KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW – A ceremony was held to honor a member of the Longview Fire Department who has decided to enlist in the United States Navy, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The ceremony was held on July 14 to recognize Jack McGaughey, who previously served in the Marine Corps and will now be joining the Navy. McGaughey will apply the skills he has learned during his time as a paramedic for the Longview Fire Department.

Longview firefighter and Navy Commander Blaine Cardinale administered McGaughey’s Oath of Enlistment during the ceremony.

“One of the best parts of being an officer in the Navy is getting to be a part of this incredible day for sailors,” Cardinale said. “With Jack and I being friends and colleagues at LFD, this was one of the most memorable enlistments I’ve ever had the honor of administering.”

NEW CHAPEL HILL – A motorcyclist is dead after a three-vehicle accident near New Chapel Hill on Tuesday, according to our news partner KETK.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call that came in at 10:52 a.m. after the wreck occurred on Highway 64 East and County Road 289. Authorities said the motorcyclist was pronounced dead.

UPSHUR COUNTY — The Union Grove ISD Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting this week to discuss the potential resignation of the district’s superintendent, who has been under investigation since June for failing to report a crime that occurred on campus. According to our news partner KETK, the special meeting will be held on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Lion Center Auditorium. One of the items on the agenda will be to consider a resignation agreement between the district and current superintendent Kelly Moore.

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating Moore for failure to report a student who allegedly engaged in invasive visual recording of another student, which is considered a felony in Texas. The investigation remains active, and Moore could potentially face charges for failure to report, which is a misdemeanor. Continue reading Union Grove ISD to discuss superintendent’s resignation

ARP – An Arp native, and current Dallas Cowboy, will be giving back to East Texas students weeks before the new school year begins, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

DeMarvion Overshown, who attended Arp High School before attending the University of Texas, and went on to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, will return to his hometown this August to provide free backpacks and school supplies to incoming Arp students.

The giveaway will be held on Aug 9, beginning at 11 a.m. and will take place at Arp Park. Each student will be permitted to receive one backpack containing a variety of school supplies, but must be present to claim it.

LUFKIN — According to our news partner KETK, a man suffered a gunshot wound in the arm Monday morning during a domestic disturbance in Lufkin, according to police.

The Lufkin Police Department said officers arrived at the scene of a domestic disturbance call in the 300 block of Daniel McCall Drive to find a man with a gunshot wound in his arm. The victim was taken to a local hospital, and officers detained the suspected shooter. The suspect is currently at the Lufkin Police Department where he is claiming self defense and being interviewed by detectives, the department said.

RUSK– Due to a water line leak, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is requiring the Rusk Rural Water Supply Company to issue a boil water notice to all of their customers. Residents are asked to boil their water prior to consumption, including washing hands or face, brushing teeth and drinking. Children, seniors and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria and are asked to follow these directions.

Our news partner KETK is reporting that in lieu of boiling, individuals can purchase bottled water. When the boil water notice is no longer in effect, Rusk Rural Water Supply will notify its customers. Those with any questions can call 903-683-6178.

Areas in Rusk that are affected include: FM 786, Piney Grove Road, County Road 1310, County Road 1313, County Road1314, County Road1328, County Road 1503, County Road1504, County Road 1506, County Road 1508 and County Road 1528.

TYLER – According to a press release from the Tyler Police Department, on July 13th Tyler Police responded to a residence in the 1700 block of N. Fannin Ave in Tyler on report of a homicide.

The victim has been identified as Juan Ramon Meza, a 39-year-old male. Tyler Police Detectives investigating this case were able to identify a suspect identified as Rodrigo Jaimes Vega, (pictured), a 49-year-old male. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Murder, a 1st degree felony on Vega with a $1,000,000 bond.

“This was not a random act of violence,” police said. “If you have any information on the location of Vega, please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.”

If you have any information on the location of Rodrigo Jaimes Vega, please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.

TYLER – According to a press release from the Tyler Police Department, on July 13th Tyler Police responded to a residence in the 1700 block of N. Fannin Ave in Tyler on report of a homicide.

