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There is a traffic flow problem on South Broadway. A vehicle struck a telephone pole at South Broadway and Winchester. The pole will need to be replaced. Oncor will be working to replace it and work is expected to impact rush hour traffic. The two northbound lanes of traffic on South Broadway are being diverted into the turning lane. Northbound traffic on Broadway will be moving slow for some time. Due to the work Oncor has to do to replace the power pole, the traffic signals are not working at the intersections of Broadway/Amherst, Broadway/Troup and Broadway/8th. Officers are actively directing traffic in these intersections. Motorists are encouraged to find alternate routes. Traffic will be moving slowly in these areas.

PALESTINE – The investigation is continuing in the shooting deaths of two Palestine residents. The bodies of Michael and Maryl Matthews, both 41, were found Saturday afternoon at a home on North Jackson Street. They were found by police responding to a domestic disturbance call. Both were declared dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. Based on the evidence, the deaths are being investigated as a murder/suicide.

LONGVIEW – A child playing with a lighter has started a fire that seriously injured a Longview man. The fire was reported shortly before 9:45 Sunday night in a mobile home on Lafamo Road. Fire crews found the man with burns and respiratory injuries due to fighting the bed room fire with a water hose. He was first taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center, then transferred to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. The child who started the fire, and two children who were asleep when the fire started, were able to get out without injury. The fire caused major damage to the bedroom and contents, and heavy smoke damage throughout. The structure damage is estimated at approximately $20, 000.

PALESTINE – To coincide with the declaration of a burn ban in Anderson County, Fire Marshal Kyle Betterton placed the City of Palestine under a temporary burn ban. The ban will last 90 days, or until lifted by the Fire Marshal.

TYLER — Last week was a busy one for early voting in East Texas. KETK reports that in Smith County, more than 6,000 people went to the polls on Friday alone according to county election officials. On Friday, voting locations at “The Hub,” Noonday, and Whitehouse saw more than 1,000 come out. Lindale saw just short of the century mark. And on Saturday, Smith County saw more than 30,000 people take advantage of early voting. Early voting runs through Friday. Election Day is November 8.

TYLER – The United States has obtained a civil judgment for $1,223,414.50 against Tariq Mahmood of Cedar Hill, who owned and operated multiple rural hospitals across Texas, including East Texas. That announcement came Monday from Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. In July 2014, a federal jury in Tyler found Mahmood guilty of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft. Following his conviction, the United States brought a False Claims Act action against Mahmood. The Government alleged in its Motion for Summary Judgment that Mahmood was stopped from denying liability under the False Claims Act as a result of his criminal health care fraud and conspiracy convictions. Continue reading United States Prevails in Civil Action against Convicted Doctor

GREGG COUNTY — A former Gregg County district attorney was fingerprinted Friday in the 188th District Court in Longview after pleading guilty to cocaine possession and revealing he was struggling with addiction when he was arrested in February 2015. According to KETK, Longview attorney Rob Foster, 71, will not see the inside of a prison if he adheres to conditions of a 10-year probation. He also can prevent a finding of guilt from ever being declared by a judge — and escape the lifelong label of “felon” — after defense attorneys David Moore and Kent Phillips persuaded the visiting to sentence Foster under a deferred adjudication model.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A two-year-old is dead in an Upshur County wreck Saturday night. DPS Trooper Jean Dark says troopers responded around 9:45 to the crash on FM 49, about 6 miles west of Gilmer. According to authorities, the 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche was traveling west on FM 49 at a high speed. Officials say the driver failed to negotiate a curve and went off the road into the tree line. Dark says the child, identified as Skylar Rabourn, of Big Sandy, was unrestrained. The driver, identified as Randell Phillips, was transported to ETMC-Tyler in serious condition.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating an armed robbery early Monday morning. Officials said it happened around 4:20 at Lavanderia Express on Vine Street. The cashier told officers an armed black man threatened the clerk with the handgun and demanded cash from the register and the safe. The suspect fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. He’s described as short and thin, wearing a mask, black hoodie and khaki pants. No injuries were reported. Contact police with any information.

TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the Tyler TxDOT district during the Week of Oct. 31, 2016. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. Officials urge you to slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones.

Smith County – Tyler Maintenance plans to conduct edge repairs on FM 2010 between FM 14 and FM 16. Base repair work continues on FM 15 outside of Troup. Expect lane closures at both locations with flaggers providing traffic control. Continue reading TxDOT’s Weekly Roadwork Update

WASHINGTON — The GOP taps an area congressman to talk about Obamacare in this week’s GOP media address, which is a key issue in this year’s presidential election. Representative John Ratcliffe of Rockwall pulls no punches, saying, “It’s the worst of all worlds.” He says the Affordable Care Act is far from its title, especially when factoring in this year’s rate increases. In Arizona, for example, rates are up 116 percent. Ratcliffe adds, “It’s higher costs and fewer choices. It’s less freedom and more government. It’s more uncertainty and less peace of mind.” Donald Trump started making Obamacare a higher-profile issue after the administration announced the higher rates a few days ago. Ratcliffe’s District 4 stretches to parts of Northeast Texas, including Rains County and a portion of Upshur County.

PALESTINE — Two are dead in what Palestine police say was an apparent murder/suicide. KETK reports police were called around 2:20 Saturday afternoon to a North Jackson Street location in reference to a domestic disturbance. The responding patrol officers were unable to make contact with anyone at the door. Officials say the officers forced entry into the residence due to the nature of the call and found two people with gunshot wounds. The officers contacted emergency medical services, but both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials say the incident is being investigated as a murder/suicide based on the evidence found at the scene and the ongoing investigation. The identities of the deceased were not immediately available.

