KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Due to Tropical Storm Beryl moving up from the Texas coast Monday, Tyler city officials ask residents to avoid non-essential driving and to be weather aware. If you must drive, slow down and know your surroundings. Because of storm activity, there may be downed power lines and trees. And, with the heavy rainfall, if you encounter water over the roadways, turn around. In some cases, you may find traffic signals without power. Remember, these are to be treated as four-way stops.

With power outages occurring, the city is making cooling and charging centers available at these locations: Tyler Public Library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Continue reading City of Tyler urges residents to avoid non-essential travel

LOVELADY –  Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, 31, who was sentenced to life in prison for the 2016 murder of 10-year-old Kayla Gomez in Bullard, has committed suicide, according to our news partner KETK. On July 2, Zavala-Garcia was found unresponsive at the J. Dale Wainwright state prison in Lovelady and life-saving measures were conducted. EMS was called to the scene and life-saving measures proved unsuccessful. Zavala-Garcia was declared dead at 5:43 p.m., an in custody death report shows. According to that report Zavala-Garcia’s means of death was hanging/strangulation caused by a homemade ligature.

Kayla Gomez went missing from Bullard First Assembly Church in November of 2016 and was found dead a few days later outside Zavalla’s home.

Zavalla avoided the death penalty by taking a plea deal to get life in prison without the chance of parole.

RUSK COUNTY – One person is dead after a two-car crash in in the Wright City area in Rusk County near the Smith County line according to our partners at KETK. The crash happened on Monday at State Highway 64 and FM 15. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office has shut down the road as of 2:10 p.m. while they work the scene.

TYLER – About 70,210 customers are without power in East Texas as of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday in the aftermath of tropical storm Beryl. Our news partner KETK has a list of East Texas counties and electric cooperatives affected. You can find the list here.

NEW BOSTON – The New Boston Police Department is searching for a suspect in connection to a shooting that left one victim dead and another in critical condition on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, officers responded to a reported shooting in the 300 block of N. Lindsey St. around 5:42 p.m. on Saturday. When New Boston PD officers got to the scene they found one victim who had been shot in the lower chest and back and another victim who was shot in the right shoulder and upper chest. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene and the other is in critical condition at a local hospital, according to a New Boston PD press release.

According to the press release, officials have already detained one person in connection to the shooting and now they’re searching for another. Continue reading Man wanted after New Boston fatal shooting

TYLER — FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers will be closed across Texas on Monday as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall, FEMA Region 6 announced. According to our news partner KETK, FEMA centers like the one at the Hub in Smith County were initially set up to help people recover from severe weather that hit East Texas in April.

The centers will re-open on Tuesday, July 9. To learn more, click here.

EAST TEXAS — Acting governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, has added 81 counties to a disaster declaration for hurricane Beryl, including many counties in East Texas, according to our news partner KETK.

As of Saturday, 121 out of Texas’ 254 counties are under the disaster declaration.

Anderson, Angelina, Austin, Bastrop, Bell, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Dallas, Delta, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Galveston, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hill, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jasper, Jefferson, Kaufman, Lamar, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, Marion, McLennan, Milam, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt, Walker, Waller, Washington, Williamson and Wood counties were all added to Patrick’s disaster declaration on Saturday.

Patrick said that the state has more than 2,000 responders and 850 assets that can be deployed to help in rescue operations.

TYLER– A Tyler man has been charged with six counts of aggravated assault following a report of shots fired Friday morning. It happened around 9:00 at a home on 1st Street in Tyler. Police said upon arrival, officers were able to remove several children and adults from the home, including the suspect, Chandler Haught, 22. Officials said Haught and the people inside the house are acquaintances and that this was not a random incident. There was evidence of shots being fired. The handgun was located. No injuries were reported.

Haught was transported to the Smith County Jail and booked on six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The case remains under investigation and will be forwarded to the Smith County DA’s Office.

VAN – According to our news partner KETK, Melissa Davis, the chief of police at Van Police Department, was fired on Monday, according to the mayor of Van, Tammy Huff.
The City Council held a closed session at 7 p.m. on Friday to discuss “the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of the Police Chief.” The council voted unanimously to table the matter until their next meeting on Thursday, July 11. “The status right now is she was terminated by our city manager, John Desha, on Monday, July 1,” Huff said. “That’s really all I can talk about, because it’s a personnel matter.”

According to Clint McNear with the Texas Municipal Police Association, Davis was fired by the city manager John Desha via letter on Monday after Davis reportedly didn’t want to fine victims of graffiti and instead organized the community to help clean the graffiti.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County fire investigators said fireworks may have contributed to a house fire reported Thursday night. Firefighters were called to a house FM 756, near Beam Road at 11:45 p.m. Several people were at home at the time of the fire, but were uninjured. Fire crews from other jurisdictions responded to the fire, but the home was a total loss.

Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue said preliminary investigation of the fire shows that the fire started in the garage, “and fireworks may have been a contributing factor to the cause of the fire. The investigation is ongoing and no foul play is suspected at this time.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said that a 19-year-old has died after being shot in the head on July fourth. According to our news partner KETK, 19-year-old Rawly Sanchez, was reportedly shot to death behind a Smith County business. Sheriff’s reports say deputies responded to a call of a shots fired around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, at Highway 271 north near Tyler. Smith County dispatch reported the gunshot victim was taken to local hospital.

