KTBB News, Weather, Talk

EAST TEXAS — An overnight storm brought damage and fallen trees to the area on Saturday and electric company crews are working to restore power to customers.

At least two people were injured after a tornado that swept through parts of Marion County early Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The tornado touched down in the northern portion of the county, from around Berea Way to the latter part of Hall Road. At one property, the storm ripped the roof off a century-old home and shifted the structure off its foundation.

A seven-day disaster declaration is in effect for the county because of injuries and damage.

The Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation shared pictures of fallen trees and damaged power lines in the Hall area on social media. The cooperative encourages customers experiencing service issues or power outages to report it through the SmartHub app or by calling 903-680-2100.

SMITH COUNTY – Jury duty for March 9, 2026 has been canceled. If you received a summons to report to the Smith County Courthouse for jury duty Monday, you do not have to report!

POINT — The City of Point will no longer have a police department beginning Friday after city personnel said they’ve struggled to cover costs while facing a debt of up to $500,000.

According to our news partner KETK, Angela Nelson, the city’s mayor, stated it would not be meeting all of its current payroll obligations following the discovery of a “substantial financial shortfall.”

Payroll tax payments to the IRS were not made or were “sporadically” made throughout the last few years, causing the city to be under a formal investigation. The debt, including penalties and interest, exceeds over $300,000 and the IRS may seek to seize city owned vehicles and real property.

The city also owes more than $200,000, which includes $80,000 accrued during 2025, to the Texas Comptroller after a former city employee allegedly misappropriated funds by apparently moving them into the general funds in order to make a payroll. Continue reading Police department eliminated in financial turmoil

KILGORE – Kilgore ISD shared on Friday that they will keep Lifetouch as their vendor for school photos despite allegations that one of their parent company’s executives was named in the Epstein files. Leon Black, the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, which acquired Shutterfly, the parent company of Lifetouch, was named in the recently released files on New York financier and child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The United States Senate Committee on Finance has alleged that Black made payments totaling at least $158 million to Epstein for “purported tax and estate planning advice.” The committee also alleged that those funds were then used to finance Epstein’s child sex trafficking organization, according to our news partner KETK.

Kilgore ISD had partnered with Lifetouch to take their upcoming Spring student photos but postponed that partnership in February so they could review concerns about the company after the allegations came to light about Black and Epstein. Continue reading ISD to continue with Lifetouch for photos

WILLS POINT — Several residents in Wills Point were evacuated early Thursday morning due to severe flooding from heavy rainfall in the area. According to our news partner KETK, The Wills Point Police Department, City Marshal’s Office and Fire Department conducted a high-water rescue at a residence on Pecan Avenue, near the veternary clinic. Floodwaters exceeded 4-and-a-half feet in depth with a strong current, the police department said.

First responders were successful in locating and rescuing a family of four and their household pets. Several additional residents in the affected area were also successfully rescued and no injuries were reported, according to the police department.

Anyone who has been affected by the storm or flooding is urged to contact the American Red Cross for assistance by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767).

TYLER – U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) released a statement on Thursday in support of President Trump after it was announced that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has been replaced. It was announced on Thursday afternoon that, after a little over a year as secretary of homeland security, Noem is being replaced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.). Noem will be transitioning to a new role as special envoy for “The Shield of Americas,” a new initiative that will focus on eliminating drug cartels from the country.

“I look forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren,” Noem said Thursday.

Moran also praised Trump for the actions he and his administration have taken during his current term to limit drug trafficking from entering the country. Continue reading Rep. Moran backs Sen. Mullin

TYLER — A man who was arrested in early 2025 in connection to a Tyler apartment shooting that left a woman dead has been additionally charged with injury to a child by a grand jury on Feb. 26.

Jorian Jackson of Plano was arrested on Jan. 22, 2025, for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend, Cheyenne Russell, in a Tyler apartment shooting. According to our news partner KETK, on Jan. 6, 2025, two children found their mother’s body and alerted an adult after an apartment shooting on Bellwood Lake Road. Upon arrival, Tyler Police Department officers made contact with Russell’s roommate, who found her dead on a couch underneath a blanket with blood on her face.

