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Update: Smith County officials said that one person has died in a motorcycle and two car crash, late Thursday afternoon.

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Emergency Services District 2 confirmed that three people have been hospitalized after a crash on Highway 155 near Coffee City on Thursday, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The district said the crash occurred after a motorcycle and two cars collided near Cherokee Trail and County Road 189 on Highway 155 South near Lake Palestine. One person who was injured had to be transported to a local hospital by a helicopter, while two others were transported by ambulance.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office and local firefighters responded to the crash, which left traffic blocked on Highway 155 for more than half an hour.

TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities has launched new in-store payment options that allow customers to pay their utility bills while shopping at familiar neighborhood stores like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and Dollar General. “This is about meeting people where they are,” said Water Business Office Manager Chris Cambra. “We’re committed to making it as simple and convenient as possible for every customer to manage their account.”

According to Paymentus, the City’s payment processor, nearly 60 percent of customers either prefer to pay in cash or continue to do so regularly, and 87 percent of the U.S. population lives within three miles of a participating retailer.

“These changes are rooted in respect for our customers’ time,” Cambra said. “We know how frustrating it can be to wait on hold or juggle errands. Now, you can pay your bill while shopping or get a call back instead of waiting in line. It’s about making the process smoother, faster and more convenient.” Continue reading City of Tyler introduces in person pay options

SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a nurse in Tyler was arrested after being caught on video physically abusing a child with special needs while being responsible for watching her. The Tyler Police Department became aware of the alleged abuse when the victim’s grandparents reported that one of their live-in nurses, Gabrielle Toon, was seen on video smacking their 14-year-old granddaughter and aggressively pushing her. Toon was responsible for watching the child during the evenings from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.

The victim’s grandparents provided a list of the child’s medical condition to officials, stating that she is immobile, non-verbal and is dependent on oxygen at night. It was also reported that the victim has a chronic lung disease and is a kidney transplant recipient.

On July 7, officials received a video that allegedly depicted Toon physically abusing the victim on July 1. During the video, Toon was seen in what appeared to be a hospital bed with the victim physically harming her and slapping her multiple times. Continue reading Video captures Tyler nurse repeatedly abusing child

SMITH COUNTY – A Lindale woman was arrested after her 4-year-old family member tested positive to having meth in her system, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

In May, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office became aware that the 4-year-old, who was under the custody of Brittany Hankins, had tested positive for methamphetamine while in Hankins’ care.

Officials obtained a lab report from a hair follicle test administered by The Alcohol & Drug Testing Service on May 28 that confirmed Hankins’ family member had meth in her system. Further lab reports also confirmed that Hankins had tested positive for meth on May 2 and May 14, indicating that she was using drugs during the time that the child was exposed.

Following the investigation, Hankins was arrested and charged with endangerment to a child, and criminal negligence. She is currently being held in the Smith County Jail.

MARSHALL — According to a press release from the Marshall Police department, a man was arrested for stealing equipment while firefighters were actively battling a fire.

On July 11, at the Bel Aire Apartments on Paula street, while Marshall firefighters were working to bring a fire under control, Marshall Police officers were alerted that a bag of equipment was missing. The investigation led to a suspect in a nearby apartment, identified as Marcus Donte Moore, 28, of Marshall, and the Fire Department equipment was located.

While being handcuffed, Moore broke away from officers and was apprehended after a brief chase. One Marshall Police officer sustained a hand injury during the pursuit. Continue reading Marshall Police Arrest Man for Theft During Active Fire Response

ANDERSON COUNTY – A hearing in Palestine for death row inmate Robert Roberson, took place Wednesday morning after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requested a new execution date in his case involving the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis.

According to a report from our news partner KETK, the hearing was scheduled by Smith County District Court Judge Austin Reeve Jackson, who has been assigned to handle the case in Anderson County.

On January 31, 2002, Roberson took his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, to Palestine Regional Medical Center with severe trauma to her head, and the following day, she died from her injuries. In 2003, an East Texas jury decided, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Roberson caused the death of his daughter by violently shaking her. Medical staff and the lead detective on the case were suspicious of Roberson’s seemingly cold demeanor at the time of his daughter’s death, viewing it as an indication of guilt. Continue reading Court sets execution date for East Texas man

TYLER — Tyler Police are out with a warning about scam phone calls targeting elderly victims. According to a news release from the department, the scammers will claim to be local, state, or federal law enforcement. They are asking victims to withdraw money to purchase gift cards, Green Dot cards, or deposit money into crypto currency (Bitcoin) ATMs.

