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TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler is celebrating yet another record-breaking enrollment year, reaching its highest total enrollment to date. UT Tyler’s fall 2025 preliminary enrollment as of the Sept. 8 census date is 11,602 students, which is a 10.07% increase over last fall, according to a news release from UT.

“This milestone reflects the dedication and hard work of so many across our campus community,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “Our focus continues to be on meeting the needs of our students and our region. We are committed to giving them our best so that they can reach their full potential.”

First-time-in-college freshman enrollment made up 1,561 of the total preliminary enrollment, which is a 9.47% increase over the previous fall. UT Tyler continued enhancing retention rates among graduate/professional students. Graduate enrollment saw its largest enrollment ever, with a preliminary enrollment of 3,264. Continue reading UT Tyler celebrates largest enrollment growth in institutional history

SMITH COUNTY — A 25-year-old Tyler man was sentenced to 34 years in prison on Tuesday for the 2024 fatal stabbing of Noe Luna. According to our news partner KETK, Letierus Drew, 25, of Tyler, was arrested for murder on Jan. 21, 2024 after Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported stabbing at a home in the 400 block of County Road 34.

Deputies learned that 43-year-old Noe Luna of Tyler had been stabbed and taken to a local hospital before they arrived at the scene. Luna died at the hospital a few hours later.

Authorities said that Drew was identified as a suspect in the stabbing after witnesses at the scene said he had forced his way inside the home and got into a physical fight with Luna. Continue reading Tyler man sentenced to prison for deadly stabbing

TYLER — East Texas Food Bank employees volunteered to pack up boxes full of food on Tuesday as a part of National Hunger Action Day. According to our news partner KETK, the day of action was done as part of Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign held every September that encourages people to help end hunger in their community. On Tuesday, volunteers helped pack boxes that will be delivered to elderly East Texans in need.

“What we’re packing today is our senior box, our CSFP distribution program. So this is for our elderly population that is food insecure and that needs a little extra resources to be able to put food on the table,” Kim Morris with the East Texas Food Bank said. “So the boxes that they’re packing today are nutritionally balanced, and they should last about a month to supplement their food, to be able to get them through and make sure that they have not just to eat, but nutritious, healthy, other types. “ Continue reading Food Bank volunteers pack boxes for National Hunger Action Day

TYLER – A 54-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after he was found guilty of killing a man at a taqueria in Tyler in 2024.

Scotty Lee Goble, 54 of Frost, was arrested for murder on Oct. 11, 2024 after witnesses told Tyler Police Department officers that he fatally shot Heriberto Ramirez, 38 of Tyler, at a taqueria on SSW Loop 323. Witnesses told officers that the shooting happened after Goble and Ramirez got into a verbal argument that turned into a physical altercation.

Officials said that Goble had been a repeat customer of the taqueria and that there were disagreements that had happened prior to the shooting.

Goble was found guilty after a jury trial in the 241st Judicial District Court and sentenced to 18 years in state prison on Tuesday. Goble will also have to pay a $10,000 fine as a part of his sentence.

POLK COUNTY – Our news partner KETK is reporting that two men were arrested after opening fire in a Polk County neighborhood on Sunday evening.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, they received a report late on Sunday evening that gunshots were fired at a residence in the Indian Hills subdivision, which is located off of FM 2457. Once on the scene, the victim told authorities that an unknown vehicle drove by and fired multiple rounds towards the home, striking the residence.

Detectives identified the two suspects involved as 18-year-old Abraham Saenz and 18-year-old Ivan Rangel, both of Livingston. Saenz and Rangel were both arrested and charged with deadly conduct and discharge of a firearm, according to officials. Continue reading Duo arrested after shooting at Polk County home

TYLER – Smith County Animal Control and Shelter supervisor Amber Greene has been fired from her position after an internal investigation found she encouraged an employee to use racial slurs.

According to our news partner KETK, termination records from Smith County describe that the county launched an internal investigation after an animal control employee submitted a letter describing an Aug. 7 meeting where Greene had allegedly made derogatory comments and allowed her employees to use racial slurs.

