KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – Emergency rooms in the UT Health East Texas network are in “divert status” after a network outage caused by a possible security incident. According to our news partner KETK, The outage was first reported by UT Health on Thursday afternoon. In a statement provided by UT Health East Texas Director of Communications Allison Pollan, “Earlier today, we became aware of a network outage due to a potential security incident that is affecting UT Health East Texas. As we work to assess the impact of this outage and restore access, we are following established downtime protocols. As a precaution, our emergency rooms are currently on divert status as we work to bring our systems back online. We anticipate that network access will be restored in the next 24-36 hours,”
Continue reading UT Health network outages continue

TYLER — Tyler Mayor Don Warren proclaimed the month of November as “Thank a Business Month, in partnership with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). “Thank a Business Month,” is a month-long celebration dedicated to expressing appreciation for the businesses that contribute to the vitality of our community, providing a platform to acknowledge their hard work and commitment and valuable contributions to the local economy. Every November, BBB will celebrate local businesses and will encourage the community to participate in various activities designed to show gratitude to local businesses. Continue reading Tyler joins BBB celebrating “Thank a Business Month”

TYLER — The Tyler Salvation Army, with the help of volunteers, serve a big Thanksgiving dinner every year, helping to feed anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people, our news partner KETK reports. “We can’t manage all that, so we have these great volunteers, and some of these volunteers have been doing it for years,” said Jeremy Walker, captain and commanding officer of the Tyler Salvation Army. Walker said it’s a blessing to see how this community rallies around each other. Whether it is giving your time or making a donation just for the holidays. The Tyler Salvation Army will be serving meals for their residents inside and will have to-go meals outside for the community on Thanksgiving day from 11 am to 1 pm. Continue reading Salvation Army and volunteers hand out Thanksgiving meals

TEXARKANA – Authorities in Texarkana said they are investigating a Tuesday night shooting that left two people injured according to our news partners at KETK. Officials with Texarkana PD said they were dispatched to the scene at a McDonald’s on New Boston Road around 10:30 p.m. “When we arrived, we found a 17-year-old man in the parking lot there who had been shot in the leg,” officials said in a release. “A 21-year-old man who had been shot twice in the torso showed up at the hospital about 10 minutes later.” Continue reading 2 injured after McDonald’s parking lot shooting

TYLER – With the Christmas season here, so is your chance to view Christmas lights in our area. Our news partner KETK has a list for you to view. To do so, just click here.

TYLER- The Tyler Junior College Apache Belles will be performing in the 74th Houston Thanksgiving parade. According to our news partner KETK, this is the 24th year TJC has been part of the parade. Tuesday the team was given the chance to practice on concrete. This gave the dancers an idea what conditions on parade day will be like. Freshman Akayla Manning said, “It was the first time I’ve done a jump split on concrete, especially hooked up with people, you have that thing going on through your head of ‘oh my gosh am I going to bust my knee?’”
Continue reading TJC Apache Belles prep for Thanksgiving parade

MABANK — A Mabank High School student has been arrested after investigators allegedly located child pornography in his possession. According to our news partner KETK, an affidavit revealed that the investigation began after a “Cyber Tip” was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and was later given to officers with the Henderson County Crimes Against Children Task Force. Kevin Cruz, 17, was arrested after investigators reportedly found two file hosting servers under Cruz’s domain where they located hundreds of videos and photos of child pornography. Officials said in one server they located 220 photos and videos of pornography. In the other server, they reportedly located three files with a total of 734 videos. Continue reading Teen arrested on child porn charges

TYLER — On Tuesday morning, the 2024 Miracle Child, representing Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances was introduced at the Goodman-LeGrand Museum with a small ceremony. This year, 4-year-old River Hardy was chosen, according to our news partner KETK. “He’s been our miracle child from the beginning,” said Kyla Hardy, River’s mom. Every year, the Miracle Child gets to do the honors and light the City of Tyler’s Christmas tree following the parade November 30th. “River was selected because he has accessed so many of our programs and services, and equipment that is fully funded by Children’s Miracle Network,” said Christina Mosier, manager of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at CHRISTUS TMF. Continue reading Miracle Child to light Tyler Christmas tree

TYLER — Fleishel Avenue and Lake Street intersection in Tyler’s medical district reopened Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the closure was to accommodate the UT Tyler Medical School construction. Officials at UT Tyler add that Lake Street will be closed through the early part of next year. The intersections of Lake Street and Beckham Avenue as well as Lake Street and Fleishel Avenue will remain open.