According to arrest documents, Jackson was at the apartment that day to drop off some Christmas presents for a child of his and Russell’s. The roommate told officials that the victim and Jackson had a rough relationship. Continue reading Additional “injury to child” charge

SMITH COUNTY — A wreck involving a car and a motorcycle Thursday morning left the rider in critical condition. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County ESD2 said the wreck happened around 7:08 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 155 and FM 2868 near Noonday. The motorcyclist was taken to a hospital in critical condition following the wreck. Two people in the passenger car were not injured.

SMITH COUNTY — As part of the ongoing US 69 and FM 2493 improvement project, a traffic switch is scheduled to occur the week of March 9, weather permitting.

Traffic will shift to the newly constructed, realigned section of FM 2493 at US 69 in Bullard. Once the switch is in place, the existing portion of FM 2493 (S. Houston St), south of CR 3801, will be closed to thru traffic.

Motorists should use caution in the area and anticipate possible delays as crews continue work in the area.

BULLARD – East Texas drivers are feeling the pain at the pump in a place where fuel normally hovers around the two-dollar-a-gallon mark. The offensive launched against Iran happened just four days ago and drivers in Tyler are already feeling the effects. Zippy J’s on Old Bullard Road in Tyler had their regular gas priced at $2.44 a gallon last week. As of Wednesday, the price has jumped to $2.79.

Even though the U.S. doesn’t import oil from Iran, China and India and the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to open waters, is blocked, that sends a ripple effect throughout the world, even on countries that don’t heavily rely on oil from the Middle East. Continue reading Gas prices surge amid U.S.-Iran conflict

TYLER – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) confirmed there is no state-mandated deadline for removing campaign signs from roadsides following an election. The agency oversees signage within its highway jurisdiction but primarily focuses on placement rather than duration.

While the state agency does not enforce timing restrictions, officials noted that local governments may have their own specific requirements. Cities and counties retain the authority to set individual rules and time limits on how long political advertisements may remain in public view. Regulations on the duration of political displays vary by local municipality.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KETK. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KETK staff before being published.

SMITH COUNTY — A man was arrested in Smith County following a sting where he allegedly made plans for a prostitution operation involving someone he believed was a 15-year-old. The operation began on Feb. 27 when an undercover officer posted a commercial sex advertisement on a website known for prostitution and the exploitation of minors, according to our news partner, KETK. The officer was contacted by Christopher David Stevens, a man with a prior conviction as a sex offender, according to an arrest affidavit from Smith County.

In communications with the undercover officer, Stevens allegedly acknowledged he was interacting with a minor and expressed his intention to engage in sexual activities. He offered to secure a hotel room in his name for their meeting. As part of the arrangement, the undercover officer informed Stevens that she would be traveling from Abilene to Tyler. Continue reading One jailed in sting operation

HENDERSON COUNTY — A 38-year-old man has been charged with murder after surveillance video at an Athens sober living home allegedly showed him dragging what appeared to be a body from a bedroom, a Henderson County arrest affidavit revealed. On Tuesday evening, law enforcement was called after Derris Reynolds’ family members reported him missing. He was last seen on Feb. 25 at a sober living residence.

According to our news partner KETK, family members then requested the property owners to check the security footage of the residence where Reynolds was last seen. Once the homeowners reviewed the security video, they contacted the Athens Police Department.

Officers reviewed the security footage and saw Nicki Lee Gibby, 38, also a resident of the home, entering Reynolds’ bedroom. An argument between the two could be heard on the recording, and Reynolds was never seen leaving the room, according to the affidavit. Continue reading Suspect charged in roommate’s murder

LUFKIN — A man injured in a stabbing in a Lufkin parking lot Sunday evening led to the arrest of one, Lufkin city officials said. Lufkin police responded around 5:30 p.m. to a report of a stabbing in the 4500 block of South Melford Drive. Officers found the victim, a 32-year-old man, with a wound to his upper back and a woman applying pressure to the injury. Police assisted until emergency medical services arrived, according to our news partners at KETK. Surveillance footage from nearby stores showed the victim and a another man, identified as 30-year-old Justin William Benton, preparing to fight. Benton appeared to cut the victim in the back before leaving the scene. Benton was arrested and booked into Angelina County Jail for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was released on Monday after posting bail.

SMITH COUNTY — Crews are responding to a three-vehicle crash on Highway 110 South at Toll 49 in Whitehouse Wednesday morning. Smith County officials say the Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash, which was reported at 11:17 a.m. Fire crews and EMS are on scene, and traffic is being affected. Injuries have been confirmed.

More details will be provided as they become available.

