KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – As East Texans get ready for the return of cold weather, several locations around East Texas are opening up as warming shelters and centers, according to our news partners at KETK. KETK News has put together the following list of locations opening to the public: Continue reading Warming shelters open across East Texas

SHELBY COUNTY – Texas’ first confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza of the year was found in a Shelby County commercial poultry flock this week, according to our news partners at KETK. The case was confirmed by the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory on Thursday after a “considerable mortality” was found in a Shelby County flock, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) said they’re working closely with the federal animal health officials to respond to the affected area, which has been quarantined. The TAHC added that they’re also monitoring areas nearby the quarantined flock. Continue reading First case of bird flu in Shelby County

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that an adult and a child were injured when a vehicle and a tractor crashed on Toll 49 on Saturday. Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said a vehicle and a tractor crashed at around 6 p.m. on Saturday near mile marker 21 on Toll 49. An adult and a child involved in the crash have been transported to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. Two other people involved in the crash received minor injuries and were treated at the scene. According to the district, the crash was blocking the whole roadway but one side has since been cleared.

LONGVIEW – Our news partners at KETK report that three men have been taken to a local hospital after they were injured in a shooting that happened on Swancy Street in Longview on Saturday, according to the Longview Police Department. Continue reading Three injured in Longview shooting

TYLER – Our news partners at KETK report that a driver has died in a crash just after midnight on Saturday morning on Highway 271 near Interstate 20 in Smith County. According to Smith County Emergency Services District 2, the driver died after their vehicle and an 18-wheeler truck collided on Highway 271. The district said first responders didn’t clear the crashed vehicles from the roadway until 4 a.m. on Saturday. The driver of the 18-wheeler was uninjured and officials said Highway 271 was back open by 5 a.m. this morning.

TYLER — Our news partners at KETK report that a former Tyler ISD substitute teacher pleaded guilty Friday to assaulting a disabled student at Moore Middle School. Joacim Castro-Lacayo, 28, was arrested in April after the Tyler ISD Police Department investigated an incident that happened on April 1.

An affidavit states that video obtained during the investigation showed Castro-Lacayo in a verbal confrontation with a special needs student that turned into a physical altercation.

The footage reportedly shows Castro-Lacayo restraining the student’s arms with the help of two aides, twisting her arms behind her back, causing her to scream in pain. He then pushed the student into a wall while continuing to restrain her and later tackled her to the ground. When the student had threatened to tell her father about the incident Castro-Lacayo responded “Tell him, tell whoever, your grandpa, your daddy.”

Castro-Lacayo was arrested April 9 and charged with injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.

Castro-Lacayo appeared in the 114th Judicial District Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty, according to lead attorney Brett Harrison. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8.

ANDERSON COUNTY – A status conference has been scheduled for East Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson after he was granted an execution stay this past October, according to our news partners at KETK. Roberson’s attorney’s office announced, his status conference has been set for Feb. 27 and will be held over Zoom. The conference is a pre-trial meeting where attorneys will review the case’s progress and explore possible settlement options. Continue reading Status conference in Roberson case

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report fire crews responded Thursday night to a house fully engulfed in flames, according to the Grand Saline Fire Department. Public Information Officer Caden Mosher said firefighters arrived around 6:15 p.m. at a home near the intersection of County Roads 1224 and 1225. When crews reached the scene, the fire had already consumed the structure and had begun spreading into nearby woods. The family was not home when the fire started, and no injuries were reported. Continue reading Overnight fire destroys home

TYLER – On Friday, 2,000 local kids received bags of joy from the Salvation Army of Tyler for their annual Angel Tree program according to our news partners at KETK. On Wednesday, 350 senior citizens received their presents. The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program has been providing gifts to local children and seniors for more than 40 years. Families write their wish lists and needs on cards which are then placed in grocery stores and malls for local donors to pick up. Continue reading Tyler children get Angel Tree gifts

RUSK – Our news partners at KETK report Rusk Police Chief Scott Heagney has been placed on administrative leave for the second time this year, according to Rusk City Manager Bob Goldsberry. Goldsberry told KETK News on Friday that Heagney is being put on administrative leave in connection with an “internal personnel matter” within the police department. Continue reading Rusk chief placed on administrative leave

MARSHALL – During Thursday’s Marshall City Council meeting, officials approved a $338,663 contract for emergency repairs to the collapsed section of East Grand Avenue, according to our news partner KETK.

The Marshall City Council said in a release, “Tonight, the Marshall City Council awarded a $338,663 contract to WMS Road & Bridge to make emergency repairs to the cave-in on US Highway 80/Grand Avenue. An agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation will partially reimburse the City for repair work underneath the state’s right of way,” the city said on Thursday. “It is an agreement that Council members say will help with cost recovery and move the project along quickly. Repair work could begin as early as Monday. WMS Road & Bridge is a Texas-based general contractor from Marshall. The City Council’s vote tonight underscores its commitment to infrastructure maintenance and project efficiency.”

TYLER – Beginning Friday, Dec. 12, visitors to Downtown Tyler will have a new, free way to get around the area during evening hours. The City of Tyler is partnering with Tyler Valet to offer a fixed-route shuttle service with clearly marked pick-up and drop-off points. Shuttle stops are easy to find, with bright yellow signs placed throughout the Downtown area.

Riders can hop on and off at any stop along the route at no cost. The Downtown evening shuttle will operate during the following times: Thursdays 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. 
Continue reading Free evening shuttle in Downtown Tyler 

TYLER (AP) – Four years ago, James and Mary Robinson put the last Christmas tree they would ever plant in the ground. “Once you plant the tree, it takes four years to harvest it,” James said. “But once you plant your last tree, it takes four years to get out of the business.” On Sunday, they sold their last tree. Continue reading Christmas tree farm closes after 40 years

TYLER — A panel of GOP candidates took place in Tyler, featuring Stuart Hene, John Nix and James Wynne, all of whom are competing for the position of mayor of the City of Tyler.

The current mayor, Don Warren, was first elected in 2020. His six-year term will conclude in 2026, following his third term. Voters in Tyler will have the opportunity to elect Warren’s successor in May 2026. Hene currently serves as the councilman for District 1 in central Tyler. He attended Rice Elementary, Hubbard Middle School, and Tyler Legacy High School (prior to its renaming). Hene earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Baylor University and obtained his law degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.

John Nix describes his journey to Tyler as a young carpenter armed only with tools and an old used car. Over the years, Tyler has become a place that he and his family proudly call home. As a small business owner, Nix says he understands the importance of having a well-functioning city. Nix served as Tyler City Councilman for District 6 from 2013 to 2019. Nix currently works as the president of Nix Construction, Inc. and Nix Builders and as the owner of Nix Properties, LLC. Continue reading GOP candidates gather in Tyler