East Texas job growth continues

East Texas job growth continuesTYLER — The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) reports the state added 40,100 ‘non-farm jobs’ to the market in January. According to our news partner KETK, this creates a total of 14 million positions for job-seekers and outpaces the nation in job growth rate. According to the TWC report, Tyler has 115,900 workers and Longview has 123,600 workers.

“Smith County added three jobs in the private sector every day, which outpaced the state and the country last year.  We’ve managed to maintain job growth when other communities have struggled,” President of the Tyler Economic Development, Scott Martinez, said.

The leading industries creating jobs in Texas are construction (11,000 new jobs) and medical services (10,000). “These jobs help our families everywhere. These are people in our community who have opportunities to support themselves with these jobs”, Martinez adds. Continue reading East Texas job growth continues

230 years in prison in child abuse case

230 years in prison in child abuse casePALESTINE – An East Texas man has been sentenced to 230 years in prison after he was found guilty of sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography, according to our news partner KETK. Joseph Zeleny was arrested in 2023 after the Palestine Police Department received a complaint regarding the ongoing sexual abuse of a child that had gone on for several years. Following an investigation, Zeleney was taken into custody and charged with sexual assault of a child.

After his arrest officials later found over 3,000 images of child pornography on Zeleny’s devices, according to authorities. On April 2, Zeleny was found guilty of sex counts of sexual abuse of a child and 11 counts of possession of child pornography. Zeleny was sentenced to 230 years in prison on Monday and fined $160,000.

13-foot alligator removed from Sam Rayburn Lake

LIVINGSTON, Texas (KETK) – A 13-foot alligator was discovered at Sam Rayburn Lake recently and has been removed from the lake.
Winnsboro angler sets Bassmaster weight record at Sam Rayburn Reservoir

The gator, which has been named ” Big Jasper,” was removed from the East Texas lake by Sam Rayburn Lake Rangers and Texas Game Wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department after he was deemed a nuisance.

Following his removal, Jasper was transferred to the Gator Country rescue in Beaumont, which serves as a home for various alligators and reptiles to live out their days in peace.

$75K damage in Longview fire

K damage in Longview fireLONGVIEW — Six people were displaced after a weekend house fire in Longview, and officials say a 5?year?old’s quick thinking helped ensure no one was seriously hurt. The Longview Fire Department responded to a house fire on Jester Circle at approximately 6:19 a.m. on Friday. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy flames and began extinguishing it. All residents were safely outside by the time first responders arrived. Six people were displaced, and the American Red Cross has been contacted to assist those affected.

Fire officials stated that a 5-year-old played a crucial role in the safe evacuation of the home. An investigation determined that the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction originating from an outdoor electrical outlet on the front porch, which spread into the home. The incident resulted in an estimated $75,000 in damage.

Residents are encouraged to inspect their outdoor electrical outlets regularly and ensure they are properly protected from weather exposure. Anyone who notices damage or anything unusual should have the outlet evaluated by a qualified professional immediately.

Three arrested in jackpotting scheme

Three arrested in jackpotting schemeSMITH COUNTY – A multi-state ATM hacking ring stretching across East Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas has led to three arrests. According to Smith County arrest documents, three men were taken into custody for their role in an ATM “jackpotting” scheme in which suspects scouted machines, opened them and connected Raspberry Pi devices to allow an off-site accomplice to wirelessly force the ATM to dispense cash for the crew on the ground.

According to our news partner KETK, once the cash was taken from the ATM it was then funneled to criminal associates outside the United States. The documents also state that the people stationed at the ATMs had to remain in constant communication with their remote counterparts for the jackpotting attempts to succeed.

“Jackpotting requires extensive coordination and communication during and after the attack. In every offense, suspects on the ground can be seen communicating nonstop via cell phone with their remote criminal associates who give orders and provide technical instructions for installing malicious software and hardware,” an arrest document described. “Typically, these criminal groups also stay in constant contact with a minimum of two lookouts roving the area in separate vehicles.” Continue reading Three arrested in jackpotting scheme

Officer dies from ALS

CROCKETT (KETK) – Lieutenant Lonnie Lum of the Crockett Police Department has died from ALS. According to the department, Lum died on Thursday morning and served with Crockett PD for 20 years. Our news partners at KETK provided a statement from Crockett PD, stating, “Lt. Lum faithfully served our department for 20 years, leaving behind a legacy of service, leadership, and dedication that will not be forgotten,” Crockett PD said. “Words cannot fully express what he meant to everyone here. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this difficult time. Rest easy, Lt. We’ve got it from here.” Funeral services for Lum have not been shared publicly by the department.

