KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved Gov. Greg Abbott’s request for a disaster declaration for Texas communities affected by severe weather including many portions of East Texas. Texas counties in the disaster declaration include Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine and Tyler. The Trinity Fire and Rescue responded to multiple storm related calls including homes destroyed by a tornado and multiple calls of people trapped in flooded cars and houses.

According to our news partner KETK, on Tuesday Trinity County Judge Danny Martin issued a disaster declaration after determining that measures had to be taken to “alleviate the suffering of people and to protect and rehabilitate property.”

People can apply online and download applications on the SBA website. Applicants can also call SBA’s customer service center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information in disaster assistance. Continue reading Disaster relief loans now available for East Texans

TYLER — East Texas Representative Nathaniel Moran’s Rural Weather Monitoring Systems Act, also known as H.R. 4654, passed in the House on Tuesday, as part of a bill to ensure that U.S. weather systems are at the forefront of reliable weather forecasting and prediction, according to reports from our colleagues at KETK. H.R. 4654, introduced by Moran in July 2023, addresses key challenges with rural weather monitoring systems including geographical differences in availability, effectiveness of rural weather monitoring systems and the number of rural areas currently affected by unreliable or unavailable monitoring systems to help track life-threatening weather events. Continue reading Moran weather bill passes

MABANK – Mabank Independent School District is seeking the approval of a $116 million bond that if passed on Election Day, will increase student capacity and prepare the district for future growth. According to the school district and our colleagues at KETK, the projects that the bond will fund include: Continue reading Voters to decide on $116M school bond for Mabank

MARSHALL – Wednesday, the Marshall Police Department announced that they have arrested three people in connection to the murder 13-year-old Tristan Phelps of Marshall According to our news partner KETK, taken into custody and charged with murder were, 35-year-old Donyan Dillard, Devin Hurd, 22 and 21-year-old Jaquavious Robinson, all three are from Marshall. They are currently in the Harrison County Jail.

Authorities say the shooting happened early Sunday on Sanford Street, near University Avenue. Police were called in after a report of 20 to 30 shots fired. When they arrived, they found Tristan Phelps shot. Phelps was transported to a local hospital where he died that afternoon.

Marshall PD thanks those giving them information on the case. However, they are still investigating the murder. You call them if you have information at 903-935-4575 or to leave an anonymous tip at 903-935-9969.

HENDERSON – The Henderson Police Department released a sketch made by a DPS sketch artist of a suspect in an aggravated robbery that took place on April 26. According to our news partner KETK, the robbery occurred at Rosita’s Conexion Latina on West Main Street in Henderson. Police say the robbery suspect said he had a sick family member and needed money. The owner of the business was shot during the robbery, but was treated for his injuries and released. Henderson Police ask if you have information on the identity of the person in the sketch, to call them at 903-657-3512.

TYLER – Authorities are searching for a man who has been missing since April 26. According to our news partner KETK, 44-year-old Jose Alejandro “Alex” Perez last known location was the Towne Oaks Apartments on Hollytree Drive. Detectives found Perez’s Hyundai Sonata on April 29 at that apartment complex. He is described as 6’1, 200 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Tyler PD asks if anyone with information on the location of Jose Perez to please call them at 903-531-1000.

TYLER — In a confrontation between police and protesters at UT Austin late Monday, 79 people involved were jailed, according to the Travis County sheriff’s department. Most were charged with criminal trespass. About 150 protesters sat on the ground as state troopers and police encircled them, with hundreds of others shouting when officers dragged someone away. After police cleared the original group of demonstrators, hundreds of students and protesters ran to block officers from leaving campus. Protesters pushed in on officers, creating a mass of shoving bodies before police used pepper spray and set off flash-bang devices to clear a path for a van to take those arrested off campus.

