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BROWNSBORO — A Brownsboro elementary school teacher has pleaded guilty and received eight years of deferred adjudication probation after injuring a child in 2024. According to our news partner KETK, Kyle Lee Rocha, of Chandler, was arrested on Sept. 24, 2024, in connection with an incident that occurred earlier that month in a Chandler Elementary School behavioral classroom.

An affidavit describes the incident as captured on classroom footage, which showed Rocha picking up paperwork from the floor and placing the papers on the student’s desk, instructing the student to keep the pages on his desk. The student was reportedly seen throwing the paperwork into a clothes basket on his desk and tilting his desk several times as Rocha stood in front of him.

Footage reportedly showed the student rocking his desk backwards, tilting the front of the desk up. Rocha then allegedly “placed both of his hands onto the front of the desk and pushed the desk backwards, purposefully causing the desk to fall over” and the student to fall, hitting the back of his head and elbows against the desk behind him. Continue reading Teacher gets probation after injuring student

SMITH COUNTY – Two East Texas politicians were given recognition this week for their continued dedication to the counties they represent. According to our news partner KETK, State Representative Cole Hefner of Mount Pleasant, was presented with the Courage Award, which is annually given to a public official who demonstrates courageous leadership. The award was created in 1989 by members of President John F. Kennedy’s family to recognize and celebrate the political courage he admired most.

Also, East Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola was named Lawmaker of the Year from State Armor. The title was given to Hughes in recognition of the significant legislative work he has accomplished this year. Congressman Nathaniel Moran praised both politicians for what they have accomplished this year, including preventing the Chinese Communist Party from infiltrating school districts, agriculture and local government.

UPDATE: Nearly two hours after the crash occurred, firefighters were able to remove the driver of the 18-wheeler, who had been pinned in. The driver was transported to a hospital, Smith County ESD2 Assistant Chief JD Smith said. KTBB talked to ESD2 around 2 p.m. and they said the area had been cleared.

SMITH COUNTY — A collision between a Camaro and an 18-wheeler has been reported near Lindale on Wednesday morning. According to Smith County ESD2, the incident occurred on Interstate 20 at mile marker 560, just outside Lindale, around 10 a.m. At least one individual is believed to be trapped inside one of the vehicles, and the 18-wheeler, which was transporting wood, ended up in a ditch. Drivers are advised to avoid the area for the time being. We will update when more information is available.

TYLER — The Blackstone Hotel, with Valencia Hotel Group, is coming back to Tyler and bringing 60 full-time jobs with it. According to our news partner KETK, the new full-service, luxury hotel is being built under a 3-year plan, on the corner of Broadway and Fergueson, promising at least 60 full-time jobs with an annual payroll of $2 million.

This economic boosting promise is why Smith County Commissioners took up a vote for a 10-year tax abatement of 50% for Blackstone Hotel, as long as Valencia Hotel Group upkeeps their promise of 60 full-time employees.

Scott Martinez, President of Tyler Economic Development Council, says his organization will be the monitor of this agreement. Continue reading Blackstone hotel promises 60 jobs, gets tax abatement in return

TYLER — The Blackstone Hotel, with Valencia Hotel Group, is coming back to Tyler and bringing 60 full-time jobs with it. According to our news partner KETK, the new full-service, luxury hotel is being built under a 3-year plan, on the corner of Broadway and Fergueson, promising at least 60 full-time jobs with an annual payroll of $2 million.

This economic boosting promise is why Smith County Commissioners took up a vote for a 10-year tax abatement of 50% for Blackstone Hotel, as long as Valencia Hotel Group upkeeps their promise of 60 full-time employees.

Scott Martinez, President of Tyler Economic Development Council, says his organization will be the monitor of this agreement. “So the hotel will give a quarterly and annual report on their employment numbers and their investment, as well as their sale sets to the city,” Martinez said. “So we can track to make sure they’re following through with what they committed to do.” Continue reading Tyler’s new luxury hotel to add 60 jobs

BULLARD — According to our news partner KETK, a state death report reveals neighbors believed a Bullard man was attempting suicide by cop, which led to a deadly Bullard SWAT standoff on Dec. 8.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 53-year-old Shawn Turner Sr. of Bullard, who was firing a gun from the front porch of his home. Neighbors told law enforcement they were in fear and believed he was attempting suicide by cop. The state report revealed that Turner “retrieved an AR-style rifle and began firing at officers, at which point officers returned fire.”

Turner then allegedly went back into the house, where he continued firing at officers until he changed weapons and killed himself. Turner would have been charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon. The Texas Rangers are currently investigating the case.