“After a thorough internal investigation, and your own admission, it was found that you made derogatory comments in the workplace and, more concerningly, permitted employees under your supervision to use racial slurs,” Smith County chief human resources officer Esmeralda Corona wrote in Greene’s termination letter dated Sept. 9. “This behavior is in direct violation of Smith County’s anti-discrimination and harassment policies, as well as the ethical responsibilities entrusted to you as a leader.” Continue reading Animal Control supervisor fired for racial slur

SMITH COUNTY – A Tyler man was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Monday after he impersonated a 10-year-old wanting to engage in sexual activity with other online users. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County officials started investigating Jodi Mack Hester of Tyler, in January. An investigator received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, about an immediate risk to a child. The electronic service provider, Tagged.com, reported possible online enticement and provided chat logs to the investigator dated from November 2024 to January 2025.

The Tagged.com user ‘Jodimarie’ claimed to have a 10-year-old daughter he wished to involve in sexual activity. The cyber tip included the users’ subscribing information and sexually explicit photos, identifying the suspect as registered sex offender Jodi Mack Hester of Tyler.
Continue reading Tyler man sentenced for sharing porn, impersonating 10-year-old online

LONGVIEW – A man was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he killed a pedestrian in February of 2024 while driving drunk in Longview, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Around 12:52 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2024, Lantez Amide Darensbourg was driving west in the 500 block of West Hope Drive when he hit a pedestrian and a vehicle. The person was taken to a local hospital, where they later died. Darensbourg was arrested after officers determined he was driving while intoxicated.

On Monday, Darensbourg pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

TYLER – One man has been arrested after the Tyler Police Department said he was involved in a crash that injured two pedestrians on Friday night, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Officers with the Tyler Police responded to a crash reported near Bruck Avenue and W. Front Street at around 9:25 p.m. on Friday. Two pedestrians at the scene were injured by a vehicle and had to be transported to local hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries.

Tyler PD officers on the scene saw the suspected vehicle leaving the scene and the driver was later pulled over on Chandler Highway. Tyler PD identified the driver as 49-year-old Howard Jessie of Smith County.

Jessie was arrested for a collision involving injury and booked into the Smith County Jail on Friday. He was released on Saturday after posting bond.

QUITMAN– The Quitman ISD community is mourning the loss of one of their teachers who recently died after teaching in the district for 16 years. According to our news partner KETK, Sherrie Callahan died on Sept. 1 at the age of 61 after devoting the past 29 years of her life to teaching. She most recently taught at Quitman High School and has been a member of the district since 2009.

“Deeply loved by our staff and students, her positive attitude, sweet smile and playful personality will be greatly missed,” Quitman ISD said. “The Quitman ISD family mourns this tremendous loss and extends our deepest sympathies to Mrs. Callahan’s family and friends during this time. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”

A celebration of life was held for Callahan on Sunday at the Chapel in the Woods Church in Winnsboro.

SMITH COUNTY– The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is searching for those responsible for vandalizing a marble statue of Jesus at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Flint. Members of the sheriff’s office arrived at the scene at around 8:45 a.m. on Sunday and discovered that suspects had vandalized the face and hands of the statue, which is located at the front of the church.

According to our news partners KETK, officials were able to obtain video footage of the incident. The video displayed the suspect, a white man wearing a black shirt and black shorts, shattering the hands, wrists and part of the face of the statue. After damaging the statue, the suspect was reportedly seen walking south towards County Road 1299.

The sheriff’s office stated the statue cost around $10,500 to construct. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600.

NACOGDOCHES – The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two people who allegedly dumped suspected meth and cocaine out of their vehicle during a pursuit.

According to our news partner KETK, on Aug. 29 deputies from the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers were pulling over a Hyundai passenger vehicle they were investigating in the 5000 block of US Highway 59 south. The sheriff’s office stated that the driver failed to stop in a timely manner, which initiated a pursuit. Video shared by the sheriff’s office shows what officials claimed to be powdered cocaine and meth being poured out of the Hyundai during the pursuit.

The pursuit ended when the vehicle stopped and the two people inside were arrested. The Hyundai was searched and officials said narcotics and a firearm were found inside the vehicle. Continue reading Two arrested for dumping drugs during pursuit

CROCKETT – The Crockett Police Department is searching for a man who’s wanted in connection with an attempted armed robbery that occurred on Aug. 30.

According to our news partners KETK, officers responded to a call about an attempted armed robbery in the 200 block of East Goliad Avenue on Aug. 30 around 9:30 a.m. The victim told officers that a man approached her with a knife and attempted to rob her. More officers were then sent out to the scene to search for the man. Their ground and air searches were unsuccessful. Crockett PD then interviewed nearby witnesses and searched for available security camera footage from the area.

