KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Texas Rangers are investigating a fatal shooting involving Tyler Police. According to a news release from the Tyler Police Department, at approximately 7:00 p.m. on June 5, officers were originally dispatched to a residence on Cascades Court regarding a suspicious person, but was changed to a disturbance with a subject inside of the home. Details are limited but officials said officers entered the residence and a shooting involving an officer occurred. The subject was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was identified as John Augustine Tangney O’Kelly, 38, from Tyler.

In accordance with departmental policy, the investigation has been turned over to the Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers. The investigation is ongoing. The Tyler Police Department said additional information will be released once available.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department said that a 38-year-old man was killed in an officer-involved shooting on Thursday night, according to our news partner KETK.

Officers responded to the 3100 block of Cascades Court at around 7 p.m. on Thursday for a report of a suspicious person and a disturbance inside of a home. When officers entered the home, Tyler PD said an officer-involved shooting injured John Augustine Tangney O’Kelly, 38 of Tyler. O’Kelly was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Texas Rangers are currently investigating the shooting.

UPDATE: Our news partner KETK is reporting that Terrance Marshawn Carter was arrested the City of Henderson around 2:20 p.m. on Thursday and charged with evading arrest after fleeing during a traffic stop on Saturday, according to Gun Barrel City Police Department Detective Adrian Ruiz. It is unconfirmed which law enforcement agency made the arrest as Gun Barrel PD was just notified of Carter’s capture, Ruiz said.

GUN BARREL CITY – The Gun Barrel City Police Department is currently searching for a man that led Henderson County law enforcement on a search to Eustace overnight. Gun Barrel City PD said officers were doing a traffic stop in the 100 block of Trailwind Street in Gun Barrel City on Saturday at around 9:36 p.m. when a man ran from the vehicle.
Photo of Terrence Marshawn Carter, courtesy of Gun Barrel City PD.

According to a post from Gun Barrel City PD, the man was identified as Terrence Marshawn Carter, a Black man from Henderson. Officials said Carter has a active patrol violation from the Texas Pardon and Parole Board. Continue reading Wanted East Texas man arrested in Henderson

TEXARKANA — Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-TX released a statement on Thursday urging the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, to continue funding for the Red River Army Depot (RRAD) that maintains military operations.

According to our news partner KETK, the RRAD is an over 15,000 acre U.S. Army facility in northeast Texas that is responsible for repairing and remanufacturing military supplies. This facility supports multiple military branches by providing vehicles and other supplies to warfighters during combat. With President Donald Trump’s administration looking to minimize federal spending, the RRAD faces the risk of seeing possible budget cuts.

Moran and 11 other members of congress signed a letter that was sent to the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, expressing their wish for the administration to allow RRAD’s operations to continue as usual without cuts. Continue reading Rep. Moran fights in support of military operations center

TYLER — The House has passed a budget proposal within the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ that would cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. According to our news partner KETK, this results in the largest rollback of food assistance in our nation’s history, according to ‘Feeding Texas’. SNAP currently feeds 3 million Texans and cutting funding for this program would result in $300 billion lost in aid.

The estimated total of Texans at risk of losing all SNAP benefits is 392,000 and 806,000 are at risk of losing partial benefits. Additionally, the bill could leave one million Texans without health insurance, specifically putting elderly and pregnant women in rural areas at risk.

“This represents a 30 percent cut to our nation’s most important and effective anti-hunger program,” Vice President of Feeding Texas Jamie Olsen said. “Texas would be required to pay 1.8 billion dollars a year starting in 2028,” Olsen said. Continue reading House budget proposal cuts SNAP, Medicaid

TEXARKANA – According to a press release from the acting U.S. Attorney’s office, a Mount Vernon man has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations.

According to court records, Zachary Arzola, 28, met a minor victim online in September 2022 when he was 26 years old, and the minor victim was 14 years old. Arzola communicated with the victim through social media applications and eventually traveled to Ohio to meet her in December 2022. Once in Ohio, Arzola presented the victim’s family with an altered driver’s license to falsely represent that he was 16 years old. Continue reading Man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for child exploitation

TYLER – With summer heat quickly approaching, our news partner KETK reports that East Texans will have the opportunity to donate fans to those who need some relief from the scorching summer temperatures.

People Attempting to Help (PATH) is currently hosting the “Beat the Heat” Fan Drive and is hoping to provide hundreds of East Texas families with a box fan. The fans will help families reduce energy costs while keeping their homes cool during summer.

