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ATHENS — Authorities say Tuesday marked the end of a long road for two Henderson County fugitives. According to KETK, Joy Lynn Everett (pictured) and Pete Quinonez have been captured. Everett was convicted in February 2012 for Possession of a Controlled Substance and sentenced to eight years in prison in April 2012. She appealed the case and was released on bond. On April 24, 2013, the Twelfth Court of Appeals in Tyler affirmed the conviction, securing Everett’s eight year sentence. Authorities say she’d been on the run ever since, until Tuesday morning. Continue reading Henderson County Officials: Two Fugitives Arrested

TYLER — The fourth and final suspect in the June 15th homicide at Tyler’s American Inn Motel has been taken into custody. Michael Tekielleon Browning, 34, of Tyler, was arrested around 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the America’s Best Value Inn at I-20 and Hwy. 155 North. Tyler police and U.S. Marshals collaborated in the arrest. The third suspect surrendered to authorities around 4:00 Tuesday afternoon. Broderick Lavar Smith was taken into custody at the Tyler police department. Monday morning, Lawrence Murphy, 20, turned himself in at the police department. Darian Pilkinton, 18, of Tyler, turned himself in Friday. Continue reading Final Suspect Arrested in Tyler Murder Case

TYLER — Smith County commissioners agree to test a new scofflaw program. KETK reports the program would block registration of a vehicle if the person has outstanding citations. Some commissioners voiced concern with the program at Tuesday’s meeting. Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Warr says he’s willing to give it a try but remains skeptical on the difference it’ll make in the number of fees collected. He compares it to when the state began requiring everybody to buy insurance. According to Warr, “I was an agent before you had to. The percentage of people driving in the state of Texas with insurance or without insurance hasn’t changed at all.” The program will be up for review in six months.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday voted unanimously to approve the adoption of a master plan for Gladys and T.B. Stewart Park. According to a city news release, the plan includes approximately 2,600 linear feet of concrete trails, 900 linear feet of decomposed granite trails, icons describing the rich history of the St. Louis Community, an area devoted to a community garden with a barn/garden shelter, a small pond, a picnic pavilion with nearby playground, an heirloom garden, and a pavilion/stage for outdoor events that opens onto a lawn area. The plan also includes restrooms, a 19 car parking lot and a windmill. The park site is a nine-acre parcel comprising open meadows, mature hardwoods, a stand of pines and a drainage swale. The site also contains a rock house with a garage. Continue reading Master Plan Unveiled for Stewart Park

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is warning citizens about the dangers of Internet fraud cases and has issued an advisory on how to avoid being scammed. Police say they’re receiving an increasing number of fraud cases in which citizens are being defrauded of sums of money due to Craigslist scams on the Internet. Most scams involve one or more of the following:

1) Inquiry from someone far away, often in another country.
2) Western Union, Money Gram, cashier’s check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a “guarantee”.
3) Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consummating transaction.

The suspects tend to target the elderly and victims looking for an easy way to make money. Continue reading Police: Beware of Internet Scams

TYLER (Staff/AP) — Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, disagrees with U.S. Supreme Court action Wednesday on the Federal Defense of Marriage Act. Schaefer said, “The Supreme Court ruling cuts away the power of the people to govern themselves, and increases the Court’s own power in a way our Founders never intended. This is a terrible blow to the Constitution. The history of mankind has proven that the biblical definition of marriage between one man and one woman is the best way to build a secure family. The Supreme Court has departed from that deeply rooted tradition. However, I will not move one inch on defending marriage in Texas. I will always oppose same-sex marriage. We must prepare for fierce assaults on our conservative values.” Continue reading Schaefer Opposes U.S. Supreme Court Action on DOMA

TYLER — During Wednesday’s Tyler City Council meeting, City Manager Mark McDaniel announced the appointment of the new City attorney, Deborah Pullum. The current city attorney, Gary Landers, announced his retirement in May and plans to stay with the City until May 2014. “I am pleased that the new city attorney is someone whose legal knowledge and judgment I know and respect,” said Landers. “I look forward to her tenure as Tyler’s City attorney. The City is in good hands.” Continue reading Tyler Names New City Attorney