NACOGDOCHES – Last week, Lion Star Nacogdoches Hospital, LLC filed a Chapter 11 petition for bankruptcy. According to our news partner KETK, Sean Fowler, CEO of Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital said in a statement, “This restructuring will allow time for Lion Star to renegotiate contracts with its landlord, insurance companies, and numerous other vendors. Lion Star is taking this action to protect more than 600 jobs in Nacogdoches, ensure continuance of the high quality care Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital provides every day to the citizens of Nacogdoches county and surrounding areas, preserve our expansion of services, and retain the key physicians with whom we have partnered and established within the community.”
Fowler said the hospital is continuing with normal operations. The bankruptcy petition was filed on Nov. 17.

TYLER – A Tyler man was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Monday for sexual assault of a child according to our news colleagues at KETK. Adyson Fuentes, 37 of Tyler, was arrested in July 2022 after a 12-year-old told her mother he had raped her, according to his arrest warrant. The warrant said the child had waited a few weeks to report what happened because “she was afraid of Fuentes because he had been to jail.” Tyler PD investigated the report against Fuentes, who was described at the time as the boyfriend of a family friend, and the warrant said they found evidence that supported the victim’s statements. Fuentes was soon after booked into Smith County Jail for the charges, and on Monday, pleaded guilty to first-degree felony sexual assault of a child.

JASPER – Our news partners at KETK report the Jasper Police Department said that a woman was found dead in Jasper on Saturday and that a Livingston man has been arrested for her murder. Jasper PD responded to the Myrtis Village apartments at 200 Myrtis Street around 4 a.m. and found Rosalin Lewis, 24, dead from blunt force trauma. Lewis was a mother of three and her boyfriend William Christian Thomas, 23, was arrested for her murder, according to Jasper PD.Thomas was booked into Jasper County Jail and is being held on $1 million bo

TYLER — Non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 23 and 24 for the Thanksgiving holiday. According to a press release, county offices will reopen on Monday, November 27, with normal business hours. If you need more information go here.

CROCKETT – One person was injured after a home break-in led to a shootout Sunday night in Crockett. According to our news partner KETK, Crockett PD received several call of shots fired near a residence on East Runnells Avenue. When local officers and Houston County Sheriff’s showed up, they learned one shooting victim was already at a hospital. That person received treatment for a gunshot on the right arm and was later released. Officers feel the incident was not a random attack. The intruders in questions were driving a silver Honda Accord with a license plate number of RSX5687. Crockett PD asks if anyone has information on the home invasion and shooting to please call them or call Deep East Texas Crime Stoppers at 936-639-TIPS.

LINDALE — The Lindale Police Department said that one person is dead on Sunday night after a pick-up truck reportedly hit a pole on the I-20 West on-ramp near Highway 69. According to our news partner KETK, the fatal crash happened on the I-20 West on-ramp, and another crash reportedly happened nearby, but outside the jurisdiction of, Lindale PD. Officials said that the ramp has been cleared and is now back open to traffic. Additional details were not available.

TYLER — The City of Tyler said to expect traffic delays, lane closures and road closures on several roads that will be under construction from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Dec. 7. According to the City of Tyler and our news partner KETK, Tyler Park Drive, Becky Drive, Kingswood Drive, Top Hill Drive, Foxglove Circle, Foxglove Lane, Larkspur Lane, Whippoorwill Drive, Woodbridge Drive, Woodbridge Place and Ivy Trail will all be closed for asphalt overlay work. Officials said that crews will also be reconstructing and overlaying East Earle Street between East Front Street and Old Henderson Highway until Dec. 7.

