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LONGVIEW — Longview police arrested a woman reportedly  involved in a stabbing that left one person hospitalized. On Friday, Nov. 12, around 10:37 a.m., Longview police officers were called for service at CHRISTUS Good Shepard Medical Center at 700 E. Marshall Ave. According to our news partner KETK, when officers arrived, they found a victim with apparent stab wounds being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. During the investigation, officers were told the stabbing took place on Dunbar Dr. Longview officers later arrested Shanika L. Dunn, 39, of Longview, in connection with the case. Dunn was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was taken and booked into the Gregg County Jail.

MINEOLA — Two people were arrested by Mineola ISD police Friday afternoon for their suspected role in a bomb threat that was made to Mineola High School on Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the two were charged with a 3rd Degree Felony and Terroristic Threat and were booked into the Wood County Jail. Mineola ISD thanked several local law enforcement agencies for their involvement with the capture of the suspected perpetrators.

EAST TEXAS — All city of Eustace residents have been asked to shelter-in-place after they were told to evacuate, according to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office. According to our news partner KETK, the gas leak is in the Purtis Creek area of Van Zandt County, and it is affecting the Eustace Area of Henderson County. Van Zandt County Sheriff Steve Hendrix said people need to stay indoors. They should keep their doors and windows closed and their heating and air conditioner off. The gas leak has been completely shut off, according to Van Zandt County Sheriff Hendrix. People in Van Zandt County are still being asked to shelter-in-place or remain at a shelter until 9 a.m. Continue reading Gas leak shut off after affecting Henderson, Van Zandt County residents

HARRISON COUNTY — The National Weather Service has confirmed two tornadoes in Harrison County Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK, these occurred as a squall line pushed through the area. An EF-0 tornado developed near FM 31 at 12:40 a.m., about 9 miles south of Scottsville. The tornado was on the ground for only half a mile and did some minor tree damage. Maximum winds were estimated at 70 mph. The other twister was a bit stronger and on the ground longer. It was rated an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds estimated at 95 mph. That tornado also only caused damage to trees.

LONGVIEW — Longview City Manager Keith Bonds announced during the Nov. 11 City Council meeting that he plans to retire at the end of January 2022. Bonds has worked for the city since 1999 and has served as city manager since 2018. Mayor Dr. Andy Mack congratulated Bonds on his retirement, saying, “Keith has been asset to this city for so many years.” The City Council will begin discussing the process for filling the city manager position at future meetings, according to a news release. Click here for more information.

MINEOLA – State Sen. Bryan Hughes of Mineola announced he will run for re-election to the Texas State Senate, clearing up rumors about him running for Congress. That’s according to our news partner KETK. In a tweet Friday, Hughes said he will file for re-election Saturday because “the Texas Senate is leading the country on so many issues that matter.” This comes after Congressman Louie Gohmert announced that he is considering running for Texas Attorney General if he gets enough funds. Hughes has authored several high-profile bills in the previous legislative sessions. His bills on abortion and elections laws have garnered a lot of public attention.

TYLER — The COVID-19 numbers continue to look good for East Texas, and NET Health’s George remains encouraged by the trend. He says, “We’re kind of in a holding pattern right now, particularly in Smith County.” But he still strongly encourages vaccinations — and he suggests contacting your medical provider with any questions about the vaccine. Roberts reminds you that kids age 5 to 11 are now eligible to get their shots. Check the “Coronavirus update” item on this page for more detailed information.

AUSTIN — UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife has received the highest honor from the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, one of the most prestigious business schools in the nation, according to a news release. Eltife, a longtime businessman who has served Tyler and Texas as an elected and appointed leader, was recently inducted into the McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame. Eltife (pictured at left with his wife, Kelly) earned his business degree from UT Austin in 1981 and attributes his success to his alma mater. Eltife told KTBB he considers the recognition “a huge honor.” But he adds, “It’s really about our community and all the people over the years that have helped me in business, in politics, and in community service — it’s a team effort.”

