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TYLER (AP) – A businessman who lied about having almost $4 million in property and cash has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for fraud in East Texas. Federal prosecutors in Tyler on Friday announced the punishment for Danny Wood, 61, Idabel, OK. Wood in February pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced Thursday to 20 months in prison. Wood also was ordered to pay nearly $2.1 million in restitution to Lone Star Production Credit PCA in New Boston. Prosecutors say Wood in 2009 faxed a fake report from Arkansas to the financial institution saying he had $3.7 million in lumber inventory and about $93,000. Investigators say Wood’s intent was to defraud Lone Star. Further details on the financial fraud were not immediately released.

GREGG COUNTY — Longview Police arrest two women on a charge of aggravated assault after separate stabbings. The first incident was investigated by police just before 7:00 Tuesday evening. It led to the arrest of Donneka Jones, 30 (pictured), at an apartment complex on Hawkins Parkway. The investigating officer found Jones’ live-in boyfriend, who had reportedly locked himself in a bathroom after Jones allegedly struck and threatened him with a steak knife, according to the arrest affidavit. According to the Longview News-Journal, Jones’ three children told police at the scene they restrained her after she attempted to attack the victim with the steak knife.

The second woman charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was Jessica Ballard, 30. Ballard was arrested at 12:52 Wednesday morning at an apartment complex on High Street. According to her arrest affidavit, Ballard is charged with threatening and attacking her sister with a kitchen knife.

TYLER — Workers at the Trane plant in Tyler continue to wait as union representatives negotiate their contract with the company. Some new information has been passed along since Trane employees held a moment of silence Thursday morning.

A Trane employee told KETK that the contract the company is offering its employees details no raises for three years, with a 25 cent raise for the fourth year. An anonymous Trane employee said officials are having trouble making an agreement with Ingersoll Rand, the company that owns Trane. Rand reportedly wants to switch insurance plans from the current 90/10 Blue Cross Blue Shield program to the 80/20 Ingersoll Rand company insurance. Workers are unhappy with a change in the contract that will cut off medical, dental and life for anyone who retires after the new contract is signed. Also, any new employees hired after the contract is signed will have no retirement benefits. Trane representatives declined to comment on the contract negotiations. A vote on the new contract is set for Sunday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An East Texan had his say Thursday as the House Judiciary Committee grilled Attorney General Eric Holder on Operation Fast and Furious. That was the sting operation that allowed firearms to be purchased illegally in order to track them down through Mexican drug cartel members. But agents lost track of hundreds of firearms in the process. According to KETK, Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler put Holder’s feet to the fire. Gohmert asked, “Did you not ever go back to your office and say, when you found out about Fast and Furious, ‘I demand to know who authorized this?’ Are things so fast and loose in your office that somebody can authorize the sale to international criminals of American guns that are bringing about the death of even American agents — and nobody has to do that in writing?”

Holder testified that Fast and Furious was flawed, both in concept and execution. He said he asked the department’s inspector general to conduct an investigation, and he’s put in new leadership at the ATF.

JACKSONVILLE — A lightning strike damages a house in Jacksonville, around 4 a.m. Thursday on Bainbridge Street. According to KETK, firefighters say the ringing of the doorbell woke up everybody in the house. They were able to get outside safely and call for help. The fire also destroyed two cars.

TROUP — A woman was taken to a local hospital after a one-vehicle rollover on Highway 110. It happened during the 1 p.m. hour Thursday several miles south of Troup. When Troup firefighters arrived on scene, they found a woman pinned inside her vehicle after it had rolled off the roadway, hit a fence and then a tree. KETK reports the woman was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries. The cause of the wreck is unknown.

LONGVIEW — Two people are sent to the hospital after a late Thursday morning wreck in Longview. KETK reports it happened around 11 at H.G. Mosley and Gilmer Road. One car flipped, and firefighters had to free the driver. No word on injuries at last report.

LONGVIEW — Reel Road in Longview is now temporarily closed between Rodden Drive and Deer Park Court. Drivers wishing to travel between Gilmer Road and Pine Tree Road should use alternate routes. The purpose of the project is to replace the deteriorated metal culvert at Reel Road and Harris Creek with concrete culverts. The closure will be effective through mid-August. This project is being constructed by East Texas Bridge of Longview. If you have any questions related to construction, you may call the city’s project manager, Alton Bradley, at 903-237-1067.

