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TYLER – A gang member was arrested in Tyler on Thursday after authorities executed a search warrant at his home and found various illegal drugs. According to our news partner KETK, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant was issued at a home on Tenaha Avenue in connection with a search for a wanted gang member, Bryan Mayfield, who was believed to be staying at the house.

Once authorities arrived at the home to issue the search warrant, several people fled from the home and one person was immediately taken into custody. During the search, Mayfield fled into the backyard of a nearby residence, dropping a handgun before unlawfully entering the home. Once inside the home, Mayfield held two people against their will, prompting officers to enter the home and take Mayfield into custody and charge him with two counts of evading arrest and possession of a controlled substance, according to officials.
Continue reading Gang associate jailed for drugs

PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department said a crash that happened on North Loop 256 on Friday has reportedly left at least one person with injuries. According to Palestine PD, the crash happened the intersection of East Palestine Avenue and North Loop 256 at around 3:25 p.m. on Friday. Drivers are asked to use caution when driving through the area as law enforcement responds to the crash.

LONGVIEW – Officials have confirmed that City of Longview employee Buddy Powell died earlier this month during a “workplace accident” when he was hit in the head with a high-pressure water hose. According to our news partner KETK, Gregg County Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace B.H Jameson said, the cause of Powell’s death was determined to be blunt force trauma after being struck by the hose. Powell was pronounced dead at a local hospital following the incident. It is unknown at this time what caused the incident and whether or not negligence was involved in Powell’s death.

LONGVIEW – One person was taken to the hospital following a shooting in Longview on Friday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Longview Police Department officers responded to a call on South High Street and Marion Drive at around 12 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of a shooting. Once on the scene, officers saw several people leaving the area and found a man inside a vehicle who had been shot.

The victim was taken to a hospital for injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, according to officials. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the department at 903-237-199 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867

MARSHALL — Following a week of water outages and reduced pressure due to a major water main break, the City of Marshall is taking steps to strengthen its water infrastructure. According to our news partner KETK, at Thursday’s city council meeting, officials unanimously approved a contract with Smith Pump Company to purchase a solar pump for the raw water pump station. The $356,118 project will add a fourth pump to the system, marking the final step in restoring full pumping capacity.

The decision comes after widespread disruptions tied to a March 17 water main break that forced closures across the community. Marshall ISD canceled classes and many local businesses temporarily closed down as water pressure dropped and outages spread. Continue reading Council approves final pump purchase

TYLER — A Smith County judge denied a motion to lower the bond for Dayton Morgan, who was charged with murder in connection to a fatal road rage shooting earlier this year.

According to our news partner KETK, in Friday’s hearing at the 114th District Judicial Court, a grand jury indicted thee 23-year-old Morgan, of murder for allegedly shooting a man on Feb. 13 during a Tyler road rage incident. Morgan plead not guilty to the charge, the criminal court coordinator Taylor Moss confirmed. Morgan’s bond remains at $1 million, as Smith County Judge Austin Reeve Jackson denied a motion to lower the bond to $100,000.

Morgan was arrested on Feb. 13 after 29-year-old Trevor Julian, died by gunfire in a reported road rage incident. According to an arrest affidavit, a Tesla “stopped abruptly” in front of a pickup Morgan was driving at the intersection of E. Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive. Julian was in the passenger seat of the Tesla, which his wife was driving. Morgan told investigators that he opened his truck door but remained seated as Julian exited the Tesla and approached the truck. The two men began yelling at each other. Continue reading No reduction of bond for road rage

MARSHALL — A Marshall man was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison after using an illegal firearm in a 2024 armed robbery. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of Texas, 20-year-old Jaquallon Tyjuan Hargett was arrested in 2024 after robbing a person of $100 at an ATM in Daingerfield using a pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device. The conversion device, often referred to as a glock switch, can be attached to the rear of a firearm, allowing a semi-automatic weapon to be converted into a fully automatic machine gun.

“This case demonstrates why we cannot, and we will not, allow Glock-switches to proliferate on the streets of East Texas,” U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said. “This sentence, 100 months in prison for robbing $100 from a citizen of our community, shows that crime simply does not pay on our watch. Law enforcement conducted an excellent investigation that led to this criminal being brought to justice. They have my sincere appreciation.”

The Daingerfield Police Department, the Marshall Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Farahnak.