The University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife Tuesday released the following statement:

“As I have previously stated, any attempt to shut down or disrupt UT operations will not be tolerated. There is no rationale whatsoever that justifies the endangerment of our students and campus environments. Massive crowds of students, along with outside groups with absolutely no connection to UT, have intentionally caused disturbances with plans to harm our campus community. In fact, the majority of arrests to date have occurred with agitators who are not UT students. These activities will not be allowed. Continue reading UT Regents Chairman responds to campus protests

RUSK COUNTY, Texas – Texas DPS released a report announcing that two men are dead after being in consecutive crashes involving a cow six miles west of Tatum. According to our news partner KETK, Jerry Moore, 58 of Tatum, was traveling on CR 2142 when he struck a cow on the road at approximately 2:23 a.m. on April 23. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Five minutes later, the same cow was struck by Michael Moore, 53 of Tatum, along the same road. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.

PALESTINE – Multiple citations have been issued after Palestine PD said they conducted a tobacco/vape sales compliance check on Saturday at various locations according to our colleagues at KETK. The operation consisted of a minor decoy going to the following businesses, where police officials said they were sold a tobacco product by an employee: Continue reading Citations issued after compliance check of tobacco sales

TRINITY — Our news partners at KETK report that the National Weather Service has confirmed that a EF1 tornado hit Trinity County on Sunday. According to a release, the NWS meteorologists are surveying storm damage near Trinity and a preliminary survey shows an EF1 struck the Rock Creek Subdivision. An EF1 tornado is described as having 86-110 mph wind that can cause roof’s edges or corners to be torn off. The Trinity Fire and Rescue responded to multiple storm related calls including a home that was destroyed by a tornado, multiple flooded roads and calls of people trapped in flooded cars and houses. City of Conroe Chief of Police Jeff Christy said that on Sunday evening, Lieutenant James Waller and his wife were at their Trinity County property when their home was hit by a suspected tornado. Continue reading EF1 tornado confirmed in Trinity County, lieutenant and wife injured

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the City of Tyler announced that certain bus routes downtown have been rerouted by Tyler Transit due to the upcoming Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival this Saturday. Continue reading Tyler Transit announces changes ahead of festival

BROWNSBORO — A Brownsboro elementary student was selected to be a model at the 34th annual Children’s Cancer Fund’s gala and she was escorted by Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott. According to our news partner KETK, Brownsboro Elementary School student, Cami, was selected to be a model at the fundraising gala that took place on April 19 in Dallas.

“We are so thrilled she was able to participate in such an amazing fundraiser, and are so very proud of our little bear! You looked beautiful Cami!” – Brownsboro ISD

The Cowboys said that Prescott as well as Troy Aikman teamed up with the Children’s Cancer Fund as honorary chairs for the gala. The Cowboys also announced that the gala raised over $2 million for children’s cancer research.

“Together, we raised an extraordinary $2.7 million for pediatric cancer research” – Children’s Cancer Fund and Dak Prescott

TYLER – Arrest records show that six people have been arrested after they reportedly tried to cash forged checks totaling $46,161. According to our news partner KETK, an arrest warrant for Tony Lee Head alleges that, between March 31 and April 2, he passed a forged check to Brookshire’s that said it was from Integrity Turf Management or Integrity Tree Care & Landscape.

According to Head’s arrest affidavit, the company did not authorize that check or any of $46,161 in forged checks addressed to Tony Lee Head (pictured left), Jessica Carmon Henderson, Dale Forbus Reynolds, Howard Bowen, Kevin Ray Eddins and Lizabeth Marie Arnold.

A Tyler PD detective who was investigating the check forgery case said the case started when Henderson was employed by Integrity Turf Management (ITM) as an accountant for about a month. Henderson reportedly was given access to the business’s Intuit QuickBooks and all of their financials. Continue reading $46,000 in forged checks; six arrests

PALESTINE – Palestine police apprehended a man with a variety of drugs Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, arrested was 35 year-old Daniel Cummings III, of Palestine. Cummings was stopped late Saturday morning at Woodside Village Apartments. Officers had announced there were complaints that Cummings was dealing drugs. When police arrived with a search warrant they found about 12 pounds of illegal drugs. Officers seized about eight pounds of suspected methamphetamine, around four pounds of marijuana and nearly 14 grams of Xanax along with $1,300 in cash.

