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TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that an East Texas woman was arrested on Monday after reportedly providing Jell-O shots with vodka to 5th graders at a Tyler elementary school Christmas party. According to a Smith County arrest affidavit, multiple children were throwing up, and one was unable to stand up after consuming six shots.

On Dec. 20, 2024, at around 11:15 a.m., a Tyler ISD police officer received a phone call from the Jones Elementary and Boshears Center assistant principal that said she believed a parent had brought Jell-O shots to a class Christmas party. The officer asked the suspect, Teresa Isabel Bernal, to come to the principal’s office. The officer said he saw on the conference table in the principal’s office a cafeteria boat containing four Jell-O shots.

While the officer was interviewing Bernal, she said the Jell-O shots came from a local business she found on Facebook. “The business is run out of a house, so she went by the house and purchased the Jell-O shots and brought them to the school for the Christmas party,” the affidavit said. When asked if the Jell-O shots contained alcohol, Bernal said, “They do taste different.” Continue reading Parent arrested for giving vodka-laced Jell-O shots to elementary kids

CHEROKEE COUNTY – A Rusk man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for robbing and killing a 70-year-old man in 2022. According to the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office and our news partner KETK, on April 22, 2022, Christopher Anthony Peoples of Rusk robbed and attacked Valentine Ortega Sanchez with a knife, leaving him dead in his driveway near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Dixon Avenue.

Officials said around 1 a.m. on April 23, 2022, Peoples fled from deputies in a vehicle while disposing of evidence south of Rusk on FM 241, and then wrecked in the 3000 block of FM 241.

Deputies removed Peoples from the vehicle, and began life-saving measures before EMS arrived and took him to a local hospital by helicopter where he was then arrested for evading arrest in a vehicle. Continue reading Rusk man sentenced to life for robbing and killing elderly man

TYLER – As the May 2025 elections approach, voters across East Texas are preparing to head to the polls to make their voices heard on various important local issues and races. Our news partner KETK has compiled a comprehensive guide to everything voters need to know, including key dates for early voting and essential details for counties throughout the region. You can find that list here.

POLK COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a domestic dispute between a Polk County married couple on Sunday leaves husband dead from gunshot wounds and wife physically assaulted, police said. Around 8 p.m. Sunday night, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic dispute at a Southland Plantation subdivision residence and found a woman who was allegedly physically assaulted and a man with multiple upper body gunshot wounds, according to a Polk County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.

Emergency Medical Services provided aid to both parties with the woman being transported to a local hospital where she was later released, however, the male was pronounced deceased at the scene, PCSO said. Officials began a comprehensive investigation and determined the dispute escalated from a verbal confrontation to a physical altercation. Continue reading Husband dies from gunshot wounds during domestic dispute

WOOD COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner KETK, after deputies received reports of gunfire from a high school lake party, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office encourages parents to be aware of their children’s whereabouts.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office released a statement to parents asking them to keep a closer eye on their children after shutting down a high school lake party where underage drinking and gunfire were involved. Officials said when deputies arrived, they observed a man running into a crowd wielding a pistol before he was taken into custody without incident. Officials said other suspects were detained with two firearms, marijuana, cocaine, and related paraphernalia.

The sheriff’s office encourages parents to be aware of where their children are, who they associate with and what environments they are in.

“We urge all parents to have open conversations with their children about the dangers of underage drinking, drug use and the potential risks of large gatherings,” officials said. “Your guidance and supervision are crucial in helping keep our community safe.”

TYLER – The bishop at the Catholic Diocese of Tyler mourns the loss of Pope Francis on Monday morning.

According to the Associated Press, Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88 with his last appearance in public on Easter Sunday during the morning blessing and popemobile tour through a crowd of St. Peter’s Square.

Bishop Gregory Kelly said he was impressed and inspired by Pope Francis’ work, mission and ministry in the Church, especially for his attention to the “dignity of immigrants and of those on the margins”.

“Having just celebrated the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter, we commend the Holy Father into the arms of the Risen Lord whom he served so faithfully during his life and during his papal ministry. Even though there is grief at his passing, this is also a time to express our trust in the Lord and his promise of eternal life and the resurrection of the body for those who love him. I ask that you join me in praying for the repose of his soul and for the Church in this time.” said Bishop Kelly

The bishop invites people to join him for the celebration of a memorial Mass for Pope Francis on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler.

GREGG COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner, KETK, a man was arrested in Gregg County on Friday evening after allegedly shooting and killing his neighbor’s dog on it’s owner’s property.

Around 7:49 p.m., Gregg County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a dog being shot by a neighbor in the northern area of Gregg County. Officials said following the investigation the deputy arrested Toby Odell Bennett, 63 of Longview, after he shot and killed his neighbor’s dog while the animal was on it’s owner’s property.

Bennett was booked into the Gregg County Jail for third-degree felony cruelty to a non-livestock animal on Friday and was released the following day after posting his $10,000 bond.

“The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office takes all allegations of animal cruelty seriously and remains committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety and welfare of both people and animals in our community,” Gregg County Sheriff’s Office said.

