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Hawkins — Jarvis Christian University biology professor Dr. Shakhawat Bhuiyan is the principal investigator on a new $2.25 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant titled “Interdisciplinary Research Infusion into STEM Education Undergraduate Program.” The new NSF grant continues over the next five years, with a start date of August 1, 2023, and running through July 31, 2028. Each year, Jarvis will submit an annual project report in accordance with the award terms and conditions.

“This continuing grant gives students the opportunity to research plant-based bioactive compounds and nanoparticles to potentially develop new treatments for cancer,” Bhuiyan said. Continue reading Jarvis receives $2.25 million NSF grant for cancer research

ANGELINA COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that several East Texas counties have enacted burn bans due to dry conditions and fire risk. When a county issues a burn ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited in that county. Below is a list of burn bans across East Texas: Continue reading LIST: East Texas counties under burn bans

TYLER — A Tyler man was charged with murder, a first-degree felony, after allegedly shooting his brother. According to our news partner KETK, the shooting happened on McKenzie Drive in Tyler on July 15. Investigators were informed that the person found at the scene, who was later identified as Jaraine Johnson, had been shot in the backyard of the residence. The suspect, later identified as Lee Autrey Jodeci Morgan, who is known by his family as “Jody,” was not located at the scene when officers arrived on the scene. According to the affidavit, Johnson’s fiancé, who lived with Johnson, said Morgan came to the couple’s residence at 7 a.m. Morgan knocked on the door and she told Johnson that his bother was at their residence. Continue reading Affidavit: Tyler murder victim warned fiancé minutes before death

SMITH COUNTY — Two individuals have been arrested after a search warrant led to the seizure of large quantities of illegal narcotics and cash. On Tuesday, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office along with members of the East Texas Anti-Gang Center (TAG) and Smith County SWAT Team conducted a search warrant at 509 East Cedar Street. During the search, Smith County Public Information Officer Larry Christian said they seized the following illegal contraband, including approximately two pounds of cocaine, 13 grams of crack cocaine, one pound of marijuana, a handgun and over $10,000 in U.S. currency. Christian said that two traffic stops related to the residence were made during the operation on Interstate 20, in Canton, by Tyler and Canton Police Departments. The raid also resulted in two individuals being arrested on felony charges. No other information is available at this time as this is an ongoing investigation but Christian said other charges are expected. Continue reading Search warrant leads to major Tyler drug bust

RUSK COUNTY — Some county officials in East Texas are looking at the possibility of more burn bans being issued in the near future due to high temperatures and a lack of rain. “We know that the burn ban is coming,” said John Clary, Henderson Economic Development Corporation. Houston and Polk counties are now under a local state of disaster. Compared with 2022, 27 out of 28 East Texas counties were under a burn ban by mid-July. Rusk County Fire Marshal Patrick Dooley told our news partner KETK that conditions are relatively similar in the area compared to Houston County. Dooley said he and the rest of his team are watching the conditions daily to see what could happen next if things continue to get worse. Dooley said it’s something they don’t want to do but might have to do because of the conditions.

Dooley is expecting a burn ban to be put in place in Rusk County in the next couple of weeks. “I’ve already briefed our commissioners and the county judge on the possibility of having a burn ban here in effect in the next few weeks,” he said.

LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that an individual was arrested in Longview after being found asleep at the wheel with illegal drugs in the vehicle, according to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. On Wednesday, authorities responded to do a welfare check for someone that was found asleep in their car on the side of I-20 in Longview. When officials arrived, the driver was reportedly still asleep at the wheel. Authorities said they conducted a consent search of the vehicle, which led to the discovery of a “clear crystal substance of suspected methamphetamine.” The driver was arrested, taken to the Harrison County Main Jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance.

HARRISON COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK a man has been arrested after being pulled over for racing on Highway 80 and allegedly having meth in his vehicle. On Monday, a deputy with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said he witnessed two vehicles racing on Highway 80 near Loop 390. The deputy was able to pull over one of the vehicles involved in the alleged race. The driver was identified as Darlin Ortega-Calderon, 18, and when speaking with the deputy, the release stated that Ortega-Calderon told him that the “other vehicle wanted to compete with him and they just took off.” Ortega-Calderon allegedly also told the deputy that he did not have a driver’s license or insurance. When the deputy conducted a search of the vehicle, officials said that methamphetamines were located in Ortega-Calderon’s wallet.