AUSTIN — Less than two months before the May runoff, U.S. Senator John Cornyn has locked down a wave of support, with more than a dozen elected Republican lawmakers lining up behind his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Cornyn edged out Paxton by just 1.2% in the March election, sending the race to a May runoff. Since then, he has added endorsements from 19 more Texas Republicans, including East Texas U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, bringing his total to more than 500 current and former Texas elected officials.

“I’m honored to have the endorsement of many longtime friends in Texas politics, who I have gotten to know during our time in office and with whom I’ve been proud to work,” Cornyn said. “I’ve always worked hard to earn the trust of our elected officials, so we can roll up our sleeves and work together for the betterment of all Texans. I look forward to continuing our important work together upon my re-election to the United States Senate.” Continue reading Moran endorses Cornyn’s Senate bid

BULLARD – The Bullard board of trustees approved a project on Monday to renovate an old middle school into an early childhood campus. The facility is expected to be completed by 2027. The new campus will serve students in pre-K, kindergarten and first grade. Funding for the renovation is provided by a bond measure that voters originally approved in May 2022.

According to our news partner KETK, the decision to repurpose the facility followed a review of student enrollment data and campus capacity by district officials. The Bullard interim superintendent noted that the move was made after evaluating the current space available to accommodate the growing student population. This analysis was conducted to ensure the project meets the district’s long-term facility needs for its youngest learners.

The renovation was included as a component of the school district’s original bond proposal from May 2022. By shifting the former middle school to an early childhood model, the district intends to better manage population distribution across its campuses. The board of trustees finalized the approval for the change during their regular meeting on Monday.

The renovation project is expected to be completed by Aug. 20-27. The district will begin accepting students for the new pre-K, kindergarten and first-grade programs once the facility is ready for the start of the school year.

HENDERSON COUNTY — One man has died and another person injured in a crash early Thursday morning in Henderson County. The Texas Department of Public Safety said law enforcement was called to a single-vehicle crash on rural Henderson County at around 2:06 a.m. According to our news partner KETK, a preliminary investigation revealed that a Chevrolet pickup truck was heading west on FM 317 when the truck approached a left-hand curve at an unsafe speed, left the roadway and hit a tree. The driver, 20-year-old Daniel Rivero, of Athens, was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 19-year-old passenger was transported to a local hospital. DPS said the investigation is ongoing.

SMITH COUNTY – Impacts from the conflict with Iran are reaching East Texas farmers as the prices of fuel and fertilizer are on the rise. According to our news partner KETK, with Iran’s disruption of global shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, costs for key agricultural supplies, diesel fuel used to power delivery trucks, and fertilizer components are becoming hot commodities.

“Delivery is causing everything to go up because everything that comes by rail or trucking,” Smith County Farm Bureau Board Member Malcom Williams said. “Most fertilizers are a petroleum product, so you get that impact immediately.”

Petroleum is found in fuel, some fertilizer and several everyday products. A price jump in the supply chain could hurt customers.
Continue reading Farmers concerned over rising costs

tYLER – Starting this April, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP will no longer allow purchasing candy or drinks with more than 5 grams of sugar or artificial sweetener. 
Items that can no longer be purchased through SNAP next month include:

– Candy
– Soda
– Energy Drinks
– Yogurt and chocolate-covered fruit
– Gum

However, SNAP card shoppers will still be able to purchase electrolyte drinks, coffee creamers and any ingredients on the baking side.
Continue reading New SNAP rules begin next month

SMITH COUNTY – A babysitter was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly committing a series of sexual assaults against a child over five years in Whitehouse. According to our news partner KETK, arrest documents from Smith County revealed that a parent had called the Whitehouse Police Department in February to report that her child had been sexually assaulted by John Bonner. He had babysat her two children for about five years, and the abuse had occurred at his residence.

Authorities interview the children and found that Bonner had sexually assaulted one of the children throughout that time. During an interview with the Whitehouse Police Department, he reportedly admitted to being aroused when he babysat and that he had kissed and sexually touched one of the children. Bonner was arrested on Tuesday for continuous sexual abuse of a child, a victim under 14, and booked into the Smith County Jail. He is being held on a $750,00 bond.

MOUNT PLEASANT- In February 2026, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division received a tip about an individual uploading Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM). On March 6, the Texas DPS CID executed a search warrant at a residence in Mount Pleasant, owned by Wayne Renning.