NACOGDOCHES – Two Nacogdoches residents were arrested for possession of cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana and firearms by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office early Thursday morning, according to our news partner KETK.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies pulled over Luther Levann Jackson, 38, around 11 a.m. for a traffic violation. They discovered an active warrant for his arrest, and took Jackson into custody. Later they also obtained a search warrant for Jackson’s residence in the 1700 block of Castleberry Street after an ongoing investigation revealed narcotics were present in the home, the sheriff’s office said.

When deputies searched the residence they reportedly found the following items: Continue reading Two arrested for drug possession after traffic stop

KILGORE – Our news partners at KETK report officials responded to a Kilgore Walmart after receiving a call on Saturday of a man allegedly firing a flare gun inside, the Kilgore Police Department said. The police department was advised that “the gun had gone off inside the store and the man was walking towards the exit.” Officers arrived at the scene and quickly arrested the man. Upon further investigation, police said that the man “accidentally” set the flare gun off inside, before abandoning it on a shelf and walking away. Continue reading Kilgore man arrested after firing flare gun inside Walmart

LUFKIN – Our news partners at KETK report that the Lufkin Police Department said a motorcyclist has been flown to a hospital in Tyler after a crash on West Frank Street on Saturday. According to Lufkin PD, the crash happened in the 1600 block of West Frank Street at around 12:45 p.m. when a gray 2015 Honda Pilot and a motorcycle collided. The Honda was heading east and started to turn left from the middle lane but stopped when officials said the driver saw the motorcycle heading east in the inside lane. The motorcyclist tried to swerve to avoid the stopped Honda but crashed into the back passenger side of the car. The motorcyclist sustained life-threating injuries in the crash and had to be stabilized before they could be flown to a hospital in Tyler.

JACKSONVILLE – A man was taken into custody on Sunday after eight to ten gunshots were fired inside the Super Gallo grocery store in Jacksonville, according to our news partner KETK.

Jacksonville Police Department Chief of Police Steven Markasky said the four hour long standoff started after a man walked into Super Gallo and entered the business office where he fired several gunshots at the ceiling. The business was then evacuated, according to a Jacksonville PD press release. Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson confirmed the man was barricaded inside the office and was occasionally firing rounds into the ceiling. According to Dickson, the local SWAT team arrived at the scene and waited for the Texas Department of Public Safety’s SWAT team to arrive so they could help end the standoff. The Texas Department of Public Safety SRT and Crisis Negotiation Response Team arrived at the store and after four hours of calling out to him, the man was taken into custody without incident, officials said. A press release identified the man taken into custody as Amado Urquiza, 38 of Jacksonville.

Markasky said there were no injuries reported from the shots fired. He added that they’re currently processing the scene for evidence and that there’s no threat to the public as of Sunday afternoon.

Tyler – The Empowerment North Tyler Rails to Trails Exploratory Committee invites the community to an informative meeting regarding the inactive rail corridor that runs through the heart of North Tyler. This meeting is open to the public and will take place on Monday, April 21, at 6:00 PM at the Empowerment CDC Complex, located at 309 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Tyler, TX 75702. Continue reading Empowerment North Tyler Rails to Trails to host public meeting

NACOGDOCHES – Two Nacogdoches residents were arrested for possession of cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana and firearms by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office early Thursday morning. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies pulled over Luther Levann Jackson, 38, around 11 a.m. for a traffic violation. They discovered an active warrant for his arrest and took Jackson into custody. Later they also obtained a search warrant for Jackson’s residence in the 1700 block of Castleberry Street after an ongoing investigation revealed narcotics were present in the home, the sheriff’s office said. Continue reading Nacogdoches residents arrested for possession of drugs, firearms

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches man was arrested on Tuesday after three different types of illegal narcotics were discovered inside of his vehicle and home. According to the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, and our news partners at KETK, around 2 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop on the 600 block of W Main Street where they asked Michael Anthony Green, 56, of Nacogdoches, if they could search his vehicle and they were denied. Deputies then requested a K9 unit and the dog alerted to the presence of drugs, and a search was conducted. Officials said deputies found a large amount of cash and three different types of of illegal narcotics inside Green’s vehicle including: Continue reading Nacogdoches man arrested after drugs found during traffic stop

CARTHAGE – Our news partners at KETK report that a juvenile has been arrested after allegedly making a threat to a local Carthage daycare. The FBI contacted the Carthage police department after a threat was made on social media “showing daycare with alarming text overlay”. An immediate investigation began where officials learned that the suspect was a juvenile and has since been taken into custody. The case will be referred to District Attorney and Juvenile Probation for prosecution, the Carthage police department said.

Tyler – City of Tyler reports that downtown traffic signals are without power, and Oncor estimates power will be restored around 3:30 p.m. on Friday. However, if damage or additional repairs are identified during restoration, the estimated time could be extended. Street crews have placed stop signs and generators at main intersections. City officials remind drivers they should treat a “dark” traffic signal as an all-way stop. Meaning, each vehicle comes to a complete stop and takes its turn to proceed through the intersection.
 

TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, a Houston man was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to burglarize ATMs in Tyler.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Texas, Julius Lawan Lockett, Jr., 30 of Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank theft and was ordered to pay restitution of $243,540.85 and forfeiture of $79,850 on Thursday. Officials said on March 28, 2021, Lockett and Jerome Christopher Mayes, Jr. drove from Houston to Tyler to steal money from ATMs in the area. They used a stolen Ford F-250 truck from Smith County, attached chains to the truck and to an ATM at Chase Bank at Southwest Loop 323 in Tyler to pull the ATM open and steal around $159,700.

On Jan. 29, Mayes was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for his role in the ATM conspiracy.

TYLER – School leaders in East Texas share their opinions following the Texas House’s passage of the private school voucher program early Thursday morning.

The Texas House and Senate have each passed different versions of the bill and will now need to negotiate a compromise. Once an agreement is reached, the final version will be sent to Gov. Abbott’s desk.

Joel Enge, Director of Kingdom Life Academy, is a vocal advocate for the proposed bill, which he believes empowers families with greater educational choice .“Parents now have the opportunity to choose,” Enge said. “They have educational freedom.”

Kingdom Life Academy, a project-based micro-Christian school in Tyler, sees education savings accounts as a game-changer—one that could open doors for more students to access schools like theirs. Continue reading Schools react to the passage of school vouchers

HENDERSON COUNTY – A Mabank man was arrested Wednesday night after officials located a sock with suspected meth.

According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, around 10:52 p.m., narcotics investigators stopped a 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the 8200 block of US Highway 175 West in Kemp and watched the driver, Joseph Duane Whitworth, 52 of Mabank, throw a sock into the grass ditch.

Officials said after locating the sock, they found a gallon-sized plastic bag with a large amount of suspected meth inside alongside clear plastic baggies known for packaging narcotic sales.

Whitworth was arrested for the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair. He is currently being held at the Henderson County Jail.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for running a nationwide counterfeit meth-laced pill operation from his rural property in Cherokee County.

According to our news partner KETK, Robert Jessie Martin, 47 of Alto, was sentenced to 18 years and four mounts in prison on Thursday. Martin reportedly distributed five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, according to the evidence presented in court.

As part of the operation, Martin allegedly set up multiple rotary tablet presses on his 75-acre property near Alto, where he produced hundreds of thousands of fake pills lace with meth. These pills were then trafficked across the United States for profit. Continue reading ETX man gets 18-year sentence for drug operation

SMITH COUNTY — Two men have been sentenced to prison after investigators found communication between the two, where one sent child pornography files in exchange for nude pictures of the other.

According to our news partner KETK, Antonio Guevara-Valderrama and Nathaniel Connor Mitchell pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and received combined sentences of 50 years. An affidavit obtained from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office revealed that during a search of Mitchell’s phone in November 2023, officials found “several files containing apparent child pornography.” During the investigation, officers learned that these files had been shared by Guevara-Valderrama in what appeared to be in exchange for shirtless pictures of Mitchell.

“I located about 29 files containing obvious child pornography,” the affidavit said. “The videos depicted children from infancy to pre-teen years in various sex acts with adults, including full penetration of the sex organs.” Continue reading Two Smith County men sentenced for possession of child porn

UPSHUR COUNTY – The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has confirmed 19 cases of measles at an isolated location in Upshur County. According to our news partner KETK, all of the cases have been linked to two people who visited the county from out of the state and at the moment officials state that no known cases emerged from Upshur county residents.

DSHS Officials said in a release, “All affected persons are isolated from the public and are in quarantine at this same location, and are in daily contact with DSHS and are following all the appropriate guidelines.”

Upshur County has advised residents on what to do if they start feeling any symptoms related to measles. They said, “Seek emergency care if the patient has a hard time breathing or breathing faster than normal, signs of severe dehydration, confusion, decreased alertness, or severe weakness, young children having a blue mouth or crying without making tears, or unusually low energy of loss of appetite.”

DSHS reps also said that none of the cases are critical and everyone currently affected are over the age of 17. They added there are no reports of measles cases at any of Upshur County’s public schools, public buildings, county operations or medical facilities.

BEAUMONT – A multi-agency drug task force has arrested 16 people in drug trafficking ring. According our news partner KETK, Operation Take Back America, has teamed up with the U.S. Marshalls Service and the Department of Justice.

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office said, “This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
Continue reading 16 arrested as federal authorities break up east Texas meth ring

SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man is being held on a $1 million bond after a Wednesday police chase where he allegedly shot at officers, buildings and pointed guns at citizens.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday, around 10:55 a.m., the sheriff’s office began receiving reports of a person, later identified as Mason Lowell Ahrens of Hideaway, shooting his gun out of an older model of a black Chevrolet Z71. Officials said Ahrens was shooting at buildings and pointing guns at citizens, and then left out the back gate of Hideaway. At this time, the last known location of Ahrens was on FM 16 heading towards Lindale. A detective located Ahrens and watched him pull into a gas station.

The detective pulls up behind Ahrens with his lights and sirens activated and identifies himself when he sees Ahrens look at him in his rearview mirror and flee from him, heading westbound on FM 16. Continue reading $1 million bond set for Hideaway man involved in police chase