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CHEROKEE COUNTY – An East Texas man was arrested on Thursday evening after he stabbed a man at an Alto gas station over money and truck keys, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

An Alto arrest affidavit revealed that police officers responded to a Texaco gas station at 539 Lovers Lane around 8 p.m., where a stabbing had occurred. Witnesses identified the suspect as 46-year-old Cory DeWayne Poole of Rusk, who was standing beside a car. While Poole was being handcuffed and put into the patrol car, police found a gray knife in the pocket of his pants. Officers then went inside to check on the stabbing victim, where they saw him holding his stomach in pain.

“I saw a puncture wound on his left side stomach area,” the officer said. “I applied gauze to the wound and applied pressure. Shortly after, EMS arrived to take over medical care.”

The victim explained to police that they were arguing about money when Poole stole his truck keys from the ignition. Continue reading Suspect arrested after gas station stabbing

PANOLA COUNTY – A man who was wanted in Panola County for burglary was arrested after he was found inside a vacant house, according to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers found Kobe Holt on Wednesday night inside a vacant residence off County Road 104. Holt attempted to flee from authorities but was taken into custody after deputies used a Taser.

According to a report from our news partner KETK, investigators later discovered that Holt had broken into the residence and stole property that was stored inside the home. Holt was subsequently arrested and charged with burglary of habitation, resisting arrest and evading arrest.

Holt also received charges relating to his previous burglaries, including burglary of a building, burglary of a vehicle,burglary of a habitation, and theft of firearms

Following the arrest, Holt was transported to the detention center and the case will be presented to the Criminal District Attorney for further charges.

LONGVIEW– A Longview resident was recognized during a city council meeting on Thursday for his heroic act of bravery on a bus ride earlier this year, according to our news partner KETK.

While riding on a Longview transit bus in May, a fellow passenger began acting aggressively and became a threat to other passengers and the driver, forcing Corey Street to act quickly and remove the person from the vehicle.

In a video obtained by the City of Longview, it shows a man confronting the driver of the bus with a knife while trying to operate the bus. Street can be seen on film, appearing behind the man and forcefully removing him from the bus, preventing the driver or anyone else from being injured. Continue reading Longview man honored for stopping attacker on a bus

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, officials received reports of bricks falling off the building at around 1:20 p.m. on Thursday. The Tyler Police Department has blocked off Elm Street in downtown Tyler after bricks started falling from the garage at the Carlton Hotel on Thursday. Elm Street is currently closed from South Broadway Avenue to Spring Avenue to keep pedestrians and drivers away from the building as inspectors come in to survey the condition of the garage.

“It looks like just age,” Hooten said. “It looks like a normal age. Just got deteriorated and started falling.” “The main danger is where the crack is,” Hooten said. “It could lead to other cracks and it could lead to a ripple effect on down the side of the wall there. So we just want to make sure that no one’s underneath it. If that happened.”

“The Carlton Hotel is a historic icon in Downtown Tyler,” then deputy city manager of Tyler Stephanie Franklin said in 2023. “However, the current condition of the building has contributed to substantial blight in the Downtown district, and it poses a public health and safety risk.” Continue reading Elm Street closed due to falling debris from building

POLK COUNTY – The Livingston Police Department said they arrested a man at Matthews Park on Wednesday for online solicitation of a minor. According to our news partner KETK, Livingston PD was told that an investigation into online child exploitation discovered a man in the area who was trying to find an underage girl to meet for sex.

Detectives with Livingston PD were following up on the tip at Matthews Park on Wednesday afternoon when they found the man flagged by the investigation. Randy Newman, 31 of Goodrich, had driven to the park to meet a 14-year-old girl, according to Livingston PD. Newman was arrested for online solicitation of a minor and booked into the Polk County Jail.

“This is a sad reminder of the evil that is constantly reaching out to our children from behind a keyboard. Thankfully, this time, we were able to intervene before the worst could happen,” Livingston PD interim lieutenant Jack Mueller said.

TYLER – Lance Phillips, son of Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips and former Smith County Commissioner Terry Phillips, was sentenced to seven years probation on Wednesday for assaulting a peace officer, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

In May, Lance was found guilty of assaulting a police officer during an incident at a 2023 Smith County commissioner’s court meeting. After he was found guilty, Lance told KETK that he planned to appeal the verdict in this case.