The victim has been identified as Juan Ramon Meza, a 39-year-old male. Tyler Police Detectives investigating this case were able to identify a suspect identified as Rodrigo Jaimes Vega, (pictured), a 49-year-old male. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Murder, a 1st degree felony on Vega with a $1,000,000 bond.

“This was not a random act of violence,” police said. “If you have any information on the location of Vega, please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.”

If you have any information on the location of Rodrigo Jaimes Vega, please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.

LONGVIEW – A man was arrested Monday morning after he allegedly shot a woman in a Longview motel the night before, according to our news partner KETK.

On Sunday around 10:27 p.m., officers from the Longview Police Department responded to the Palace Inn Motel on East Marshall Avenue, where a woman was found with a gunshot wound.

Officials said the victim was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries while the suspect, 59-year-old Michael Duane Jones, ran from the scene before officers arrived. Jones was found on Monday, and arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest.

Anyone with any additional information is encouraged to contact the Longview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 903-237-1199 or the Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP (7867) to remain anonymous.

TYLER — Three people were arrested in Tyler on Saturday after they allegedly stole from T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, according to our news partner KETK.

The Tyler Police Department responded to The Village Cumberland Park on S. Broadway Avenue, where two people were stealing from T.J. Maxx. Once an officer arrived at the store, he saw the first suspect, Latavia Hall, jumping into the back seat of a 2004 Dodge Durango, and the second suspect, Deaarion Walpool, beginning to run from the scene. However, the officer caught up with Walpool.

A T.J. Maxx employee told the officer that he saw Hall and Walpool inside the store going outside, stealing goods, placing the stolen merchandise into the vehicle and coming back inside to steal more. Continue reading Shoplifting suspects arrested

TYLER – After just one week, the nation’s average price of gasoline has reverted to a decline, falling 1.7 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.09 per gallon, according to GasBuddy® data compiled from more than 12 million individual price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country. The national average is down 11.5 cents from a month ago and is 37.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 1.7 cents in the last week and stands at $3.693 per gallon. Continue reading Gas prices revert to small drop as supplies jump, oil falls

UPDATE: NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – The Nacogdoches man who was on the Texas Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List was arrested on Friday in Houston. According to Texas DPS, Jacob Aaron Kessler, a convicted sex offender, was arrested on Friday after a multi-agency operation in Houston. Kessler was wanted for three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He is now being held in the Nacogdoches County Jail.

ORIGINAL STORY: Our news partner KETK reports that authorities are searching for a man wanted for sexual assault of a child in Nacogdoches County.

According to the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, Jacob Aaron Kessler, 40, is a white man who is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs around 215 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the non-emergency dispatch number at 936-559-2607 or their local law enforcement agency.

LONGVIEW – Several school districts are being negatively impacted by the recent funding freeze, including Longview ISD, which is being forced to withhold funds from several academic programs just before the start of the new school year.

The Trump administration withheld more than $6 billion in federal grants on July 1 for after-school and summer programs, adult literacy and English language instruction, as a part of a review to ensure spending aligned with White House priorities. Due to this withholding of federal grants, funding for multiple programs initiated to benefit Longview students and teachers will be significantly reduced.

“Nearly $1 million in federal funds are earmarked for real student needs,” Longview ISD said. “Needs like academic supports for struggling students, or resources for hard-working teachers, or countless other crucial provisions for our most vulnerable young people.”

The following Longview ISD programs will lose funds as part of the federal funding freeze: Continue reading Longview ISD faces funding cuts as federal grants are withheld

TYLER – CHRISTUS Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas are now 13 days away from a looming deadline.

If a new contract is not signed, Blue Cross customers would lose in-network access to CHRISTUS doctors and facilities. The two companies are currently negotiating a new agreement. The current contracts were set to expire on July 1 but days before the deadline an extension was given until Aug. 1.

As the first of August approaches Blue Cross users remain worried. Local nurse and former CHRISTUS patient, Stephanie Jones is worried that people won’t be able to afford their out of pocket medical costs.

“I just wonder how many people are not gonna be able to do that, they’re going to be forced to changed caregivers when they don’t want to,” Jones said.