GILMER — The community of Gilmer was in mourning on Saturday as funeral services were held for sisters Mandy Ray and Shakerrie Waters, our news partner KETK reports. The two were killed at a home off Highway 271 South near Bluebird Road on Saturday Nov. 4. A suspect in their murder 41-year-old Alvin McKnight Jr. was arrested in California on Wednesday night, according to the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office. “Big loss, big loss to our church, big loss for our community, you can see the crowd that was here, they touched the lives of so many people,” said Pastor Forrest Curry with Moses Chapel CME Church Gilmer. Many community members and many of the sisters’ family members and friends came out the service to pay their respects. Continue reading Funeral services held for sisters killed in double homicide case

TYLER — A march through downtown Tyler was held in support of the former Bishop of Tyler, Bishop Joseph Strickland on Saturday morning. Bishop Strickland was removed as the Bishop of Tyler by the Vatican last Saturday on Nov. 11. According to our news partner KETK, Bishop Strickland had become a “fierce critic of the pontiff and has come to symbolize the polarization within the U.S. Catholic hierarchy.” Earlier in the year, the Vatican sent two other Bishops to investigate the governance of the Tyler Diocese. Saturday’s march was organized by the Knights of The Republic and it started at 10 a.m. in downtown Tyler. Continue reading March in support of Bishop Strickland

TYLER — Texas currently holds the lowest gas prices in the nation and Tyler holds the lowest in the state, however these prices are expected to increase due to the holiday demand. Texas gas prices are the lowest of the nation at $2.82 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. It is a 26-cent decrease from the state’s average this time last year, $3.08. Tyler holds the lowest gas price average at $2.68 per a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, 66 cents less than the national average of $3.34. Continue reading Tyler gas prices lowest in the state

ANGELINA COUNTY – An Angelina County jailer was arrested on Thursday for distributing tobacco, a prohibited substance, to jail inmates. DPS said in a statement that Blane Wilson, 24 of Huntington, was arrested after the Texas Rangers were requested in October to investigate the allegations. Officials said Texas Rangers found during the investigation that Wilson had “transported prohibited substances into the facility and reportedly sold the substances to inmates in the jail facility.” Wilson was booked into the Angelina County Jail for felony prohibited substances and items in a correctional facility, and was released the same day after posting a $5,000 bond.

RUSK COUNTY – A Kilgore man was arrested for possession of marijuana after a traffic stop in Rusk County on Tuesday. Our news partners at KETK report that 20-year-old Christopher Marshall was reportedly stopped for speeding on Highway 259 South. During the traffic stop, authorities said “evidence was discovered which led to a probable cause search of the vehicle.” A search of the vehicle resulted in deputies seizing roughly one quarter pound of suspected marijuana. Marshall was arrested and charged with a state jail felony for possession of the substance. His bond was set at $6,500.

TEXARKANA – Our news colleagues at KETK report that an East Texas man was arrested after allegedly bringing meth to a local emergency room “to make sure it was safe.” 65-year-old Timothy Smith reportedly visited an emergency room on Nov. 9 in Texarkana. “While he wasn’t sick, he did want them to do him a favor – to test his meth to make sure it was safe,” Texarkana PD said. Continue reading Man arrested after allegedly asking ER to test his meth

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Officials announced on Friday they have received confirmation of a case of chronic wasting disease in Cherokee County according to our news partners at KETK. This marks the first detection in a deer breeding facility in the county, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD.) Officials said a 4-year-old buck tested positive after annual chronic wasting disease surveillance at the facility using postmortem testing. Continue reading Chronic wasting disease case confirmed in Cherokee County

TYLER — Jacob Ledbetter of Rockwall is the pioneer graduate of the state’s first of its kind master’s degree at UT Tyler. UT Tyler’s Masters of Science – Cybersecurity and Data Analytics program was fully established last year as an effort to aid the shortage of cybersecurity professionals. This program is the first of its kind in the state of Texas to combine both cybersecurity and data analytics, according to UT Tyler and our news partner KETK. Ledbetter had always had an interest in computer forensics, deciding to change his career path after receiving his bachelor’s in criminal justice. “I made some sacrifices this past year to get to this point, and it has been a rewarding experience. Having no prior knowledge, I am thankful my professors and adviser were understanding and patient while providing me guidance.” Ledbetter said. Continue reading New program at UT Tyler names first graduate