KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — UPDATE: CenterPoint Energy had capped off the main natural gas line so no further natural gas will be released into the air from the damage caused by the single vehicle crash. Any residents who were evacuated can now return to their homes.

Residents near U.S. Highway 31 were asked to evacuate after a vehicle crash on Thursday morning ruptured a main natural gas line. According to our news partner KETK, the Tyler Police Department responded to a crash at 2:45 a.m. on U.S. Highway 31 West and Whiteside Drive where a vehicle struck a natural gas pipeline, causing it to rupture.

The driver of the van is identified as Don Porter, a 57-year-old male from Tyler was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and booked into the Smith County Jail. Continue reading Gas line repaired, evacuation over

TYLER — Smith County property taxes were due Saturday, January 31. Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber is warning taxpayers that changes at the post office mean you should drop your payment in the mail as soon as possible. Officials say the easiest and fastest way to pay your property tax bill is online. Payments can be made by scanning the QR code on your statement — which will take you directly to the payment page on your account.

“If you want to skip the long lines at the Tax Office, I highly recommend you pay online,” he said.

Taxpayers can also make their payments in person, through the Tax Office’s drop box outside of the Cotton Belt Building, or by mail. The U.S. Postal Service recently changed how postmark dates are determined.

In the past, the postmark reflected the date you dropped your mail in a mailbox or at the post office. Now, the postmark will show the date your envelope is first processed by an automated postal service sorting machine. This could be later than the day you mailed it, which could mean that your tax payment is past the deadline, Barber said. Continue reading Property tax due

TYLER — Tyler Police and fire crews are working a crash on Highway 31 W and Whiteside Drive. A vehicle reportedly struck a natural gas pipeline causing the main line to rupture. It’s estimated to take hours to shut off and repair the pipeline. Centerpoint Energy was able to close several remote valves to slow the leak but not able to shut it off completely. Centerpoint Energy crews are in the area measuring gas concentration.

Residents were advised to evacuate.

Tyler Police and Tyler Fire personnel are on scene directing traffic. Drivers are urged to seek an alternate route that avoids Hwy 31 W between Eisenhower Dr and Loop 323.

TYLER – The City of Tyler is investing in smarter infrastructure by tapping into the community’s local talent. Through a new partnership with the University of Texas at Tyler, the City is connecting classroom learning with community needs to build safer and smarter transportation systems. On Wednesday, January 28, the City of Tyler and University of Texas at Tyler Department of Civil and Construction Engineering and Management formally established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen infrastructure planning, transportation systems and real-world learning opportunities in Tyler.  

“This will help us bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application,” said City Engineer Cameron Williams. “Over the past few years, we’ve welcomed five UT Tyler interns who worked side by side with our Traffic Engineering Department, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to meaningful projects that serve our community.” 
Continue reading Tyler, UT Tyler to partner

RUSK – The City of Rusk has issued a boil water notice for some of their residents after a 10-inch water main broke on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, residents on the City’s water system who live in the following areas are required to bring any water to a vigorous rolling boil for at least two minutes before any cleaning or consumption:

US Hwy 84 East, starting at the intersection of Guinn Hill, only affecting 227, 305, 318 Quinn Hill Drive. All City of Rusk water customers heading east along US Hwy 84 and north of US Hwy 84 East. All City of Rusk customers south of US Hwy 84 East, inside of the Rusk City limits from the intersection of Park St. and Euclid St. north to US Hwy 84 East. Continue reading Boil water notices

North Texas – Due to ongoing icy conditions in parking lots and public areas, additional Texas Department of Public Safety offices will remain closed on January 28 in the following counties. Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Ellis, Denton, Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Johnson, Marion, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Rusk, Rains, Smith, Somervell, Tarrant, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wise and Wood county. If you had a scheduled appointment on January 28, you will be contacted by the email you provided to reschedule your appointment.

TYLER – The city of Tyler reports that progress continues on the City of Tyler’s 2025 Structure Flooding Project, with design and pre-construction work underway for drainage improvements on Kidd Drive and Downing Street. On Wednesday, Jan. 28, the City Council awarded a $587,169.20 construction contract to W.M. Miller Construction Company, Inc. for improvements on Downing Street and Kidd Drive. This phase of the project will deliver long-term flood relief for residents and address aging stormwater infrastructure in the area. Continue reading Kidd and Downing get upgrades

KILGORE — Officials are seeking help in identifying individuals who are suspected of having committed property damage on a historic Kilgore theater in December. According to our news partner KETK, the Kilgore Police Department seeks public assistance in identifying four individuals caught on video who may have damaged the Crim Theater in downtown Kilgore around midnight on December 30, 2025.

According to the police department, the suspects kicked in the door and possibly entered the theater. They fled the scene in a black pickup truck.

Anyone with information regarding the suspects’ identities or the incident is asked to contact Detective Justin Murphy at 903-218-6904 or [email protected]. The reference case number is 2512-1719.

 

MARSHALL – The City of Marshall cancelled their water distribution for Wednesday. This was because of a water line leak.

City officials posted this statement on facebook, “The City’s water system is stable, with no new leaks identified and all previous leaks repaired. Water service is not shut off, and the water supply is safe and not compromised. Today’s water distribution is purely a precautionary measure to stay ahead of any potential issues. There is no current problem with the water system. Crews will continue monitoring the system, and updates will be shared as information becomes available. ”

You can get further information on the City of Marshall Facebook page and website.

TYLER – City of Tyler non-emergency offices resumed operations on Wednesday. As travel conditions continue to improve, the City urges drivers to exercise caution. Please be aware that shaded areas on roads, sidewalks, and parking lots may remain icy or slick, as these spots take longer to thaw than areas exposed to direct sunlight. Motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to allow extra time for travel and to remain alert for lingering hazards.

Use the MyTyler App to report non-emergency street damage and downed trees. The app is free to download. Residents can report blocked roads to the Street Department at (903) 531-1393 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, please contact the Tyler Police Department’s non-emergency line at (903) 531-1000. Continue reading City offices have reopened

Update: After continued monitoring of weather/travel conditions, and area school district closures, Kilgore College administration has decided to close all KC campuses on Wednesday. You can view all the closings and delays here.

KILGORE – Kilgore College will resume regular business hours Wednesday, following the weather-related closure this week. All campuses and classes will return to their normal schedules. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to allow extra travel time and use caution while driving as conditions continue to improve.

JACKSONVILLE – On January 22, 20-year-old Randarriuz Dewberry, of Jacksonville, was found and arrested during a traffic stop conducted by the Texas Highway Patrol on FM 346 outside of Bullard. Dewberry was wanted by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for his alleged role in a fatal shooting that occurred on February 14, 2024, in rural Jacksonville, which left Jayden Polk dead.

Dewberry is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, as well as additional charges of evading arrest or detention and failure to identify. He also faces failure to appear charges related to the evading arrest or detention charge and the failure to identify charge. Dewberry’s bonds total $1,085,000, along with $10,000 cash bonds for the failure to appear charges. Dewberry is the second person arrested in connection with this homicide.