During the search of the residence, multiple devices were seized and later determined to contain CSAM. An arrest warrant was obtained, and Wayne Renning was arrested on March 25, on the charges of Possession of Child Pornography, Possession of Visual Material Depicting the Sexual Assault of a Child.

The Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division was assisted by the Titus County Sheriff’s Office and the Collin County Child Exploitation Unit in the arrest of Wayne Renning. Renning is currently held in the Titus County Jail.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Council of Judges has accepted the resignation of district clerk Penny Clarkston and has appointed her successor. Clarkson formally resigned from her position on Tuesday, citing personal family reasons. Following Clarkson’s resignation, it was announced that paralegal Gaye Boynton has been appointed to complete Clarkson’s term, which runs through the end of the year.

Boynton recently defeated Clarkston in the March Republican primary election and is currently running unopposed in the general election this November.

Prior to running for local office, Boynton served in several leadership positions, including as President of the Tyler Area Association of Legal Professionals (TAALP), and had more than 10 years of experience in the Women’s Ministry at Green Acres Baptist Church.

LUFKIN — The family of a man who was killed in a Lufkin car crash on Jan. 17 is suing the pediatrician, George Fidone. A family is seeking $1 million from Lufkin pediatrician, George Fidone, for allegedly driving while intoxicated and killing husband and father, D. Marcus Hadnot, in a January car crash.

The crash occurred on College Drive when a Mercedes, driven by Fidone, crashed into Hadnot’s Kia at around 10:15 a.m. Hadnot and his dog, who were in the car, were later pronounced dead following the crash. Fidone told officers he was on his phone and allegedly admitted that the crash was his fault before heading to the hospital for minor injuries. He was later arrested after blood collected from the crash reported a 0.14 blood alcohol level, an arrest affidavit stated.

He was booked into the Angelina County Jail and charged with two counts of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle. Continue reading Crash victim’s family sues doctor

SMITH COUNTY — Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the deadly Sunday morning shooting that left two dead and another injured, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

Tyler teenagers, Brandon Young, 18, and Andru Davis, 18, were identified by investigators to be directly involved in the shooting and were believed to be at a known address in Houston. On March 24, Smith County Investigators worked with the East Texas Anti-Gang Center to notify Houston officials of their location. A team was sent to the address and attempted to apprehend the suspects.

Upon arrival, Young was quickly found and taken into custody without incident. However, Davis fled the scene, according to the sheriff’s office. Law enforcement personnel were surrounding the residence, and Davis was apprehended shortly by a police K-9 and taken into custody. Due to being bitten, Davis was transported to a local hospital.

Young was booked into the Smith County Jail for warrants of engaging in organized criminal activity and deadly contact. He is being held on a $750,000 bond. Continue reading Arrests following fatal club shooting

EAST TEXAS — Road closures continue for night work from 8pm – 6am Wednesday night into Thursday morning. All access roads connecting I-20 and Toll 49 will be closed. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and use alternate routes.

SMITH COUNTY – Construction contracts for four major projects totaling more than 16 miles of road were awarded Tuesday, March 24, by the Smith County Commissioners Court. Texana Land & Asphalt Inc. came in as the lowest bidder on all four projects, which will all entail completely rebuilding the roadways and overlaying with asphalt.

County Road 129, from CR 113 to U.S. Highway 69; and CR 146 will have 2.595 miles of roads improved for $704,852. Smith County Engineer Frank Davis said the project will take about three months and will be paid for out of the Road and Bridge Budget. Both roads are south of Tyler and are in Smith County Commissioner Precinct 1.
Continue reading Smith County Road Projects

PALESTINE – A traffic stop in Palestine led to the arrest of four others after officers found more than 16 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the vehicle on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK and the Palestine Police Department, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Ram pickup truck early morning Wednesday on North Loop 256 near North Queen Street.

The vehicle was occupied by four individuals, including passenger 49-year-old Robert Anderson, who had an active warrant out of Travis County for criminal trespass of a habitation. While Anderson was being arrested for the warrant, officers reportedly located a bag containing a meth pipe that belonged to him.

Officers conducted a further search of the vehicle and found several glass pipes with residue and containers containing about 16.44 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Another small bag of suspected meth, weighing less than a gram, was found.