“If I lose, then I will immediately file my appeal to the higher court, and go as high as necessary to get the rule of law to be enforced,” Lance told KETK in May. “There will be tons of case law that has Lance Phillips vs. Neal Franklin of Smith County. The result will help 35 million Texans who may want to speak in a public meeting.” Continue reading Lance Phillips gets seven years probation for assault

SMITH COUNTY – A 17-year-old died on Sunday when they were ejected from their vehicle during a high-speed chase on Highway 31, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said that deputies started pursuing a vehicle seen driving at 124 miles per hour on Highway 31 West at around 1:36 a.m. on Sunday. The deputies eventually caught up with the vehicle on Pleasant Hollow Road, where it had crashed.

The 17-year-old driver, Joel Munoz, was ejected from the vehicle along with a passenger. Officials said that Munoz was pronounced dead at the scene while the passenger was taken to a local hospital to be treated.

AUSTIN – Just 8 days after he execution hearing for death row inmate Robert Roberson of Palestine, his attorneys are asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) to stay his execution set for this fall in his case involving the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis.

Our news partner KETK had the opportunity to speak with Roberson’s Attorney, Gretchen Sween, Thursday morning about her reaction to the execution date being set and the two motions filed in the CCA.

On July 16, Roberson’s hearing led the Smith County District Court Judge Austin Reeve Jackson to order his execution to be set for 6 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2025. “The ruling was very disappointing, and that’s why we are now turning around to stop the execution date that we thought shouldn’t have been set in the first place,” Sween said.
“But we were grateful to be able to have a hearing, and that the judge made an effort to get Roberson there. I think it was evident there’s a lot of interest in what’s going on in this case.” Continue reading Robert Roberson’s attorney asks Court of Appeals for stay of execution

SMITH COUNTY – A hearing-impaired woman from outside of Texas adopted two puppies from the Smith County Animal Shelter that she and her family share a special connection with. according to our news partner KETK.

In June, the animal shelter rescued two three-month-old puppies, Anjali and Amiya, who were found abandoned on County Road 1142. After rescuing the puppies, it became apparent that both dogs were deaf.

Within days of saving the dogs, the shelter posted pictures of them on Deaf Dogs Rock, a website that showcases deaf dogs available for adoption. Nozomi Tomita, who lives in Massachusetts, viewed the dogs online and felt an instant connection, as she and her family are deaf. Continue reading Hearing-impaired family adopts deaf puppies in Texas

TATUM – The Tatum Police Department is searching for a woman part of the ‘felony lane gang’ who has entered three Texas banks using stolen identities from vehicle burglaries in Tatum, according to our news partner KETK.

Tatum PD said that this woman has gone to three Vera Bank locations from Mt. Pleasant south to Lufkin, presenting stolen identifications and banking information from a string of vehicle burglaries.

The suspect is not believed to be from the area; the gang she is associated with operates in Texas but is based out of Ft Lauderdale, Florida.

Two of the co-conspirators have been identified, but police are asking for the public’s assistance in finding the suspect who is wanted for many criminal charges. If anyone has information about this case, they are encouraged to contact Sergeant B. Jones at 903-803-3583.

TYLER — More Tyler homes will soon benefit from drainage improvements as the City adds Kidd Drive and Downing Street to the 2025 Structure Flooding Project. Recurring flooding has impacted three homes and several nearby properties. According to a city news release, on Wednesday, July 23, the City Council approved a Master Services Agreement for $42,300 with The C.T. Brannon Corporation for the design and construction phase services to Kidd Drive and Downing Street as part of the 2025 Structure Flooding Projects.

The City learned about stormwater issues in the area, and in 2018, a drainage study identified solutions to the problem. However, repairs were delayed due to challenges involving private property. The City continued monitoring the area until flooding began affecting homes, not just yards. Continue reading City expands 2025 structure flooding project

PALESTINE — Eighty-one jobs are at risk at Peraton’s Palestine balloon operation center due to the impending expiration of its contract with NASA according to our news partner KETK.

Peraton’s contract with NASA for balloon operations at the NASA Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine is set to expire on Sept. 30. If the company does not receive a contract extension or a re-award by that date, or within 14 days thereafter, it may be forced to lay off a significant portion of its workforce. The potential layoffs and their timing are based on current information, which is subject to change. Any developments, such as a contract extension or adjustments in government or operational needs, could alter the timeline or scale of the layoffs.

“Depending on government and operational requirements, layoffs in connection with the ending of the contract may come in stages, depending upon the need for workers as Peraton moves toward conclusion of operations under the contract,” the company stated. Continue reading 81 jobs in Palestine at risk pending NASA decision