NACOGDOCHES — A one vehicle accident south of Nacogdoches has left one person dead and one injured. Eladio Flores, 58, died early Tuesday morning in a Nacogdoches hospital from injuries received in the Monday night accident. A passenger, Ester Flores, 70, was injured. The Department of Public safety reports the man was driving a van when he lost control of the vehicle. It crossed the median and flipped several times, stopping in a ditch. The accident happened on U.S. Highway 59, about a mile south of Farm Road 2782.

COFFEE CITY — A mobile home just outside of Coffee City has been destroyed by fire. KETK reports the fire was reported around 9:00 last night in the 7400 block of Betsy Lane. No injuries reported. While the fire is thought to have started in the front of the mobile home, the cause remains under investigation.

AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas House has launched a formal investigation into University of Texas System regent Wallace Hall (pictured) of Dallas and will consider whether to impeach him. House Speaker Joe Straus assigned the investigation Tuesday to the Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations. The co-chairman of the panel is Representative Dan Flynn of Van.

Republican Representative Jim Pitts asked lawmakers to investigate Hall. Pitts has objected to Hall’s continued use of massive open records requests for emails and other documents searching for information from and about campus President Bill Powers, other school officials and legislators. Hall, who was appointed by Governor Rick Perry, also failed to disclose his involvement in several lawsuits when he filled out a questionnaire prior to his Senate Confirmation. The committee will investigate Pitts’ allegations of wrongdoing and can recommend impeachment to the full Texas House.

LONGVIEW — Good Shepherd Medical Associates has announced that Longview native Paul Kyser, MD has joined the multi specialty group. Prior to his medical training, Dr. Kyser, was the production director for KTBB for several years. Dr. Kyser is board certified in Internal Medicine. Continue reading Good Shepherd Medical Associates Welcomes New Physician

GILMER — Upshur County 115th District Court Judge Lauren Parish has recused herself from the case of former County Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree, who along with his son is accused of holding a game warden at gunpoint. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The order of recusal signed late Monday by Parish states she was excusing herself from the trial because 115th District Court Coordinator Teena Henson may be called to testify as a witness in pretrial matters. The order says the coordinator’s testimony may be “critical” to some pretrial matters. Continue reading Judge Recuses Herself in Case of Former Upshur County Commissioner

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) – President Barack Obama says that the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project from Canada to Texas should only be approved if it doesn’t worsen carbon pollution. Obama says allowing the oil pipeline to be built requires a finding that doing so is in the nation’s interest. He says that means determining that the pipeline does not contribute and “significantly exacerbate” emissions. Obama was speaking at Georgetown University on measures he intends to take to confront climate change. Environmental activists have demanded that the administration not approve the pipeline. The Keystone XL would carry oil from Canadian tar sands to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through eastern Smith County and other parts of East Texas along the way.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department encourages its citizens to participate in the ongoing Operation Identification program. Operation Identification (Operation ID) is a citizens’ burglary prevention program for use in homes and businesses. The program involves marking property with an identifying number or numbers, or letters, as a means of discouraging burglary and theft. It also provides police with a way to identify property should it be stolen and recovered. Police say in communities where it has been properly implemented, Operation ID has shown dramatic results in burglary reduction. Operation ID has also been instrumental in the recovery of citizens’ property and the arrest of suspects, according to police. Continue reading Police: Summer a Good Time for Citizens to Participate in Operation I.D.