HENDERSON — Two South Dakota residents are arrested in Rusk County. According to KETK, 45-year old James Boyter and 17-year old Winter Garneaux were arrested in Henderson after the stolen vehicle they were driving was located at a business there. Police say they discovered a zip gun in their possession; they say that’s a prohibited weapon. Boyter is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle. Garneaux is charged with third degree possession of a prohibited weapon and first degree escape charges out of South Dakota.

TYLER — The United Way of Smith County is holding its annual Day of Caring today. Each year, volunteers donate time and skills for various projects that can be “done in a day” to help local nonprofits. This year 47 projects are scheduled. You can call (903) 581-6376 for more information.

TYLER — Smith County offices, located in the Courthouse, Courthouse Annex and Sheriff’s Administrative Building Downtown, shut down for the day Thursday due to a power outage. Regular office hours resumed today.

ANGELINA COUNTY — The Angelina County Democratic party disqualified two candidates from the general election. This means Republican candidate Greg Sanches is the new sheriff-elect of Angelina County. Angelina County Democratic Party chairman Jim Wark tells KETK that he’s looking into the legality of putting a replacement candidate on the Democratic ticket for both the Precinct 3 constable and sheriff. This comes after Angelina County Democratic candidate for sheriff Jim Hodges and Precinct 3 constable candidate William Wade were disqualified for voting in the GOP primary.

Wark says he does not have anyone in mind for either position at this time, but that he has several weeks to make a decision once he finds out if it’s legal for him to put new candidates on the ticket after the primary election. Democratic Party candidates are checking into the legality of that move.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches authorities are searching for two suspects who robbed the Best Western on South Street. According to KETK, it happened around 10:00 Tuesday night. Police say the robbers entered the lobby and one of the men forced the clerk into a corner while the other went through the cash drawer, taking an undisclosed amount of money. Both men ran out the door in an unknown direction. The robbers are described as black males, early 20’s, wearing blue jeans and cloths over their face. No weapon was seen.

TYLER — An elderly man is reported missing Wednesday afternoon. Tyler Police were called to Garden Estates at 2055 W. Grande on a missing person report. Officers said Conrad Lingren, 81, was last seen about 4:00 at Garden Estates by staff members. Lingren is a white male, approximately 6’2 and weighing approximately 175 pounds. He’s was believed to be wearing a light brown plaid shirt and Khaki pants. If you have any information that can help in locating Mr. Lingren please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903 531-1000.

EAST TEXAS — Thousands of East Texans were left without power after strong storms moved through the area Wednesday night. Thursday morning, more than 2,600 Oncor customers were without power in East Texas. According to KETK, SWEPCO did not report any outages. Crews continued working Thursday to get all the power back on.

UPSHUR COUNTY — A veterinarian in Gilmer said she started treatment Wednesday on a dog that was found after being thrown into a trash bin at RobRoy Industries. Gilmer Police were seeking information on the person or persons who committed the crime. The perpetrator could face charges of cruelty to an animal and abandonment of an animal, police said. Cherie Nazzal of Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital in Gilmer said the female mixed breed dog was placed in the dumpster around 6:00 Tuesday morning. Gilmer Police retrieved the dog and brought her to Nazzal’s office. Nazzal said the dog’s right rear hip is out of joint and that the dog is “extremely malnourished and full of parasites.”

Nazzal said she has opted not to take the dog to the Northeast Texas Humane Society for fear the dog would be euthanized because of her condition. The dog is about 9 to 12 months old.

GREGG COUNTY — Police arrested a woman Tuesday after a man said she had separated him and his wife while they were arguing and stabbed him. Stephanie Jimenez, 20, of Longview was arrested near where the argument took place at the intersection of Whaley and Horaney streets. The victim told police the stabber used a green pocket knife. Jimenez has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

TYLER — There’s a new speed limit in parts of East Texas. According to KETK, you can now drive 75 MPH on parts of I-20. The five MPH increase was passed by the state legislature last year. That happened after a study by TxDOT showed most people already drove that fast. The new speed limit signs are currently being put up. TxDOT’s Larry Krantz says the job should be done by the end of the week for the entire Tyler district, which includes I-20’s route through Smith, Gregg, and Van Counties. He notes that until the signs are changed out and say 75 MPH, the speed limit remains 70. Krantz also cautions you to use good judgment and remember to slow down whenever it’s raining or foggy.

