KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The Tyler City Council unanimously voted to authorize a $348,218 contract with A&B Construction, LLC to replace and reroute a 10-inch sanitary sewer line and install four manholes in the 2800 block of South Southwest Loop 323. That’s near the Walton Road intersection. “The City assessed the line and determined the segment of sewer line is eroding and compromising the line and adjacent manholes,” said Environmental Engineer Paul Neuhaus. According to a news release, the project includes removing and replacing about 982 linear feet of a gravity sanitary sewer main, rerouting the line and constructing and installing four manholes.

EAST TEXAS — Thousands lost power in East Texas Tuesday afternoon as storms passed through the area. According to our news partner KETK, at one point over 3,000 outages were reported in Tyler, with many more spread around the region. Crews were working to get things back to normal. More rain is expected Wednesday and later in the week as well.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Housing Agency, Neighborhood Services, will open an online portal for residents to apply for housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The portal opens Wednesday, May 26, at 9 a.m. and will remain open through 6 p.m. Friday, May 28. According to a news release, applications will be selected and ordered using a computer-generated random system for 2,000 available slots. The random, computer-generated selection of applicants will be performed on June 2 after the online application process closes on May 28. The time and date of receipt of the online application does not determine whether an application will be selected for the waiting list, according to the release. Click here and scroll down to “Tyler News” to learn more.

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s office is investigating a high-speed pursuit that ended in a fiery crash early Tuesday. Officials say the suspect car, flashing hazard lights, approached a patrol vehicle from behind on Highway 31 East. It then swerved towards the patrol vehicle and then sped off without maintaining a single lane. Deputies pursued the car until it lost control on a curve on CR 26, ran off the road, rolled over, and burst into flames. 39-year-old suspect Cederick Billington of Tyler was able to crawl out of the car and was taken to the hospital, with his condition not immediately known. No charges were immediately filed.

AUSTIN (Staff/AP) — State Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler is upbeat about passage of his permitless carry bill by the full Legislature. He told KTBB, “It’s important to defend Second Amendment rights. It’s equally important to restore Second Amendment rights that have been eroded over the years. This bill will allow Texans to enjoy the same Second Amendment freedoms that millions of other Americans enjoy — and now is the time.” Governor Abbott says he’ll sign the still-controversial measure into law. The bill lets people carry handguns without a license, and bypass the corresponding background check and training.

LONGVIEW — A man has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of a Longview man in his home on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, Adam Tuan Nguyen, 23, Longview, is in Gregg County Jail facing murder, drug and tampering with physical evidence charges and a charge for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is accused of killing Brantravious Williams, 21. Police went to Williams’s home in the 1200 block of Second Street at 11:15 Saturday morning in response to reports of gunfire. Williams was found dead in the home. Another person who had been shot was taken to a hospital with what police said were non-life-threatening injuries. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — A variety of law enforcement agencies collaborated in the arrest of eight people in an undercover prostitution sting, according to a news release from the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. Officials say the online effort targeted persons soliciting prostitutes in the Smith County area. The news release notes that over the last several years, human traffickers have moved their criminal enterprise online.

TYLER — Smith County Republican Party Chairman David Stein Monday announced his intent to run for re-election in the March 2022 Primary. “We made progress both organizationally and structurally in our party and I look to continue that trend for another two years,” said Stein in a prepared statement. Stein is president and area developer for Office Pride of East Texas, a commercial cleaning company. Among other volunteer work, Stein currently serves the community as Board Chair for United Way of Smith County and has been a volunteer there for 20 years.

TYLER — Tyler’s Goodman-LeGrand Museum is undergoing Phase 1 renovations, which include foundation work, through Thursday, May 27. The museum will be closed to the public during this time, according to a city news release. Renovation funds for this project have been raised through private gifts and donations, grant funds, and Historic Tyler Inc. The five phases of the restoration project will require approximately $827,600 to complete. The projects are estimated to be completed in 2024. Private gifts and grants are being sought to help preserve the historic home. Anyone interested in donating to fund the projects can click here. For more information, call Debbie Isham, special events and Goodman Museum supervisor at (903) 531-1286.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler is concerned about treatment of suspects in the January 6 Capitol riot. Gohmert acknowledges that any found guilty should be punished. But he tells KTBB, “It seems like the Justice Department is going out of its way to particularly punish people that supported Donald Trump.” Gohmert says people who rioted over the George Floyd incident aren’t getting the same treatment. He also says the commission being appointed to study the riot, though bipartisan, is being chosen by Democrats — which also concerns him.