The victim described the man as a 6-foot-4-inch white man with dark shaggy hair, green eyes, a light scruffy beard. Continue reading Police search for Crockett armed robbery suspect

TYLER – An East Texas marketer is one of seven individuals who have agreed to pay a portion of a $1,459,620 settlement to resolve allegations of paying kickbacks to doctors, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The U.S. has recently taken over civil lawsuits filed under the False Claims Act in the cases of doctors, executives and marketers who allegedly engaged in illegal payments to doctors for laboratory referrals, which were disguised as managed service organization (MSO) investments.

“The Department of Justice will continue to pursue and prioritize healthcare fraud, including redressing illegal kickbacks,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said. “Kickbacks to doctors can undermine medical decision-making, subject patients to wasteful medical treatments and squander taxpayer money.” Continue reading Tyler man to pay part of healthcare fraud settlement

AUSTIN – The Houston Chronicle reports the Texas Senate voted against delaying a controversial East Texas groundwater export project on the same day the company behind it hired one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top advisors as a lobbyist. Conservation Equity Management, a company affiliated with Dallas investor Kyle Bass, hired Allen Blakemore on Tuesday, the same day the legislation hit the Senate floor, according to lobbying records filed at the Texas Ethics Commission. Blakemore is Patrick’s political consultant and has also worked on the campaigns of several Republican senators. The Senate, which Patrick oversees, ultimately agreed to back a state-led study of the company’s proposal to pump huge amounts of groundwater out from under Anderson and Henderson counties. But it stripped a provision that would have put the project on hold until the findings came out in 2027. Continue reading Lobbyist hired to delay water grab bill

LUFKIN — Lufkin ISD said on Monday that an unloaded gun was found at their high school, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The campus went into a “secure,” a safety protocol in which everyone is brought inside, all exterior doors are locked, and the school day continues as usual. Following an investigation, an unloaded firearm was found in a bathroom trash. The school has since resumed regular schedules.

“We want to thank Lufkin ISD Administration and Police Department, as well as the City of Lufkin Police Department, for a swift and professional response in keeping our students and campus safe,” Kaitlin Smith, the communications specialist for Lufkin ISD, said.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Criminal District Attorney Jacob Putman announced this week that he will be running for re-election in 2026. According to our news partner KETK, Putman has served for the past six years, and during his tenure, the district attorney’s office has expanded from 48 to 85 staff members. In 2024, Putman and his office prosecuted over 7,000 criminal cases, including 4,472 misdemeanors and 2,886 felonies.

Due to the number of cases prosecuted in 2024, the attorney’s office was named a Gold Level Agency, the highest award a victim-friendly practice can obtain from the Texas Victim Services Association.

Putman will run in next year’s Republican Primary ahead of the November election.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Emergency Services District 2 broke ground on its twelfth fire station, Station 76 on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, the new station will provide the unincorporated community of Jamestown with around-the-clock firefighter coverage, quickening response times to fires in the area.

Smith County ESD2 Chief Eric Greaser said Sunday, “We’re just very excited that we’re going to be able to get full time 24/7 coverage by career firefighters that are both trained as firefighters and as EMS professionals, EMTs, advanced EMTs or paramedics that’ll be working out of this facility with all the equipment that they’ll need to save lives.”

Once firefighters start working at Station 76, ESD2 will have 24/7 coverage of Smith County with 10 engine companies and three tender crews.

TYLER – The close of the second special session on Wednesday evening led to a disappointing end for House Bill 27, which would’ve required a study of new water drilling in East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, HB27 would’ve required the Texas Water Development Board to conduct a study on the effects of drilling permits on the Neches and Trinity Valley Groundwater District. HB 27 also pushed for lawmakers to allow a 16-month pause on approving drilling permits during the TWDB study. This leaves East Texans concerned about controversial groundwater drilling in the Neches and Trinity Valley area feeling let down, but not without hope. East Texas lawmakers are vowing to continue the fight.
Continue reading East Texas representatives, give reactions to failure of water bill

TYLER – One lucky East Texan has purchased a Powerball lottery ticket worth $2 million the Texas Lottery Commission announced on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the ticket was bought at the Super Food Mart on Loop 323 in Tyler. The winner correctly guessed Saturday’s five white ball numbers, 11, 23, 44, 61 and 62 but not the red Powerball number which was 17.