Palestine Police Chief Mark Harcrow said in a release, “Because of the great work by these officers, a large amount of dope is off our streets. I commend these officers for their thorough investigation and a job well done.”

Cummings is now at the Anderson County Jail and charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, abandoning or endangering a child and violation of a protective order.

LONGVIEW – Three people are now charged in 2016 murder of promenent Longview businessman Ron Horaney. According to our news partner KETK, the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that 26-year-old Rene Paul Garcia Jr., has been charged in connection to the slaying. Garcia is currently is in a federal penitentiary. He is the half brother of 38-year-old Alfredo Lizcano, who was arrested Wednesday, April 24 and charged with the murder of Horaney. He has a $10 million bond. The other person arrested was 87-year-old Reza Kamali of Longview. Kamali’s bond was set at $7.5 million.

At a press conference held Monday, sheriff’s office investigators say they received information from a “Cooperating Individual” who reported being contacted by someone they identified as “Ray Kamali,” who authorities identified as being Reza Kamali. Cooperating Individual 1 told investigators that two years prior to their interview in June of 2016, Kamali solicited him to murder Horaney. The Cooperating Individual then reported that Kamali wanted Horaney “killed up close and personal because of a family dispute.”

Ron Horaney was found dead in his home from multiple gunshots on May 30, 2016. Horaney’s Feed Stores in Longview and Marshall were one of the oldest family-owned businesses. His grandfather, Harry Horaney, founded the business in 1940.

MARSHALL – Authorities in Marshall said they are investigating a homicide after a 13-year-old died from gunshot wounds on Sunday according to our news partners at KETK. According to police, multiple gunshots were reported in the 1100 block of Sanford Street around 2:22 a.m. on Sunday with callers stating “about 20 to 30 shots were fired.” A 13-year-old boy was found at the scene critically injured, and authorities said CPR was immediately given. The teen was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon. “It is believed that this incident stemmed from an earlier confrontation on Olive Street,” officials with police said. Continue reading Marshall 13-year-old dead after weekend shooting

TYLER – The Tyler Fire Marshal’s Office said that a Dairy Queen near The Village at Cumberland Park in Tyler was struck by lightning on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, the fire from the strike didn’t burn that much of the building but firefighters did have to tear out part of the ceiling inside the fast-food restaurant to check for fire. No injuries were reported from the fire and lightning strike. The Dairy Queen will have to be closed for at least a couple of days for repairs, according to the fire marshal’s office.

TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, a recent study from the University of Texas at Tyler found the economic impact the solar eclipse had in the City of Tyler. The total solar eclipse was observed in Tyler on April 8 and the Hibbs Institute for Business & Economic Research released a study that found visitors brought in about $7.7 million.

According to the study, researchers estimated the economic impact of visitors and their expenditures during the solar eclipse weekend including dining, entertainment and shopping at retail stores. The influx of tourists was anticipated several weeks beforehand, allowing hotels to considerably raise their rates for the event weekend, which had been fully booked. The study found that booked hotels brought in about $1 million and the calculated visitor spending during those days was $6.7 million. However the study did not take into account locals who joined the visitors and their estimated expenditures.

For a full breakdown of the study including the methodology, people can visit the current edition of the Hibbs Briefs.

TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Game Wardens said that their Marine Theft Investigation Unit seized over $100,000 of equipment at the Sealy Big Bass Splash Tournament last weekend. The Marine Theft Unit reportedly patrolled the tournament for two days and inspected 300 boats, 243 motors and 100 trailers in that time. San Augustine, Sabine, Angelina, Jasper, Tyler and Nacogdoches County Game Wardens helped the unit inspect the boats which were attending what Texas Game Wardens said is the largest amateur fishing tournament in the state.

