USA off Loop 281. According to our news partner KETK, customers have reported cars stalling, stopping or not running at all. Those affected believe they received the wrong type of fuel. Many customers are now left without transportation and are having to find creative ways to get around.

While the gas station remained open, every gas pump was blocked off. Those affected have contacted Murphy USA to start the next steps in making a claim. A Facebook group has been created for those affected by the gas station which includes nearly 200 people. KETK News has reached out to Murphy USA officials who have not commented.

BULLARD – The Bullard Police Department on Tuesday released the names of the woman and two children found dead on Sunday. Officers were dispatched to Guinn Street and FM 344 at around 6:55 p.m. in connection to a shots fired report. According to our news partner KETK,  25-year-old Tatyanna Smith and her two children 4-year-old Madilynn Evans, and 2-year-old Maison Evans were fatally shot. Smith’s eight-month-old also suffered a gunshot wound and remains in the hospital in stable condition. The bodies were taken to the Southwest Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas where investigators are waiting on autopsy results.

Officials said they are in contact with a person of interest, adding that there is no threat to the public.

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said they are looking for 36-yearold Rachel Leigh Potter. According to our news partner KETK, Potter is described as being 5 feet and 9 inches tall, weighing approximately 145 pounds, having brown hair and hazel eyes. Authorities said she was was last seen near the Hiway 80 Rescue Mission in Longview at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday. LPD asks if you have information on Rachel Potter’s location, to call the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199.

AUSTIN – The University of Texas at Tyler’s softball team and their NCAA trophy made a stop Friday at the state’s capitol where they met Gov. Greg Abbott. According to our news partner KETK, Abbott shared to his more than 1.6 million Facebook followers on Monday that the Tyler softball champions visited the capitol and the pleasure it was to meet them. During their visit Friday Gov. Abbott told the team, “Way to make Texas proud.”

This was the second national softball title for UT Tyler. The other was in 2016, with head coach Mike Reed at the helm for both.

NEW SUMMERFIELD – One person was taken into custody at around noon on Tuesday after New Summerfield ISD received threats, the district shared. According to the district, campuses were under lockdown and law enforcement was present after they received an “unverified threat.” “Law enforcement has the caller of the threat in custody in another town,” New Summerfield said. After the person was taken into custody, law enforcement gave the district the all clear to return to their regular schedule.

SMITH COUNTY – On Tuesday, September 3, the Smith County Commissioners Court held another public hearing before adopting the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and Tax Rate. The budget increases the actual tax rate by 1.6967 cents, to a total of 36.4231 cents per $100 valuation. The tax increase is caused by the Courthouse and Parking Garage Bond approved by voters in November 2022, Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said. The balanced proposed budget, which will go into effect on October 1, can be found here: http://www.smith-county.com/government/departments/auditor/financials/adopted-budgets. Continue reading Commissioners adopt proposed budget and tax rate

TYLER – Governor Gregg Abbott said that more than 1 million illegitimate voters have been removed from the state’s voter roll, since the signing of Senate Bill 1 in 2021. Our news partner KETK is reporting that Senator Bryan Hughes, the author of the bill and Tyler’s state senator, said the people who are removed are people that have died, moved away and are non-US citizens. Integrity in Texas elections has been the priority for Senate Bill One over the past two years.

Hughes guaranteed that people are not taken off without reason and there is a process to find out who is ineligible. If the voter has moved, a voter registration card is sent to both addresses on file to confirm their residency, if not they get moved to the suspense list.

Some Democrats believe the changes are going too far. Continue reading Sen. Bryan Hughes discusses Senate Bill 1