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TYLER — Broadway Avenue has long been known as one of the most congested roads in Tyler. Five years ago, it ranked among the 50 most congested roads in the state, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). By 2023, its ranking improved significantly, dropping 40 spots to 87th place. In 2024, Broadway Avenue exited the top 100, landing in 102nd place. The following year, in 2025, it dropped another 18 spots to 120th place.

According to a City of Tyler news release, the continued drop is the result of multiple years of planning and annual traffic signal re-timing, initiated in 2019 as part of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Master Plan Study. This study set out a 10-year signal re-timing effort to reduce congestion and improve safety each year. Continue reading Traffic congestion continues to drop

UPDATE: The Daingerfield Police Department has confirmed the suspect’s identity as 65-year-old John Dupriest Jr.

EAST TEXAS — The Palestine Police Department is investigating a fatal crash that left one pedestrian dead on Tuesday evening after being struck by a UPS truck. According to the department and our news partner KETK, the wreck was reported around 8 p.m. Officers and firefighters arrived at the intersection of South Loop 256 and F.M. 322 and transported the pedestrian to a local hospital. The pedestrian was pronounced dead later that evening.

Based on witness statements and evidence at the scene, authorities believe the UPS driver was traveling west on South Loop 256 when the pedestrian attempted to cross the loop traveling north near the intersection. While the pedestrian was attempting to cross, the driver had a green light and entered the intersection, striking her with the truck.

According to officials, the driver remained at the scene following the crash and cooperated with authorities throughout the incident. The department said at this time no charges are being filed.

The investigation is ongoing. The pedestrian’s identity has not been released. The department stated she is not a resident of Palestine.

GILMER — A boil-water notice has been issued for parts of the City of Gilmer due to maintenance workers repairing the water system. Areas impacted include: East Scott Strett, 405 North Cypress Street (East side of the roadway).

Gilmer residents who are affected are asked to boil their water before consumption, such as brushing their teeth or washing their hands. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil, then continued to boil for two minutes.

Customers can purchase bottled water as an alternative to boiling water. Once the notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will alert all customers currently impacted.

Residents with any questions regarding the notice may contact Public Works Director Jonathan Nix at 903-843-8206 or Mayor Tim Marshall at 903-843-2552.

WOOD COUNTY — A suspect wanted on multiple felony warrants was killed Saturday night after a lengthy standoff with law enforcement in Wood County that left two officers wounded. On Tuesday, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 45-year-old Cody Joe Henderson.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to serve six felony warrants around the intersection of FM 515 and FM 2966 on Saturday. During the attempt, the suspect allegedly opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon, striking a Wood County deputy multiple times and wounding a DPS trooper. Both officers were transported to a hospital in Tyler, where the Texas Department of Public Safety said they’re expected to make a full recovery.

The suspect barricaded himself inside a residence on FM 2966, prompting a large law enforcement response. The Wood County Special Response Team and Texas Rangers assisted at the scene.

Authorities said negotiations continued for several hours as the suspect repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Multiple methods were used in attempts to get the suspect to surrender, including tear gas. Continue reading Suspect killed in standoff

HENDERSON COUNTY – An East Texas man was sentenced to life in prison on Friday by a Henderson County jury after he assaulted and threatened to kill a family member in 2025. According to the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office and our news partner KETK, 60-year-old Lawrence William Miller was arrested on Feb. 27, 2025, after officers from the Gun Barrel City Police Department responded to a call from a woman requesting an ambulance to her home on East Acres.

Once officers arrived at the home, they found the victim struggling to stand and was reportedly in visible pain with bruises covering her body. The victim initially told officers that she had fallen; however, once she was alone with EMS personel she allegedly said that Miller had kicked her in the face and body and threatened to kill her

During Miller’s trial, officers testified that they had been dispatched to the home several times over the past year. Additionally, Amanda Cooper with Breaking Chains, a coalition against family violence in Henderson County, testified as an expert witness on the trial, providing reasons why many domestic violence victims feel unable to leave and may be uncooperative with law enforcement or prosecution. Continue reading Life sentence for domestic violence

SMITH COUNTY — Several firefighters from Smith County Emergency Services District 2 (ESD 2) are being dispatched to West Texas amid potential wildfires. ESD 2 received a request for assistance from the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) regarding potential wildland fires in Pampa and Borger, both in the West Texas region. To provide assistance, ESD 2 will be sending two firefighters, one engine boss, and one dozer boss. Members of the Tyler, Nacogdoches, Texarkana and Longview fire departments are also being dispatched to provide aid.