In a recent case that was reported to Tyler PD, the victim was contacted by a person claiming to be with the sheriff’s office telling her she had a federal warrant for her arrest for missing jury duty. They even provided the victim with a copy of a fake warrant of arrest from a US District Court with her name on it. The victim received the call from a “spoofed” phone number indicating it was from Smith County 911. A person identified themselves as a Sergeant and gave a badge number to further the scam. They told her they would arrest her if she didn’t pay the money. They even connected the caller to their supervisor, adding another person to help try and legitimize the scam. Continue reading Tyler Police warn residents of potential scam calls

LONGVIEW — A man has been arrested after allegedly committing arson at an apartment complex in Longview, according to the Longview Fire Department. According to our news partner KETK, after receiving reports of a structure fire inside a unit in the Lake Lamond Apartments on July 3, firefighters arrived on the scene and reported smoke coming from the apartment, identifying it as a working fire.

The fire was quickly brought under control, and the damage was limited to one apartment unit. It was later determined that the fire had been intentionally set, and damage was assessed at $50,000. No injuries were reported at the time of the fire.

Following an investigation, Dominique Terry was identified as a suspect. On Tuesday, Terry was arrested and transported to the Gregg County Jail, with his bond set at $ 100,000.

PALESTINE — Many lawmakers are raising urgent questions about how the state will sustain this growth, particularly regarding critical resources like water.

According to our news partner KETK, the Texas House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing in Austin on Tuesday to examine the impact of high-capacity groundwater extraction in the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation Districts. This discussion comes as Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC, based in Anderson County, seeks a permit for 21 high-capacity wells that Crockett City Administrator John Angerstein warns could extract up to 10 billion gallons annually from the Carrizo and Wilcox aquifers. An additional 11 wells proposed in Houston County could drain another 5 billion gallons each year.

To put that in perspective, Angerstein notes that the 21 wells alone would withdraw 52 times the volume of water used annually by the entire City of Crockett, enough to supply a population of 338,000. “Yet none of this water is designated for our communities,” Angerstein said. “It is likely intended to support unchecked development and sprawl in other parts of Texas, presumably in the DFW metroplex or Hill Country, areas that have failed to plan responsibly for their own water needs.” Continue reading Lawmakers hear debate over massive groundwater extraction

LUFKIN — According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man was arrested in Lufkin on Saturday after officers received reports of gunshots coming from a house. Officers were called to a house in the 400 block of Laurel Avenue after receiving a call from a woman who claimed she and her son had been threatened with being shot by their female neighbor. Once on scene, officers were met by two men at the front door who claimed there were no weapons inside the home.

Subsequently, investigators heard gunshots coming from inside and requested that the men allow them to enter the location. That’s officials they say 32-year-old Courtney Howard of Lufkin, prevented them from entering the house. Officers began to forcibly move Howard out of the way and entered the house to discover a female having a seizure.

They were able to move the female outside, allowing paramedics to attend to her. After the house was cleared, Howard was arrested and charged with interfering with public duties and was taken to Angelina County Jail and is being held on a $2,000 bond.

MARSHALL – As the City of Marshall continues to repair its damaged water transmission line, the city has extended its Stage 1 water shortage.

According to a report from our news partner KETK, the damage to the line was reported on June 25 and was caused after a contractor accidentally struck the line while boring a fiber optic line off State Highway 134. The damaged line was initially installed in 1949 and serves one of two transmission lines that deliver raw water from the pump station to the Caddo Jr. Reservoir.

Permanent repairs to the line are expected to begin on Thursday and are believed to take one to two days. During the repairs, comprehensive testing will be done to ensure there are no leaks in the system. Continue reading Marshall residents urged to persevere water as shortage persists

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is looking for information regarding a shooting on Monday night that led to a teenager being transported to a local hospital, according to our news partner KETK.

The Longview Police Department said officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Debra Drive in Longview around 10:03 p.m. in response to a shooting. Once officers arrived, they found a teenage victim at the scene. The Longview Fire Department took the teenager to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Longview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 903-237-1199 or the Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP.

Callers have the option to remain anonymous during the phone call.