TYLER – After severe weather hit East Texas, several power companies and cooperatives have reported that 12,752 people are without power as of 9:00 a.m on Monday. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of power outages in East Texas counties.

TYLER — City of Tyler officials said in release Friday, the next step in construction of the Smith County parking garage began Monday, April 29. For about 3 weeks, a portion of East Ferguson Street, from Center Avenue to Spring Avenue, will be closed due to the construction.

Visitors to the Annex Building, the Elections Office, Constable Precinct 1 Office and Animal Shelter can park in the large former juror parking lot off of Ferguson Street. There will only be one entrance/exit to the lot, across from the Animal Shelter off Center Avenue. Pedestrians coming to the Annex from the parking lot, including employees and visitors, will have to take a detour route to the Annex. There are white arrows painted on the ground showing pedestrians the way to go.

Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said in regards to the construction, “We appreciate all of the patience and understanding shown by our employees and visitors. We understand these parking temporary changes are difficult, but we are excited about how great the parking garage will be when it is completed.”

The construction of the 540+ parking space garage is expected to be completed in September.

TYLER — On Saturday, April 27th the Tyler Police Department along with the Drug Enforcement Agency will be hosting a Drug Drop Off. It will be at the Brookshire’s on Rice Road between 10am and 2pm. The public can anonymously drop off their unused, unwanted and expired prescription medications as well as tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs, free of charge. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted.

GILMER – The Gilmer Police Department said they seized guns, drugs and cash while executing a search warrant on Thursday. Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Gilmer PD executed a search warrant at a residence which allegedly housed two known drug dealers in Upshur County at around 6 a.m. on Thursday. While searching the home Gilmer PD officers reportedly found two guns, $2,269 and 36 grams of black tar heroin. A request for more information was not immediately fulfilled by Gilmer PD. We will continue to update as more info becomes available.

LUFKIN – According to our news partner KETK, officials are investigating after an overnight shooting in Lufkin that left a man injured. According to police, officers responded to a report of a man with a gunshot wound to the head around 10:20 p.m. in the 100 block of West Laurel Avenue after the man had sought help from a neighbor. The man was flown to an out-of-town hospital where he remained in stable condition, according to authorities, and the incident is under investigation.

“The man told officers he had been robbed and shot by a man that he knew but he didn’t know the suspect’s name,” officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lufkin Police Department at 936-633-0356 or Crime Stoppers at 936-639-TIPS.

LONGVIEW – The Houston Chronicle reports that business groups, led by a pair of Texas advocacy associations, stepped in quickly Wednesday seeking a halt to a rule issued by the Federal Trade Commission banning employers from using noncompete clauses to keep workers from going to a competitor. The ban was approved Tuesday and is expected to take effect 120 days after it is entered into the Federal Register. It was immediately challenged by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which was joined by the Texas Association of Business and the Longview (Texas) Chamber of Commerce in filing suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to block the measure.

Saying “the burdens of the Noncompete Rule will be immediate and significant,” the organizations argued that “Beyond making virtually all noncompetes illegal going forward, the Noncompete Rule also purports to retroactively invalidate roughly tens of millions of existing agreements. … As a result, businesses that bargained for noncompetes will lose the protections of those agreements — even if they already held up their end of the bargain.” Anticipating a delay in implementation, several Houston labor attorneys were proceeding with business as usual with their noncompete cases. Todd Slobin, a board certified labor and employment partner at Shellist Lazarz Slobin, said he thought the rule was great and it could help the economy in general because people could get better, higher-paying jobs based on their experience and skills. “In one hand, it’s amazing,” Slobin said. “In the other hand, it’s kind of like preparing for a hurricane that may never happen. Because, you know, there’s going to be so many legal challenges from big businesses, industries, who want to enforce these noncompetes and want to have them in place to keep employees where they are.”