KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – According to a press release from the Tyler Police Department, a man has been arrested for the burglary of a business.

On Monday, August 4, 2025, at approximately 12:16 a.m., Tyler Police Department Officers responded to a local business in the 1700 block of West Southwest Loop 323 on a report of a burglary alarm.

Upon their arrival, officers saw a male suspect who immediately ran from officers as they arrived in the area. Officers were able to catch the individual without incident.

The suspect has been identified as twenty-six-year-old Levon Gates Jr., out of Arkansas. While verifying Gates Jr.’s identity, he was found to have several outstanding warrants from multiple agencies in the surrounding area, and out of state. He was transported to the Smith County Jail and booked into jail for multiple onsite offenses, including his outstanding warrants.

UPDATE: According to the Lindale Fire Department, Jim Hogg Road has been reopened following the gas line break Monday morning.

LINDALE – The City of Lindale announced on Monday afternoon that Jim Hogg Road is closed due to a gas line break, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The city said that Jim Hogg Road, just south of Sand Flat Road to CR 474, is temporarily closed because of a gas line leak.

Officials are asking the public to avoid this area while emergency services are on scene, and they will update once the roadway is reopened.

TYLER — East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran was interviewed on NewsNation last week to discuss redistricting efforts in Texas and trade talks in Europe.

“I think it’s pretty laughable that Governor Newsom should be talking about stacking the deck or playing by a different set of rules. California right now is 43 Democrats and 9 Republicans,” Moran said in a July 28 interview.

According to our news partner KETK, Moran, a Republican and the U.S. Congressman for Texas District 1-Tyler, was commenting on California Governor Gavin Newsom, who’s come out against Republican efforts to redraw the Texas congressional map in order to create more Republican-leaning seats in Congress. Continue reading Rep. Moran defends effort to redraw Texas congressional map

EMORY — The Emory Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the Kearney Trailers facility on Highway 19 on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the department said they were called out to the fire at 2:09 p.m. and when Engine 1 arrived at the facility they found smoke coming out of every door on a manufacturing building which was on fire in the back of the property.

Engine 1 then called for assistance and fire departments came from all across Rains County and neighboring areas. With their added assistance, firefighters were able to contain the fire to the main structure and its contents. The fire was extinguished by 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to an Emory VFD Facebook post. Continue reading Fire departments battle weekend blaze at Kearney Trailers

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Emergency Services District 2 has confirmed that a cyclist was injured on Friday in a presumed hit-and-run crash on Highway 271. Our news partner KETK reports, a passerby noticed a cyclist bleeding and foaming from the mouth in the 12990 block of Highway 271 in front of the Southwest Food Brookshire’s Distribution Center in Owentown, south of Winona.

The passerby called 911 at around 9:06 a.m., and fortunately, an EMS crew was passing by when they made the call. EMS deployed a Lucas device on the cyclist to do CPR on him automatically. Smith County officials said the cyclist suffered extensive injuries and has been transported to a local hospital for treatment. The case is being investigated as a hit-and-run since nobody at the scene witnessed what caused the extent of the cyclists’ injuries.

TYLER – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed a new world record for the longest lightning flash or “megaflash,” which struck from East Texas to Kansas City. According to our news partner KETK, he extensive 515-mile-long lightning flash struck during a severe thunderstorm complex on Oct. 22 of 2017. The flash could be seen from southeast of Dallas, near Athens and Corsicana, across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and into Missouri, near Kansas City.

“This new record clearly demonstrates the incredible power of the natural environment,” WMO rapporteur of Weather and Climate Extremes Randall Cerveny said. “Additionally, WMO assessment of environmental extremes such as this lightning distance record testify to the significant scientific progress in observing, documenting and evaluating such events.” Continue reading Longest lightning flash ever recorded in East Texas

LUFKIN — A U.S. District Court has ruled in favor of a preliminary injunction, preserving all women’s varsity teams at Stephen F. Austin State University, following a Title IX lawsuit after several sports teams were cut.

