HENDERSON COUNTY — Deputies discovered burned human remains in a backyard barrel after a neighbor reported a strange odor, launching an investigation into a violent dispute between a Henderson County father and son. According to our news partner KETk and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, May 11, at around 8 p.m., officers were dispatched after a neighbor reported a strong, unusual odor and believed a body might be inside a burn barrel.
When deputies arrived, they found a brown barrel lying on its side containing burned human remains. Deputies searched the residence and located an individual in one of the bedrooms who said he did not know about the incident. The neighbors who contacted law enforcement told deputies that Johnny, the father, and Ronny Medford, his son, had been fighting the previous day and into the early morning hours of May 11. Ronny was later seen leaving the residence that morning, and Johnny had not been seen since. The reporting party also said Johnny had come to her home several times seeking help, fearing that Ronny would hurt or kill him. Continue reading Burned remains of father found
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KETK) — A former East Texas coach has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in February after driving her home.
According to an arrest affidavit from Titus County, a woman went to the Mount Pleasant Police Department late on Feb. 15 asking to speak privately with an officer. She reported that on Feb. 13 she had been drinking at an unknown residence and that Antione Javon Ross had been asked to take her home.
At about 12:29 a.m., the woman’s mother received a call from a friend saying the woman had been crying and claimed Ross had sexually assaulted her.
Hopkins County man arrested after allegedly stealing mower, power tools
The victim told police she does not remember going home and only recalls waking up and telling Ross to “get off her” before he left. She went to the emergency room for a SANE exam before speaking with officers.
Detectives later went to Mount Pleasant ISD and confirmed Ross was a junior high coach. When they approached him in the parking lot, Ross reportedly said, “I kinda know what you’re talking about,” according to the affidavit. He told detectives he had already spoken with his lawyer and would not answer questions.
Investigators obtained the woman’s SANE kit and related paperwork, which they said provided enough probable cause to charge Ross with sexual assault. Ross was arrested on April 29 and released in early May on a $100,000 bond.
TYLER — As the heat starts to settle in and children’s schedules free up for the summer, several youth camps are opening up their doors and stretching out their hammocks in the Piney Wood’s forests for the upcoming season. For 14 camps in East Texas, however, state approval hasn’t come through yet, leaving cabins empty and lake fun at a standstill.
According to our news partner KETK, as of May 22, 16 of 30 East Texas summer camps that have applied for licensing have been approved by the state, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The new licensing regulations result from Gov. Greg Abbott’s signing of several bills, including Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, which enhances safety measures for summer camps after the tragic floods at Camp Mystic last summer. Under the bills, state officials require camps to comply with new safety measures, such as installing and maintaining emergency systems, to be eligible for licensing and operation. Continue reading Several summer camps await approval
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks inched to more records Wednesday after oil prices fell and eased the pressure on households and businesses worldwide.
The S&P 500 edged up by less than 0.1% and added to its all-time high set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 182 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.1% as both indexes also set records.
Stocks of companies with big fuel bills helped lead the way on hopes that lower oil prices will remove a big drag on their profits. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings climbed 6.1%, and United Airlines rallied 6.3%. Delta Air Lines rose 3% and set an all-time high.
The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil fell 4.6% to $92.25 after the ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to hold despite the U.S. military launching what it called “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude fell even more, 5.5%, to settle at $88.68 and is back to where it was in mid-April on hopes that the United States and Iran can reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow oil tankers to exit the Persian Gulf for deliveries again.
Stocks have been able to run to records despite the painful inflation and uncertainty caused by high oil prices largely because companies have reported surprisingly strong profits for the start of 2026, and the forecast is for them to continue.
Bath & Body Works rallied 9.7%, and Abercrombie & Fitch climbed 8.9% after both reported bigger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. That’s even as U.S. consumers continue to say they’re feeling discouraged about the economy and inflation.
Lululemon Athletica rose 2.9% after reaching a deal with its founder, Chip Wilson, where it will add a former chief marketing officer of ESPN and a former co-CEO of On to its board of directors.
On the losing side of Wall Street was Dick’s Sporting Goods, which dropped 6% despite delivering a profit for the latest quarter that edged past expectations. Analysts pointed to how much profit it wrung out of each $1 in revenue, which some called a bit weak.
