KTBB News, Weather, Talk

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that a 51-year-old man has died, and another person was hospitalized on Saturday following a motorcycle crash in Cherokee County.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Chris Williamson, a group of motorcyclists was traveling Northbound on US Highway 69 around 12:30 p.m. when the driver of the motorcycle and a passenger were thrown from the vehicle. Williamson said the others in the group claimed the motorcycle O’Neal was driving experienced a “death wobble,” which describes when the front handlebars begin to shake violently.

Both were taken to local hospitals, where one man identified as Owen O’Neal, was pronounced dead. The other passenger’s condition is unknown at this time.The incident is currently under investigation to determine the cause.

TYLER — Authorities are investigating after a man was found shot Monday morning in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK and the Tyler Police Department, around 7:26 a.m. officers responded to the 2700 block of S. Broadway Avenue, where a man was shot. Officials said EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police spoke to the victim, who said that he had received his injuries at another location.

“This case is still under investigation and does not appear to be a random incident,” police said. “If anybody has any information on this case, please call the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.”

UPSHUR COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, more information has come out regarding the voluntary exit agreement between former Union Grove ISD Superintendent Kelly Moore and the district. The Union Grove ISD Board of Trustees accepted Moore’s resignation during a board meeting on July 22. Moore’s decision to resign stemmed from a criminal investigation she has been under since June for failing to report a crime that occurred on campus. The investigation remains active, and Moore could potentially face charges for failure to report, which is a misdemeanor.

Before her resignation, Moore’s contract was expected to run through June 2029. In the voluntary exit agreement provided by Union Grove ISD, it was revealed that she will still be paid her full salary of $130,500.00 over a twelve-month period. The exit agreement also states that Moore will provide assistance and cooperate with the district during this transition period. In accordance with the agreement, More will discharge the district and all of its employees and board members from any claims, attorney fees, and compensation whatsoever.

Following Moore’s voluntary resignation, Union Grove named Brian Gray, who has previously served as superintendent of Union Grove, as the interim superintendent as the district enters into this transition period.

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (KETK)– A man is dead following a one-vehicle crash in Jacksonville on Sunday, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a report from our news partner KETK, on Sunday evening, a truck was discovered overturned in a creek on Country Road 3305, and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. After officials arrived on the scene, the Texas Department of Public Safety was subsequently called to work the crash.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said more information regarding the crash will be released when it becomes available.

TYLER – A man was sentenced to 10 years probation after he pleaded guilty to stabbing his coworker’s husband at a Smith County event center, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

On July 8, 2023, around 10:15 p.m., Abiel Alberto Correa stabbed his co-worker’s husband at the Flamingo’s Event Center on 10749 FM 14 south of I-20. The victim’s wife said they were at the event center for another coworker’s graduation celebration.

According to Correa’s arrest affidavit, the victim’s wife explained that Correa was “extremely intoxicated,” and that he stabbed her husband for “no reason.” She also said he started speaking strangely to her and another coworker, telling them they needed to leave because “something was going to happen to them.” Her husband then tried to explain to Correa that everything was fine and there was no need to worry about anyone at the party. Correa was acting paranoid and kept saying that something bad was going to happen to them, the affidavit said. Continue reading Man gets probation for stabbing coworker’s husband

TYLER – According to a press release from the Tyler Police Department, a man has been arrested for the burglary of a business.

On Monday, August 4, 2025, at approximately 12:16 a.m., Tyler Police Department Officers responded to a local business in the 1700 block of West Southwest Loop 323 on a report of a burglary alarm.

Upon their arrival, officers saw a male suspect who immediately ran from officers as they arrived in the area. Officers were able to catch the individual without incident.

The suspect has been identified as twenty-six-year-old Levon Gates Jr., out of Arkansas. While verifying Gates Jr.’s identity, he was found to have several outstanding warrants from multiple agencies in the surrounding area, and out of state. He was transported to the Smith County Jail and booked into jail for multiple onsite offenses, including his outstanding warrants.

UPDATE: According to the Lindale Fire Department, Jim Hogg Road has been reopened following the gas line break Monday morning.

LINDALE – The City of Lindale announced on Monday afternoon that Jim Hogg Road is closed due to a gas line break, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The city said that Jim Hogg Road, just south of Sand Flat Road to CR 474, is temporarily closed because of a gas line leak.