TYLER — Authorities continue to investigate what they believe to a gang-related shooting Friday at a home on Keystone Drive in northwestern Smith County. Sheriff Larry Smith says Quinshard Barnes was transported by private vehicle to East Texas Medical Center after being shot three times, with two gunshots entering through the stomach area and one striking the buttocks. The sheriff says the wounds are not life-threatening. He added that no witnesses remained at the scene when deputies arrived. Continue reading Authorities Investigate Smith County Shooting

TYLER — Tyler Junior College police are investigating a report of a person who exposed himself to a female victim at the main campus library. KETK reports that around 1:20 p.m. on Friday, a man allegedly sat down down next to the victim inside Vaughn Library on a bench and exposed himself to her. The man is described as African-American, slim build, about 6 feet tall, with short black hair. He was wearing a maroon pullover with long sleeves and blue jeans and had a gray backpack with him. The man was last seen heading out the north end of the library. Continue reading Officials: Man Exposes Himself at TJC Library

LIBERTY CITY — Authorities in Gregg County say a 32-year-old Kilgore woman rammed a man’s truck with her car and then chased it out onto a road before wrecking her vehicle in a field. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Cherine Angela White was held at last report on bonds totaling $76,000. She’s charged with driving while intoxicated, driving with a license invalid with previous conviction/suspension without financial restitution, and aggravated assault of a date/family/household member with a weapon. Continue reading Authorities: Intoxicated Kilgore Woman Rammed Truck, Wrecked Car

RUSK — According to Rusk Interim City Manager Jim Dunaway, a recent investigation involving Chief of Police Jamie Campbell has resulted in Campbell’s resignation, effective October 30. KETK reports the investigation stemmed from a complaint about the chief’s treatment of officers. Dunaway said the interim police chief is Russell Pancoast, a retired police chief from Bee Cave, Texas. He will start duty Thursday morning. Continue reading Rusk Police Chief Resigns Following Investigation

TYLER — Police in Tyler are investigating a predawn Saturday robbery that happened while the victims were giving a ride to an unknown man. Officers responded to the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Frankston Highway around 3:40 a.m. and contacted 3 victims. According to a police news release, the victims said they were attending a party somewhere in Smith County off highway 64 West. Upon leaving the party, they were approached by a black male who asked for a ride. Continue reading Tyler Police Investigate Predawn Robbery

TYLER – One person is in custody in a Tyler stabbing. It happened in Times Square off South Broadway. It started around 3:00 Friday afternoon with a parking lot altercation. When a person tried to cut a woman’s car tire, she is said to have stabbed him in the chest. Tracey Harris was hospitalized with a non-life threatening injury. Arrested and charged with aggravated assault was Pamesha Brown.

TYLER – A Smith County man has been arrested on a charge of Injury to a child. A bond of $750,000 has been set on Douglas Wayne Burks Jr., 24, of Lindale. He is accused of severely injuring his 5 month old daughter. Burks was arrested on Friday and booked into the Smith County Jail. Last week, the infant was taken by ambulance from her Lindale home to East Texas Medical Center. After it was determined she was suffering from a severe head injury, she was flown to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. Dallas doctors determined she was suffering from a traumatic brain injury consistent with child abuse. Sheriff Larry Smith said, during a Wednesday interview at the sheriff’s office, Burks admitted he caused the little girl’s injuries.

AUSTIN – A Gregg County man has been selected by the governor to serve on the Commission on Jail Standards. He is Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt. He was named by Governor Abbott as presiding officer of the commission. His term will expire January 31st, 2019. Three others were also appointed to the panel. The commission establishes standards for the care and treatment of county prisoners, construction, maintenance and operation of county jails. Continue reading Judge Stoudt Named to State Commission

TYLER – Those who are voting early in downtown Tyler are getting a glimpse into history. Two historic voting booths were recently uncovered in storage. One is on display in the Smith County Elections Office lobby on East Ferguson. The Smith County Commissioners Court could vote to donate the other to the Smith County Historical Society. The Douglas Manufacturing Corp. steel collapsible voting booths with red, white and blue canvas curtains were invented in 1906 by Elizabeth Douglas in Nebraska. When Smith County began using the punch card voting systems, in 1978, they used the Douglas Manufacturing booths. They were in use in Smith County until the mid 1980s. Continue reading Old Voting Booth On Display in Tyler

TYLER — The public is being offered a chance to weigh in now that Tyler Parks and Recreation has entered into an agreement with Halff Associates to create a master plan for the Rose Complex area. According to information from the city, the Parks and Recreation Department and Halff Associates will be conducting two planning and design open houses on the item next month at the Rose Garden Center. They’ll be held Thursday, Nov. 10, from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the Rose Room and Friday, Nov. 11, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Azalea Room. Analysis diagrams and preliminary goal statements for the project will be on display. Officials say the public is invited to attend, learn more about the project, and offer input. Continue reading Public Invited to Rose Complex Master Plan Open Houses

TYLER – It looks like it will be a record turnout in Smith County for next month’s presidential election. Through Thursday, 23,840 persons have voted early in the county. That’s nearly half of the 50,567 people who cast ballots during the entire two weeks of early voting in the 2012 Presidential Election. And the polls will be open this weekend. According to Smith County Elections Administrator Karen Nelson, weekends have typically seen the slowest traffic in past elections. There are five early voting locations in the county, as well as temporary branches for early voting. Continue reading Early Voting Heavy in Smith County