Oil-and-gas stocks also sank, hurt by the dropping prices for crude. Exxon Mobil fell 1.3%, and Chevron slipped 1.3%. Halliburton dropped 3.6% to bring its gain for the year so far back toward 40%.
All told, the S&P 500 rose 1.24 to 7,520.36. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 182.60 points to 50,644.28, and the Nasdaq composite gained 18.55 to 26,674.73.
In the bond market, Treasury yields eased after falling oil prices took pressure off inflation. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.48% from 4.50% late Tuesday and from 4.67% roughly a week ago.
It’s a respite following recent gains for yields in bond markets worldwide, which threatened to slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and all kinds of other investments. High yields have already forced the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its most expensive level since last summer, and they could curtail companies’ borrowing to build the artificial-intelligence data centers that have supported the U.S. economy’s growth recently.
In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed across Europe and Asia. South Korea’s Kospi was one of the world’s best performers and jumped 2.3% after SK Hynix, which is a big beneficiary of the AI boom, soared 9.3%.
A day before, Micron Technology surged to become the latest Big Tech company to be worth more than $1 trillion because of AI excitement. Its stock has more than tripled already in 2026, and analysts at UBS said Tuesday it could soar even more because of how fundamentally AI has improved demand for computer memory. It rose another 3.6% Wednesday.
Matthew Perry attends the GQ Men of the Year Party 2022 at The West Hollywood EDITION on Nov. 17, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ)
Matthew Perry's live-in assistant was sentenced on Wednesday to nearly 3 1/2 years in prison for administering the dose of ketamine that killed the Friends actor in 2023.
Kenneth Iwamasa, 61, is one of five people charged and convicted in what federal prosecutors called a conspiracy to illegally distribute ketamine to Perry. The assistant pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death.
U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced him to 41 months in prison and fined him $10,000, the Department of Justice said.
Prosecutors said Iwamasa, the final defendant to be sentenced in the case, injected Perry with ketamine repeatedly in the weeks before the actor's death without proper medical training — including the fatal dose on Oct. 28, 2023.
"When defendant Kenneth Iwamasa was hired as Matthew Perry's live-in personal assistant, he was acutely aware that Mr. Perry had suffered from drug addiction for most of his life. But rather than help Mr. Perry maintain sobriety, defendant became his enabler and drug supplier," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum ahead of Wednesday's sentencing hearing in Los Angeles federal court. "As defendant injected more and more ketamine into Mr. Perry, he saw — and was the only person to see — clear warning signs that Mr. Perry was in danger."
Prosecutors said Iwamasa found Perry unconscious inside his home at least two times in October 2023, as well as seeing him "freeze up" after a large injection, but, "ignoring these warnings," continued to inject him with illicit ketamine.
In the days leading up to Perry's death, Iwamasa injected him with "significant quantities of ketamine," prosecutors wrote. On the day Perry fatally overdosed, Iwamasa injected him with two doses before Perry asked him to prepare the jacuzzi and to "shoot me up a big one," prosecutors wrote.
Soon after administering the third dose, Iwamasa left to run errands for Perry and, upon returning, found him dead, face down in the jacuzzi, according to prosecutors.
Following Perry's death, Iwamasa "continued his wrongdoing by destroying evidence and taking other steps to cover his tracks and obstruct justice," prosecutors wrote. They allege he cleaned up ketamine bottles and syringes from the scene and omitted ketamine from the list of Perry's medications while being questioned by officers after calling 911.
Iwamasa ultimately provided "significant cooperation" in the government's investigation, including information on other defendants, prosecutors said while asking for 41 months of imprisonment.
In response to the government's sentencing memo, defense attorneys argued that Iwamasa did not abuse his "trusted position," saying he was an employee and "acted at all relevant times at the victim's direction rather than pursuant to his own discretion."
"Perhaps Defendant's employment relationship with the victim enabled him to more readily participate in the conspiracy to distribute drugs to the victim than a man on the street, but it should be noted that a number of proverbial men on the street did in fact participate in the same conspiracy," they wrote. "Multiple third parties were involved who did not share the same relationship with the victim. That fact alone should overcome the inference that it was Defendant's particular relationship with the victim that facilitated the crime."
Prosecutors said Iwamasa worked with two doctors to obtain ketamine for Perry, before turning to two dealers to obtain dozens of vials of ketamine, including the doses that killed the actor.
Iwamasa had known Perry since around 1992 before becoming his live-in assistant in 2022 for $150,000 a year, according to prosecutors. His responsibilities included those related to Perry's medical care, they said.