TYLER — In an effort to bring closure to unresolved warrants, the Tyler Municipal Court has announced its participation in a “Warrant Special” from July 1 to 13. Municipal Court will open Saturday, July 13, from 8:00am to 1:00pm to take last minute payments. Any person paying his or her warrants in full will have the warrant fees removed,a savings of up to $50 per warrant. The special price does not apply if the person was already contacted, is in custody by the City Marshals or Police, or is appearing before the judge. Continue reading City of Tyler Announces “Warrant Special”

GREGG COUNTY — Work is wrapping up at one Gregg County school district and beginning at another on measures to heighten security. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, Pine Tree ISD officials filed building permits with the City of Longview, detailing $100,000 in security upgrades they expect to be in place before the 2013-14 school year. Continue reading Several Schools Beef Up Campus Security

LIBERTY CITY — Gregg County Sheriff’s deputies hadn’t made any arrests but said they have identified a so-called person of interest in the Monday morning stabbing death of a Kilgore man. Deputies found Jeremy Dewayne Miller (pictured), 27, suffering from a serious injury to his abdomen when they answered an aggravated assault call about 2 a.m., in the 600 block of McQueen Road, between Kilgore and Sabine. Continue reading So Far, No Arrests Following Gregg County Stabbing Death

GLADEWATER — Officials have identified a Gladewater man who drowned in Prairie Creek while taking a swim during a fishing outing with his son. Officials said the drowning occurred Saturday evening near Prairie Creek Bridge on Texas 135. Gregg County Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson identified the victim as Timothy Matthew Carson, 36. He said the two decided to take a swim while fishing on the creek Saturday evening. The father went under and failed to surface. His body was found about 8:15 p.m., and an inquest was performed about 9:45. Gregg County Game Warden Todd Long said that while the investigation was continuing, there was no sign of foul play in the man’s death. “It appears to be an accident, no suspicious activity,” Long said. Continue reading East Texas Drowning Victim Identified

BEAUMONT — Six residents of Center have pleaded guilty to gun and drug violations before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin in Beaumont. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on April 17, 2013 and arrested the following day. Sentencing dates have not been set. They are identified as Lakeva Shillette Hill, a/k/a Sugar Momma, 35, Lester Earl Pitts, 48, Vincent Jermaine Lathan, a/k/a Reed Cartwright, 36, Cornelius Vansharles Gray, 36, Anthony Gene Chumbley, 46 and Andrae Demarkqudell Pegues, a/k/a Mark, 33. Continue reading Six Shelby County Residents Guilty of Federal Gun/Drug Violations

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man has been arrested in Nacogdoches County on a capital murder warrant out of Angelina County. Rakeem Levon Rhodes,20, was arrested in an apartment on Oak Hill Drive Monday morning. He was taken into custody after Nacogdoches County sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Marshals surrounded an apartment. He has been transferred to Lufkin and booked into the Angelina County Jail. Rhodes was arrested in connection with the June 12th death of Albert Hodge. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a house in the 700 block of Weaver Avenue. He later died at a Lufkin hospital. A witness told investigators two young black men had shot Hodge and then ran from the scene

LIBERTY CITY — An stabbing in Gregg County has left one person dead. Sheriff’s deputies were called to 642 McQueen Road shortly after 1:45 yesterday morning. They found Jeremy Dewayne Miller, 27, of Kilgore, in the home with a serious stab wound to his abdomen. He died about an hour later at Longview’s Good Shepherd Medical Center. According to a news release from Lt. Kirk Haddix, Gregg County Investigators, Kilgore Police Detectives and the Texas Ranger assigned to Gregg County are currently working on the case. Persons of interest have been identified but no arrests have been made at this time. Additional information may be available upon completion of the autopsy.