Ortega-Calderon was arrested and charged with racing on a highway, no driver’s license, fail to maintain financial responsibility and possession of a controlled substance.

FLINT – Our news partners at KETK report that authorities revealed details about the arrest of an East Texas elementary school teacher who is accused of promoting child pornography. Officials said that Fabrizio Olague was found to be responsible for “the transmission of explicit material involving minors.” The investigation found that Olague was employed as a teacher at Chapel Hill ISD in Flint where he worked as a dyslexia interventionist, working with children from kindergarten to third grade. Continue reading Chapel Hill ISD teacher accused of promoting child porn

TYLER – An Amber Alert issued Tuesday for an 11-month-old child from Tyler has been canceled. According to Tyler police, on Wednesday, around 8:20am,  the Tyler Police Department was notified that Tarhondia Jackson, 26, had shown up at the Department of Family and Protective Services office in Tyler and turned over Jamar Ross. He is now in the custody of CPS. Tarhondia Jackson was arrested on a charge from another offense and booked into the Smith County Jail. The alert was issued after Child Protective Services reported to police on July 14th that they were to take the 11-month-old into their custody from a residence on W. Mims Street. The child was not at the residence and was thought to be in the custody of his mother, Tarhondia Jackson.

MINEOLA — According to our news partner KETK a pastor of a church in Mineola was arrested on Tuesday for charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact, according to judicial records. Timothy Nall, 68, is the pastor of Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in Mineola, where he has pastored for three years. This is the third charge brought against Nall for allegations of a sexual crime against a child. In 2014, he was indicted in Mississippi on allegations from a sexual battery case that involved a young girl. Nall was released from the Smith County Jail on a $50,000 bond on Tuesday.

At the time, Nall was the pastor of Farmington Baptist Church near Corinth, MS, and was accused of abusing a young girl when the child was 6 and 7 years old. The case ended in a mistrial after two jurors could not agree on a verdict, according to WREG. He was then indicted again for sexual battery and a new count of fondling stemming from the same allegations.

TATUM – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed on Monday to settle a lawsuit with the Sierra Club after health concerns were raised in 2019 over possible exposure from a local power plant. According to our news partner KETK the Sierra Club, as part of their proposed settlement, the EPA must either approve a Texas plan to reduce sulfur dioxide pollution or reject it and issue a federal plan as required by the Clean Air Act no later than Dec. 31, 2024. The Sierra Club said they sued in February after the EPA failed to act by the statutory deadline after they were required to reject or approve a plan submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Equality (TCEQ).

Continue reading EPA agrees to settle lawsuit over East Texas pollution plan

GREGG COUNTY – A Gregg County grand jury cleared local officers of any criminal wrongdoing in three separate shootings, and declined to return any charges against the officers, according to our news partners at KETK. According to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office, the grand jury’s decisions earlier this month on the March 12, May 7 and May 17 incidents mean that “under Texas law no criminal charges will be filed against the officers.” Each investigation was conducted by the Texas Rangers who testified in front of the grand jury. Continue reading Gregg County grand jury clears officers of criminal wrongdoing in 3 shootings

LONGVIEW – Longview ISD board members unanimously approved salary increases for district teachers and staff, in addition to setting a time to discuss the proposed 2023-24 tax rate, during Monday night’s regular meeting.
Recommended to the board by Ms. Shalona McCray, LISD Chief Human Resources Officer, the measure includes a 5 percent increase for teachers and pay grade midpoint for all remaining employees.

