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AUSTIN – It was a packed committee room Monday in the Texas House. According to our news partner KETK, legislators met with witnesses to listen to testimony in the case and conviction of Robert Roberson of Palestine. Roberson is on death row for a crime that is now being called into question. He was found guilty in 2003 of killing his 2-year-old daughter, a conviction for which he was set to be executed last Thursday. A ruling from the Texas Supreme Court spared him in the 11th hour, citing concerns about a last-minute subpoena ordering Roberson to be present for House testimony about his case on Monday.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice would only allow Roberson to attend the proceedings virtually, an accommodation which Roberson’s attorneys and the House committee alike argued would not be acceptable. Given that Roberson has been diagnosed with autism, and he has been in custody for more than two decades, his attorneys argue that his ability to effectively communicate would be severely impeded in a virtual setting.

On Monday’s witness list was TV personality Dr. Phillip McGraw, Novelist John Grisham, Former judge on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Elsa Alcala, Terry Compton, a juror from Roberson’s 2003 trial and Gretchen Sween, Roberson’s attorney.
Continue reading Roberson hearing in the Texas House, without Robert Roberson

GILMER – The Gilmer Police Department busted a local massage spa for prostitution on Monday in an operation they named “Operation Not So Happy Ending.” According to our news partner KETK, AA Spa at 1324 Highway 271 North in Gilmer was initially investigated after Gilmer PD received information about alleged prostitution happening there. On Monday, they launched “Operation Not So Happy Ending” by sending in an undercover officer. The operation reportedly led directly to the arrests of two women, Kun Lu and Zhai Li.

According to Gilmer PD, Lu was arrested for a massage therapy license violation and Li was arrested for prostitution and a massage therapy license violation. Gilmer PD added that the AA Spa has been shutdown following their operation.

“This type of criminal conduct is commonly associated with human trafficking/sex trafficking. The Gilmer Police Department continues to take an active role in deterring this type of criminal behavior in our community.”

UPDATE: ATHENS – Athens Public Safety announced that as of 4 p.m. West Corsicana Street is reopened.

ATHENS – Athens Public Safety announced on their Facebook that parts of West Corsicana Street are closed due to a structure fire. According to our news partner KETK, the City of Athens said the fire department received at call at 11:45 a.m. about a fire at a vacant furniture store, next to Travel Inn on West Corsicana Street. Officials said no one was inside the vacant building and The Travel Inn was evacuated. The Athens Fire Department had the blaze controlled by 1:30 p.m. They were assisted by District 8 Fire Department, Long Cove Fire Department, South Side Fire Department, Henderson County Fire Marshal and the Athens Police Department. According AFD Public Information Officer Michael Hannigan, the empty store had significant damage, while The Travel Inn had damage to several rooms. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Committee calls for suspension of Palestine Westwood coachPALESTINE – Our KETK News partners report that Westwood ISD has confirmed that the District 9-3A Division I District Executive Committee has recommended the suspension of their head football coach following reports that he filmed opponents while scouting.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has reported that coach Richard Bishop was suspended and that the school will have to forfeit all their district football games from this season but the district told KETK that the District Executive Committee (DEC) has only recommended those steps to the UIL’s State Executive Committee.

Dave Campbell’s said that Bishop allegedly carried out a plan to record their opponents signals, a plan that the DEC allegedly said was “intentional, serious and egregious.”

Westwood ISD Superintendent Wade Stanford told KETK that they’re planning to appeal these charges at an upcoming meeting.

LUFKIN – Our news partner, KETK, reports that an East Texas man was arrested earlier this month after DNA sample collected in 2008 identified him as suspect in a homicide cold case.

The Grand Prairie Police Department and Fire Department responded to a structure fire on the evening of Aug. 8, 2008 in the 2600 block of Channing Drive. Officials said they located a body later identified as 45-year-old Raymond Hernandez inside the residence.

An autopsy would later rule Hernandez’s death as a homicide.

In November 2008, DNA from a possible suspect was collected and entered into the Combined DNA Index System, also known as CODIS. However, there was no matching DNA in CODIS of the suspect.
Continue reading Man arrested after DNA links him to homicide cold case

TRINITY COUNTY – Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said that one man was arrested on Sunday after he reportedly said he was “going pig hunting” or planning to kill police officers.