UPSHUR COUNTY – An Upshur County drug dealer was sentenced to 35 years in prison after investigators found nearly 50 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside his vehicle in 2024.

According to the Upshur County District Attorney’s Office, on Sept. 25, 2024, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on 38-year-old Randy Ray Price, who has several previous narcotic-related stops. While searching Price’s vehicle, deputies found a large plastic bag with nearly 50 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside the glove box of the vehicle.

Price pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that a Henderson County man was arrested on July 9 after a cyber-tip confirmed he posted videos of child pornography back in March.

According to a Henderson County arrest affidavit, around 8:20 a.m. on March 25, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) submitted a cyber-tip that said user ‘rustywinchester’ had uploaded two videos of minors engaging in sexual conduct.

After a Henderson County Crimes Against Children Investigator viewed the videos, he believed the girl was under the age of 14, but the boy did not reveal his face at any time during the video.

In the document, the user labeled the description of the production as, “rustywinchester is a five feet, 10 inches at 180 to 190 pounds country boy, redneck biker. I’ll try and get a picture in a few minutes.”

The investigator soon found an image that identified the suspect as George Richard Madis Jr., 58 of Murchison, and matched the description. Madis was arrested for possession with intent to promote child pornography on July 9, but posted his $75,000 bond the following day.

Tyler – The City of Tyler said in release Tuesday, that crews will be replacing the traffic signal pole at the intersection of Highway 271 and East Northeast Loop 323, Wednesday, June 16. Drivers can expect lane closures and delays all day. Officials ask that you use other routes and caution while traveling in this area, because workers will be present.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – A Rusk man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, according to a press release from the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs

According to information presented in court, on December 4, 2023, Justin Jones, 37, was seen driving on County Road 2120 in Cherokee County. The Sheriff recognized Jones and attempted to stop him for an outstanding arrest warrant. Jones abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene on foot. A search of the abandoned vehicle revealed Jones was in possession of a cell phone, two rifles, and a pistol. The phone also contained a photo of Jones holding one of the rifles. Jones has several prior felony convictions, including four prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, Jones is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms.

Jones pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 15, 2025.

SMITH COUNTY – A Bullard man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday after two young girls told their dad they had been sexually abused in July 2024, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

On Dec. 12, 2024, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a transfer case of physical and sexual abuse involving three children from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Smith County officials learned that two sisters, under the age of 10, had been placed with their biological father. The two girls told their father they had been sexually abused in July, and he reported the allegations to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Officials also learned that Child Protective Services ordered a Child Safety Check Alert List (CSCAL) for their 3-year-old sibling. Continue reading Two charged with child sexual abuse

TYLER — Our news partner KETK reports that an East Texas man is facing additional charges after he allegedly abandoned nine puppies throughout Smith County. The charges come just days after he was arrested for abusing the puppies’ mother.

Bryson Joe Jeffery was first arrested in Tyler on the Fourth of July after he admitted to kicking and hitting his dog with a surge protector power strip. The next day, officers became aware that Jeffrey had abandoned nine recently born puppies across Smith County.

According to the arrest affidavit, the puppies were found in three different locations, including New Copeland Road and Wilma Street. One woman discovered two puppies at her front door and several others around the neighborhood. She took them to a local rescue called Angel Paws, where an employee stated the puppies were newborns and not able to open their eyes yet. Continue reading Man faces new charges after dumping 9 puppies

MARSHALL — According to our news partner KETK, the Marshall City Council recently made changes to traffic patterns near schools to improve student safety and clear up traffic congestion. The council is looking to prevent traffic conflicts in these areas and to enhance safety for all pedestrians. All appropriate signage and roadway markings are now in place at the affected locations, which include: Sanford Street and West Emory Street – intersections is now a four way stop; St. Francis Street and Meadow Street – intersection is now a four way stop and Hollis Taylor Street – street is now one way westbound from Meadow Street to Washington Avenue.

“We want drivers to be aware of these changes before school starts,” Marshall Police Chief Cliff Carruth said. “These updates are designed with community safety in mind, especially for our students and school zones. We appreciate everyone’s attention and cooperation.”

For more information about these road changes, contact the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575.

AUSTIN – Continuing the fight against Red Town Ranch holdings’ production permit for 21 high-capacity groundwater wells in Anderson County, Texas, lawmakers are gearing up to hear from experts at Tuesday’s natural resources committee meeting in Austin.