TYLER — TxDOT has begun its annual “Click It or Ticket” seat belt campaign with law enforcement increasing efforts to enforce compliance through June 6. Tyler-based DPS Sgt. Jean Dark is among those reminding drivers and passengers to wear their seat belts. Officials say unbuckled vehicle occupant deaths increased in 2020. According to TxDOT, putting on a seat belt only takes a few seconds and doing so reduces the risk of dying by up to 45% for people in the front seat of passenger cars and up to 60% for people in pickup trucks. Click here for more information on seat belt use and the Click It or Ticket campaign.

AUSTIN — A bill limiting how students learn about current events and historic racism has passed the Texas Senate with some changes. Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola introduced the Senate version. The bill aims to ban critical race theory in public schools. The new version requires new standards for civics education with a new teacher training program to start in 2022. Dallas schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa thinks if passed, the bill could negatively affect business in Texas. Supporters say the bill only ensures that students aren’t taught that one race or gender is superior to another. The bill now goes back to the House for another vote.

EAST TEXAS — NET Health is holding two-dose Pfizer vaccine and the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine clinics at the Harvey Hall Convention Center, this Tuesday through Friday (May 25th -28th) from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. All of NET Health’s COVID vaccine clinics will be closed this Saturday May 29th and will resume operation on Tuesday June 1st. Mobile COVID vaccine clinics are also being held at several school campus locations this week and are open to anyone above the age of 12,any employee within the listed school district, and any citizen or community member who travels to the vaccine clinic location. For more information, click here

TYLER – A Tyler woman who confessed to writing more than $40,000 in checks to herself from the business that employed her has been indicted by a Smith County grand jury. According to our news partner KETK, an arrest warrant indicated Vicki Melhart, 39, wrote the checks while working for Deerbrook Storage Unit. The 107 checks were made out between October 2, 2019, and April 4, 2020. The owner of the company told police that Melhart’s job had been “renting units, paying various bills, and taking payments.” She was fired when the owner found out that she had been writing the checks and forging his or his son’s signature. In total, the checks added up to $40,125.35. Continue reading Tyler woman indicted for embezzling from her employer

TYLER — Green Acres Baptist Church has chosen their next senior pastor, who will replace senior pastor David Orlo Dykes. According to our news partner KETK, Dr. Michael Gossett was selected as the next senior pastor, effective Sept. 1. “He is a genuine guy who has a passion for God, and a passion to reach people for Jesus Christ,” Dykes said. Dykes has been pastor at Green Acres for 30 years, and announced his retirement in February. A committee then started the process of finding a candidate to recommend as pastor. The pastor search committee said Gossett was picked unanimously.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are investigating a shooting after one man is dead and one person drove themselves to a local hospital. According to our news partner KETK, around 11:15 a.m on Saturday, police arrived on the scene in the 1200 block of Second Street where they found one man dead with a gunshot wound and discovered that another person with non-life threatening injuries drove themselves to a hospital. Police have not released the name of the man and have not released information of the other person involved. Police encouraged that anyone with information contact the Longview police department at 903-237-1199.

TYLER — An Oregon man was arrested in Tyler after he was accused of killing a 30-year-old Portland woman who was a mother and worked as a TriMet driver. According to our news partner KETK, Henry Brogdon, of Portland, was arrested by the United States Marshal’s Service in Tyler on Friday and was booked in the Smith County Jail. Brogdon faces charges of murder in the  and unlawful use of a weapon for his alleged role in the slaying of 30-year-old Breauna White. Continue reading Oregon man arrested in Tyler after killing 30-year-old Portland woman

TYLER — South Tyler Rotary #1883 is hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, May 24, in the parking lot of First Christian Church on South Broadway on the Carter BloodCare bus. To receive more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Dalton Dickerson at (903) 526-0880. According to a news release, the pandemic has kept the blood supply at levels not seen in decades. Carter BloodCare is calling on the community to restock the shelves. Appointments are encouraged. Donors can complete the medical history questionnaire online on the day of donation, before arriving to give blood. Donors and staff are required to wear masks; surfaces are cleaned between each donation. Click here for more information.

EAST TEXAS — Rain and flooding are continuing to cause problems in East Texas, but things were improving as of late Thursday afternoon. TxDOT says water has receded and roads that were flooded in Cherokee County are open to traffic. Those are: FM 855, FM 1247, FM 23, and FM 1857. In Smith County, FM 724 is open and back to normal traffic flow. FM 1804 in Smith County and FM 1254 in Wood County remain closed due to flooding. Motorists are reminded not to drive around barricades put in place for the safety of the traveling public or drive through still or moving flood waters. Hidden dangers could exist such as debris, tree branches, power lines, or damage to the road. TxDOT reminds you: #Turn Around, Don’t Drown. For road conditions and traffic updates visit DriveTexas.org.