TYLER — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made a campaign stop in East Texas on Tuesday as the keynote speaker for the Smith County Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan Day Dinner. Abbott delivered remarks during the event at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center in Tyler.

According to our news partner KETK, Abbott was joined by several state and local Republican leaders, including State Sen. Bryan Hughes, State Rep. Daniel Alders, State Rep. Cole Hefner and Nate Sheets, who is running for Texas agriculture commissioner.

PALESTINE – A woman was arrested in Palestine last week after allegedly burglarizing a vehicle in the parking lot of a Sherwin-Williams store. According to our news partners KETK and the Palestine Police Department, officers responded to a report of a vehicle burglary just before 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 12. Upon arrival, officers observed a woman matching the suspect’s description walking near a nearby pawn shop. She was later identified as 30-year-old Christie Schoolcraft, of Palestine, and was stopped and detained.

The police department said Schoolcraft initially provided a false name and date of birth but was later correctly identified. Items reported missing from the victim’s vehicle were allegedly found in her possession. Schoolcraft was transported to the Anderson County Jail, where she was booked on charges of burglary of a vehicle and failure to identify/giving false information. As of Tuesday afternoon, she remains in custody on a $12,500 bond.

TYLER – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke in Tyler on Monday as a part of his campaign to be one of two United States Senators for Texas. Monday’s campaign stop was part of the Texas-First Victoria Tour, a state-wide tour aimed at “mobilizing grassroots conservatives” ahead of the Republican Primary in March, where Paxton will face Incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Wesley Hunt.

If Paxton wins in March, he’ll face the winner of the Democratic Primary in November. Democratic Primary candidates include U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, Ahmad Hassan and Texas State Rep. James Talarico, who’s campaigning in Tyler on Feb. 24.

TYLER — Early voting for the March 3 primary election has begun. Many locations are opening for East Texans who want to get to the polls ahead of Election Day. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of early voting locations and times across East Texas where voters can cast their ballot before election day. For more county-specific information, such as hours of operation, visit the Secretary of State’s website.

Continue reading Early voting locations

LUFKIN – The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three men for murder after a Lufkin 18-year-old overdosed on fentanyl on Friday. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, deputies responded to a reported seizure or overdose at a home on Benton Drive outside of Lufkin. The deputies arrived at the scene and found Sierra Grace Duckworth, 18, of Lufkin, unconscious inside the home.

Duckworth was taken to a local hospital for treatment but was later pronounced dead. The sheriff’s office said Duckworth’s boyfriend, Coy Allen Cook, 21 of Lufkin, told officers that they had taken some blue fentanyl pills around two hours before the deputies arrived.

Cook and Logan Wayne Ferguson, 19 of Lufkin, reportedly went to the Hudson home of Roderick “Squirrel” Johnson, 25, to buy the fentanyl. According to the sheriff’s office, a purchase of fentanyl pills was set up via text messages that were later found on Duckworth’s phone. Continue reading Overdose leads to murder arrests

WHITEHOUSE – Five polling centers all across Smith County are now set up and ready for East Texas to start early voting. Crews loaded up the truck and delivered everything from booths and tablets, to traffic cones.

The City of Whitehouse spent all day organizing and getting things ready to show off their brand-new voting facility. Maurine Smith has been an election judge in Whitehouse since 2004 and is grateful to have the new location. The new Whitehouse City Center is located on 109 East Main Street and for this early voting period its the only place to cast a vote in the city of Whitehouse.

Smith County poll locations like the Whitehouse City Center are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week or from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Continue reading Early Primary voting today

TYLER – Texas Comptroller candidate Michael Lange stopped in Tyler on Friday to discuss the importance of financial transparency and economic fairness for Texas families.

According to our news partner KETK, Lange said on Friday, “It’s not easy making a living these days, matter of fact, it’s getting harder. A lot of people are worried about their money. A lot of people worried about affordability. What if I told you the comptroller could affect all of that? Think about it, comptroller is your money, it’s how you spend money but also the controller can do things like influence new job creation.”
Continue reading State accountant hopeful talks money

TYLER – The Tyler, Atlanta and Lufkin districts of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are inviting local small businesses to help them with heavy highway construction. Small businesses involved with heavy highway construction are being asked to meet with TxDOT engineers, prime contractors and local support organizations in Tyler on March 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. for a Doing Business with TxDOT event.

