KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER – East Texas state lawmakers are ready to go back to work, while Democratic Party leaders are saying they want a fair session. The breaking point of this special session came during Republicans’ attempt at passing a redistricting map that would create more Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to our news partner KETK.

“It’s time for the Democrats to get back and do their jobs and represent their districts and have a debate and a discussion where that’s supposed to happen,” State Rep. Cole Hefner, a Republican of Lindale, said.

Hefner said committee meetings are still happening and bills are passing out of the calendar committee, but now they want to bring those items to the floor.

“We have four or five flood relief, flood-related bills to do with the Kerrville floods, the central Texas floods, and those are top of the list priorities,” Hefner said. “Of course, the redistricting is going to be important for the direction of our nation, and so there’s a lot of business to be done here.” Continue reading ETX Reps express disappointment with quorum breakers

TYLER – Tyler ISD got their official TEA ratings today and the news is very good. For example, Moore Middle School jumped from a B (89) to an A (90). They also saw an increase at five other campuses. Click here to see the full chart.

LONGVIEW — Our news partners at KETK report that a motorcyclist is dead following a crash on Monday in Longview. The Longview Police Department said officers responded to a call after an SUV and motorcycle crash occurred on Monday at around 6:01 p.m. in the 3700 block of West Loop 281. The investigation revealed that the motorcyclist ran a red light that caused the crash. The biker was then taken to a local hospital, where the driver later died. Officials have not identified the driver of the motorcycle at this time.

GILMER — After years of leading the way in Gilmer, City Manager Greg Hutson is stepping down, according to our news partner KETK. “I woke up one morning and I said, it’s time, “Gilmer City Manager Greg Hutson said. Hutson has served as city manager for Gilmer for almost nine years, and before that, worked for the city of Sampson Park.

“I have accomplished what I needed to accomplish, what I wanted to accomplish in Gilmer,” Hutson said. “The accomplishments we’ve made as it relates to the airport, the projects in process now at the parks, the maintenance of the tanks.” Continue reading Long-time city manager steps down

TYLER — An SUV  crashed into Piada at The Village at Cumberland Park in Tyler on Tuesday afternoon. Tyler police and UT Health EMS responded to the scene. According to our news partner KETK, no injuries were reported. No word on the cause of the crash. Additional details were not available.

BULLARD – As Wednesday, Aug. 13, County Road 172 is now closed to through traffic as part of the FM 2493 widening project. According to TxDOT, the closure is expected to remain in effect for approximately one month.

Detour routes have been marked with signs, along with electronic message boards to assist drivers in navigating around the closure. Bullard ISD bus routes are not expected to be affected by this closure.

MARION COUNTY — Marion County is now under a burn ban after Governor Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, County Judge Leward J. LaFleur said the ban was issued out of of caution after Governor Abbott said 191 counties were under an imminent threat of widespread or severe damage due to increased fire weather conditions that began on Sunday. This means. all outdoor burning is now prohibited in the county unless the restriction ends earlier based on a determination made by the Texas Forest Service or the court. The order also mentions that any outdoor grill be above the ground, or enclosed. Fire rings, ground fires and open grills are prohibited. Anyone caught violating the order can receive a Class C misdemeanor or a $500 fine.

UPDATE: The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of August 13, 2025.

PREVIOUS STORY: RUSK — Due to a water line break in Rusk, the Rusk Rural Water Supply Company has issued a boil water notice for some customers on Monday.

According to RRWSC, customers on the following roads are currently under a boil water notice: FM 23, FM 1857, County Road 2202, County Road 2206, County Road 2207, County Road 2208, County Road 2209, County Road 2210, County Road 2211,County Road 2212, County Road 2213, County Road 2301 and County Road 2303.

Any households or businesses under a boil water notice should bring water for cleaning or consumption to a vigorous rolling boil for at least two minutes before use. RRWSC said customers will be notified when the notice is no longer in effect. To learn more, visit Rusk Rural Water Supply Company online.

SMITH COUNTY — A father reported an inappropriate relationship to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office after he discovered his teen daughter and her 46-year-old co-worker were dating in late July.  According to our news partner KETK, an arrest affidavit revealed that on July 20, a concerned father contacted the sheriff’s office about an improper relationship between his daughter and her co-worker, Cory Dashun Ransom.

“[The father] went through [his daughter’s] phone and found messages between her and Ransom indicating that they were in a dating relationship and that [his daughter] wanted a kiss from Ransom,” the document said.

The father also explained to officers that his daughter said Ransom touched her private parts. Continue reading Man accused of having sexual relationship with teen co-worker

TYLER – North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) is asking drivers to be aware that starting Wednesday, August 13, Toll 49 will be closed at night from I-20, south five miles to CR 1150 for major road enhancements. The closure will be from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays during August and a few weeks into September.

“NET RMA is proud to be making these enhancements,” said Glenn H. Green, NET RMA Executive Director. “The material we are using, SuperPave, is a high performance-grade asphalt that will not only add strength, it also provides a smooth, quiet roadway for our customers. This is a new, highly skid-resistant surface that will last for years.”

The agency is requesting travelers find other routes during that time frame. For more information on Toll 49 visit, NETRMA.org.

LONGVIEW — Authorities report that a motorcyclist has died following a crash on Monday in Longview. According to our news partner KETK, Longview Police Department sent officers to an accident location at West Loop 281 near the O.K. Paper Center. They found a collision between a SUV and a motorcycle. An LPD investigation revealed the motorcyclist ran a red light that caused the crash. The driver of the motorcycle was taken to a hospital, where the driver died. Officials are withholding the name of the deceased at this time.

NACOGDOCHES — Our news partners at KETK report that a Nacogdoches father and grandmother were arrested Saturday after a 3-year-old was hospitalized in critical condition due to ingesting THC gummies. According to the Nacogdoches Police Department, around 10:20 a.m., police and EMS responded to a home on West Main Street, where a 3-year-old was in medical distress after eating THC gummies. Officials said the toddler was transported to a local hospital, but then life-flighted due to being in critical condition. Continue reading Nacogdoches father, grandmother arrested after toddler ingests THC gummies

PALESTINE — An East Texas lawmaker announced on Friday that he has secured nearly $50 million to fund NASA’s Balloon Facility in Palestine.

According to our news partner KETK, U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey said the funding will come from the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, and though the bill has yet to be passed out of committee, it is expected to be considered in early September. Ellzey says this funding will support operations and scientific missions, which play a key role in NASA’s research efforts.

“The Balloon Facility in Palestine is a unique and critical part of NASA’s mission, and it’s right here in East Texas,” Ellzey said. “I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work being done there—not just for science, but for the community. This proposed funding will help ensure the facility remains strong, supports good jobs for Texas families, and continues advancing American innovation.”

Ellzey has served on the Appropriations Committee, which writes legislation that allocates federal funding to government agencies, departments and organizations.