Today is
Wednesday July 22, 2026
TYLER – Law enforcement agencies from five area counties will be taking part Tuesday afternoon in training to derail underage drinking parties. We’re told that drinking parties with little or no adult supervision are one of the highest-risk settings for youth alcohol use. The Controlled Party Dispersal Training allows law enforcement to control the number of partygoers fleeing the scene while safely rounding up the remaining attendees and hold responsible those who supplied the alcohol for the party. The training will be held off the North East Loop in Tyler. Counties taking part in the training are law officers from Smith, Gregg, Henderson Marion and Panola. The training is part of an initiative between Texans Standing Tall, the East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and other law enforcement groups from the surrounding area. The training is funded by the Texas Department of Transportation.
TYLER – A weekend accident that killed a Tyler woman remains under investigation. The car/pedestrian accident killed Teresa Rene Campos, 27. The accident occurred just before 11:30 Saturday night on State Highway 155, just south of Tyler. She was hit by a car driven by Willie Dunn Hayter, 71, of Tyler. The Department of Public Safety report says Campos was walking in a traffic lane when she was hit.
TYLER – The 8th annual ‘50 Gallon Challenge’ blood drive will be held Monday through Friday at Tyler Junior College. It will run daily from 10:00am till 6:00pm at various locations around the campus. A kick-off event will be held from 4:00 to 6:00pm on Monday in the parking lot on Lake Street, near Rogers Student Center. The event will include a live band, bounce house and free food. The public is invited to participate. Special designated parking areas will be reserved for members of the public who plan to donate. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University chemistry professor and patent agent Dr. Gary DeBoer has been awarded a summer faculty fellowship grant to work in the technical engagement office of the U.S. Air Force Research Lab. Unlike previous summer fellowships DeBoer has had working as a scientist with the Lab, this year he will work in intellectual property and technology transfer. He will be working with scientists to identify their patentable research. They will be working on obtaining patent protection and licensing of inventions to commercial manufacturers. DeBoer hopes to apply the air force model of technical engagement to LETU by developing a program to provide LETU faculty with an incentive to think about their patentable work, pursue patents and benefit from the return coming through revenues associated with licensing of their patent rights.
TYLER – The driver of a car has been arrested by Tyler police after a traffic stop turned into a chase. Arrested early Saturday morning was Isiah Demon Curtis, 28, of Longview. An officer saw him driving recklessly on a blown out tire on East Gentry Parkway. He wouldn’t stop for the officer. The car turned into the parking lot of the Town House Motel, crashing into a wooden fence and mailbox before striking a metal fence surrounding what used to be the hotel swimming pool. He then fled on foot, running into thick brush just north of the hotel. With the help of other officers, Curtis was arrested without incident. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of evading arrest with a vehicle, evading arrest on foot, driving while intoxicated and hit and run. A 31 year old passenger was arrested for public intoxication.
TYLER – Tyler police have started posting pictures of unknown suspects that have been caught on camera. The pictures will appear on the police department’s Facebook page in hopes you can assist them with identifying them. They are calling the feature, FIND “EM FRIDAY.” This is the first picture to be posted. He is wanted for a theft from a retail store.
TYLER – A man who was said to have been killed in a Tyler accident, is now alive and has been taken to the hospital. The 62 year old Tyler man was resuscitated at the scene. His name has not been released. The two vehicle crash occurred around 2:45 Friday afternoon at Loop 323 and U.S. Highway 271. The initial report said that a car had slid under the rear of truck’s trailer.
TYLER – New commercial air service is coming to Tyler. City officials will be joined by representatives from the airline to make the announcement. That will take place next Tuesday morning at 10:00 at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.
GLADEWATER – Two lawsuits have been filed against the Truman W. Smith Children’s Care Center in Gladewater, and its parent company, over the deaths of two children. The Longview News Journal reports the suits, filed on behalf of the childrens’ mothers, allege negligence. The suits say the children died from catastrophic injuries two years ago while being care for by the center. A lawyer who filed one of the suits, Van Wey , told the paper, that the suits were filed “to help the families find out what happened to their children and to ensure that the lapses in care have been fixed so that tragedies like these do not continue to occur at this facility.â€
GLADEWATER – The Gladewater Chamber of Commerce has handed out its annual awards. It occurred Thursday night at the chamber’s annual banquet and awards ceremony. TICO (Technical Installation Co. LLC) has been named Business of the Year. Also honored were Gladewater Economic Development Corporation board member Charla Nash, Woman of the Year and GEDCO board Vice President John Ussery, the Man of the Year. The “Educator of the Year†award was presented to Gladewater ISD Teacher/Coach Kevin Clark and Rashaud Johnson was selected as “Youth of the Year.†The Marilyn Godfrey Volunteer Service Award was presented to Jamie Ballard. The Chamber’s annual business awards are presented to companies and individuals for their contributions to the city of Gladewater and its economic growth.