According to our news partner KETK, Randall Konetzke was reportedly seen driving recklessly on FM 356, stopping in front of the Trinity Police Department and then speeding back onto FM 356 where he stopped. When officers responded Wallace said Konetzke was outside of his vehicle, which was parked on the side of the road, talking to another driver. When he saw the officers, he started to walk back to his vehicle and then the officers told him to stop but he continued to try and get into his truck.

A brief struggle ensued and Konetzke was arrested. He was charged with unlawful possesion of a firearm by a felon, terroristic threat to a public servant and resisting arrest, search or transportation.

UPDATE: Robert Roberson will not testify before a Texas House committee on Monday, despite a subpoena ordering his presence at the House for testimony.

Rep. Joe Moody from El Paso said they still have “an impressive slate of witnesses” on the list. He maintained that their subpoena is legitimate and was not meant to create separation of powers issues, a point for which Gov. Greg Abbott has argued.

Given that Roberson is a person with autism with communication challenges, and has spent the past 20 years incarcerated, video conference would be poorly suited to Roberson, Moody argued.
Continue reading Update: Robert Roberson will not virtually testify before Texas House

RUSK COUNTY – The Crims Chapel Volunteer Fire Department said that a motorcycle crash in Rusk County sent one person to the hospital by helicopter on Sunday. The single vehicle crash happened near State Highway 322 and County Road 240 in northern Rusk County at around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. EMS at the scene asked that a helicopter be brought in and the patient was sent to a hospital in Tyler to be treated. There was no word on the condition of the person injured.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler held their third annual Ratliff Relays engineering competitions on Saturday. The relays consist of cardboard boat races, carbon dioxide rocketry, water rockets, robotic car races and the always popular drone races.

“They will learn the dynamics from the classroom and then they will apply the concepts to a real design and prototype. So from this competition, students will have a lot of fun and they will realize how to apply our knowledge to solve real world problems,” said associate professor of mechanical engineering at UT Tyler, Chung-Hyun Goh.

TYLER – The community gathered together Saturday in Tyler to celebrate the 91st Texas Rose Festival Parade.

This years Texas Rose Festival theme is “Fanfare of Festivals,” celebrating festivals from various cultures. The parade featured Duchesses and Ladies in Waiting in dresses centered around those themes, and the Queen’s float was the grand finale.

Our news partner KETK has provided a link in which you can watch their coverage of the Texas Rose Festival Parade. The link for it is here.

TYLER – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Tyler State Park announced the opening of a new headquarters for the park on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, the TPDW said in a release, the new headquarters is designed to make visitors check-in much faster and reduce traffic congestion.

Other features include, conference rooms, holding offices, a new radio tower, increased parking and an interpretive gallery that describes the history of Tyler State Park.

“It is exciting to see the hard work and dedication of so many colleagues, partners and supporters result in such a beautiful facility,” said Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks. “I am happy that we are able to design and construct a park headquarters of which all of Texas can be proud. This new facility will help support staff, serve our visitors and tell the story of the park better than ever and is befitting of one our most popular Texas State Parks.”

UPDATE: TYLER – Our KETK news partner reports that a 54-year-old man was charged with first degree murder after an argument at a Tyler restaurant escalated to a shooting death.

According to Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh, the victim was identified as Heriberto Ramirez, 38 of Tyler.

Witnesses told police that Scottie Lee Goble, 54 of Frost, shot Ramirez after they got into a physical altercation. Erbaugh said Ramirez died from his injuries at a local hospital.