According to our news partner KETK, during the meeting, Harris said he and several Texas lawmakers will hear from over 30 expert witnesses, including industry leaders and local officials, about how this will impact East Texas and its main water supply. Other Texas lawmakers have already shown their support for Harris and his effort to protect the East Texas water supply. State Representative Jay Dean of Longview said in a statement he’s ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with Harris and the rest of East Texas. Meanwhile, state representative Daniel Alders of Tyler said he’s ready to dive deeper into protections that already exist.

Harris said after the committee meeting, he plans to speak to Governor Greg Abbott’s team about future legislation, and to ask if it can be added to the upcoming special session, all in the fight to protect the livelihood of East Texans now and in the future. Continue reading Rep.Harris looks to protect East Texas water rights

ATHENS — According to our news partner kETK, nine people were arrested in Athens on Sunday for suspected cockfighting after Henderson County authorities found several dead birds. Henderson County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said they responded to a report of suspected cockfighting near County Road 3918 in Athens. Deputies witnessed around 200 people at the scene with several of them fleeing once they saw law enforcement.

According to HCSO officials, investigators discovered many dead roosters along with evidence that suggested cockfighting transpired at the location. Once a search warrant was obtained, investigators later found a suspected fighting arena and seized various types of evidence from the scene.

“On the premises, investigators uncovered a fighting arena and confiscated sharp metal gaffs (artificial spurs attached to the rooster’s leg) commonly used in illegal cockfighting matches,” HCSO said. “A total of 89 live roosters and two deceased birds were seized from the premises along with 26 vehicles and a large amount of U.S. Currency.” Continue reading Nine arrested for suspected cockfighting in Athens

TYLER – The man who was wanted for stealing hundreds of dollars from Zippy J’s in Tyler after shutting off the store’s power and claiming to have a gun was arrested on Friday.

According to a Smith County arrest warrant affidavit, 25-year-old Trayvonte Deshawn Gates was arrested for the robbery at Zippy J’s after a store employee received a tip on social media about him.

The arrest warrant affidavit said that around 1:05 a.m. Tyler police officers responded to a robbery at Zippy J’s on 1610 S. Vine Avenue. The 911 callers told dispatch that a black man wearing a white shirt, black pants and a black backpack had robbed Zippy J’s and was last seen leaving towards the Bingo Hall.

After officers searched the surrounding area and were unable to find the suspect, they returned to the gas station to talk to store employees. The workers explained to police that around 1 a.m. the lights went off in the store and a black man entered the store a short time later. Continue reading Suspect wanted for robbing Zippy J’s in Tyler arrested

TATUM — Our news partner KETK reports that two Florida suspects have been detained in connection with a string of burglaries at the Tatum Baseball Field parking lot in late June.

Around 7:40 p.m. on June 26, officers were notified that numerous vehicles had been burglarized at the Tatum baseball field parking lot on West Johnson Street. According to the Tatum Police Department by the time officers arrived, the suspects had fled, and attempts to locate them were unsuccessful.

On Saturday, Tatum PD was contacted by the DeSoto Police Department in Dallas County, who said they had initiated a traffic stop on a sedan. After a chase, two passengers were identified and detained. Continue reading Suspects detained following vehicle burglaries in Tatum

AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton has requested death row inmate Robert Roberson of Palestine, whose execution date was delayed last year after his case became a political lightning rod, be executed on Oct. 16.

A hearing is set for 10 a.m. on Wednesday in the 3rd District Court in Palestine where Smith County District Judge Austin Reeve Jackson will decide whether to proceed with the Paxton’s request.

“There is no justification for the Attorney General’s relentless effort to kill an innocent human being — and no state law or moral law that authorizes seeking an execution date under these circumstances,” Gretchen Sween, Roberson’s attorney, said in a new release last week.

Roberson was convicted of capital murder in 2003 for the death of his 2-year-old daughter Nikki, who was diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome. Continue reading Attorney General requests Robert Robertson be executed

TYLER – A man was arrested over the weekend after striking a 10-year-old boy in the face multiple times with a closed fist near a Tyler church, our news partner KETK reports.

According to the Smith County arrest affidavit, around 4:37 p.m. on Saturday Tyler Police responded to 2726 Van Highway near Higher Heights Community Baptist Church where several people seemed to be upset and shouting very loudly at each other.