RUSK COUNTY– Two people are dead, and one child is currently in critical condition following a single-vehicle crash in Rusk County over the weekend. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and our news partner KETK, following an initial investigation, officials believe the vehicle was traveling north on the 7400 block of State Highway 323 and attempted to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone. The driver, later identified as River Burks, lost control of the car and hit a tree.

Following the crash, Burks and a two-year-old child were pronounced dead on the scene, while a six-year-old in the car was airlifted to a hospital in Shreveport and is currently in critical condition.

The crash is being investigated by DPS, and no further information is available at this time.

TYLER — In 2025, factors such as “unsafe speed”, “failure to drive in a single lane”, and “intoxication” contributed to 148 fatal crashes and 165 total fatalities in the Tyler District. The 165 fatalities are one more than the 2024 total (164), and the second lowest total since 2019 (148).

The TxDOT Tyler District, which includes Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Smith, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties, revealed the top five combined contributing factors of fatal crashes in 2025: Continue reading 2025 fatal crash statistics released

EAST TEXAS – The votes are being counted and numbers are being reported across East Texas and the entire state. Find updated results as they come in at KTBB Election Central!

TYLER — Pets Fur People officially named their new executive director on Tuesday, according to our news partner KETK, Kat Cortelyou joins Pets Fur People after most recently serving as the animal service manager for the City of Athens. In Athens, Cortelyou led animal control initiatives and developed fostering and transport programs. Previously, she spent eight years as director of operations for the SPCA of East Texas in Tyler. During her role with the SPCA, Cortelyou expanded lifesaving programs and increased intakes and adoptions by 40%.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kat to the Pets Fur People family,” Board President Angie Bullington said. “Her enthusiasm, experience, and heart for animal welfare make her an outstanding choice to lead our organization into its next chapter.”

TYLER – On Monday, February 23, Lieutenant Jon Thornhill was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief in a ceremony attended by friends, family, and co-workers. In his new role, he will supervise the Investigative Division.
 
Assistant Chief Thornhill said, “I am truly honored to be able to serve with the men and women of the Tyler Police Department who work continuously to improve the quality of life in Tyler.”
 
Jon Thornhill was hired by the Tyler Police Department in May of 1996. After attending the police academy, Jon worked in the patrol division until November of 2001, when he was assigned as a Crimes Against Children Investigator at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County. Jon served as an investigator at the CAC for five years.  He was selected to attend the Texas DPS Polygraph School in Austin. Upon returning from this school, Jon completed his internship as a polygraph examiner, assigned to the Youth Crimes/Forgery Division. 
  Continue reading New Tyler PD Assistant Chief

EAST TEXAS — In the past year, Texas’ job growth rate has outpaced the national rate, with three East Texas cities seeing significant non-farm job additions along labor force growth.

According to data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and our news partner KETK, Texas added 146,300 non-farm jobs for an annual growth rate of 1%, faster than the nation as a whole by 0.4%. In East Texas, the metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) of Longview, Texarkana and Tyler saw the addition of over 3,000 non-farm jobs, supporting the growth of the labor force from November 2024 to November 2025.

The civilian labor force for Texarkana MSA and Tyler MSA had over-the-year (2024 to 2025) growth rates of 1.9% and 2.1%, respectively. While both cities saw employment rates increase, however, the over-the-year rates for unemployment also increased with Texarkana’s at 10.7% and Tyler’s at 5.5%. Continue reading Cities see labor force expansion

WHITEHOUSE – The security research firm Safewise has ranked the city of Whitehouse as the 6th safest city in the state for 2026. According to our news partner KETK, Safewise has tracked a decline in violent crime in the city of Whitehouse over the past four years, along with a two-year decline in property crime. According to Safewise, the violent crime rate has fallen from 1.6 violent crimes per 1000 Whitehouse residents in 2024 to 0.6 violent crimes per 1000 residents in 2026.

“In Whitehouse, violent crime has decreased for the last four years in a row, and property crime has declined for the past two years,” Safewise said. “This has resulted in a 65% decrease in violent crime and a 74% decrease in property crime.”

This decline has secured Whitehouse’s spot as Safewise’s 6th safest city in Texas. The ranking prompted the city to thank the community for helping to keep the area safe. Smith County has also seen a decline in reported crimes, with the county’s reported crime rate falling 3.75% between 2024 and 2025. Continue reading 6th safest city in Texas