In a victim impact statement filed ahead of the sentencing, Perry's mother said the family was relieved when Perry took on an assistant whom she said understood the actor's battles with drug addiction, and that they all trusted Iwamasa.
"Kenny's most important job — by far — was to be my son's companion and guardian in his fight against addiction. His number one responsibility — ensure that Matthew remained what he wanted to be: drug free," she wrote. "Kenny knew, should he feel unduly pressured, that with one phone call to any number of the people in Matthew's orbit, reinforcements would be on the way, and his job would be safe."
"But instead of protecting Matthew, he aided and abetted illegal drug taking, arranged for one source of supply, then another. Shot the drugs into Matthew's body though he was not in the least qualified," she continued. "He did it even though he could see, anyone could have seen, it was so obviously dangerous. And he did it again and again."
Iwamasa is the fifth and final defendant in the case to be sentenced in the scheme to illegally distribute ketamine to Perry.
Prosecutors said Jasveen Sangha, reportedly known as the "Ketamine Queen," worked with Erik Fleming to distribute 51 vials of her ketamine to Iwamasa, including the doses that killed Perry.
Sangha was sentenced last month to 15 years in prison. She pleaded guilty last year to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
Fleming was sentenced earlier this month to two years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
The two doctors convicted in the case were sentenced last year.
Mark Chavez, who once ran a ketamine clinic, admitted to selling fraudulently obtained ketamine to Salvador Plasencia, who briefly treated Perry, which was then sold to the actor in the weeks before his death.
Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and was sentenced to eight months of home confinement in December 2025.
Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine and was sentenced to 30 months in prison in December 2025.
TYLER – According to police, a man is incarcerated after a woman was threatened and held at knifepoint during the robbery of a Tyler Dollar General. Aggravated robbery is the charge against 62-year-old Richard Gerard Taplin. On April 25, an officer was dispatched to a Dollar General in the 2300 block of West Erwin Street. According to an arrest document, a store employee told the officer that a man, later identified as Taplin, had approached her behind the counter and held a knife up to her side. Taplin, she claimed, insisted that she open the register. The woman told the officer that she believed Taplin would stab her when he said, “If you tell them anything, I will work on you,” as two male customers started to enter the store, according to the affidavit. Continue reading Arrest made in store robbery
Emily Blunt in 'Disclosure Day,' directed by Steven Spielberg. (Niko Tavernise/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment)
The final trailer for Steven Spielberg's film Disclosure Day has arrived.
Universal Pictures released the final trailer for the new, original event film on Thursday. It returns Spielberg to his extraterrestrial roots.
Josh O'Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson and Colman Domingo star in the thriller, which is based on a story by Spielberg.
Spielberg is the top-grossing director of all time. He previously explored stories about extraterrestrial life in the films E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and War of the Worlds.
The trailer starts with Spielberg doing a direct-to-camera address.
"I am much more inclined now than I was when I made Close Encounters to really believe that we're not the only intelligent civilization in the universe," Spielberg says, before footage from the film kicks in.
O'Connor's character, Daniel Kellner, then admits he has stolen long-kept government secrets about proof of living beings not on Earth.
Spielberg continues, saying, "This is a story about us. All of us, up against the most extraordinary event in human history."
David Koepp, the writer of Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, wrote the screenplay for this new movie.
SMITH COUNTY – Tyler police officers arrested a man over the weekend for allegedly bringing two women into a house he did not own and sexually abusing them. A 911 text was sent by the women, leading to authorities finding and assisting the victims. An arrest affidavit states that an officer was sent to a Walton Road residence after receiving a 911 text that said “help.” Two women were “completely naked and appeared to be afraid,” according to what the officers saw through a window. When the officer asked the women if they were alright, they shook their heads and indicated a room where suspect Heath Butler was. Continue reading Text leads to sexual assault arrest
FRANKSTON – According to a Federal Aviation Administration report, the plane crash in Henderson County that left its pilot dead on Tuesday morning occurred “under unknown circumstances.” Around 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, a small plane crashed in the Frankston neighborhood of Aero Estates, killing a man who was flying it. The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that the Fokker Dr.1 Dreidecker plane crashed close to a private airstrip within the community. The pilot was identified as Frankston-native Mark Whiddon by Henderson County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Milton Adams. Continue reading FAA releases crash report
SMITH COUNTY – K-9 Lobo, a devoted partner and protector, is being honored by the Smith County Pct. 1 Constable’s Office. Along with his partner, K-9 Lobo, Smith County Pct. 1 Deputy Constable Jose Terrazas, a proud K-9 handler, departed from the sheriff’s office in February. The news of K-9 Lobo’s death was released by the constable’s office on Wednesday. For almost eight years, K-9 Lobo bravely and devotedly fought beside his companion on the front lines. From September 2018 to February 2026, the Dutch Shepherd was employed by the Constable’s Office. According to a statement, during this trying time, they are praying for Terrazas, his family, and every member of the sheriff’s office.