TYLER — The so-called Mineola child sex ring case is now in Tyler’s 12th Court of Appeals. Reports say Dennis Pittman’s lawyer thinks the outcome of the case would have been different if the court had allowed the showing of taped interviews of the children in the case. According to KETK, Pittman was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity. He was sentenced to life in prison. The appeals court has two years to make a decision.

TYLER — The battle lines are drawn between Smith County sheriff’s candidate Chris Green and some supporters of Green’s opponent, Larry Smith. The current controversy began when Green referred to Grassroots America – We the People as a “fringe political action committee.” Grassroots America’s executive director, JoAnn Fleming, and her group’s board support Smith in the July 31 runoff.

Fleming tells KETK, “We have professionals, pastors, we have blue collar people that are in our organization… Now name calling is usually a clear sign that you have lost your focus in a campaign and you’ve just decided you’re going to be a rock thrower.” She adds, “I would suggest that Chris Green owes Grassroots America – We the People, an apology.” Fleming has also accused Green of making false allegations against Smith. She recently said, “we have the evidence to back up everything we have on our website regarding Mr. Green’s allegations against sheriff’s candidate Larry Smith. The proof is Mr. Green’s own words, which are documented in writing and on video.”

Now Green is publicly requesting that Fleming release all Republican primary sheriff candidate interview videos produced by her organization to the general public in the videos’ original unedited format so members of the public can judge for themselves. According to a statement KETK received from Green, his request is in response to “Fleming’s ongoing political stunts and screened threats that she will make the content of the videos known.” Green adds, “Fleming has concocted a story about Chris Green unfairly attacking her candidate Larry Smith when in reality the attacks in the race for sheriff have been coming directly from Smith and Fleming.” Fleming says she has no problem releasing the videos, but she’ll have to check with her board.

In a statement released Wednesday, Smith says, in part, “I want this election to stay on the high road. My position is what I can do for the citizens of Smith County.” We’ll continue to follow and update this story.

HENDERSON — Henderson I-S-D has a new policy involving electronic devices. The “BYOD,” or “bring your own device,” rule will allow students to bring their own portable electronic devices to school starting in the 2012-2013 school year. According to KETK, the new rule is an experimental one for the upcoming school year to see how students and teachers will make classrooms more interactive.

TYLER – A 51-year-old Longview man has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales Wednesday. Mitchell Duane Porter pleaded guilty on Jan. 11 to production of child pornography. He was sentenced in Tyler to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to information presented in court, on Aug. 26, 2011, a federal search warrant was executed at Porter’s residence. Several computers, cameras, and other forms of digital media and media storage devices were seized during the search. A forensic analysis of the seized items revealed over a thousand images of child pornography with approximately 8 of those photos taken by Porter. Some of the images depicted prepubescent children under the age of 12 years engaged to sexually explicit conduct, and some of the images involved the actual commission of a sexual act. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Sep. 21, 2011, charging Porter with federal violations.

TYLER — A 32-year-old Mexican National has pleaded guilty to federal immigrations violations in East Texas. Raul Campos Alegria pleaded guilty in a Tyler courtroom Tuesday to being unlawfully in the United States after having been previously deported. According to information presented in court, on Dec. 14, 2011, Alegria was located in Smith County after he had already ben deported following a drug trafficking conviction. Alegria now faces up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by deportation. A sentencing date has not been set.

LONGVIEW — A multi-vehicle wreck at Eastman Road and Neiman Marcus Parkway in Longview causes some traffic tie-ups Wednesday, closing down a portion of Eastman for a time. According to KETK, the wreck happened during the 6:00 hour Wednesday morning when a salt water tanker experienced possible brake failure and the driver was unable to stop at the red light of the intersection. The tanker hit a Ford Explorer in front of it, which caused the Explorer to hit a mini-van in front of it.

The driver of the Explorer, who has not been identified, was pinned in the vehicle and had to be freed by emergency crews. She was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Three people were in the mini-van. They had minor injuries and were treated on-scene. Police are investigating the cause of the wreck.