TYLER — The Tyler Salvation Army held its Christmas kickoff Friday at Broadway Square mall, launching the agency’s Kettle and Angel Tree season. This holiday season, 43 locations will be hosting the red kettle as volunteers ring a bell to raise money for the Salvation Army, with the goal set at $370,000. This year, each kettle stand will have a QR Code and an NFC tag, which will allow donors to use Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, and PayPal rather than dropping cash or coins in the kettle. With over 12,000 hours to be filled, Salvation Army staffers say volunteers are greatly needed from November 29 thru December 24. Continue reading Salvation Army kicks off Christmas season

TYLER — UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun has announced that Brigham C. Willis, M.D., has been appointed the founding dean of the the university’s new school of medicine. Willis, a longtime educator, scholar, and leader in academic medicine, has been widely lauded for his commitment and service to medical education, according to a news release. Willis currently serves as senior associate dean of medical education at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. He was previously associate fellowship director for pediatric critical care medicine at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and chief medical education officer and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-designated institutional official at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Continue reading UT Tyler Announces dean for the school of medicine

TYLER – A Smith County Constable and two high-ranking deputies were arrested after allegedly stealing from a Tyler residence while on duty, according to DPS. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County Constable for Precinct 1 Curtis Harris, Chief Deputy LaQuenda Banks and Sergeant Derrick Holman were arrested for theft, official oppression and abuse of official capacity. The highest charged offense of theft is a state jail felony and is punishable by no more than two years or less than 180 days confinement in a state jail and a fine not to exceed $10,000, according to DPS. Continue reading DPS: Constable, high-ranking deputies arrested after stealing ‘personal property’ from residence

TATUM — 160 East Texas Luminant employees are soon to be laid off, according to a notice from the Texas Workforce Commission. According to our news partner KETK, a notice from the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) system, which requires notice 60 days in advance of plant closures or mass layoffs, listed Luminant Mining Co. in Tatum. The layoff date for these employees, according to the document, is Dec. 26. Continue reading Luminant to lay off 160 employees at Tatum location by day after Christmas

TYLER — Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford says, “It’s been a heck of a last 18 months to two years, and certainly we’ve done the best we possibly could.” Crawford Thursday delivered his annual State of the District address at at a Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon and spoke to KTBB by phone. He says a highlight is getting students back in brick-and mortar schools, adding that “enrollment is kissing our pre-pandemic number, and I don’t think there’s a lot of school systems that can say that.” Crawford added, “I do think that our community is valuing our school system to trust us with their students (during) very changing times in our world right now.” Continue reading Crawford delivers State of the District address

LONGVIEW – An American Airlines flight bound for DFW International Airport made an unexpected landing Thursday at East Texas Regional Airport in Longview due to a “possible mechanical issue,” according to a statement from the airline. According to our news partner KETK, Flight 4210 was scheduled to fly from Alexandria, Louisiana, and was supposed to land in Dallas around noon. At some point during the flight, the plane squawked “7700”, the standard code for declaring an emergency. It’s unclear when the code was sent out, but the plane continued to fly toward Dallas before turning around west of Henderson. The plane then made a landing at East Texas Regional just before 11:30 a.m., according to the plane tracking site FlightAware. Continue reading Plane makes unexpected landing in Longview

TYLER — The City of Tyler is scheduled to begin construction on the Cloverdale Drainage Improvement Project on Nov. 12. The project will repair a failing storm drain system by improving undersized and dilapidated culverts to alleviate flooding of streets and homes caused by an undersized channel, according to a news release. The Cloverdale project runs along Cloverdale Drive and Silverwood Drive from Caperton Boulevard to just north of Woodlark Drive. Contractors are scheduled to work in the area from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The project is scheduled to be completed on Oct. 27, 2022, depending on the weather. Motorists are asked to obey detours and road closures and to use caution in the area. Click here for background on this project.