“Doing Business with TxDOT is an event series hosted by the TxDOT Civil Rights Division in partnership with local district offices. These events serve as a platform for connecting small businesses with TxDOT and industry personnel,” TxDOT explained. “Attendees will be introduced to key district officials, hear about upcoming projects, and learn best practices for navigating contractor resources. They will also engage with prime contractors and fellow small businesses, gaining insights into their experiences doing business with TxDOT.”

The venue where the event will be hosted on March 11 hasn’t been determined as of Feb. 15. To reserve a spot for the event, visit TxDOT online.

ATHENS – A woman died on Sunday when she was hit by a vehicle on FM 2709 near Athens in Henderson County. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) told our news partner KETK that a woman was struck by a vehicle at around 7 a.m. on Sunday while she was walking in the 4200 block on FM 2709, just off of Highway 19 near Athens. The woman was then found dead when first responders arrived at the scene.

Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said the vehicle involved left the scene following the crash. DPS described the suspected vehicle as a 2016 to 2018 model Chevrolet Silverado truck that was heading west towards Eustace. Officials are asking the public to help them identify the driver of the Silverado, which likely has damage on the front end or the driver’s side.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Texas Department of Public Safety at 903-872-5633 and use option #2.

Update: On Tuesday, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 45-year-old Cody Joe Henderson.

WOOD COUNTY — A suspect wanted on multiple felony warrants was killed Saturday night after a lengthy standoff with law enforcement in Wood County that left two officers wounded. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to serve six felony warrants around the intersection of FM 515 and FM 2966 on Saturday. During the attempt, the suspect allegedly opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon, striking a Wood County deputy multiple times and wounding a DPS trooper.

According to our news partner KETK, both officers were transported to a hospital in Tyler, where they were listed in critical but stable condition. The suspect barricaded himself inside a residence on FM 2966, prompting a large law enforcement response. The Wood County Special Response Team and Texas Rangers assisted at the scene.

Authorities said negotiations continued for several hours as the suspect repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Multiple methods were used in attempts to get the suspect to surrender, including tear gas. Continue reading Trooper shot; suspect killed

Texans will have more of a say over who their state elected officials will be during the 2026 primaries. Texas Republican and Democrat voters will pick which candidate they want to represent their interests and their party on the ballot for the November general election. In a state where Republicans dominate state government and where many legislative and congressional districts often are drawn to favor them, the primaries are often very significant. Yet, only a fraction of citizens in Texas vote in primary elections.

There are more than 18 statewide elected officials up for election, along with Texas’ members of Congress, state lawmakers, district-based judges and local elected officials. With the new congressional maps redrawn to boost the number of Texas Republicans in Congress, some Texans will have to vote in new congressional districts.

Here’s what you need to know about primaries and the voting process. Stay tuned for more guides about candidates in the following weeks. In the meantime, you can use this tool to see how state lawmakers – some of which are up for election this year – voted on major bills in the past legislative session. Continue reading Primary vote: need to know

ATHENS – A man was arrested for allegedly dealing cocaine and marijuana in Athens on Friday. At around 1:12 p.m. on Friday, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said that a narcotics investigator and two deputies did a traffic stop on a Ford SUV for a traffic violation in the 6000 block of County Road 3925 outside of Athens.

According to the sheriff’s office, the driver of the Ford SUV was seen throwing out a white plastic bag while the vehicle was still coming to a stop. Deputies then approached the Ford, contacted the driver and found a white bag on the ground near where the vehicle had stopped.

The sheriff’s office said the bag was searched and contained suspected cocaine. The Ford was then searched and deputies found a plastic bag of marijuana. Investigators then secured a search warrant for the driver’s home on Deer Run Road in Athens. Continue reading Gallon-size bags of marijuana found

KARNACK — The financial director for Karnack ISD was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing public funds for personal use. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said an investigation was launched in early February after the school district reported suspected financial irregularities in district funds. Subpoenas were issued, and officials reviewed financial and credit card records. Authorities allege the review revealed that Karnack ISD’s financial director, Courtney Johnson, used district funds for personal expenses through unauthorized credit card transactions.

Officials said the probe identified more than $128,000 in district funds that were allegedly misappropriated.