Benefits that would be affected include Blue Cross Medicare, Medicaid, Blue HMO, PPO and FEP plans. Continue reading Nurse shares concerns about CHRISTUS, Blue Cross Blue Shield agreement

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has been awarded a $1.5 million grant to help train local behavioral health interns who work throughout East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the grant was awarded to the university’s program to train behavioral health interns. Currently, the program is lead by Dr. Stephanie Simmons, an associate professor at the School of Medicine.

Thanks to $1.5 million in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the program will be able to expand from training six interns to 30. The 24 new interns will focus on training child and adolescent psychology while rotating throughout clinics across East Texas.

“This funding will enhance how we can serve the community, making behavioral health care more accessible—especially in rural regions,” UT Tyler School of Medicine dean Dr. Sue Cox said.
“Investments in behavioral health are needed everywhere—and nowhere is that more evident than right here in East Texas.” Continue reading UT Tyler gets grant for behavioral health training

SMITH COUNTY — Pets Fur People has turned away animals for more than a month because they are at max capacity. According to our news partner KETK, Pets Fur People in Smith County has more than 100 animals in their care, all of them needing “furever” homes.

“That does not even include the ones that are abandoned, found on the road, dropped off at our fence, tied to the fence, left in boxes,” Pets Fur People executive director Holli Jones said.

They are just one of many shelters facing overcrowding and no longer taking in furry friends. Jones said that the summer is when they see an uptick in abandonment. Continue reading Local animal shelters at capacity

WILLS POINT, Texas – A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an ongoing child pornography investigation, according to our news partner KETK.

The Wills Point Police Department said Eli Joshua Steele was taken into custody on Friday and is facing six counts of producing, directing or promoting a sexual performance by a child, along with nine counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography.

Steele’s arrest is part of what authorities described as “an extensive and lengthy ongoing investigation” by the department’s criminal investigations division. The case has been referred to the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office for formal charges and prosecution.

According to Van Zandt County Jail records, Steele is being held on a total bond of $600,000.

LUFKIN – A Lufkin man is behind bars after an hours-long standoff Friday morning that ended with SWAT deploying CS gas canisters, according to our news partner KETK.

The standoff began after a series of incidents involving 42-year-old Charles Roman Taylor over the past several days, according to the Lufkin Police Department. Officers say Taylor called 911 more than 10 times starting around 4 a.m. Friday, speaking incoherently and eventually threatening to kill officers who responded to his home.

“When he stepped out the front door, officers tried to calm him and take him into custody on outstanding warrants,” Lufkin PD said. “Officers deployed a taser, but that did not immobilize Taylor, and he went back inside.”
Continue reading Lufkin man arrested after morning standoff with SWAT

LONGVIEW — Jose Daniel Rodriguez Jr., a Longview man, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2023 murders of Alexander and Aleksei Gamez, according to our news partner KETK. A Gregg County jury found Rodriguez guilty of capital murder on Thursday, and 188th District Court Judge David Brabham handed down the life sentence the same day.

According to authorities, Rodriguez and three of his relatives went to a Harrison Street residence around 2:25 a.m. on June 10, 2023, searching for the Gamez brothers in connection with an earlier incident. Rodriguez waited at the home for nearly 20 minutes before Alexander and Aleksei returned in a black vehicle.

Surveillance video from the home shows Rodriguez approaching the vehicle with a firearm in his right hand. He shot Alexander once in the head before firing seven shots at Aleksei, striking him in the head and body. Rodriguez fled the scene but later claimed he acted in self-defense or in defense of another person.

The jury reviewed security footage and other evidence, ultimately rejecting Rodriguez’s claims. After four hours of deliberation, they returned a guilty verdict. Gregg County judicial records confirm that Rodriguez’s life sentence began Thursday.

BULLARD – The Bullard ISD Board of Trustees has appointed Jan Hill as the district’s interim superintendent, according to our news partner KETK. Hill, who dedicated twelve years of service to Bullard ISD, will guide the district through this transition period.