According to PATH, heat is the number one weather-related killer in Texas. During the summers, older people and children are at higher risk of being impacted by the heat, and many are currently living without an AC unit in their homes.

Those who are willing to donate fans can do it through the PATH website. Up to 10 fans can be donated through the website with each fan costing $25.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Game Wardens rescued construction workers that were trapped in Wednesday’s rising floodwater in Henderson County according to our news partner KETK. The heavy rain stranded two construction workers at a job site near Malakoff after water started rising quickly.

Game wardens said instead of trying to get to safety by driving into the high water, they made the right choice and called for help.

“The area where they were working was completely flooded with swift water flowing pretty rapidly in the area,” Christ said. “So we were able to call out our swift water team, Texas Parks and Wildlife, swift water team, and we’re able to patrol up to and rescue those individuals off their pipe and get them back to dry land.”

Christ said thankfully everyone was rescued without any injuries, but warns others to take care and stay aware during heavy rainstorms. Continue reading Game wardens rescue workers from Henderson Co. floodwater

TYLER — Every year around this time, the Sahara Desert in Africa experiences peak emissions that sends dust particles across the Atlantic Ocean, causing air quality changes in East Texas.

According to our news partner KETK, East Texans could experience higher dust levels from the annual Sahara air layer that is heading this way. Its unknown exactly how much dust East Texans should anticipate, but they will likely see changes in visibility and air quality.

Professor and Center Director for Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Amarillo Brent Auvermann Ph.D. talked about this environmental occurrence.

“It really is more of a general haze, things will change colors, sunlight will look different. the sun itself may look more red,” Auvermann said. “At various times of the day, the clouds will be dingier in all likelihood and visibility will be somewhat reduced, depends on the intensity of the event. It is likely that air monitors that are monitoring air pollution at the ground level in East Texas will pick something up this time around,” Auvermann said.

Continue reading Sahara dust is making its way to East Texas

TYLER – A flash flood warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for several cities, this includes the Sabine River near Mineola, in Wood and Smith County from late Thursday night until further notice.

LUFKIN — According to our news partner KETK, the Lufkin ISD Board of Trustees has unanimously agreed on a 5 percent increase for all teachers and a new pay scale to ensure every LISD teacher will make at least $50,000 a year. The new pay scale for all teachers, librarians and registered nurses working for Lufkin ISD was approved June 2. The amendment was discussed in a special call board meeting.

Although the adjustment is only meant for some positions, raises for other district members are still being discussed. The new pay scale would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Continue reading Lufkin ISD unanimously approves 5 percent raise for teachers

HALLSVILLE – Our news partner KETK reports that the Hallsville Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying an individual believed to be involved in a theft at a Dollar General.

According to the Hallsville Police Department, the theft occurred on Tuesday around 1:15 p.m. at the Dollar General on Main Street. Officials said they obtained footage of the suspect along with a red vehicle he was driving at the time of the incident.

Anyone with any information regarding the suspect or the robbery is asked to contact Chief Scott at 903-746-3235 or 903-668-2313. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can do so by contacting Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that as Henderson County battles flash flooding, some roads have been shut down for the safety of East Texans.

According to Henderson County, flash flooding is possible with heavy rains, so the county encourages residents to turn around if they encounter a flooded road.

“Never walk, swim, or drive through still or moving floodwaters,” the county said. “The water may be hiding dangers such as debris, tree branches, power lines or damage to the road. As little as six inches of fast-moving water can cause motorists to lose control of their vehicle, even a pickup truck or SUV.”

Emergency Management said they received reports of stranded vehicles due to high water this morning, but all has cleared out as of now and no injuries were reported. County Road 3715 has since reopened.

A flash flood warning has been issued till June 8 at 9:25 p.m. in Henderson County. KETK has compiled a list of road closures in Henderson County. To view the complete list, click here.

TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that East Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) attended a town hall in Tyler on Friday to discuss the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

The town hall event was hosted at Tyler Junior College by the Texas chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a conservative political advocacy group backed by the billionaire Charles Koch.

In Jan. 2025, The Hill reported on AFP’s newly announced a $20 million nationwide campaign to push Congress to renew the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was passed under President Donald Trumps first term in office.

Moran supported renewing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Friday by warning about how much taxes could go up next year. Continue reading Tax discussion at a town hall with Representative Moran