TYLER – This fall, the University of Texas at Tyler will launch the new UT Tyler Pre-Med Academy. It’s a program to help students succeed in getting admitted to and being well-prepared for top medical schools across the nation. The new program will also focus on encouraging East Texas high school students to consider careers in medicine. The academy will operate through the College of Arts and Sciences. This is the latest addition to the University’s portfolio of medical-related programs. Others are the nationally ranked School of Nursing, the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy and the Department of Health and Kinesiology.
AUSTIN – County Judge Bill Stoudt of Longview has been reappointed to the state Commission On Jail Standards. He currently serves as chairman of the commission. Governor Greg Abbott made the announcement Friday. The term of the appointment, which is subject to senate confirmation, is set to expire on January 31, 2025.
HENDERSON – Search crews will be combing Rusk County Saturday, looking for a missing East Texas woman. The search is for Kimberly Flint, 57, of Reklaw, who was reported missing last September. Her car was later found wrecked on the Highway 84 bridge over the Angelina River. The car had hit a guardrail. Previous searches turned up no trace of the woman. Crews from ‘1st Priority Search and Recovery’ will be involved in Saturday’s search, using dogs and ATVs. Her family and Crimestoppers are offering a $6,000 reward for leads to help find her.
KILGORE – A large-scale cleanup effort continues in Kilgore following the severe straight-line winds that hit the city just over a week ago.The storm damaged homes and vehicles, downed power lines and trees. The damage was primarily to the city’s south side. An estimated 160 homes were damaged, with 40 having major structural damage and a dozen that are structurally unsound. The city continues to have crews collect tree and brush debris. But, due to the extensive damage, it could be a month or more before the cleanup is completed. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – After four months, County Road 411 is back open to drivers. Road crews replaced a bridge, closing the road between County Road 417 and Interstate Highway 20 last November. The bridge and roadwork was completed on Thursday.
AUSTIN – The unemployment numbers for Tyler and Longview continue to be among the best in the state. The Texas Workforce Commission reports the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 3.8%. February marked the 106th consecutive month of annual growth for total nonfarm employment in Texas. Tyler’s February unemployment rate was 3/7%. It was 4% in January and 3.8% in February of last year. Longview’s unemployment rate went from 4.3% in January to 4.1% last month. In February last year, Longview’s unemployment rate was 4.5%.
TYLER – A man named in warrants in Angelina County has been arrested in Smith County. Bryan James Thompson, 27, of Lufkin, was arrested Thursday afternoon by Smith County Sheriff’s deputies. He was named in two stalking warrants and one for burglary of a habitation. Angelina County authorities said Thompson had recently made direct threats to his ex-wife by threatening to shoot her. Deputies went to a manufacturing plant on Shiloh Road where he worked. When he saw the deputies he ran into a wooded area where they later arrested him. Besides the original warrants, Thompson is now charged in Smith County with evading arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has been booked into the Smith County Jail.
TYLER – Smith County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson has received two awards from the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. They are the Fire Safety Commendation Award and the Law Enforcement Commendation Medal. The medal is intended to recognize exceptional service or accomplishment in the field of law enforcement. The fire safety award is presented for accomplishments and/or outstanding contributions in an area of fire safety and service. McCoy-Wasson has been the Smith County Fire Marshall since 2015. She was reappointed by the county commissioners to another two year term last December.
CONROE – A Conroe man has been arrested on child pornography charges. Authorities feel there could be more victims in East Texas. Being held on a $250,000 bond is Chadrick Lashun McNeal, 23. He is accused of extorting inappropriate images online from girls all over the world using a variety of social media platforms. The DPS Special Crimes Bureau Chief, Tyler Dunman, says they believe there could be hundreds of child victims across the country and even worldwide. They are asking anyone who has interacted with McNeal or has additional information about his activities to immediately contact their law enforcement agency. The DPS says he has operated under the SnapChat usernames pboi58, jayyboyy56, and koolkids6.
TYLER – Six women have been honored in Tyler for their accomplishments in their careers and their public service. They were honored by group called Women in Tyler. It was founded in 1999 to as a way to celebrate Women’s History Month and to honor women who have contributed to the quality of life in the community. A planning committee selects the women who are honored at the yearly banquet, which has as a theme this year, “Women With A Passion.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – It is time for the annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trail in Tyler. This year marks the 60th year of the trail. It features mile after mile of blooming azaleas, dogwoods, and spring flowers. The official ribbon cutting, and opening ceremony, was held at the Pyron home at 212 West Dobbs Street, starting Friday morning at 10:00. The ceremony is always free and open to the public. Activities include a quilt show, arts and crafts fair and even an Alice in Wonderland movie and tea party. Activities run through April 7th. You can go to https://visittyler.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AzaleaTrail19-fullweb.pdf for a look at the many activities going on for just over two weeks.