TYLER – As the Downtown Improvement Project moves closer to completion, the City of Tyler will mark a major milestone with a celebration recognizing the reopening of North College Avenue, West Erwin Street, and the intersection connecting the two.
The milestone celebration will be held on Friday, May 29, at 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of North College Avenue and West Erwin Street. The event will highlight visible progress in the heart of Downtown and recognize this important step toward the final phases of the project. Guests are encouraged to stay in the area and support Downtown businesses following the celebration.
The reopening of this key intersection on June 1 restores a major connection for drivers and offers the public a chance to see how far the project has come. For more information about the Downtown Improvement Project, visit MyTylerTexas.com.
This is a new social media platform with a unique twist! Go get David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called BeReal. You can find BeReal in the Apple Store and Google Play below.
TYLER – On Wednesday, an East Texan was given a 20-year prison sentence for allegedly distributing illegal substances, namely crack cocaine. In the 475th District Court, Derrish Graydon, 44, entered a guilty plea to participating in organized crime. According to court documents, he was subsequently given a 20-year term for the offense. In relation to the alleged crack cocaine ring that operated in buildings close to nearby daycare centers and schools, Graydon is the third person to enter a guilty plea and get a term. On May 7, Samatraus Forge, who was found to be the leader of a criminal organization with others serving as his drug salespeople, was given a life sentence after entering a guilty plea to three charges of organized crime. Continue reading 20 year sentence for illegal distribution
Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in 'Enola Holmes 3.' (Netflix)
Enola Holmes is back, this time as a bride-to-be.
Netflix has released the official teaser trailer for the third installment in the film series about Sherlock Holmes' brilliant younger sister.
Millie Bobby Brown is back as the titular detective in the movie, while Louis Partridge and Henry Cavill also return as Tewkesbury and Sherlock Holmes, respectively.
Joining them are Himesh Patel as John Watson, Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes and Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Moriarty.
This time around, Enola is headed abroad to take on a case in the island nation of Malta.
According to Netflix, "adventure chases detective Enola Holmes to Malta, where personal and professional dreams collide in a case more tangled and treacherous than any she has faced before."
The trailer teases just exactly what the treacherous case is. We first see Tewkesbury propose, as well as Enola's direct-to-camera address reaction it: "Yes, I was surprised, too," she says.
Afterward, Enola, while en route to the church wearing her white gown, is informed that her brother Sherlock has been kidnapped. She inadvertently leaves Tewkesbury at the alter by himself, seemingly missing her own wedding ceremony.
Philip Barantini directed Enola Holmes 3 from a script by Jack Thorne, which is based on The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer.
In addition to starring, Brown produces the film while her husband, Jake Bongiovi, executive produces.
Enola Holmes 3 will make its streaming debut on July 1.
Tyler – This week, 361 Tyler ISD teachers were surprised with the prestigious TOP (Tyler Optimal Performance) Teacher designation, resulting in $4,365,127 in additional compensation from the state. The designation is part of Tyler ISD’s Approved Local Designation System under the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), created by House Bill 3 to attract and retain highly effective educators.
To earn a TOP Teacher designation, educators must meet rigorous criteria, including student growth metrics, attendance, teacher observation data, and student surveys. Continue reading Tyler ISD top teachers awarded $4.4M
HENDERSON COUNTY — Deputies discovered burned human remains in a backyard barrel after a neighbor reported a strange odor, launching an investigation into a violent dispute between a Henderson County father and son. According to our news partner KETk and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, May 11, at around 8 p.m., officers were dispatched after a neighbor reported a strong, unusual odor and believed a body might be inside a burn barrel.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks inched to more records Wednesday after oil prices fell and eased the pressure on households and businesses worldwide.