Smith County Sheriff’s Office learned this at the hospital. Three friends were riding in a truck on Old Gladewater Highway, but turned around to go back to Highway 271. The trio reportedly passed behind Bautista Auto Sales and that’s when gunshots were reportedly fired. While sitting in the back of the truck, Rawley Sanchez reportedly was shot in back of the head. He was immediately taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Continue reading Suspect arrested in Smith County fatal shooting

TYLER – A Friday morning shots fired call in Tyler has led to a 22-year-old being charged with six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to our news partner KETK, Chandler Haught of Tyler was arrested after authorities arrived to the scene at a First Street residence. Multiple adults and children were escorted from the home. The case is being forwarded to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office and no injuries were reported.

HENDERSON COUNTY – A 40-year-old drowned on Independence Day near Mabank. According to our news partner KETK, authorities said that at 8:34 p.m. they were alerted to a drowning incident in Hidden Hills Harbor where callers said a man went under and never resurfaced. Payne Springs Fire Rescue and the Texas Game Wardens arrived on scene and were assisted by Gun Barrel City Fire and Long Cove Fire for their boats. The side scan sonars on the boats helped locate and recover the victim.

DAINGERFIELD – A motion passed by the City of Daingerfield will cease all response by the Daingerfield Volunteer Fire Department outside of city limits, according to our partners at KETK. In a memo, the city said a motion was passed for the VFD to no longer respond to life-threatening calls outside of city limits on May 13. That motion went into effect on Monday, but on June 10, the city council made an additional motion to cease all VFD responses outside of city limits. The decision to cease all VFD responses will go into effect on Sept. 1. On Thursday, the VFD posted to social media a list of facts related to the response changes. One of the statements listed is that so far this year, 54% of all their responses were outside the city limits, and that the county’s contribution represents about 7% of the VFD’s total budget.

DAINGERFIELD — Our news colleagues at KETK say one person is injured following an early Thursday morning shooting in Daingerfield, now officials are looking for the suspect.The police department said at around 1:13 a.m. officers responded to a report of a robbery and shooting at a business parking lot where they discovered a victim who had a gunshot wound. According to a preliminary investigation, the suspect is a short, light-skinned Black man wearing a Nike Ski-type mask and armed with a handgun. The suspect reportedly ran from the scene before officials arrived. “It is believed that a vehicle may have been involved in facilitating the suspect’s escape, possibility picking him up after he fled the parking lot,” the police department said. Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Daingerfield Police Department at 903-645-2114.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler placed first and third in the collegiate track of the 2024 U.S. Department of Energy American-Made Community Energy Innovation Competition. The contest concluded last month with the third and final impact phase in which the top three collegiate teams competed for a share of the $100,000 grand prize. Two UT Tyler teams was among the top three finalists in the contest this year. Continue reading UT Tyler team shine in DOE Community Energy Innovation Prize

VAN ZANDT COUNTY –  TxDOT has scheduled a closure on I-20 in Van Zandt County for Monday that will affect the FM 859 bridge north of Canton from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. TxDOT announced that during the time of road work, the main lanes of I-20 will be closed in both directions while crews work on the bridge. The FM 859 bridge will also be closed while crews are working.

TxDOT said that I-20 traffic will be diverted onto the frontage roads during these closures. This closure is part of a larger project to replace the FM 859 bridge.

During the construction of the new bridge, I-20 traffic will be reduced to one lane during the nighttime, according to TxDOT. The timeframe of the next phase will be provided after further progress of the project.

TYLER – As crowds celebrating Independence Day at Lake Tyler start arriving, residents in the area ask that people practice safety and do their part to keep the lake clean. Residents want visitors to know that they are welcome to celebrate but want to remind them that it is their home, and they want to keep it beautiful. According to our news partner KETK, a nonprofit in the area is also helping keep the area clean.

Although keeping the lake clean is one priority, another is safety to prevent anyone from getting hurt while on the water. People in the area said law enforcement will be patrolling Lake Tyler so it’s a great place to bring the family. Continue reading Lake Tyler ask Fourth visitors to prioritize safety, clean up

CANTON – TxDOT has scheduled a closure on I-20 in Van Zandt County for Monday that will affect the FM 859 bridge north of Canton from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. According to our news partner KETK, during this time of construction, the main lanes of the interstate will be closed in both directions while crews work on the bridge. The FM 859 bridge will also be closed while crews are working. TxDOT said that I-20 traffic will be diverted onto the frontage roads during these closures. This closure is part of a larger project to replace the FM 859 bridge.

TIMPSON – One person was arrested after a robbery at Austin Bank in Timpson on Tuesday morning, according to our colleagues at KETK. DPS said that troopers arrived at the scene within two minutes and encountered the suspect. Authorities said the subject was threatening citizens inside and outside of the bank with a pellet revolver. The person was taken into custody at the scene. The investigation is being handed to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the identity of the arrested individual is not yet available.

