KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Broadway Avenue has long been known as one of the most congested roads in Tyler. Five years ago, it ranked among the 50 most congested roads in the state, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). By 2023, its ranking improved significantly, dropping 40 spots to 87th place. In 2024, Broadway Avenue exited the top 100, landing in 102nd place. The following year, in 2025, it dropped another 18 spots to 120th place.

According to a City of Tyler news release, the continued drop is the result of multiple years of planning and annual traffic signal re-timing, initiated in 2019 as part of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Master Plan Study. This study set out a 10-year signal re-timing effort to reduce congestion and improve safety each year. Continue reading Traffic congestion continues to drop

UPDATE: The Daingerfield Police Department has confirmed the suspect’s identity as 65-year-old John Dupriest Jr.

EAST TEXAS — The Palestine Police Department is investigating a fatal crash that left one pedestrian dead on Tuesday evening after being struck by a UPS truck. According to the department and our news partner KETK, the wreck was reported around 8 p.m. Officers and firefighters arrived at the intersection of South Loop 256 and F.M. 322 and transported the pedestrian to a local hospital. The pedestrian was pronounced dead later that evening.

Based on witness statements and evidence at the scene, authorities believe the UPS driver was traveling west on South Loop 256 when the pedestrian attempted to cross the loop traveling north near the intersection. While the pedestrian was attempting to cross, the driver had a green light and entered the intersection, striking her with the truck.

According to officials, the driver remained at the scene following the crash and cooperated with authorities throughout the incident. The department said at this time no charges are being filed.

The investigation is ongoing. The pedestrian’s identity has not been released. The department stated she is not a resident of Palestine.

GILMER — A boil-water notice has been issued for parts of the City of Gilmer due to maintenance workers repairing the water system. Areas impacted include: East Scott Strett, 405 North Cypress Street (East side of the roadway).

Gilmer residents who are affected are asked to boil their water before consumption, such as brushing their teeth or washing their hands. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil, then continued to boil for two minutes.

Customers can purchase bottled water as an alternative to boiling water. Once the notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will alert all customers currently impacted.

Residents with any questions regarding the notice may contact Public Works Director Jonathan Nix at 903-843-8206 or Mayor Tim Marshall at 903-843-2552.

WOOD COUNTY — A suspect wanted on multiple felony warrants was killed Saturday night after a lengthy standoff with law enforcement in Wood County that left two officers wounded. On Tuesday, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 45-year-old Cody Joe Henderson.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to serve six felony warrants around the intersection of FM 515 and FM 2966 on Saturday. During the attempt, the suspect allegedly opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon, striking a Wood County deputy multiple times and wounding a DPS trooper. Both officers were transported to a hospital in Tyler, where the Texas Department of Public Safety said they’re expected to make a full recovery.

The suspect barricaded himself inside a residence on FM 2966, prompting a large law enforcement response. The Wood County Special Response Team and Texas Rangers assisted at the scene.

Authorities said negotiations continued for several hours as the suspect repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Multiple methods were used in attempts to get the suspect to surrender, including tear gas. Continue reading Suspect killed in standoff

HENDERSON COUNTY – An East Texas man was sentenced to life in prison on Friday by a Henderson County jury after he assaulted and threatened to kill a family member in 2025. According to the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office and our news partner KETK, 60-year-old Lawrence William Miller was arrested on Feb. 27, 2025, after officers from the Gun Barrel City Police Department responded to a call from a woman requesting an ambulance to her home on East Acres.

Once officers arrived at the home, they found the victim struggling to stand and was reportedly in visible pain with bruises covering her body. The victim initially told officers that she had fallen; however, once she was alone with EMS personel she allegedly said that Miller had kicked her in the face and body and threatened to kill her

During Miller’s trial, officers testified that they had been dispatched to the home several times over the past year. Additionally, Amanda Cooper with Breaking Chains, a coalition against family violence in Henderson County, testified as an expert witness on the trial, providing reasons why many domestic violence victims feel unable to leave and may be uncooperative with law enforcement or prosecution. Continue reading Life sentence for domestic violence

SMITH COUNTY — Several firefighters from Smith County Emergency Services District 2 (ESD 2) are being dispatched to West Texas amid potential wildfires. ESD 2 received a request for assistance from the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) regarding potential wildland fires in Pampa and Borger, both in the West Texas region. To provide assistance, ESD 2 will be sending two firefighters, one engine boss, and one dozer boss. Members of the Tyler, Nacogdoches, Texarkana and Longview fire departments are also being dispatched to provide aid.