TYLER — Beginning Saturday, May 22, some local student talent will be on display through the Tyler ISD Virtual Art Museum. According to a news release, the Tyler Museum of Art and Texas Art Education Association are co-hosting the project. Viewers can select a Tyler ISD campus to view a gallery of student art pieces. Viewers can move through the gallery by following the directions on the screen. They can also click the art pieces to learn the inspiration behind them or select the image of the art teacher to learn more about that campus’s art program. Click here and scroll down to “News” for more information.

LONGVIEW — A missing teen has been found safe in Upshur County. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office had earlier sought help finding reported runaway Keara Sustaire, 13. She’d last been seen last seen Thursday around 2 a.m. in the northern area of White Oak.

TYLER — The city of Tyler is reminding you about a couple of street projects. Beginning Monday, crews will begin improvements at Melinda Lane and Donna Drive, with work expected to last about eight months. The same day, they’ll kick off an upgrade effort on Mirabeau Drive. Officials say that one should wrap up in August. Click here for more information and scroll down to “Tyler News.”

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank schedules two more mega drive-thru produce distributions in Tyler. As with past distributions, the events are open to anyone and there are no eligibility or paperwork requirements. These are drive-thru distributions and walk-ups will not be accepted, according to a news release. Multiple households can carpool. If someone is unable to attend a distribution, they may send a note with a friend or family member to pick up food for them. The note must include their name, signature, and a statement that the individual is permitted to pick up food for you. Any single car may not have more than three of these notes, so a maximum of four households can be served per vehicle. Continue reading More drive-thru food distributions in Tyler

TYLER — Representatives from Group M7 Design join administrators at Tyler ISD’s Caldwell Arts Academy to dedicate the school’s new Digital Arts Lab. In August, Group M7 formed a partnership with Caldwell that provided $60,000 to furnish the lab with 24 virtual desktops, 24 drawing tablets, and the school’s own HPE server to store all of the creative digital pieces students produce each year. According to a Tyler ISD news release, the partnership also gives Caldwell students opportunities to participate in master classes with designers and developers from Group M7 to create innovative projects. Continue reading Caldwell Arts Academy, Group M7 dedicate school’s new digital arts lab

HENDERSON — A Rusk County jury Thursday sentenced Kendrick Davis, 30, to 22 years in prison on human trafficking charges. That’s according to our news partner KETK. On Dec. 6, 2018, Davis was arrested at his house near Henderson when sheriff’s deputies served warrants for human trafficking and possessing drugs. Records show that drugs and a 26-year-old woman with injuries were in the house at the time. Davis was charged with human trafficking, aggravated sexual assault, and other crimes.

TYLER — Nominations are due by close of business Friday for the “Doc” Ballard Award for Excellence in Public Health. According to the NET Health website, the accolade “is NET Health’s highest honor, awarded to an individual or organization that exemplifies the concept of public health, as distinguished by dedication to the goal of protecting and promoting the health of the community.” The nominee does not have to be a doctor or health professional; services provided by the nominee can be in cultural, civic, religious, or philanthropic endeavors, according to officials. This year’s honoree will be announced at the NET Health Board of Directors meeting scheduled for June 24th. Click here for more information.

TYLER — The COVID vaccine clinics at Harvey Convention Center in Tyler continue to provide access for adults of any age and for kids above the age of 12. Persons over 18 can receive the one-dose J&J vaccine or the two-dose Pfizer vaccine while eligibility to receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine is expanded to anyone over age 12. Hours of operation are from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, now through the end of May. Click here for more information

ATHENS – The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center announces a return to full operational status. Due to the public health situation, TFFC, located in Athens, had limited operations and visitor services since March 2020. Officials say during the pandemic, in anticipation of reopening, TFFC personnel utilized the partial closure to focus efforts on renovations and upgrades to enhance the visitor experience. The indoor portion of the visitor center, including the dive theater and gift shop, and the Texas Game Warden museum are now again open to visitors. Group reservations have also resumed along with tours of the hatchery facilities. Click here for more information and to plan your visit.

TYLER — The city of Tyler wants you to know about a couple of street projects and a special offer for young library patrons. Beginning Monday, crews will begin improvements at Melinda Lane and Donna Drive, with work expected to last about eight months. The same day, they’ll kick off an upgrade effort on Mirabeau Drive. Officials say that one should wrap up in August. Meantime, Tyler Transit and the Tyler Public Library have partnered to promote the Summer Reading Program. During the months of June, July, and August, all students under 18 can ride Tyler Public Transportation System’s fixed routes free of charge when traveling to and from the library. Click here for more information and scroll down to “Tyler News.”