“In addition to the 5 percent increase of midpoint, the district will implement pay structures that adjust staff salaries that improve internal equity and market competitiveness,” she said. “In addition, we will be adjusting pay for employees below or above proposed pay grade maximums.” Continue reading Longview ISD approves pay raise for teachers and staff

SMITH COUNTY — A teacher at Chapel Hill ISD was charged with five counts of promotion of child pornography by the Houston Metro ICAC Task Force in Montgomery County, the district announced. According to our news partner KETK, the teacher was placed on administrative leave and the district said it is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of students and is fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation. “Our highest priority is the safety and welfare of our students,” said Martin Ibarra, CHISD’s Board of Trustees president. “We take these allegations very seriously, and we’re fully cooperating with authorities.” The district said they have no reason to believe the accusations occurred while on school property.

PALESTINE – A woman was arrested after a traffic stop led to a seizure of more than 116 grams of ecstasy. According to our news partner KETK around midnight on July 13, police conducted a traffic stop on the 100 block of East Palestine Avenue on a vehicle with a “defective brake lamp.” The driver was identified as 32-year-old Leslie Hawkins and officials said they conducted a probable cause search on the vehicle due to the smell of marijuana coming from the Hawkins’ car. During the search, authorities said they found two small bags of marijuana along with a plastic bag containing “seven multicolored tablets identified as MDMA (Ecstasy) in the console.” Police also reportedly found a larger plastic bag in the back seat containing even more ecstasy tablets. Hawkins was arrested and taken to the Anderson County Jail on the felony charge of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Continue reading 116 grams of ecstasy seized during traffic stop in East Texas

TEXARKANA – According to our news partner KETK two teenagers were arrested for allegedly burglarizing several vape shops and stealing a vehicle from a driveway in the Texarkana area. Around 3 a.m. on June 10, police responded to an alarm call at the Vapor Stop on North Stateline in Texarkana. Upon arrival, officials said they saw the front door glass shattered and several items missing from inside the shop. Just a few minutes later, they received reports that someone had tried to do the same thing at another vape shop on College Drive but wasn’t able to get in. The suspects reportedly were able to get into two more vape shops that night, one on West 7th Street and another on Stateline. According to authorities, surveillance footage from the different stores showed the suspects using a large rock to break into each shop and stealing “whatever the could get their hands on.” The footage reportedly made it apparent that it was the same two suspects at each burglary, TTPD said. Continue reading East Texas vape shop burglars arrested

TYLER — UT Health Tyler has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke GoldPlus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times. Continue reading UT Health Tyler is nationally recognized for high-quality stroke care

CHEROKEE COUNTY – UPDATE: Robert Bacot, who was wanted out of Cherokee County is in custody as of 5:35 p.m. Monday evening. “Thank you to the many citizens and agencies who assisted today,” the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities called off the search for Robert Bacot around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Jacksonville Police Department, Bullard Police Department, Jacksonville Fire Department, Texas Game Wardens, TDCJ Pack Dog Unit, TDCJ Investigators and Texas DPS for their help.

Bacot has two warrants for aggravated assault, one warrant for aggravated kidnapping and a parole warrant for his arrest. Authorities said they will continue to monitor the area, but officially called the search off.

HENDERSON COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK Henderson County officials are reaching out to the community for help in solving a cold case that is over a decade old. In 2012, human remains were found outside of the Seven Points area off of CR 2448 near Flag Lake Road. Deputies found human skeletal remains on the property and started working with the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Rangers.

The remains were analyzed by the University of North Texas Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, who determined that the remains belonged to a white or Hispanic male between the ages of 21 and 60. After checking through missing person records, the sheriff’s office was still unable to identify the remains. Anyone with information about a missing man fitting that description within that time frame is asked to contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.

TYLER — An emergency sideline training course was held at UT Health East Texas Saturday to help prepare EMS, doctors and nurses for middle and high school sports events, according to our news partner KETK. “To reach out to a number of different health care professionals and make this a multi-disciplinary conference because we recognize we’re on the sidelines dealing with emergencies,” said Michael Galbraith, associate program director of sports medicine for UT Health Science Center. The conference is a way to bridge the gap between all the first responders involved during a game emergency, especially when it comes to communication. With football season less than a month away knowing how to care for a patient covered in safety equipment is key to a quick response. Continue reading East Texas first responders prepare for football season

TYLER – This year marks the 90th annual Texas Rose Festival. The kickoff celebration was held at the Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler on Friday, July 12th. It comes at the end of a long week of practices and walk-throughs. 2023’s Rose Princess, Conley Cavender, took the time to welcome out-of-town guests, the committee and sponsors. 2023’s Rose Queen, Laura Bryan, taking the moment to thank all of the volunteers after a long week of coronation practices. Tickets go on sale to the public starting September 1st at the UT Tyler Cowan Center.