The document said once officers were able to separate the people arguing, they talked to a 10-year-old and his mother who explained Keyshawn Zakievan Jackson, 21, punched the child in the face multiple times.

“The mother of the victim, along with several other witnesses on scene, stated Jackson had struck the 10-year-old in the face with closed fist strikes multiple times,” the affidavit said. “Even Jackson’s sister, who was advocating for him (the child was allegedly being very pestering and shoving Jackson throughout the day), had stated Jackson punched the victim.” Continue reading Man arrested after punching 10-year-old in face

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that a man was arrested early Friday morning after driving his pickup truck through the entrance of a vape shop in Smith County.

According to the Community Outreach Coordinator for Smith County Emergency Services District 2, Nikki Simmons, Battalion 1, Engine 156, and Engine 161 arrived at Just Smoke in Gresham after hearing reports of a vehicle driving through the front of the shop.

Once on the scene, officials observed a Ford pickup inside the building and found the driver outside of the store with no apparent injuries. The driver refused to be transported to the hospital and was arrested by members of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Oncor crews were also on the scene to assess for any substantial electrical damage.

At this time, officials have not released the identity of the driver.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department has confirmed that a man died on Saturday after a vehicle fell on him according to our news partners at KETK. The Tyler Patrolman’s Association, the Fraternal Order of Police lodge for Tyler officers, said that officers responded to assist EMS at a property on South Palace Avenue on Saturday. According to Tyler PD, the man was under his car when a jack failed, causing the car to fall onto him. The man was freed by officers and EMS took him to a local hospital where Tyler PD confirmed that he died. The Tyler Patrolman’s Association said the Tyler PD Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the man’s death.

ANDERSON COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, an arrest affidavit revealed the two East Texas parents that were arrested for child neglect claimed their infant wasn’t getting the proper care because the father is a “naturalist,” meanwhile, detectives discovered bottles filled with mold, maggots covering the trash can and traces of methamphetamine.

On Tuesday, a child abuse and neglect investigation was opened for a six-month-old infant. The report first came from Child Protective Services (CPS) after the infant was taken to an emergency room in Athens on July 3 for a rash by her parents, Devon Langley and Cheyanne McGinty.

“After further inspection by medical staff, they recommended the baby needed to get further medical advice from Children’s Medical Center located in Dallas due to the apparent signs of malnutrition, [the baby] was born at seven pounds, eight ounces on Dec. 24, 2024 and weighed eight pounds as of July 4,” the document said. “Both parents denied transporting the baby to Dallas via ambulance due to the cost of bills and gas.” Continue reading Parents cite ‘naturalist’ beliefs for infant neglect

Tyler – Discovery Science Place welcomes East Texas educators to its annual Educator Open House on Friday, July 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This free event is designed exclusively for teachers and school staff, offering a preview of educational programming for the upcoming school year, along with hands-on STEM fun and networking.

The Open House, held inside the Discovery Science Place Museum at 308 N. Broadway Ave. in downtown Tyler, is for adults only and open to anyone working in education. Attendees will enjoy museum access, classroom activity ideas, free food from Jucy’s Tacos, and the chance to win door prizes. The evening is also an opportunity to learn about field trip offerings and in-school programs designed to bring science to life for students of all ages.

“This event is our way of saying thank you to educators and equipping them with tools to make science education even more engaging,” said Bradley Lindsey, Director of Education at Discovery Science Place. “We want teachers to leave inspired, connected, and excited about the resources we can offer them throughout the school year.”

Peltier Chevrolet serves as the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Educator Open House. Additional support is provided by East Lake Medical, Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers, Cooperative Teachers Credit Union, VeraBank, Sinclair Law Office, and Cavender’s Boot City.

Admission to the event is free. Learn more at http://www.discoveryscienceplace.org/educator.

TYLER — Bishop of Tyler Gregory Kelly has announced a special collection at Masses this weekend to raise aid for those affected by the Central Texas flooding, according to our news partners at KETK. According to Kelly, the special collection will occur on July 12 through July13 and support efforts will be coordinated through the Catholic Charities of East Texas. Those who attend are encouraged to consider donating financial aid by participating in the special collection. Continue reading Bishop of Tyler calls special collection to support flood victims