PAYNE SPRINGS — A 3-year-old was airlifted to a Dallas hospital Tuesday morning after nearly drowning in Enchanted Oaks, Payne Springs Fire Rescue (PSFR) said. According to our news partners at KETK, PSFR was alerted at around 10:13 a.m. of a possible drowning and responded immediately with EMS to treat the toddler. UT Health Air 1 West transported the 3-year-old to a children’s hospital in Dallas. “This is our third call on the lake involving pediatric patients this summer. Please use the utmost caution on and around the lake with children,” PSFR said.

BULLARD – Bullard residents will soon be under water usage restrictions due to weather conditions and mechanical issues with a city water well, according to our colleagues at KETK. The city announced that they will be under a Stage 1 Water Conservation Notice starting Friday, meaning all Bullard utilities customers will need to abide by the following restrictions:
Residents with even numbered addresses can water outside on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday
Residents with odd numbered addresses can water Saturday, Monday and Wednesday
All outdoor watering is prohibited on Friday
Those who violate the guidelines will be subject to a written warning, and may be issued a citation.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine held a White Coat Ceremony for their second class. According to a release and our news partner KETK, in the ceremony the new students received their white coats, and the Humanism in Medicine pin. There was also a speech by former UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun and a recitation of the Physician’s Oath. The university said that this class’ tuition is being funded by a “generous anonymous donor.” The school also said that 85% of the school of medicine’s inaugural class has ties to East Texas.

“This White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that marks a profound milestone for our students,” Dr. Julie Philley, UT Tyler president, said. “It signifies the beginning of their journey into the medical profession and all of the responsibility that comes with it.” Continue reading UT Tyler medical school welcomes second class

EAST TEXAS – Looking for somewhere to celebrate the 4th of July? Our news partners at KETK have put together a list of events and firework shows being held across the area. You can find that list here.

ATHENS — An old Athens motel will be converted into a new affordable housing complex. According to our news parter KETK, a Dallas construction company has partnered with the City of Athens. Wallace Ventures’ is converting the old Quality Inn motel off Highway 31 that was vacant for more than 10 years, into “Athens Reserve”, a 122 unit studio apartment complex. Each apartment will just under 300 square feet.

Athens City Manager Elizabeth Borstad said, “The Athens Reserve project is a significant transformation for this property, turning an abandoned hotel into efficient and affordable housing. This initiative provides a practical housing solution while enhancing the local area.”
Continue reading Affordable housing complex coming to Athens

TYLER – Starting Monday July 1, the Tyler Police Department have added more officers on the street to shore up STEP. According to Andy Erbaugh, Tyler PD Public Information Officer, STEP is, the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. The program is based on accident data in the Tyler city limits and it lets officers target problem areas. Through Sunday, July 7, officers will be watching for speeding, seat belt violations, intersection problems and impaired driving.

The Tyler Police Department asks that you don’t drink and drive. And, they wish you a safe and happy holiday!

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Marshal’s office is reminding all residents that, in accordance with the Tyler Fire Code, the discharging of fireworks without a permit within city limits is strictly prohibited. This regulation is enforced to ensure the safety and peace of all community members.

As the City and community continue to recover from recent storms, it is especially critical to adhere to this ordinance. The presence of storm debris across Tyler poses significant hazards. Fireworks can easily ignite this debris, potentially leading to dangerous fires that could threaten homes and lives.

“We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in keeping our city safe, particularly during this critical time of recovery and rebuilding,” said Fire Marshal Joey Hooton. “Let’s work together to ensure a safe and peaceful Fourth of July holiday for everyone.” Continue reading City of Tyler urges residents to refrain from fireworks

PALESTINE — Two people were arrested on Friday in Palestine after reportedly holding a woman against her will at a Palestine motel. According to our news partner KETK, the Palestine police officers were dispatched to a motel in Palestine after receiving text messages from their 911 system from a woman claiming she was being held by a man and asked for help. Officers knocked at the door of the motel room and got no answer. Hotel staff told officers that the room was rented by a woman identified as Cesilia Salinas. Salinas was wanted on felony warrants from Smith County and had a bond totaling $500,000.

“The texts indicated that the victim was in the room with the male and a female who were drunk and using methamphetamine. The victim claimed she was being thrown to the bed when she tried to get up to leave and she stated she was scared,” Palestine PD said. The victim reportedly said Salinas was flushing methamphetamine while officers were attempting to breach the door. When officers entered the room, they found Salinas hiding in the bathroom. Continue reading Two arrested for unlawful restraint in Palestine

AUSTIN (AP) – A Texas court on Monday set an execution date for Robert Roberson, who was sentenced to death in 2003 for killing his 2-year-old daughter but has consistently challenged the conviction on the claim that it was based on questionable science.

Roberson has maintained his innocence while being held on death row for more than 20 years. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals previously halted his execution in 2016. But in 2023, the state’s highest criminal court decided that doubt over the cause of his daughter’s death was not enough to overturn his death sentence.

His new execution date is set for Oct. 17. Continue reading Texas sets execution date for East Texas man