Middle School has new leader

Middle School has new leaderHENDERSON – Officials at Henderson ISD, have chosen Dr. Nikki Driver as the middle school’s new principal after Superintendent Brian Bowman met with staff in small groups to get their feedback on who should lead the middle school going forward. Staff consistently identified Driver, their current assistant principal, as their top choice to be the new principal of Henderson Middle School, according to our news partner KETK.

“Dr. Driver has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a deep understanding of instruction, and a genuine commitment to our students and staff,” Bowman said. “Her experience, along with her ability to connect with people and lead with purpose, makes her the right choice to lead Henderson Middle School.”

Driver has also worked as an instructional coach at Henderson Middle School and taught for five years at Northside Intermediate. Driver earned her Ph.D. in educational policy from Walden University, her masters of education from Stephen F. Austin State University and holds certificates in Principal as Instructional Leader, Special Education, ESL and Core Subjects.

“I am honored to lead Henderson Middle School and continue working with this exceptional team,” Driver said. “This is a campus full of passionate educators who show up for kids every day, and I am excited to continue moving forward together.

Police car chases result in 8 deaths around US in less than a week

TROY, Ala. (AP) — A series of police pursuits have led to at least eight deaths around the country in less than a week amid ongoing calls from some law enforcement experts to curb risky high speed car chases.

In Texas, a man fleeing from police died Sunday. In Alabama, four people died when a car being pursued by a state trooper went off a road and hit a tree Friday. And in California, three people were killed in vehicle crashes during police pursuits in separate incidents last week.

The deadly incidents are among the hundreds of fatalities that occur during police chases each year.

In 2023, a report from the Police Executive Research Forum, a national think tank on policing standards, called for police to put the brakes on car chases unless a violent crime has been committed and the suspect poses an imminent threat. The report noted a spike in fatalities and an increase in pursuits by some departments, including in Houston and New York City.

In the case in Alabama, a driver was trying to elude the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s highway patrol on a rural road in southeast Alabama’s Pike County when the crash occurred late Friday night, agency spokeswoman Amanda Wasden said in an email Sunday. No other vehicles were involved.

The driver and two passengers, one of them a 17-year-old, were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the sedan. A third passenger was not ejected, but all four were pronounced dead at the scene.

Wasden said the crash was under investigation, and no additional information was available. Her email did not say what prompted the pursuit.

In Fort Worth, Texas, police had been pursuing a car which had been driving without headlights on Interstate 35 when the car hit multiple other vehicles and eventually crashed, killing the driver, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.

In southern California, the Pomona Police Department said in a statement that its officers were pursuing a fleeing domestic violence suspect Wednesday when his car hit another vehicle, killing the couple inside. The two were days away from the birth of their child, according to KCBS-TV.

In another case, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said that deputies had attempted to stop a stolen U-Haul truck before it slammed into an SUV, killing the SUV’s driver and critically injuring her three passengers.

Scoreboard roundup — 4/5/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Sunday's sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Raptors 101, Celtics 115
Wizards 115, Nets 121
Suns 120, Bulls 110
Grizzlies 115, Bucks 131
Pacers 108, Cavaliers 117
Hornets 122, Timberwolves 108
Magic 112, Pelicans 108
Jazz 111, Thunder 146
Lakers 128, Mavericks 134
Clippers 138, Kings 109
Rockets 117, Warriors 116

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Wild 5, Red Wings 4
Panthers 2, Penguins 5
Bruins 1, Flyers 2
Hurricanes 3, Senators 6
Devils 3, Canadiens 0
Capitals 1, Rangers 8
Blues 3, Avalanche 2

