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KARNACK — The financial director for Karnack ISD was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing public funds for personal use. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said an investigation was launched in early February after the school district reported suspected financial irregularities in district funds. Subpoenas were issued, and officials reviewed financial and credit card records. Authorities allege the review revealed that Karnack ISD’s financial director, Courtney Johnson, used district funds for personal expenses through unauthorized credit card transactions.

Officials said the probe identified more than $128,000 in district funds that were allegedly misappropriated.

Since then, Johnson has been charged with theft by a public servant, misapplication of fiduciary property of a financial institution and credit card abuse. Continue reading Director arrested for allegedly stealing

TYLER — A 29-year-old man is dead following a road rage shooting in Tyler on Friday evening. The incident occurred at around 5:10 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of Grande Boulevard while vehicles were stopped at a red light at Paluxy Drive, according to our news partner KETK.

The victim, identified as Trevor Julian, 29, of Whitehouse, was a passenger in a Tesla. Investigators determined that Julian exited the vehicle and approached the driver of a pickup truck stopped behind the Tesla. Lance Cpl. Julian, a native of Carthage, served as an automotive maintenance technician with Headquarters Regiment, 3d Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Kinser in Okinawa, Japan. The pickup truck driver was identified as Dayton Morgan, a 23-year-old man. Authorities say Morgan shot Julian during the encounter.

Julian was transported to a local hospital, where he died. Morgan was arrested on a warrant for murder and has been booked into the Smith County Jail. His bond has been set at $1 million. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not released additional details at this time.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department said that a bus driver was injured on Friday when a Tyler ISD bus and a pickup truck crashed on Loop 323 near South Broadway Avenue. According to Tyler PD and our news partner KETK, the crash happened on Loop 323 around 4:30 p.m. just to the west of South Broadway Avenue. Around 20 students were on the bus when it collided with a pickup truck, leaving the driver with minor injuries.

Tyler PD said the crash was cleared from the roadway by 5:12 p.m. and that Loop 323 is all the way back open to traffic.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Commissioners Court has approved an agreement to establish a police department for Longview ISD. The Longview ISD Police Department will maintain ongoing communication with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office in the event of emergencies.

“If they need additional law enforcement for a situation that takes place on campus, we will readily respond,” County Judge Bill Stoudt said. “This clarifies that we are a backup agency if they ever need assistance.”

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will now begin the formal review process required for the department to obtain licensure. Longview ISD officials say they hope to have the process complete by this summer.

TYLER – A driver has been taken to a local hospital after they were shot during a road rage incident on Friday in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK and the Tyler PD, it happened at the intersection of Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive when a driver got out of their vehicle and shot another driver. The suspected shooter stayed at the scene and has been detained by Tyler PD officers. The driver who was shot has been taken to the hospital. Grande Boulevard is currently closed to the east and west of Paluxy Drive.

PANOLA COUNTY — An East Texas district court held a hearing on Thursday to discuss the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the companies that produce Tylenol. After the hearing, 123rd District Court Judge LeAnn Kay Rafferty did not make an immediate decision but indicated that she would ‘take under advisement‘ the arguments presented. The lawsuit, initiated by Paxton’s office, targets the pharmaceutical companies Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue Brands, according to our news partners at KETK. The lawsuit asserts that they unlawfully marketed Tylenol, or acetaminophen, to pregnant women, despite claims that the medication may pose risks to unborn babies. Continue reading Motion to dismiss lawsuit against Tylenol

TYLER – Starting Monday, Feb. 16, Consent Decree capacity improvements will move to East Elm Street between South Broadway Avenue and South College Avenue. The intersection between Elm Street and College Avenue will remain open. Work is expected to take approximately eight weeks, weather permitting. Full access to the Fair Plaza Parking Garage will remain available. Traffic will use Woldert Street, University Place, and College Avenue off Front Street to access the garage. Sidewalks in the area will remain open. Alleyway access off Elm Street will be closed during construction. Traffic control signs and devices are in place to guide motorists. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area. 

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Commissioners Court has approved an agreement to establish a police department for Longview ISD. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will now begin the formal review process required for the department to obtain its license. Longview ISD officials say they hope to have the process complete by this summer. The Longview ISD Police Department will maintain ongoing communication with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office in the event of emergencies.

EAST TEXAS — Following Lifetouch Photography’s involvement in a controversy regarding the Epstein files, numerous school districts throughout East Texas are canceling their partnerships with the company. According to our news partner KETK, districts that decided to end their partnership with Lifetouch earlier this week, following the allegations, include: Athens ISD, Kemp ISD, Malakoff ISD, Cross Roads ISD, Van ISD, Edgewood ISD and Winnsboro ISD.

In the released Jeffrey Epstein files, Leon Black, the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, which is the parent company of Lifetouch, is accused of making at least $158 million in payments to Epstein for “purported tax and estate planning advice.” However, an investigation by the United States Senate Committee on Finance found that the money was used to finance Epstein’s sex trafficking operations. Continue reading Schools cut ties with photographer

TYLER — Tyler Junior College (TJC) could be adding three new buildings to its campus with the passage of a $167.3 million bond, set to be voted on in the May election. In a unanimous vote on Thursday, the TJC Board of Trustees called for a bond election that would pay for three new construction projects and improvements to existing facilities, costing an approximate $167,328,269 million. The proposal for the construction projects was developed by TJC’s Facility Planning Committee, which consists of college representatives and community members.

“The committee identified three major projects to provide for TJC’s community partnerships, student learning environments, workforce preparation and the college’s technological and physical infrastructure,” the institution said. “These areas were selected, in part, because they impact the entire campus.” Continue reading Board approves $167.3M bond election

HENDERSON COUNT — A family altercation turned deadly in Henderson County after a 22-year-old man was shot and killed by a relative on Feb. 6. Deputies were called to a disturbance in the 6300 block of County Road 4507, just outside of Athens, following an altercation between 22-year-old Timothy Parker and his 45-year-old stepfather, according to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and our news partner KETK, .

After the two separated, Parker returned to the scene with a gun and shot his stepfather. The stepfather’s dad then allegedly shot Parker. The sheriff told KETK News that Parker was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency crews arrived and began treating the stepfather before transporting him to a local hospital to be treated and is expected to recover.

An investigation into the shooting is ongoing. The case will be forwarded to the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office and a grand jury will ultimately determine if any charges will be filed.

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson Sheriff’s Office has confirmed two have died in a plane crash near Echo Lake early Wednesday evening. According to our news partner KETK, Chip Crist, a cattle owner near the crash site, said the plane, which had left Florida, refueled in Nacogoches before attempting to continue its flight. Along with fire and police units at the scene, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration are also there.

On Thursday morning, an FAA report states that an aircraft declared an emergency due to oil covering the windshield. It diverted but crashed into power lines near Echo Lakes’ runway. The plane is described as a Beech A36 model, a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft manufactured in 1994. The airplane is registered to AileRon T, LLC, based out of Orlando, Florida. The identities of the two people have not been released at this time.

TYLER – Beginning Monday, Feb. 16, Consent Decree capacity improvements will move to the intersection of Elm Street and College Avenue. Work is expected to take approximately eight weeks, weather permitting. Full access to the Fair Plaza Parking Garage will remain available.

Traffic will use Woldert Street, University Place, and College Avenue off Front Street to access the garage. The intersection of College Avenue and Elm Street will remain open, and sidewalks in the area will remain open.  Alleyway access off Elm Street will be closed during construction. Traffic control signs and devices are in place to guide motorists. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area.