Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
LONGVIEW – On Monday, June 10, at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Jim Taylor will lead a chorus of more than 130 voices, including members of two ensembles he directs, in the New York premiere of his own composition, Cambridge Songs Suite No. 2. It will be the first performance at the historic venue of a work by Dr. Taylor, and his first appearance there as a conductor. The LeTourneau Singers and the Longview Civic Chorus will be taking part in the concert.
High water Levels On Area Lakes
TYLER – The Tyler Junior College Student Senate brought home several group and individual honors from the Texas Junior College Student Government Association Convention held in Dallas. TJC senate member Brooks Melton, of Tyler, was named state president for 2019-2020, which will also be the 50th anniversary year of the organization. TJC senate secretary Hannah Lair, of Carlinville, Illinois, served as state secretary of the organization this year. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – The Texas Department of Transportation is preparing to remove the pedestrian bridge at Kilgore College and reopen Business US 259 to traffic. Weather permitting, they plan to have the job completed by Monday. The bridge received severe damage when it was hit by an oversized load last Saturday. The roadway has remained closed for the safety of motorists. TxDOT says the contractor set-up its field operations Saturday and will conduct bridge removal activities today. Additional cleanup work will be conducted Monday before BU 259 is opened to traffic. That is the plan unless the work is delayed by unforeseen conditions. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN – A bill to strengthen power line safety inspections has been given unanimous support by the Texas House of Representatives. It is called the “William Thomas Heath Power Line Safety Act.” It was co-authored by representatives Chris Paddie of Marshall and Jay Dean of Longview.The vote was 145 to zero. The bill stems from a deadly accident on Lake O’ the Pines in August of 2017. Three boy scouts were sailing on the lake when their mast came in contact with a low hanging power line. The three boys were electrocuted. The measure now heads to the senate, where a positive vote there would send it to the governor.
TYLER – Tyler is seeking input about city parks now, and in the future. It is part of the city’s 1st comprehensive planning process for, not only parks, but also about open spaces, historic preservation and future land use and annexation. One of the ways you can make your thoughts known is at an open house next week. It will be held Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Tyler Minicipal Rose Garden. The purpose of the open house is to seek resident input on the implementation and status of the selected areas of focus. It will also look at the city’s future needs. City officials will analyze the input and incorporate the resident feedback into their decision process during the Tyler 1st Comprehensive Plan update. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – Kilgore has reported an unauthorized discharge from its wastewater treatment plant. It happened between 4:00 and 9:00 Thursday morning. The 5 inch rain dropped an excessive amount of water into the system. Since several valves were closed because of construction at the plant, wastewater went over the tops of several of the units. They estimate between 400,000 and 600,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater flowed into Big Head Creek and then into Rabbit Creek. The city says there appears to be no threat to public health as this area is remote and unpopulated and the spill was very diluted in the flooding of Bighead Creek.
SULPHUR SPRINGS (AP/STAFF) – The body of a 44-year-old woman has been found in a Hopkins County drainage ditch after her car became stranded in high water. The accident came after severe thunderstorms passed through the area. Killed was Martha Patricia Torres-Regalado of Sulphur Springs. She and another woman were driving late Wednesday when their car became stuck in a flooded drainage ditch. The second woman went to seek help and when she returned Torres-Regalado was gone. Her body was found the next day in a drainage ditch blocks away.
SMITH COUNTY – City and school elections are scheduled in Smith County on Saturday. Voters will select persons to serve on the Tyler city council and school board. There are three city council positions on the ballot, but only one race is contested. That is for council district 3 in northwest Tyler. Wanting the post is Dalila Reynoso, Shirley McKeller and Pamela Phoenix. There are two contested school board races. Retired TISD principal Freeman Sterling is up against banker and TISD Foundation director Marc Loredo in District 3. The District 6 race features Fritz Hager seeking re-election against Lisa McClure. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A Smith County murder suspect’s pre trial hearing has been delayed. The attorney for Kristian Perdomo, 25 had requested the delay. He said his expert in the case has not yet met with Perdomo and they are still awaiting some DNA results. Plus, he still needed time to go over some of the evidence in the case. The hearing was reset for July 11th. Perdomo was arrested in a string of gang related shootings in which five persons died over a ten day period in Smith County last December.
KILGORE – Over night storms brought flooding to East Texas and the high water rescue of four persons in Rusk County. The two adults and two children, one an infant, were stranded on top of their car off County Road 1114 at the Rabbit Creek Bridge near Kilgore. Their car had been swept off the road and into some trees. New London, Kilgore Fire, and Kilgore Rescue units were called out for the swift water rescue. Around 9:00 Thursday morning it was reported all four had been rescued and all were unharmed.
SMITH COUNTY – Polls will open Saturday in city and school board races in Smith County. During early voting for the city and school elections in Smith County, 2,145 ballots were cast. The break out looks like this, in the Tyler city council and school board races, a combined total of 826 people voted. In the Bullard school board races, 439 people voted. The Winona city and school board races saw 193 persons vote and in the Chapel Hill school board election, 687 people voted. The polls will open Saturday morning at 10 polling sites around the county.
MARSHALL – Marshall police say their drug take back drive was successful. It was held Saturday at Marshall High School. Over 165 pounds of expired or unnecessary drugs were turned in. The drugs were given to the DEA in Tyler on Monday. Anyone who might have missed the event can bring their unused or expired prescription medication to the drop-box located in the lobby of the Marshall Police Department. The drop box is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
TYLER – Smith County has received the 2018 Excellence in Safety Award from the Texas Association of Counties. The award is for maintaining a safe workplace. The award was presented at the Texas Association of Counties Conference in Austin. During the Smith County Commissioners Court meeting, County Administrator and Human Resources Director Leonardo Brown recognized his staff members Esmeralda Delmas, HR Coordinator; and Jaye Lynn Collins, Administrative Assistant who handles the county’s day-to-day workers’ compensation program.
WASHINGTON – A new federal judge will be seated in Tyler. The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Campbell Barker in the post. The vote was 51 to 47, with 2 GOP senators not present. Barker was former Deputy Solicitor General of Texas. He served four years in the criminal division of the Justice Department before his duties in Texas. Both Texas senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz voted in favor of Barker and both released statements with high praise for him.