TYLER — NET Health’s George Roberts has some new statistics to back up his continued call for COVID-19 vaccinations: a study released this week by the Department of State Health Services. According to Roberts, the study showed that Texans not vaccinated against COVID-19 were about 20 times more likely to suffer a COVID-associated death — and 13 more times more likely to test positive — than fully vaccinated people. Roberts says the study also showed that vaccination had a strong protective effect across all age groups.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An East Texas man in jail for participation in the riot on Capitol Hill has asked for a pre-trial release. According to our news partner KETK, Ryan Nichols has been charged with several crimes, including an ‘act of violence in the Capitol’. In a court filing dated Nov. 1, he asked to be released on a personal recognizance. According to the filing, Nichols “categorically denies each charge and is eager to prove his innocence at trial.” He is being tried alongside Alex Harkrider, who was released on bond in April. Continue reading Longview man charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot requests pre-trial release

SMITH COUNTY — Chapel Hill ISD is mourning the loss of a 14-year-old freshman. According to our news partner KETK, Fernando Martinez and his mother Julia died in a car wreck on Highway 31 Tuesday. CHISD said they are making counseling available to students who need special attention and support at each campus. There is also support available from the community. CHISD will try and maintain a normal routine and structure as the situation and people allow, and they encourage others to do the same. Continue reading Chapel Hill ISD mourning death of freshman after tragic wreck

TYLER — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton covered a range of topics Wednesday during a visit to the KTBB studios. Asked why he became attorney general, Paxton says he saw the country “at a crossroads” when President Obama was in office and “felt a duty” to take the post. We mentioned the battles Paxton has been taking on, including immigration, vaccines, and the border situation. He said, “They’re all tough fights because you’re taking on the federal government” and other formidable foes. But he says the fights are necessary “or we are going to lose our country.” As for the legal battles he’s facing, Paxton said he won’t speak ill of his fellow Republicans but rather will speak of his own record and what he wants to accomplish. Continue reading Paxton pays a visit to KTBB

LONGVIEW — Longview City Council will consider a proposed redistricting plan during their regular meeting on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 5:30. Redistricting is conducted to adjust the boundaries of City Council voting districts in accordance with changes to population distribution. Longview has six council districts with one council member elected from each district. The 2020 Census showed Longview’s population grew from 80,455 in 2010 to 81,638 in 2020. In general, the majority of the growth took place in the northern sections of Longview. Officials say the proposed redistricting map makes small changes to each of the six districts in an effort to maintain even distribution. Click here for more information.

AUSTIN — Sales tax allocation figures from the state Comptroller’s Office continue to look good for the two biggest cities in East Texas. For the month of November, Tyler gets $4,965,429.01, up from $4,346,107.52 in November 2020. Tyler’s year-to-date number is $48,790,045.60, an increase from the $42,139,695.84 the city posted a year ago. Longview takes in $4,055,737.46, compared to $3,249,052.61 at this time last year. For the year to date, Longview shows $35,595,270.64, up from $31,053,029.47 in November 2020. Click here for more detailed information.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council passed a resolution Wednesday to nominate Trane U.S., Inc., for the Texas Enterprise Zone Program. The company, which opened its Tyler facility in 1956, has grown to be one of the city’s largest businesses as well as one of the largest Trane facilities in the world, according to a news release. Trane is proposing a $76.7 million investment to construct a 190,000 square foot building and assembly lines at the Tyler facility as a result of the Building 9 collapse from the early 2021 winter storm. The Texas Enterprise Zone Program is an economic development tool, and designated projects are eligible to apply for state sales and use tax refunds on qualified expenditures. Click here for more information. Continue reading Council takes action on Trane; no action on redistricting

TYLER — Tyler’s CampV celebrates Veterans Day with two events. First: the dedication of the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” Garden at 10:30. On KTBB’S “In Focus,” CampV’s Vicki Patzold said CampV was one of three locations selected for that event, which observes the centennial of the Arlington, Va., landmark. She says activities will include a 21-gun salute from the Marine Corps League of Jacksonville, along with a proclamation. That’s followed by a Veterans Day ceremony at Bullard’s Brook Hill School from noon till 2. Patzold says you’ll have the chance to visit the on-campus Freedom Museum and see the Honor Walk — adding, “It’s just a day to come together and celebrate our veterans.” CampV is a “one stop shop” for veterans, military members, and their families. Continue reading CampV celebrates Veterans Day