CASS COUNTY — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has suspended one of its troopers following a Sunday arrest for driving while intoxicated. According to our news partner KETK, 43-year-old Trooper Decori Charles Birmingham was suspended from his duties after being arrested by a fellow DPS trooper and charged with DWI. He was booked into the Cass County Jail without incident.

This comes after Birmingham was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Cass County at the intersection of State Highway 8 and State Highway 77 on Saturday. Birmingham was off duty at the time of the crash and was driving his personal vehicle. Birmingham has been with the Texas Department of Public Safety since 2014 and is stationed in Linden.

“DPS takes these allegations very seriously and the department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has also launched a separate administrative investigation,” a DPS spokesperson said.

TYLER — An Oklahoma man has pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges after being involved in transporting three minors across state borders into Texas, where they were forced into prostitution. According to our news partner KETK, The United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Texas said that 44-year-old Rolando Alexis Bravo transported the minors from Lawton, Oklahoma to Dallas on Nov. 16, 2023, where he met with a co-conspirator. There, the co-conspirator allegedly obtained hotel rooms in Tyler where the children engaged in prostitution.

Bravo could potentially face life in federal prison and a sentencing hearing will be scheduled once the presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office is complete. The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Tyler Police Department. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, launched in 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

TITUS COUNTY — A Mount Pleasant man was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of sexual assault against a child. According to our news partner KETK, 36-year-old Fernando Santos was arrested on Feb. 23, 2022, and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. Following the arrest, Santos was placed into the Titus County Jail and his bond was set at $1 million.

On Tuesday, Santos received his sentence and is expected to pay a $10,000 fine, according to the Titus County District Attorney’s Office. He was found guilty by a jury after pleading not guilty. Santos was previously charged with several different assault charges and was also previously charged with making a terrorist threat.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County authorities are seeking help locating a 21-year-old woman who went missing last week. Our news partners at KETK report that Aumarie Deleon was last seen walking on County Road 376 (Morningside Drive) on Dec. 11. She is described as a Hispanic female, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 175 pounds, with black shoulder-length wavy hair and brown eyes. Deleon was reportedly wearing a black beanie, black sweater, dark blue jeans and black tennis shoes. She has a blue tattoo on her left hand. Deleon’s family noted that she is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, ADHD and PTSD, but that she had been off her medication for more than a year. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office

EAST TEXAS — The Texas Health and Human Services is reporting 5,124 influenza hospitalizations so far this month. According to our news partner KETK, these numbers have gone up by 2,000 since Nov. 15. Longview healthcare specialists and pharmacists said the majority of cases they see are people coming in with are COVID-19 and Influenza A. Multiple school districts in deep East Texas cancelled classes this week due to flu outbreaks, including the Cushing and Shelbyville ISD’s.

“We are definitely having an uptick in it in the last several weeks,” Family nurse practitioner at Hospitality ER Judson Lawerence said. “Our numbers have increased in both flu and COVID. But the earlier you can come in get treatment the better.”

Pharmacist at Louis Morgan, Shawn Sams, knows finding the right medicine to combat your symptoms can be a daunting task. Sams said if you have a wet cough, “This particular product is Mucinex, so it’s going to help break up the chest congestion and it’s also going to suppress the cough. So the idea is your cough less often, but when you do it, hopefully it’s more productive and you can get that mucus out of your chest.” Continue reading Influenza A, COVID-19 on the rise

CENTER — Due to ongoing illnesses impacting students and staff, Excelsior ISD announced on Monday that its campus will be closed for the remainder of the week. The district said the decision was made to protect the health and well-being of the school community while ensuring students are safe during the upcoming holiday break. All activities and events will also be cancelled.

“This decision was made with the safety of our students, staff and families as our top priority,” Excelsior ISD said. “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we take this precautionary step.”

NACOGDOCHES — According to our news partner KETK, a 36-year-old man was arrested on a murder charge following a stabbing late Saturday night in Nacogdoches. Nacogdoches Police Sgt. Brett Ayres said officers responded to a medical call just after midnight in the 300 block of East Main Street, where a person was reported to be bleeding. Officers located the victim, who had been stabbed multiple times in the chest, and EMS transported the victim to a local hospital, Ayres said.

Witnesses led police to Cruz De La Luz Vargas Nava, 36, of Nacogdoches, as the suspect. He was found shortly after and taken into custody on probable cause. The victim later died at the hospital, police said. Vargas Nava was subsequently booked into jail on a murder charge. The investigation remains ongoing.