Goble was booked into the Smith County Jail for murder and is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Continue reading One dead, one charged with murder after Tyler restaurant shooting

TYLER – Tyler ISD recognizes National School Bus Safety Week from October 21 to October 25. This annual campaign serves as a powerful reminder of the critical role every driver plays in ensuring the safety of children as they travel to and from school. Each school day, millions of children rely on school buses, and the greatest risk to their safety occurs when children enter or exit the bus. Tyler ISD is using National School Bus Safety Week to raise awareness and encourage the entire community —parents, students, teachers, motorists, and school staff — to commit to these safe reminders. Continue reading National School Bus Safety Week

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County residents began casting their ballots October 21 during two weeks of early voting for the November 5, 2024, Presidential Election. Now through November 1, registered voters can cast their ballots at any of the eight early voting locations, which include:

First Christian Church – Christian Life Center Room 5: 4202 S. Broadway Ave, Tyler
Heritage Building: 1900 Bellwood Road, Tyler
The Hub: 304 E. Ferguson Street, Tyler
Kinzie Community Center: 912 Mt. Sylvan St., Lindale
Noonday Community Center: 16662 CR 196, Tyler
Starrville Church of the Living God, 18396 Highway 271, Winona
Whitehouse Methodist Church: 405 W. Main Street, Whitehouse
Green Acres Baptist Church – Flint Campus, at 1010 CR 137, Flint
Continue reading Early voting in Smith County through November 1

TYLER — With the 91st Texas Rose Festival Parade scheduled for Saturday, Tyler Police announced which roads will be closed that morning. According to our news partner KETK, beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, Front Street will be closed from Palace to Lyons, and Glenwood Boulevard will be closed from W. Erwin to Houston.

After the parade begins at 9 a.m., nobody will be allowed to drive on or cross Front Street to park. Handicap parking will be at Mike Carter Field, and VIP parking will be in the WT Brookshires parking lot. Both areas can only be accessed via Houston Street.

UPDATE: Our news partners at KETK report that the crew involved in the crash in Van Zandt County is OK, the Department of Public Safety said. The Van Police Department also said the Federal Aviation Administration was called to investigate the crash.

VAN, Texas – Vicki McAlister, emergency management coordinator for Van Zandt County confirmed that emergency personnel are responding to a reported plane crash in Van Zandt County. Reports of injuries are unknown at this time and updated will be made when provided by authorities.

NACOGDOCHES – Crews were called to the scene of a major pedestrian crash near Stephen F. Austin State University on Thursday morning. Our news partners at KETK report that authorities arrived on the scene at around 9:49 a.m. The Nacogdoches Police Department said the pedestrian was killed in the crash. The woman was allegedly attempting to cross a four-lane roadway when she was struck by the driver of a Ford pickup. The victim’s identity has not been released and the driver of the pickup did not suffer any injuries.

Tyler – According to our news partner KETK, windy and dry conditions are creating the perfect conditions for wildfires across East Texas. Although a cold front came in Tuesday night, may be a relief to some, unfortunately it’s only drying out East Texas even more. And the wind has become a big factor when battling wildfires, making containment of fires difficult.

“It moves the fire, and fuels the fire,” said Patrick Dooley, Rusk County Fire Marshal.

Van Zandt County fire crews responded to a fast moving grass fire in Ben Wheeler on Wednesday. The fire scorched 8 acres at a solar panel farm.

“I honestly can’t urge people enough right now to use extreme caution when burning and even to the extent of not burning at all,” said Ryan Cooley, assistant chief at Ben Wheeler Volunteer Fire Department. Continue reading Windy conditions increase wildfire threat

UPSHUR COUNTY – Our KETK news partners report that A Big Sandy woman has been sentenced to prison for nearly three years after pleading guilty to wire fraud on Wednesday. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Texas, 52-year-old Tamarisk Trejo Mathews will face 33 months in prison for wire fraud. Mathews was responsible for accounting duties of a restaurant and music venue in Wood County allowing her access to the financial accounts of the business and issue checks to creditors. Continue reading Big Sandy woman sentenced to three years after defrauding business

HUNTSVILLE (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court halted Thursday night’s scheduled execution of a man who would have become the first person in the U.S. put to death for a murder conviction tied to a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.

The late-night ruling to spare for now the life of Robert Roberson, who was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in 2002, capped a flurry of last-ditch legal challenges and weeks of public pressure from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers who say he is innocent and was sent to death row based on flawed science.