NASHVILLE – The largest Christian retail chain in America has announced plans to close all 170 stores this year and shift its offerings entirely online. A couple of months ago LifeWay Christian Resources announced plans to reduce its locations this year due to declining sales and financial pressures. LifeWay now announces it will close all of its stores. That includes the Tyler store on South Broadway and the Longview store on North Eastman Road. LifeWay says all of its brick an mortar stores will be closed by the end of the year. The Baptist Press reported LifeWay hadn’t had sales exceed its operating expenses in more than a decade. The margin between the two grew from $2.3 million in 2010 to $35.5 million in 2017.
MARSHALL – A Harrison County jury has handed out a lengthy sentence for sexual assault of a child. The jury took less than an hour to convict Christopher David McCartney, 29, of Harleton, of five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. They deliberated around half an hour to determine his punishment. Our news partner KETK reports he was sentenced to 75 years on each charge. And since the judge ordered that the sentences run consecutively, at the request of on an assistant district attorney, that means McCartney was sentenced to 375 years in prison.
TYLER – Beginning Friday, and running through August first, Robertson Avenue will be closed to through traffic where it intersects with Sunnybrook Drive. This schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or other unforeseen issues. The action is needed because workers will be replacing an existing drainage structure as part of the Sunnybrook Drive structure replacement project.
TYLER – A suspect has been arrested in an attack on a woman running in a Tyler park last week. He is James Earl Roberts Jr., 32, of Tyler. Investigators were able to locate a fingerprint on the victim’s phone that was found in the park by police that eventually led to the identity of Roberts. He is said to be the man who attacked a jogger at Rose Rudman Park. She was attacked around 7:30 last Thursday evening. The woman was running on the paved trail in the middle of the park when a black male grabbed her from behind and dragged her into a wooded area. Officials said the suspect attempted to sexually assault her as she fought and screamed to keep him away. The man fled on foot. Roberts has been charged with aggravated kidnapping. He is now in the Smith County Jail under a $350,000 bond.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved just over $16 million in competitive local park grants. The money will help fund projects that will create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities like nature trails, native gardens, playgrounds, splash pads, dog parks and sports fields at 38 community parks across the state. The grants, allocated to local government entities, appropriate state and federal funds for facilities in Texas on a 50/50 reimbursement match basis. Once funded, all grant-assisted sites must be dedicated as parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Two Tyler campuses are now part of the Adopt-a-Spot program. It is hosted by Keep Tyler Beautiful. Through the program, the community can adopt a street, park or campus and vow to keep it clean from litter. In 2017, Tyler Junior College was the first to adopt their campus. Now, the University of Texas at Tyler and Texas College have both officially adopted their campuses, joining the Keep Tyler Beautiful program. Each quarter the adopted campuses are to be cleaned by student groups. Keep Tyler Beautiful’s Adopt-a-Spot program has 38 miles of roadway, seven parks and now three college campuses adopted. Anyone can adopt a street or park in the City of Tyler. You can go to http://www.KeepTylerBeautiful.com for adoption agreements and program details.
TYLER – Over six miles of major roadwork was completed In Smith County last month, while another 18.5 miles of road construction projects are getting under way. That’s the report that Smith County Engineer Frank Davis gave to the commissioners court this week. He said only 2.96 miles of roads were paved last month because of rain. More than 5 miles of roads are scheduled for paving in this month and next month. And he feels with good weather they will meet or exceed that goal. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler police have released the city’s crime statistics for 2018. Overall, crime in the city dropped. The report shows crime in Tyler was down nearly 3% last year. The Part 1 crimes, the major crimes, dropped by just over 4% compared with the previous year. But there was a nearly 35% increase in sexual assault. There were 105 sexual assault cases last year, compared to 78 in 2017. The least serious offenses, Part 2 crimes, were down about 1%. But, sexual offenses that were not rapes were up by 83% last year. Police Chief Jimmy Toler it was a challenging year, but the over all crime stats are heading in the right direction, down.
LONGVIEW – Residents in northern Gregg County want beer and wine sales in their area. The Longview News Journal is reporting that a petition of more than 2,000 signatures has been submitted to the Gregg County Elections department. It is asking that the Commissioners Court call an election to approve off-premise beer and wine sales in Precinct 1. The commissioners will likely will discuss the petition at their March 25th meeting. Gregg County Elections Administrator Kathryn Nealy told the paper the earliest that the court could call an election would be in November.