KTBB News, Weather, Talk

BULLARD — Changes are expected for those traveling near Bullard ISD in December and January as TxDOT looks to upgrade U.S. Highway 69 and FM 2493, which includes the construction of a new overpass and a realigned on-ramp. According to our news partner KETK, beginning the week of Dec. 19, the speed limit at the intersection of U.S. 69 and FM 2493 East, located in front of Bullard ISD’s middle school, will be reduced to 45 mph. A temporary traffic signal will also be installed at the intersection on Jan. 5 to ease congestion and improve safety. TxDOT said message boards will be placed to alert drivers ahead of the change. Drivers are urged to stay alert and use caution in the area while improvements continue.

KILGORE — The Kilgore Fire Department is currently responding to a wildland brush fire on FM 2276 in Rusk County. According to our news partner KETK, the fire, which has spread across roughly one acre, originated from a burn pile ignited on Tuesday. Kilgore FD is urging residents to use extreme caution when conducting any outdoor burning, especially on windy days or when dry grass is present.

LONGVIEW — A Texas DPS trooper was involved in a crash in Longview on Wednesday during an emergency call. According to our news partner KETK, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, escaped injury Wednesday after another vehicle struck the side of his patrol unit.

The trooper was responding to an emergency call when the crash occurred at the intersection of Gilmer Road and Loop 281, authorities said.

Albritton said the trooper is unharmed, and the other driver was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

LINDALE — Investigators with the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested a Lindale man Tuesday following an online tip from X Corp, formerly known as Twitter.

According to our news partner KETK, the tip indicated that an individual had posted and sent direct messages soliciting child pornography in exchange for pornographic pictures of a minor in his family, Smith County arrest papers revealed. Some messages also included a video depicting an adult assaulting a child believed to be 12 to 14 years old.

Investigators traced one of the X accounts’ IP addresses to Lindale and obtained a search warrant for the resident’s home. An email linked to the account identified the suspect as Joshua Zane Attaway. On Tuesday, Smith County officials arrived at Attaway’s residence, where he was sitting outside. Attaway was interviewed, where he admitted to owning the X account and allegedly sending the messages. Continue reading Tip leads to arrest for child porn

UPDATE: The 19-year-old cyclist involved in the crash has died, according to Tyler Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh. The identity of the cyclist has not been released.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department is currently responding to the scene of a major crash that happened on E Fifth Street near Loop 323 on Sunday night. According to our news partner KETK and th Tyler PD, the crash happened in the 2600 block of E Fifth Street near the intersection of SSE Loop 323. Officials said that eastbound traffic is closed on E Fifth Street from west of SSE Loop 323.

The crash scene is still active and Tyler PD officers are in the road directing traffic. Tyler PD asked drivers to find alternative routes through the area.

HENDERSON –Two East Texas men were sentenced to federal prison on Wednesday after selling over 50 grams of narcotics in Henderson. According to our news partner KETK and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Texas, James Porter and Richard Sledge sold 25.49 grams of meth in Henderson for $350 in 2023. Additionally, Porter sold 51.2 grams of meth later that year in Henderson for $625.

Porter was arrested on July 10, 2024, and during his arrest, agents reportedly recovered 24.04 more grams of meth from his vehicle and inside his business.

After pleading guilty to possession of meth with intent to distribute, Porter was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison and Sledge was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.

GILMER – A Gilmer man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of firearms violations. According to our news partner KETK, Jimmy Duffey was pulled over on May 7, 2022, for a traffic check in Cherokee County. During the stop, an officer located a firearm in Duffy’s vehicle. They discovered that Duffy is a convicted felon, which prohibits him from owning or possessing firearms by federal law. Duffey later pleaded guilty to being in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Cherokee County has officially joined ICE’s 287(g) program under the Task Force Model. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Brent Dickson clarified that this decision is not aimed at conducting immigration sweeps. Dickson emphasized that his office did not choose to participate for “strictly immigration purposes,” saying that the agreement is intended as another tool to combat criminal enterprises operating in Cherokee County. The task force is expected to be implemented by the start of the new year, following Tuesday’s official signing

TYLER – A Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a human trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Michael Anthony Martinez, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on December 10, 2025. According to information presented in court, Martinez used a social media account to promise lucrative payment to people who were willing to drive illegal aliens to their destination. Bank records and text messages between Martinez and those he had recruited verified the criminal conduct.

LUFKIN – Lufkin ISD (LISD) announced Wednesday the death of special education paraprofessional Rebecca Jacks. According to our news partner KETK, Jacks served the district as a bus driver and a paraprofessional in special education classrooms. LISD extended its condolences to Jacks’ family and friends. The district also released a statement highlighting Jacks’ dedication, kindness and the care for the community and students.

TYLER – Starting Wednesday, downtown Tyler wll be experiencing multiple road closures as well as major traffic changes. Major roadways such as Erwin Street and Broadway Avenue will be effected. Our news partners at KETK have put together a guide with everything you need to know which can be found here.

UPSHUR COUNTY — The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to join the 287(g) Task Force. According to our news partner KETK, with an agreement reached, deputies will undergo training from ICE officials to educate them on enforcing immigration laws, multicultural communication, and avoiding racial profiling.

Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb stated that he will use the resources available from joining the task force to ensure residents’ safety and well-being.

“In closing, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and well-being of every citizen in our community,” Webb said. “We will continue to use every resource available to identify criminal activity within our county and to bring those responsible before the proper courts to answer for their actions.”

BULLARD — Bullard’s City Council voted on Tuesday evening to join ICE’s 287(g) Task Force program according to our new partner KETK. This comes after they voted last month to table the motion as the city attorney was not present at the meeting. The 287(g) Task Force Model is a partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows local law enforcement to enforce U.S. immigration laws, including identifying and processing immigrants with pending or active criminal charges.

In November, Smith County Precinct 4 joined the Task Force Model Program while Precinct 1 declined to join the same program, as Constable Ralph Caraway said his office will continue to enforce the law and protect its community without expanding its responsibility for “targeting any person because of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, color or creed.”

Bullard has become the second city in Smith County to join the Task Force Model, following the Arp Police Department’s addition on Nov. 14.

Check here for all East Texas agencies currently signed on to ICE’s 287(g) program.