Hill first joined Bullard ISD in 2008 as director of curriculum, where she managed state and federal programs. In 2014, she was promoted to deputy superintendent, taking on a key leadership role in overseeing the district’s instructional programs.

This is not Hill’s first time serving as interim superintendent; she previously held the role in 2020 before Jack Lee was named superintendent. Hill is stepping into the position again following Lee’s departure to accept a role with Seguin ISD.
Continue reading Bullard ISD appoints interim superintendent

MOUNT PLEASANT – Three people were arrested in Mount Pleasant on July 12 after it was discovered that they robbed six different stores across the state, according to police.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department said officers arrived at a Walgreens in Mount Pleasant on July 12 after receiving reports of a shoplifting incident at the store. Officers found the three suspects involved in theft a few blocks away from the store and arrested them. The suspects were identified as 20-year-old Aaniya Thompson, 19-year-old Omarion Ricks and 20-year-old Destiny Cummings.

Following the arrest, it was discovered that the suspects had stolen over $1,500 worth of products from Walgreens, and it was also revealed that the three suspects had conducted large-scale thefts in Commerce, Greenville, and Sulphur Springs.

“Kudos to our officers for stopping these traveling thieves, and solving crimes that occurred in four different cities and at six different stores,” the Mount Pleasant Police Department said.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – A man was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting and murder of two brothers in Jacksonville in 2023, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

On April 22, 2023, Coray McCuin and Tony McCuin were leaving a home on Clemons Drive in Jacksonville when Dexter Lynn Davis fatally shot them and ran from the scene.

Officials from the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office said Jacksonville police officers responded to the scene, and began working the investigation, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. Officers later found Davis in a hotel room at the Truckers Inn in Jacksonville. While Davis was being questioned, he made statements corroborating his role in the murders. Continue reading Man sentenced to life in prison for double homicide

TYLER – Two suspects who reportedly robbed two people at gunpoint in Downtown Tyler Friday morning have been arrested, according to our news partner KETK.

According to the Tyler Police Department, two people were held at gunpoint and robbed at around 10:20 a.m. on Kennedy. Neither of the victims were injured at the time of the incident. Following the incident, one suspect was arrested on West Philips, and the other was arrested on West Rusk Street.

Both have been charged with aggravated robbery. Their identities have not been released.

OVERTON – Our news partner KETK reports that Overton Fire Chief Mickey Hamilton announced his retirement on Thursday, effective immediately, citing drama and ongoing internal conflict, including alleged micromanagement from the city manager, as his main reasons for the sudden departure.

In a letter, Hamilton stated that the disrespect displayed by the city manager had rendered the role untenable. He said this was not how he expected to close the chapter, which had lasted 46 years, during which he had protected and served the community.

Hamilton said he wishes he had finished his career with ‘dignity and peace,’ helping mentor future leaders and building a stronger department. Continue reading Overton fire chief retires, citing internal conflict and drama

TEXARKANA — According to our news partner KETK a driver died in a crash on Jarvis Parkway in Texarkana on Thursday afternoon. The Texarkana Police Department said two vehicles were traveling southbound on Jarvis near Leapard Drive at around 3 p.m. on Thursday when they collided into each other. During the crash, one of the vehicles was flipped on its side, causing the driver to be ejected from the car.

The person ejected from the vehicle was transported to a hospital, where he later died, while the driver of the other vehicle was not injured.

“We’re not releasing the victim’s name until his family has been notified. In the meantime, please keep everyone involved in your thoughts during this very difficult period,” the Texarkana Police Department said.

Update: The City of Longview spoke with KTBB late Friday afternoon. Center, Fredonia, Horaney and the 500 block of Center Street are still blocked by the derailment.

LONGVIEW – A train derailment late Thursday afternoon in downtown Longview has cut access to multiple streets. According to our news partner KETK, Fredonia, Center, Horaney and the 500 block of East Cotton Street are closed to traffic. Longview PD reports that no injuries have been reported, and no hazardous materials were involved. Workers are at the derailment scene, working to remove the train. Authorities ask that drivers avoid downtown Longview while crews continue their work.