Officials are asking the public to avoid this area while emergency services are on scene, and they will update once the roadway is reopened.

TYLER — East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran was interviewed on NewsNation last week to discuss redistricting efforts in Texas and trade talks in Europe.

“I think it’s pretty laughable that Governor Newsom should be talking about stacking the deck or playing by a different set of rules. California right now is 43 Democrats and 9 Republicans,” Moran said in a July 28 interview.

According to our news partner KETK, Moran, a Republican and the U.S. Congressman for Texas District 1-Tyler, was commenting on California Governor Gavin Newsom, who’s come out against Republican efforts to redraw the Texas congressional map in order to create more Republican-leaning seats in Congress. Continue reading Rep. Moran defends effort to redraw Texas congressional map

EMORY — The Emory Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the Kearney Trailers facility on Highway 19 on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the department said they were called out to the fire at 2:09 p.m. and when Engine 1 arrived at the facility they found smoke coming out of every door on a manufacturing building which was on fire in the back of the property.

Engine 1 then called for assistance and fire departments came from all across Rains County and neighboring areas. With their added assistance, firefighters were able to contain the fire to the main structure and its contents. The fire was extinguished by 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to an Emory VFD Facebook post. Continue reading Fire departments battle weekend blaze at Kearney Trailers

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Emergency Services District 2 has confirmed that a cyclist was injured on Friday in a presumed hit-and-run crash on Highway 271. Our news partner KETK reports, a passerby noticed a cyclist bleeding and foaming from the mouth in the 12990 block of Highway 271 in front of the Southwest Food Brookshire’s Distribution Center in Owentown, south of Winona.

The passerby called 911 at around 9:06 a.m., and fortunately, an EMS crew was passing by when they made the call. EMS deployed a Lucas device on the cyclist to do CPR on him automatically. Smith County officials said the cyclist suffered extensive injuries and has been transported to a local hospital for treatment. The case is being investigated as a hit-and-run since nobody at the scene witnessed what caused the extent of the cyclists’ injuries.

TYLER – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed a new world record for the longest lightning flash or “megaflash,” which struck from East Texas to Kansas City. According to our news partner KETK, he extensive 515-mile-long lightning flash struck during a severe thunderstorm complex on Oct. 22 of 2017. The flash could be seen from southeast of Dallas, near Athens and Corsicana, across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and into Missouri, near Kansas City.

“This new record clearly demonstrates the incredible power of the natural environment,” WMO rapporteur of Weather and Climate Extremes Randall Cerveny said. “Additionally, WMO assessment of environmental extremes such as this lightning distance record testify to the significant scientific progress in observing, documenting and evaluating such events.” Continue reading Longest lightning flash ever recorded in East Texas

LUFKIN — A U.S. District Court has ruled in favor of a preliminary injunction, preserving all women’s varsity teams at Stephen F. Austin State University, following a Title IX lawsuit after several sports teams were cut.

“The court finds that the financial burden self-imposed by SFA does not outweigh the harm suffered by plaintiffs. Therefore, the court finds that plaintiffs satisfied their burden for issuance of a preliminary injunction,” the order said.

According to our news partner KETK, this comes a month after several SFA student-athletes filed a class action lawsuit against the university, which had eliminated its varsity women’s beach volleyball team, the Ladyjacks bowling team, and the men’s and women’s golf teams. Continue reading Temporary injunction stops SFA from eliminating women’s sports programs

TYLER– Brookshire Grocery Co. and its customers have raised $100,000 to support communities affected by the recent floods in Central Texas, which claimed the lives of more than 100 people. According to our news partner KETK, in July, customers and employee partners at Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Spring Market and FRESH by Brookshire’s stores in Texas contributed to the flood relief campaign by purchasing donation coupons at checkout.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who were affected by this devastating natural disaster,” Brad Brookshire, Chairman and CEO of Brookshire Grocery Co., said. “It was important to our company to step up and help our Texas neighbors during this critical time. We are proud to be able to donate $100,000 to the victims and their families and hope it makes a meaningful difference to those affected.”

The funds raised will benefit the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and TEXSAR (Texas Search and Rescue), both of which provide aid to those impacted by the floods.