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 
Cubs 1, Guardians 0 (Doubleheader, game 1)
Orioles 2, Pirates 8
Dodgers 8, Nationals 6
Marlins 7, Yankees 6
Padres 8, Red Sox 6
Brewers 8, Royals 5
Rays 4, Twins 1
Blue Jays 0, White Sox 3
Reds 2, Rangers 1
Phillies 1, Rockies 4
Astros 10, Athletics 12
Mets 5, Giants 2
Mariners 7, Angels 8
Braves 5, Diamondbacks 6
Cubs 5, Guardians 6 (Doubleheader, game 2)
Cardinals 5, Tigers 3

NCAA Women's Basketball Championship 
South Carolina 51, UCLA 79

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Final Four (Saturday, April 4)
Michigan 91, Arizona 73
Illinois 62, UConn 71

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Two hospitalized in Interstate 20 crash

Two hospitalized in Interstate 20 crashLINDALE – Two people were sent to a local hospital for treatment on Saturday after an 18-wheeler caught fire when it crashed into the woods along Interstate 20. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, the crash happened on Interstate 20 near Jim Hogg Road when an 18-wheeler left the road and caught fire. The fire spread into the woods but Lindale Fire Department was able to put the fire out.

The Lindale Fire Department reports that two people were taken to a local hospital by EMS so they could be treated for injuries. The condition of those two people is currently unknown.

Stolen 18-wheeler chase

Stolen 18-wheeler chaseEAST TEXAS — Two people were arrested on Saturday after they reportedly led law enforcement on a pursuit through Van Zandt County in a stolen 18-wheeler. According to the Gun Barrel City Police Department and our news partner KETK, officers were sent out to the local Burger King at around 3:27 p.m. on Saturday because of a report that a stolen 18-wheeler was parked behind the fast food restaurant.

Officers located the 18-wheeler and noticed that a man was still inside its cab. One officer was able to remove the keys from the vehicle’s ignition but it was determined to be hot-wired since the driver drove off after the keys were removed.

The officers started pursuing the 18-wheeler and with the help of the Van Zandt County and Kaufman County Sheriff’s Offices, they were able to stop the vehicle near County Road 2514 and County Road 2517. Continue reading Stolen 18-wheeler chase

Gasoline tanker erupts in flames after hitting power lines in Texas

FORT WORTH (AP) — A tanker truck in Texas hauling gasoline erupted into a fiery blaze Sunday after colliding with another vehicle and knocking over power lines, leaving the truck driver in critical condition, Fort Worth authorities said.

The 18-wheeler was carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline that began leaking after the truck spun off the road near a gas station. The downed power lines then sparked a fire around 1 a.m., Fort Worth Fire Department spokesperson Craig Trojacek said.

“The driver of the 18-wheeler was trying to do everything he could to keep the gas from draining into the parking lot of the Valero gas station when it lit off,” Trojacek said.

The driver was hospitalized with burns, but no one else was injured, Trojacek said. Fire crews spent hours spraying the tanker with water and used sand to try and contain the gasoline, he said. Firefighters left the scene around 7 a.m.

Videos of the fire show what appears to be front of the truck engulfed in flames as plumes of smoke rise.

One witness, Bailey Moss, said he was staying with a friend nearby when he heard “a loud crash” and peered outside.

“The fire spread quickly, and you could feel the heat even from a distance. It was pretty intense,” Moss said.

High-speed chase through downtown

High-speed chase through downtownSMITH COUNTY — A man was arrested on Sunday morning after he allegedly led Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a chase through downtown Tyler. Jose Juan Barboza, 25, of Rusk, has been identified by the sheriff’s office as the alleged driver. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, a deputy started pursuing a white pickup truck at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday near the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Loop 49. The truck was heading north on Broadway Avenue at speeds over 100 miles per hour and eventually reached downtown Tyler.

Barboza reportedly ran red lights heading north through Tyler and stopped the truck near the intersection of East Queen Street and Broadway Avenue, just north of downtown Tyler. The suspect led deputies on a brief foot chase, and was arrested a short time later, according to the sheriff’s office.

Barboza was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail for driving while intoxicated and evading arrest.