KILGORE — A Kilgore man remained behind bars Monday morning under bonds totaling $160,000 after what started as a response to a criminal trespass call. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Officers were dispatched about 3:30 p.m. Friday to the 3500 block of Cedar Street, where they found Gerald Hosea Gibson, according to Kilgore Assistant Police Chief Roman Roberson. Officers searched Gibson after they found he had a warrant for possession of a controlled substance, Roberson said. “The officers also found he had three checks belonging to other folks,” Roberson said. Gibson is being held in the Gregg County Jail on three charges of fraudulent use/possession of identifying information and a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

TYLER — Another suspect in a recent murder turned himself in to Tyler Police Investigators at the Police Department at 9:00 a.m. Monday. Lawrence Murphy, 20, was believed to have fled to the Dallas area after he was wanted by police for the murder of Wesley Lester on June 15 at Tyler’s American Inn motel. Darian Pilkinton, 18, of Tyler, turned himself in Friday. Continue reading Lawrence Murphy Surrenders to Tyler Police in Homicide Case

TYLER — By signing Senate Bill 566, Gov. Rick Perry has officially authorized The University of Texas System Board of Regents to establish a pharmacy school at The University of Texas at Tyler, UT Tyler President Rodney H. Mabry announced. With Gov. Perry’s signature, the process now moves to the Board of Regents, who must officially establish the school. Mabry says once the school is established, UT Tyler will formally begin the accreditation process and plans to enroll its first class in fall 2015. Continue reading UT Tyler One Step Closer to Establishing Pharmacy School

LONGVIEW — Longview city officials are planning a no-growth budget for the next fiscal year, and not expecting to request a tax increase. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. “We have asked, as always, that we try to budget as conservatively as we can,” City Manager David Willard said last week. “That’s a standard objective every year.” The outlook for 2013-14 doesn’t include any major spikes or dips in revenue, he said. “We do not see any substantial growth right now in our economy,” Willard said of factors that could impact the budget, which is financed mainly by two sources: property tax and sales tax revenues. The city’s budget process is set to begin at a City Council meeting late next month.

NACOGDOCHES — Fast work Sunday afternoon as Nacogdoches firefighters pulled two victims from a burning house on Georgia Oak Street off Old Lufkin Rd. Fire Chief Keith Kiplinger tells our news partner 103 The Bull an 83-year-old woman and her 63-year- old daughter were still inside the smoke-filled home when firefighters arrived. They were dragged from the burning home and given medical care before being transported to Memorial Hospital and later life flighted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for treatment of serious burns. The house received heavy smoke, heat, and water damage before firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze. Names of the injured have not been released. the fire, which started in a front bedroom, is still under investigation.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge repairs on Interstate Highway 20 between State Highway 155 and U.S. Highway 271. A second crew is scheduled to continue ditch work on Farm Road 346 between U.S. Highway 69 in Flint and Farm Road 756 near Whitehouse. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zones. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith looks back on his first few months in office. On KTBB’s “Staff Meeting,” he pointed out that his troops have cleared several homicides dating back to 2012. According to Smith, “Since January 1, we’ve had three homicide cases; we’ve cleared all three of those…so we’re at a 167% clearance rate on homicides this year.” Among other things, smith also mentioned that he’s added some narcotics officers to the force. And he noted that he’s put more deputies on the street, something he says local residents have noticed.

MARSHALL — Employees at the Norit Americas plant on Marshall’s west side had to evacuate Friday night after fire erupted in an outdoor production area. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Marshall Fire Department Capt. Randall Jeans said firefighters responded to the blaze shortly after 10 p.m. in the 3200 block of University Avenue, near Loop 390. Jeans said some of the product manufactured at the site ignited while employees were cleaning a gas-fired furnace used during production. Continue reading Employees Evacuated during Fire at Marshall Plant

MT. VERNON — The Northeast Texas Area Crime Stoppers and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are asking for help with this week’s Crime of the Week. Last Wednesday and Thursday, several people broke into Stanley Store, near the intersection of Highway 37 and FM 71. KETK reports the suspects then took cash, change from cans, cigarettes, lighters, and rolling papers. Anyone with any information that will lead to the arrest and/or recovery of the stolen property is asked to call Northeast Texas Crime Stoppers at 903-577-8477 or send a tip through text by sending NTX plus your tip to 274637. Tipsters could get a reward up to $1,000 in cash.