Since then, Johnson has been charged with theft by a public servant, misapplication of fiduciary property of a financial institution and credit card abuse. Continue reading Director arrested for allegedly stealing

TYLER — A 29-year-old man is dead following a road rage shooting in Tyler on Friday evening. The incident occurred at around 5:10 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of Grande Boulevard while vehicles were stopped at a red light at Paluxy Drive, according to our news partner KETK.

The victim, identified as Trevor Julian, 29, of Whitehouse, was a passenger in a Tesla. Investigators determined that Julian exited the vehicle and approached the driver of a pickup truck stopped behind the Tesla. Lance Cpl. Julian, a native of Carthage, served as an automotive maintenance technician with Headquarters Regiment, 3d Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Kinser in Okinawa, Japan. The pickup truck driver was identified as Dayton Morgan, a 23-year-old man. Authorities say Morgan shot Julian during the encounter.

Julian was transported to a local hospital, where he died. Morgan was arrested on a warrant for murder and has been booked into the Smith County Jail. His bond has been set at $1 million. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not released additional details at this time.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department said that a bus driver was injured on Friday when a Tyler ISD bus and a pickup truck crashed on Loop 323 near South Broadway Avenue. According to Tyler PD and our news partner KETK, the crash happened on Loop 323 around 4:30 p.m. just to the west of South Broadway Avenue. Around 20 students were on the bus when it collided with a pickup truck, leaving the driver with minor injuries.

Tyler PD said the crash was cleared from the roadway by 5:12 p.m. and that Loop 323 is all the way back open to traffic.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Commissioners Court has approved an agreement to establish a police department for Longview ISD. The Longview ISD Police Department will maintain ongoing communication with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office in the event of emergencies.

“If they need additional law enforcement for a situation that takes place on campus, we will readily respond,” County Judge Bill Stoudt said. “This clarifies that we are a backup agency if they ever need assistance.”

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will now begin the formal review process required for the department to obtain licensure. Longview ISD officials say they hope to have the process complete by this summer.

TYLER – A driver has been taken to a local hospital after they were shot during a road rage incident on Friday in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK and the Tyler PD, it happened at the intersection of Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive when a driver got out of their vehicle and shot another driver. The suspected shooter stayed at the scene and has been detained by Tyler PD officers. The driver who was shot has been taken to the hospital. Grande Boulevard is currently closed to the east and west of Paluxy Drive.

PANOLA COUNTY — An East Texas district court held a hearing on Thursday to discuss the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the companies that produce Tylenol. After the hearing, 123rd District Court Judge LeAnn Kay Rafferty did not make an immediate decision but indicated that she would ‘take under advisement‘ the arguments presented. The lawsuit, initiated by Paxton’s office, targets the pharmaceutical companies Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue Brands, according to our news partners at KETK. The lawsuit asserts that they unlawfully marketed Tylenol, or acetaminophen, to pregnant women, despite claims that the medication may pose risks to unborn babies. Continue reading Motion to dismiss lawsuit against Tylenol

TYLER – Starting Monday, Feb. 16, Consent Decree capacity improvements will move to East Elm Street between South Broadway Avenue and South College Avenue. The intersection between Elm Street and College Avenue will remain open. Work is expected to take approximately eight weeks, weather permitting. Full access to the Fair Plaza Parking Garage will remain available. Traffic will use Woldert Street, University Place, and College Avenue off Front Street to access the garage. Sidewalks in the area will remain open. Alleyway access off Elm Street will be closed during construction. Traffic control signs and devices are in place to guide motorists. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area. 

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Commissioners Court has approved an agreement to establish a police department for Longview ISD. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will now begin the formal review process required for the department to obtain its license. Longview ISD officials say they hope to have the process complete by this summer. The Longview ISD Police Department will maintain ongoing communication with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office in the event of emergencies.

EAST TEXAS — Following Lifetouch Photography’s involvement in a controversy regarding the Epstein files, numerous school districts throughout East Texas are canceling their partnerships with the company. According to our news partner KETK, districts that decided to end their partnership with Lifetouch earlier this week, following the allegations, include: Athens ISD, Kemp ISD, Malakoff ISD, Cross Roads ISD, Van ISD, Edgewood ISD and Winnsboro ISD.

In the released Jeffrey Epstein files, Leon Black, the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, which is the parent company of Lifetouch, is accused of making at least $158 million in payments to Epstein for “purported tax and estate planning advice.” However, an investigation by the United States Senate Committee on Finance found that the money was used to finance Epstein’s sex trafficking operations. Continue reading Schools cut ties with photographer