Nationwide, 18 people were able to guess the five white ball numbers, earning them $1 million prizes. The Tyler winner, and one other person in Kansas, increased their prize to $2 million by including the Power Play option when they bought their ticket. The larger $1.787 billion jackpot will be split between two tickets that were sold in Missouri and Fredericksburg, Texas.

SULPHUR SPRINGS – The North Hopkins ISD Field House was damaged in fire that around 4 p.m. Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department, Dike Volunteer Fire Department and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office all arrived on scene and found the fire centered to a small part of the locker room. An official with the Hopkins County FD said one corner of the building sustained medium damage, while the rest of the building had smoke damage. Authorities report no injuries. The fire marshal and and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office suspect the source of the fire is electrical. An investigation is continuing.

ODESSA – An Odessa College student from Hallsville died Thursday during cross-country practice, the school confirmed Friday morning.  According to our new partner KETK,Gage Broomall, a second-year athlete, reportedly collapsed at the start of practice Thursday afternoon. Despite immediate efforts from emergency personnel, he did not survive.

A press release from Odessa College said, “Gage was a valued member of the Odessa College Wrangler family, and his loss is deeply felt by his teammates, coaches, classmates, and all who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.”

To honor Gage’s life and legacy, Odessa College and the Broomall family have established a scholarship in his name. Those wishing to contribute may do so online at: Gage Broomall Memorial Scholarship Fund.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Criminal District Attorney Jacob Putman announced Friday that he will be running for re-election in 2026. Putman has served for the past six years, and during his tenure, the district attorney’s office has expanded from 48 to 85 staff members. In 2024, Putman and his office prosecuted over 7,000 criminal cases, including 4,472 misdemeanors and 2,886 felonies.

Due to the number of cases prosecuted in 2024, the attorney’s office was named a Gold Level Agency, the highest award a victim-friendly practice can obtain from the Texas Victim Services Association.

“I am asking for your support so we can continue our mission,” Putman said.”My office has become a leader across Texas in innovation and excellence.”

Putman will run in next year’s Republican Primary ahead of the November election.

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler couple was arrested after the man admitted to sexually abusing a girl, while the woman failed to report the abuse for over a year, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Smith County deputies responded to a home in Tyler on Aug. 3, where a verbal dispute was happening between Tiara Leshai Kelly and her live-in boyfriend, Joshua Peairre Flowers. Kelly told deputies she had a recording of Flowers admitting to sexually abusing a young girl, and that this incident happened around a year ago, when they lived in Dallas, according to a Smith County arrest affidavit.

A deputy heard the recording of Flowers admitting to performing a sexual act on the victim. When confronted, Flowers denied any physical contact with the minor. Continue reading Woman aids boyfriend, allows child’s sexual abuse

MARSHALL – Three Louisiana men were arrested in East Texas after a fatal shooting sparked a multi-state chase in the early morning hours of Friday, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

In a report from the Ruston, Louisiana Police Department, around 11:50 p.m. on Thursday, officers responded to the USA Travel Plaza convenience store at 2500 West Alabama Avenue, where a fatal shooting had happened. The deceased victim was identified as 35-year-old Ontario Spivey of Ruston. Officials said they identified the suspect, 31-year-old Virgil Mack Jr. of Dubach, Louisiana, and his vehicle through video surveillance. Soon after, a “be on the lookout” alert was issued to surrounding law enforcement agencies. Continue reading Louisiana murder suspects caught in East Texas

AUSTIN — Efforts to save the life of an East Texan condemned for killing his two year old via “shaken baby syndrome” continue. In an open letter, a group of 20 exonerees are calling on the state to halt Robert Roberson’s execution. The Palestine man is scheduled to die October 16th and would be the first person ever put to death based on the now discredited science.

Sabrina Butler Smith, of Mississippi, spent more than six years in prison, two on death row, after her baby son died. She was 17. Prosecutors say the nine month old was shaken to death, but he had heart, kidney and lung issues. She was the first woman exonerated from death row in the U.S. Continue reading Save East Texan on death row continues

TYLER – Dr. Robert French with UT Health East Texas Orthopedic gave his thoughts on potential causes behind student-athlete deaths during sports activities, in an interview with our news parter KETK.

The University Scholastic League (UIL) is still investigating the death of a student athlete at Marshall ISD. Questions are stirring about how Estefani Cabrera died after cross-country practice on a hot day in August.

“Risk factors for these really unfortunate circumstances can be a multitude,” Dr. French said. Continue reading East Texas doctor explains possible causes of student-athlete death