“The court finds that the financial burden self-imposed by SFA does not outweigh the harm suffered by plaintiffs. Therefore, the court finds that plaintiffs satisfied their burden for issuance of a preliminary injunction,” the order said.

According to our news partner KETK, this comes a month after several SFA student-athletes filed a class action lawsuit against the university, which had eliminated its varsity women’s beach volleyball team, the Ladyjacks bowling team, and the men’s and women’s golf teams. Continue reading Temporary injunction stops SFA from eliminating women’s sports programs

TYLER– Brookshire Grocery Co. and its customers have raised $100,000 to support communities affected by the recent floods in Central Texas, which claimed the lives of more than 100 people. According to our news partner KETK, in July, customers and employee partners at Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Spring Market and FRESH by Brookshire’s stores in Texas contributed to the flood relief campaign by purchasing donation coupons at checkout.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who were affected by this devastating natural disaster,” Brad Brookshire, Chairman and CEO of Brookshire Grocery Co., said. “It was important to our company to step up and help our Texas neighbors during this critical time. We are proud to be able to donate $100,000 to the victims and their families and hope it makes a meaningful difference to those affected.”

The funds raised will benefit the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and TEXSAR (Texas Search and Rescue), both of which provide aid to those impacted by the floods.

MARION COUNTY – The Texas Game Wardens have confirmed that one person died in a jet boat crash on Lake O’ the Pines in Marion County on Saturday.

According to our news partner KETK, the boat was taking part in a race event at around 3:40 p.m. on Saturday when it was involved in a crash that left the boat’s operator, Michael E. Roland, 62 of Bossier City, La. dead. Game wardens are currently investigating the crash and the Bowie County dive team removed the jet boat from the lake on Sunday.

The Lake O’ the Pines Chamber of Commerce held the 9th annual Squirtin’ in the Pines boat races at the Hurricane Creek Recreation Area on Saturday.

UPDATE: The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 88-year-old Syndey Alvers was found dead shortly before dark on Friday.

According to our news partner KETK, Alvers was found lying dead less than a mile from his home in a pasture surrounded by tall grass and brush. The sheriff’s office said that it appeared he had been dead for sometime when he was found. The sheriff’s office and the Texas Rangers are investigating his death and autopsy has been ordered to help determine how Alvers died.

CHIRENO – The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for an 88-year-old man with dementia who was last seen leaving his home in Chireno on Thursday. Continue reading UPDATE: Missing 88-year-old found dead in Nacogdoches County

TYLER — A corner wall of the Carlton Hotel Garage building has collapsed onto Elm Street in downtown Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the collapse of the corner comes after several bricks were first seen falling from the building on July 24. That incident prompted the patrial closure of Elm Street, which was still closed to traffic when the corner fell this week.

After the first bricks fell on July 24, the building’s owner NORF Companies, put out a statement ensuring that the public’s safety is their first priority and that they’re assessing the building’s condition. Continue reading Corner wall of Carlton Hotel garage collapses in Downtown Tyler

EAST TEXAS — Students in ten East Texas school districts are heading back to class on Monday and their safety is top of mind for every parent. according to our news partner KETK, as the back-to-school rush begins, the Lufkin Police Department is reminding drivers to slow down and lookout for young pedestrians.

Sgt. Eddie Ibarra, the Lufkin Police Department’s head of traffic told KETK that “yellow means slow down, it doesn’t mean speed up to beat the red light.”

According to TxDOT, last year there were 781 crashes, 11 of them involving school buses and two people were killed in Texas school zones. Continue reading Phones down, drive safe in school zones

HENDERSON — Henderson ISD is mourning the loss of Brandon Harris and Damon McGee, who were part of the district family. According to our news partner KETK, the cause of death for Harris and McGee has not been released.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, former teachers and classmates, and all those grieving during this incredibly difficult time,” Henderson ISD administration said. “We stand together as a community, offering our deepest condolences and support.”

“On July 28, Brandon was involved in a tragic incident,” the GoFundMe created for Harris said. “He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and, despite the best efforts of medical staff, he sadly succumbed to his injuries on July 30.”