TYLER – Smith County law enforcement are investigating a shooting that left two people injured early Saturday morning. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and our new partner KETK, deputies responded to a deadly conduct call in the 13300 block of Highway 64 West and found two people with gunshot wounds around 5:15 a.m. They started first aid at the scene until paramedics arrived.

While investigating, deputies reportedly talked with witnesses at the scene who said both of the gunshot victims were in an argument with each other. They were taken to different Tyler-area hospitals. One was in surgery for life-threatening injuries and the other is in stable condition. The identity of both people is being withheld pending notification of family.

DALLAS – The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued an Amber Alert for a 11-year-old girl who may have been abducted Friday night. Tanya Jackson was last seen at 8 p.m. in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, according to the Waxahachie Police Department. She is 5’7″ tall, weighs 170 lbs., and has brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with red lettering.

If you know where she is or if you have seen her, please call the Waxahachie Police Department at (469) 309-4400.

TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that a man was arrested after a standoff with law enforcement on Friday night. Deputies with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance call in the 9800 block of CR 4136 just northwest of Tyler around 10:45 p.m. When they arrived, they said 29-year-old Victor Morales ran into the residence and barricaded himself in a bedroom.

Several minutes after failed attempts at contact, Morales allegedly called his wife and told her that he was locked in the bathroom with a gun and the baby was on the bed. The SWAT Team entered the residence and retreived the baby from the bedroom. The baby was unharmed and was safely returned to the mother. Morales was taken to the Smith County Jail and booked for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, endangering a child, assault family violence and evading arrest/detention.

TYLER – Police are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in Tyler Saturday morning. According to our news partner KETK, around 7:40 a.m., the Tyler Police Department and EMS responded to a shooting on McKenzie Drive. The victim,  identified as Jaraine Tyrone Johnson, 38, of Tyler, was taken to a local hospital by EMS but reportedly died. A first-degree murder warrant was obtained for Leeautrey Morgan, 31, of Tyler, who was identified as the victim’s brother. He was booked into the Smith County Jail with bond set at $1 million.

LONGVIEW – CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview has been named one of 262 hospitals in the nation who have met high-level standards for cardiac patient care. According to our news partner KETK, the hospital was awarded the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry) Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023.

This is the hospital’s first time winning the award and the first time any hospital in Longview has won the Platinum Performance Award, according to CHRISTUS Health. Only 262 hospitals have won the award across the entire United States.

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine and School of Health
Professions have partnered with the East Texas Human Needs Network to present survey results on the
health status of Smith County. The presentation will be at the Power of Partnership Symposium noon – 2
p.m., July 18, at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center. Continue reading The UT Tyler: Smith County Health Status Results

MABANK – A juvenile is in custody after allegedly fatally shooting a Canton man in the head, officials said.

According to Mabank police, they were dispatched to the 1400 block of Pharm Hills Road in Mabank on Thursday where they found an adult man who had a gunshot wound to his head inside a residence. Officers started life-saving measures on the victim who was taken to UT Health in Gun Barrel City where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

The victim was identified as 24-year-old Peter Parker from Canton, officials said.

After reportedly speaking with three other men at the location, investigators took a juvenile male into custody. He was taken to the Van Zandt County Juvenile Detention Center after being booked in for manslaughter, a second degree felony.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that one person is dead and four are injured after a tanker truck hauling diesel crashed Thursday afternoon near the Motor Vehicle Weigh Station on US 59 between Lufkin and Nacogdoches. According to DPS, a preliminary investigation found that around 12:30 p.m. the truck was traveling south on the road when a 2014 Hyundai Sonata traveling north reportedly made a U-turn in front of the truck and was struck on its passenger side. The truck then overturned. Continue reading 1 dead, 4 injured after tanker truck crash on US 59