CASS COUNTY — A husband claimed he was protecting his spouse, which led to a shooting. Keith Rondall Boyd, 53, Hughes Springs, intervened in an argument between his wife and stepson and ended the dispute by reportedly shooting the stepson, Larry Joe Sowden, 41. The Cass County Sheriff said Boyd was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The incident happened May 27 about five miles south of Hughes Springs at the intersection of CR 1599 and FM 161.

GILMER — Upshur County GOP Chairman Ken Ambrose is challenging the outcome of this past week’s primary, alleging some voters were not allowed to cast ballots. According to the Longview News-Journal, Ambrose finished last in a three-way primary for the party chairmanship, missing a run-off spot by 61 votes. According to documents filed with the Upshur County district clerk’s office, Ambrose is seeking a temporary injunction against Cynthia Ridgeway and Chuck Mears, both of whom topped him in the primary and are heading to the July 31 run-off.

Ambrose alleges some voters in Pct. 1 were denied their right to vote because their voter registration cards were miscoded with an incorrect precinct number. The filing includes affidavits from about a dozen voters who say they were denied.

GREGG COUNTY — Longview firefighters were able to contain a house fire Tuesday afternoon before it gutted a home. It happened around 3:00 on the 1200 block of Zeola Street. Officials tell KETK the house was empty at the time of the fire. It was called in by neighbors. No one was injured. Crews are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. The extent of the damage is unknown.

GLADEWATER — People in Gladewater will be getting a notice this week about the elevated levels of a potentially harmful compound in the city’s drinking water. However, according to KETK, officials say the water is in fact safe to drink. Officials say recent upgrades to the local water treatment plant should provide cleaner water in the future.

COLLEGE STATION — Some communities in East Texas and elsewhere in the state are about to lose their Farm Service Agency offices. James B. Douglass, Acting Texas State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), announced Tuesday that USDA Secretary Thomas A. Vilsack has approved the closure of 15 FSA county offices in Texas, a process that will begin immediately. The county offices confirmed for closure in East Texas include Upshur-Gregg, Rusk, Van Zandt, Cass-Marion, and Shelby. According to an FSA news release, after the required notifications have been provided to producers, FSA employees, and office landlords, closure dates will be established and made publicly available.

“FSA places the utmost priority on ensuring that our services to producers remain strong as this consolidation process begins,” said FSA Administrator Bruce Nelson. According to the news release, the agency will provide farmers and ranchers affected by closures an opportunity to choose the most convenient neighboring county office with which to conduct their future business with the agency. In addition, officials say, all employees in a closing office will be provided an opportunity to continue their work with FSA.

The news release continues that as a federal agency, FSA has been affected by widespread budget reductions made by Congress. Since 2011, the agency has lost 1,230 permanent employees through voluntary early separation and normal retirement. In addition, officials say, FSA has been forced to reduce discretionary administrative expenses by over 30 percent in the last fiscal year alone. You can go to http://www.fsa.usda.gov/officeconsolidations For a complete list of FSA county offices nationwide affected by this decision.

TYLER — American Eagle Airlines has added a new arriving and departing flight at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport beginning June 14. With this additional flight, East Texas travelers will have a new option for flying in and out of Tyler in the evenings. The new flight is scheduled to arrive from Dallas Fort-Worth Airport (DFW) at 6:45 p.m. and depart to DFW at 7:15 p.m. each day.

“Tyler has needed this new flight in the evening schedule because the 5:15 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. flights from DFW to Tyler Pounds are often completely full,” said Airport Manager Davis Dickson. “Having the additional evening departure from Tyler will also enhance American’s flexibility to serve passengers needing to leave Tyler after 6 p.m. I’m very pleased to see this expansion of commercial air services for our customers in the region.”

Customers wishing to book their flights should go to the American Airlines web site at http://www.AA.com or go to the airport web site at http://www.TylerAirport.com for links to the airline reservation centers. “One tip to saving time and money is to always book your flight to and from Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR),” added Dickson. “Check with your travel agent or travel web site and use the three letter code TYR for Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.” Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport one hour before departure time to allow plenty of time for baggage check-in and to obtain boarding passes.

“Enhanced frequency in our airline schedules is coming at the right time for Tyler,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “We especially need these evening flights for our business travelers and I’m sure that the new flights will fill up quickly.”