TYLER — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made a campaign stop in East Texas on Tuesday as the keynote speaker for the Smith County Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan Day Dinner. Abbott delivered remarks during the event at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center in Tyler.

According to our news partner KETK, Abbott was joined by several state and local Republican leaders, including State Sen. Bryan Hughes, State Rep. Daniel Alders, State Rep. Cole Hefner and Nate Sheets, who is running for Texas agriculture commissioner.

PALESTINE – A woman was arrested in Palestine last week after allegedly burglarizing a vehicle in the parking lot of a Sherwin-Williams store. According to our news partners KETK and the Palestine Police Department, officers responded to a report of a vehicle burglary just before 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 12. Upon arrival, officers observed a woman matching the suspect’s description walking near a nearby pawn shop. She was later identified as 30-year-old Christie Schoolcraft, of Palestine, and was stopped and detained.

The police department said Schoolcraft initially provided a false name and date of birth but was later correctly identified. Items reported missing from the victim’s vehicle were allegedly found in her possession. Schoolcraft was transported to the Anderson County Jail, where she was booked on charges of burglary of a vehicle and failure to identify/giving false information. As of Tuesday afternoon, she remains in custody on a $12,500 bond.

TYLER – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke in Tyler on Monday as a part of his campaign to be one of two United States Senators for Texas. Monday’s campaign stop was part of the Texas-First Victoria Tour, a state-wide tour aimed at “mobilizing grassroots conservatives” ahead of the Republican Primary in March, where Paxton will face Incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Wesley Hunt.

If Paxton wins in March, he’ll face the winner of the Democratic Primary in November. Democratic Primary candidates include U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, Ahmad Hassan and Texas State Rep. James Talarico, who’s campaigning in Tyler on Feb. 24.

TYLER — Early voting for the March 3 primary election has begun. Many locations are opening for East Texans who want to get to the polls ahead of Election Day. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of early voting locations and times across East Texas where voters can cast their ballot before election day. For more county-specific information, such as hours of operation, visit the Secretary of State’s website.

Continue reading Early voting locations

LUFKIN – The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three men for murder after a Lufkin 18-year-old overdosed on fentanyl on Friday. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, deputies responded to a reported seizure or overdose at a home on Benton Drive outside of Lufkin. The deputies arrived at the scene and found Sierra Grace Duckworth, 18, of Lufkin, unconscious inside the home.

Duckworth was taken to a local hospital for treatment but was later pronounced dead. The sheriff’s office said Duckworth’s boyfriend, Coy Allen Cook, 21 of Lufkin, told officers that they had taken some blue fentanyl pills around two hours before the deputies arrived.

Cook and Logan Wayne Ferguson, 19 of Lufkin, reportedly went to the Hudson home of Roderick “Squirrel” Johnson, 25, to buy the fentanyl. According to the sheriff’s office, a purchase of fentanyl pills was set up via text messages that were later found on Duckworth’s phone. Continue reading Overdose leads to murder arrests

WHITEHOUSE – Five polling centers all across Smith County are now set up and ready for East Texas to start early voting. Crews loaded up the truck and delivered everything from booths and tablets, to traffic cones.

The City of Whitehouse spent all day organizing and getting things ready to show off their brand-new voting facility. Maurine Smith has been an election judge in Whitehouse since 2004 and is grateful to have the new location. The new Whitehouse City Center is located on 109 East Main Street and for this early voting period its the only place to cast a vote in the city of Whitehouse.

Smith County poll locations like the Whitehouse City Center are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week or from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Continue reading Early Primary voting today