In the hours leading up to the ruling, Roberson had been confined to a prison holding cell a few feet from America’s busiest death chamber at the Walls Unit in Hunstville, waiting for certainty over whether he would be taken to die by lethal injection.
Continue reading Texas Supreme Court halts Roberson execution

TYLER – On Oct. 16, the Tyler City Council approved a 10-year tax abatement agreement with Hiland Dairy to support its upcoming expansion. This project, which is expected to generate up to $98 million in new investment, will create 30 new jobs with an estimated average annual salary of $66,000. The expansion project will add over 90,000 square feet of dry and refrigerated storage, as well as production space, significantly increasing Hiland Dairy’s capacity. The expansion includes eight additional production lines, with space available for two more lines in the future. This move aims to alleviate the current overcapacity of the Tyler facility, which produces one million gallons of milk per week and serves major local customers like Brookshire’s Grocery Company. Continue reading Tyler approves new tax abatement for Hiland Dairy

NACOGDOCHES – Our news partners at KETK report that two East Texas police officers are being recognized for their bravery after disregarding risk to stop a woman from jumping off a Nacogdoches bridge. According to the Nacogdoches Police Department, officers were called shortly before 12:20 p.m. on Sept. 27 to a bridge on W. Austin Street where a woman was threatening to jump. Nacogdoches Police Officer Seth Stover was the first person to get there and the department said he immediately began talking to the distraught woman. Afterwards, Officer Chris Snider arrived and also attempted to convince the woman to get on their side of the guardrail. Although the officers tried their best to talk the woman off the ledge, it seemed like the woman was ready to jump, the police department said. Stover and Snider then prevented the woman from jumping by pulling her over the guardrail and disregarding the risk to their own safety. “We commend these officers for their selfless actions in saving someone experiencing a mental health crisis,” Nacogdoches PD officials said. “Their exceptional efforts undoubtedly saved the life of the woman that day.”

LONGVIEW – Our news partners at KETK report an optometrist’s arrest documents reveal he sent inappropriate photos to a minor living across the country and was taken into custody while at his Longview office. 51-year-old August Michael Wallace, a licensed Longview optometrist per the Texas Optometry Board, was charged with online solicitation of a minor and is currently behind bars at the Gregg County Jail. According to Wallace’s arrest documents, Homeland Security spoke to the Longview Police Department on Sept. 30 and handed over evidence pertaining to a Texas man who sent a 16-year-old photos of his genitalia and description of sexual acts he wanted to do to the minor. Continue reading Longview optometrist charged with online solicitation of minor

TRINITY COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a minor’s diary entry has been submitted as evidence following an investigation into an East Texas man accused of sexually assaulting her. On Oct. 6 investigators were made aware of a potential child sexual assault case. The department said the case involved a 15-year-old who had possibly been sexually assaulted about four or five years ago.

Deputies spoke to the mother of the child who alleged the assault occurred over the course of a few years. The victim reportedly “made an outcry to her mother after referencing a dream [she] had previously had.” Deputies were also told that multiple sexual assault accusations had been made against Justin Brandon Herring in the past, the sheriff’s office said. Warrants were obtained for Herring who was arrested on Thursday and booked on two counts of continuous sex abuse of child under the age of 14 and two counts of indecency with a child sexual contact. He is being held at the Trinity County Jail on a $600,000 bond. Continue reading Diary entry leads to arrest for sexual assault

PALESTINE – A district court will not throw out the execution warrant for Robert Roberson III, an East Texas man on death row accused of killing his daughter. According to our news partner KETK, Roberson, a Palestine native, was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter Nikki in 2002 and sentenced to death. He has maintained his innocence while on death row for the past 20 years, with an execution date scheduled for Oct. 17.

The defense’s motion to vacate Roberson’s execution warrant was denied by Judge Alfonso Charles, who is the Presiding Judge of the Tenth Administrative Judicial Region, on Tuesday. Charles was also asked to decide whether to remove the previous now-retired judge, Deborah Oakes Evans, from the case. He denied both the motion to recuse the execution warrant and the motion to vacate Judge Evans from the case.

Roberson attended court remotely via Zoom from the Polunsky Unit in Livingston where death row inmates are housed. Arguments were heard in front of a full courtroom of reporters of spectators.
Continue reading Execution warrant upheld for East Texas man