TYLER — The lead defense attorney for William Davis, the former CHRISTUS nurse who was sentenced to death for killing several patients, was allegedly caught trying to solicit a prostitute during the month-long trial. According to our news partner KETK, Phillip Hayes was arrested Friday, Nov. 5, and released after posting a $2,000 bond. However, an arrest warrant obtained by KETK News reveals that an undercover deputy for the Smith County’s Sheriff’s Office posing as a prostitute made contact with Hayes in a text message. The warrant says that the sheriff’s office “posted advertisements on a website commonly used for human trafficking and prostitution.” Continue reading Defense attorney in former nurse murder case charged with soliciting prostitute

SMITH COUNTY — A former Smith County detention officer was indicted by a grand jury for an alleged relationship with an inmate. According to our news partner KETK, Amanda Gayle Megrail, 26, of Lindale was charged on Sept. 30 for violating the civil rights of a person in custody, following a year-long investigation. Megrail originally turned herself in over a year ago on Sept. 18, 2020 after she confessed to having a sexual relationship with one of the inmates at the Smith County Jail. Megrail was put on administrative leave during the investigation and eventually terminated from her employment by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Continue reading Former detention officer charged with improper relationship with inmate indicted

TYLER — East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert, who has a well-earned reputation as a conservative firebrand, says that if he can raise one-million dollars in ten days, then he’ll run for State Attorney General. SMU Political Analyst Cal Jillson says the current AG, Ken Paxton, is seen as vulnerable. “He has been under indictment for the last 5 years and is also under FBI investigation. The bet is that if he goes down, the seat will be available”, says Jillson. Statewide offices in Texas rarely come open. Jillson says Gohmert has a strong case, but opponents will likely bring up his ties to the January 6th Capitol riot. A new report suggests he was one of several Republican members of Congress who helped plan the pro-Trump rally.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Parks and Recreation crew is getting in the holiday spirit and will be decorating downtown with thousands of twinkling lights in time for the 36th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. According to a news release, the tree lighting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 2, at the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza following the Tyler Rotary Christmas Parade scheduled for 6 p.m. The ceremony’s centerpiece is a 20-foot Leyland Cypress tree from Merkert Tree Farm in Beckville. The tree will be lit by the 2022 Miracle Child, representing the Children’s Miracle Network at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System. Parking is free and available at the Fair Plaza Garage on S. College Ave. The 2022 Miracle Child will be announced during a press conference at the Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum on N. Broadway Ave. on Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m.

TYLER — NET Health’s George Roberts remains encouraged with declining COVID-19 numbers in East Texas — but he says there’s still work to do. He tells KTBB things are still trending positively, although the virus’s presence is not going down as quickly as he would like, with the numbers flattening a bit since Thursday. Roberts is not letting up in his call for everyone to get vaccinated. He also reminds you that kids age 5 to 11 are now eligible for COVID shots. He says things are off to a pretty good start on that front, and officials may be doing some school outreach in the near future.

TYLER – A Mineola man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday for sexually assaulting a girl at Sky Ranch Christian Camp in Smith County. According to our news partner KETK, the sentence follows a guilty plea from 30-year-old Caylon Whittington. DNA evidence led to the arrest of Whittington, who was charged for inappropriately touching a nine-year-old girl while she was sleeping at the camp in 2015. Deputies were told the assault happened after someone sneaked into a cabin at night. The girl was attending a Green Acres Baptist Church children’s retreat. Whittington was arrested this past April in Llano County and transferred to the Smith County Jail.

AUSTIN – Three of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted offenders have been arrested, including an East Texan. According to a DPS news release, Billy Ray Dake, 47, of Harleton, was arrested in Wichita Falls Nov. 1, the same day he was added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders List. Dake had been wanted since May 17, when the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a warrant for his arrest for a parole violation. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office also issued a warrant for his arrest on Aug. 27, for failure to register as a sex offender. Dake had been convicted in 1992, 2011, and 2018 on charges dating to an incident involving a 5-year-old boy. He was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison but was released on parole in November 2019. The other offenders recently captured are from Odessa and Corpus Christi.