The substances tested positive for methamphetamine and the other three passengers were arrested for drug charges.

EDGEWOOD – A police pursuit through Van Zandt County ended Tuesday afternoon when a fleeing driver slammed into a patrol car and was taken into custody. According to our news partner KETK, the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Edgewood Police Department responded to a call on U.S. Highway 80, near The Lumber Yard Cafe, after receiving reports of a disturbance.

When officers arrived, they saw a 47-year-old man get into a 1999 Ford pickup and speed off. As he fled, the driver allegedly struck an Edgewood patrol vehicle, sparking a pursuit. Officers requested help from the Department of Public Safety and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office as the chase continued toward downtown Wills Point on Highway 80. DPS deployed two sets of spike strips, successfully slowing the vehicle.

He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation before being booked into the Van Zandt County Detention Center, where he was charged with aggravated assault of a public servant and evading arrest in a vehicle. Authorities said his name is not being released at this time.

During the pursuit, Wills Point ISD was placed on hold and was lifted at around 3:40 p.m. as a precaution to ensure student safety.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County residents can take one free trip to the landfill during the annual Smith Countywide Cleanup, which runs from March 30 through May 1, 2026. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office Environmental Crimes Unit and Commissioners Court are once again offering the yearly program, which allows residents to take one truckload of bulky items (3 cubic yards of solid waste) to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free.

During National County Government Month in April, one voucher per resident is available in-person only at the Smith County Courthouse Annex, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office/EOC or any of the Justice of the Peace/Constable Offices throughout the county. The City of Whitehouse is also a voucher pickup location again this year. The vouchers are available beginning March 25, and can be used beginning Monday, March 30, through Friday, May 1, 2026.
Continue reading Smith County Cleanup

WHITEHOUSE — The City of Whitehouse has decided not to enter into ICE’s 287(g) program following Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Tuesday night, community members held signs protesting outside the Whitehouse city council chambers. As the meeting got underway, many passionately shared their opinions with the city council members, urging them to oppose the 2-87-g agreement with ICE that would allow trained police officers to help enforce immigration law.

“I strongly oppose 287(g), I don’t believe that it’s the job of local law enforcement officials to do the job of the federal government,” Whitehouse resident Dylan Sigler said. “Whenever I saw that white house was considering this agreement, I felt like it was my responsibility to come out here and voice that dissent.” Continue reading City leaders vote against 287(g)

CAMP COUNTY — A 40-year-old man has died after drowning in a Camp County private pond while fishing with family on Saturday. According to our news partner and Camp County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a residence on County Road 3211 near Pittsburg at around 2:37 p.m. after receiving reports of a possible drowning.

Family members told law enforcement that the victim, identified as Angel Gonzales of Pflugerville, decided to swim across the pond while the family was fishing nearby. When he reached about halfway across, he went under the water and did not resurface. Emergency crews with the sheriff’s office and the Pittsburg Fire Department searched for Gonzalez but could not locate him. The Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens were then called and located him.

The Longview Fire Department’s dive team was then deployed to recover his body. He was recovered at 4:55 p.m., officials confirmed.

TYLER – Smith County District Clerk Penny Clarkston resigned from her position on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, Clarkston said in a letter to Smith County Judge Neal Franklin, the resignation is due to personal family reasons. The resignation takes effect immediately. Earlier this month, Clarkston lost in the Republican primary elections for district clerk. Gaye Boynton won the candidacy with 67.12%.

Clarkston was previously booked into the Smith County Jail for civil contempt of court on two accounts. In July 2024, she allegedly did not hand over information related to a capital murder case. In October 2024, Clarkston reportedly yelled at jurors and physically blocked exit doors.

TYLER — A wanted sex offender out of Cass County was arrested on March 20 in Tyler following a coordinated search involving multiple state and federal law enforcement agencies. According to our news partner KETK, the Hughes Springs Police Department said that, Travion Holloman was previously convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child but failed to comply with annual sex offender registration requirements.

A warrant for Holloman was issued in July 2025 out of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

On March 4, the police department contacted the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division (DPS CID) to assist in locating Holloman. DPS CID coordinated with the DPS Homeland Security Division, the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Task Force, who were able to locate Holloman in Tyler and take him into custody without incident.

Holloman also had additional outstanding warrants from several counties for probation violation related to the sexual assault case, evading arrest and possession of marijuana.