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TRINITY – The Trinity Police Department arrested a 17-year-old driver after a multi-county chase on Sunday morning.

According to our news partner KETK and Trinity PD, law enforcement chased a truck for over 100 miles through Trinity, Houston, Polk and Tyler counties. The truck evaded spike strips and eventually came to a stop after the wheels came off just outside of Kountze in Hardin County.

The driver, a 17-year-old male, was arrested without incident and taken back to Trinity County, Trinity PD said. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Highway Patrol and the Houston County Sheriffs Office also assisted with the chase.

TYLER – Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Starbucks location on South Broadway Ave and South Town Drive in Tyler is closing permanently along with hundreds of other stores around the United States. The Tyler location confirmed that they officially closed on Sunday and have started to move equipment out of the store. As of Sunday, the only other location known to be closing is the Crockett Starbucks, Houston County’s only Starbucks.

The closures come as the coffeehouse-giant Starbucks announced that they’ve shut down hundreds of locations around United States and across North America as a part of an internal review of their portfolio of stores.

An exact number of stores effected hasn’t been released yet, but unofficial lists contain more than 500 stores that are reportedly closing. Niccol said that Starbucks will close about 1% of their North America locations by the end of the 2025 fiscal year. Continue reading Tyler, Crockett Starbucks locations closing

TYLER – The Republican Party of Texas is currently threatening to censure East Texas State Representatives Cody Harris of Palestine and Gary VanDeaver of New Boston, because of some of their votes this year. Republican Party of Texas Rule 44 allows county Republican Party executive committees to adopt resolutions censuring their representatives. According to our news partner KETK, since Harris and VanDeaver have both been censured by local county Republican Parties, the state party is now taking up their own versions of the county party censure resolutions.

Harris and VanDeaver are just two of ten Texas State Representatives who are facing censure resolutions from the Republican Party of Texas. The resolutions each list several actions that the representatives made that are “in opposition to the core principles of the Republican Party of Texas.”

The members are being encouraged to attend an Oct. 11 meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee, which will decide whether or not they’ll agree with the county censure resolutions and whether they’ll issue any penalties.

Henderson County Republican Party vice chair and parliamentarian Clint Stutts spoke to our news partner KETK News about their June 30 resolution to censure Harris. Continue reading East Texas State Reps facing censure from Republican Party

LINDALE – The Lindale Fire Department (LFD) and our news partners at KETK report that one person has been flown to a hospital after they were injured in a rollover crash on Interstate 20 near Lindale Sunday. LFD responded to the crash at 12:11 p.m. and found a driver trapped in their vehicle. A UT Health helicopter helped extract the victim and flew them to receive medical attention. Department officials stated that the victim’s injuries are not life-threatening.

CORRIGAN, Texas – Corrigan-Camden ISD is asking for the community’s support after a student athlete suffered a medical emergency at Friday night’s football game against Joaquin.

According to our news partner and the district, the athlete was supporting his team from the sidelines when he collapsed. The medical emergency was unrelated to the game but local first responders, students and staff all immediately rushed in to care for the student. The student was then taken to the hospital where they remain in critical condition, according to a post from the district.

“We appreciate our first responders, staff, students, and community members for their prompt assistance last night,” Corrigan-Camden ISD said. “It is comforting to know that we have a caring community.”

Corrigan-Camden ISD asked the community to help support the student’s family by donating, gift cards, cash or food. To donate contact Corrigan-Camden High School or Lindsey Ratliff at 334-332-1171.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler, after two years of construction, announced the grand opening of the newly renovated and expanded David G. and Jacqueline M. Braithwaite School of Nursing building Saturday. Our news partners at KETK reports Interim dean Dr. Jennifer Chilton said the new facilities are a is a ‘win-win’ for students and the future of East Texas healthcare. In an interview with KTBB, Dr. Chilton expanded on the importance of the facility, stating “it’s a beacon of healthcare that can be seen beyond East Texas.”

TYLER, Texas (KETK) — According to our news partner KETK, a Tyler man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after a dog was found dead at his residence on Glass Avenue.

Arrest documents revealed that Tyler police officers found the deceased dog in August, noting that it had died due to a lack of food and water and was living in poor conditions. A second dog was found extremely emaciated and is under the care of Tyler Animal Control.

Police arrested Titus Demar Hambrick on Tuesday and was released the following day.

The City of Tyler announced on their Facebook page that parts of downtown will be closed as construction continues. Beginning on Monday, September 29th, work will begin at the corner of Erwin Street and College Avenue. Erwin Street will close to thru traffic during this phase along with College Avenue, while Ferguson Street will remain open. You can find a map of the effected roadways here.

Whitehouse – This November, Whitehouse residents will consider eight proposed amendments to the City Charter as part of a Special Election. Earlier this year, the City Council appointed a Charter Review Commission made up of Whitehouse citizens to review the Charter and recommend updates. After a thorough review, the Commission recommended a series of amendments focused on:
• Clarifying existing language
• Aligning the Charter with state law
• Providing flexibility for future City Councils to operate efficiently.

“These propositions are about updating and clarifying our Charter so that it serves the City well into the future,” said Whitehouse Mayor James Wansley. “The Commission worked hard to review each provision carefully, and we are grateful for their commitment to ensuring our Charter is clear, consistent, and practical.” Continue reading Whitehouse residents to vote on city charter amendments

SMITH COUNTY — Two individuals from East Texas have been arrested for allegedly scamming an elderly person out of $750 for chimney repairs that were reportedly unnecessary.

According to our news partner KETK, law enforcement initiated an investigation in August following a report in March regarding two suspects soliciting chimney sweep services from a victim. Steven Gonzalez, 33, and Erika Salinas, 33, both residents of Tyler, are accused of telling the victim that his chimney required repairs and quoted a price of $750.

Subsequently, when the victim tried to contact the business they operated under, ETX Chimney Sweep, he received no response despite sending multiple text messages to Salinas requesting a refund. Continue reading Couple charged with scamming elderly on chimney repairs

HAWKINS – The city of Hawkins officially has a new approved budget for the upcoming fiscal year, as city council members voted on the matter Thursday. The city is already over $5 million in debt, and the approved budget will be running at a deficit of $1,157,366. The city also has multiple projects slated, including hiring employees for the city water department, railroad repair, and most notably, the lack of a city police department. The new budget addressed that as well, with $162,000 being allocated for officers. Some council-members hope the new funding will help them hire a chief. Mayor Deb Rushing suggested the vacant police building could be turned into a substation of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.

JACKSONVILLE — A 68-year-old man was arrested on Thursday morning in Jacksonville in connection to a child exploitation investigation. According to the Jacksonville Police Department and our news partner KETK, after obtaining a search and arrest warrant, James Bruce Gragg was found inside a home off Forest Trail and was taken into custody. The arrest was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Jacksonville Police Department and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office in Nebraska.

Following his arrest, Gragg was charged with possession of child pornography and distribution of harmful material. Investigators anticipate that additional charges will be added as the case progresses. The investigation remains ongoing and no further details will be released at this time. Continue reading Jacksonville man arrested in connection child exploitation case

SABINE COUNTY – The Texas Game Wardens are seeking the public’s help in finding a missing 21-year-old college student, Peyton Hughes, who was last seen on Wednesday on the Toledo Bend Reservoir.

According to our news partner KETK and the Texas Game Wardens, Hughes is a student at Campbellsville University in Kentucky and was pre-fishing for Bassmaster competition when he was reported missing. Several agencies in both Texas and Louisiana are assisting in finding Hughes, including the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Agents, the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office.

No further information is available at this time.