Today is
Tuesday June 09, 2026
TYLER – Ardent Health Services and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler have announced a newly formed 10-hospital health system . It is being created by the purchase of East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, which will be named UT Health East Texas. The Ut System board of regents approved the partnership at Thursday’s meeting. UT Health East Texas will include the 502-bed East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, UT Health Northeast hospital and clinics, and the UT Health Northeast MD Anderson Cancer Center. Also included are eight regional hospitals, more than 50 clinic locations and an EMS fleet of more than 45 ambulances and four helicopters. The sale is projected to close March 1. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Following a nationwide search, LETU Professor of Christian Ministry Dr. Pat Mays has been named as the university’s campus pastor. It becomes effective July 1st. He served as an academic missionary to the Czech Republic before joining the university in 2003 to launch the university’s Christian Ministry program. As campus pastor, Mays will be responsible for guiding chaplain interns, planning university chapels,and working with the LeTourneau Student Ministries. He will also be coordinating spring break and other outreach programs, working with life groups and coordinating activities that promote spiritual growth among the university’s students.
TROUP – A historic East Texas church has been destroyed in a Friday morning fire. It was reported around 6:30am at the Mount Rose Baptist Church. It is located near the intersection of Hollis Street and South Front Street in Troup.The church celebrated its 105th anniversary three months ago. No injuries were reported. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.
LONGVIEW – Two persons are in jail in Longview in connection with a September wreck that killed 2 persons and left one injured. Chad Palmer Malone, 19, of Longview and Davin Blain Davis, 21, of Hallsville were racing at the time of the accident. It occurred near the intersection of North Eastman Road and Hawkins Parkway. Malone and Davis are both charged with two counts of manslaughter, three counts of racing on highway causing serious bodily injury and a charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. Both remain in the Gregg County Jail. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – The City of Marshall has been named as the winner of the All-America City ShareYourShield contest. It was sponsored by the National Civic League. The purpose of the contest is to help recognize All-America Cities from around the country and showcase all the ways in which cities have used the All-America City logo. The city staff submitted several photos from around the community to the city Facebook page by tagging All-America City and using #ShareYourShield to enter the contest. For winning the contest, the city received free registrations to attend the 2018 National Conference on Local Governance and will be recognized at the 2018 All-America City Award event that will be held in Denver in June.
SHERMAN – A Smith County resident, who was a student at Austin College, has died in a one vehicle accident in Sherman. Rebekah Kristine Bowden, 22, of Flint, died when she failed to negotiate a turn and her car it a tree. The wreckage was discovered around 6:00 Thursday morning. It is not known when the wreck occurred. Bowden was a graduate of Robert E Lee High School. She was a senior at Austin College where she was majoring in business and finance and member of the women’s volleyball team.
TYLER- As witnessed in Florida, you might be confronted with an act of violence. You can be prepared. A free active shooter training class will be held in Tyler next week. It will be next Thursday at the Lone Star Church on West 4th Street. It is being presented by the church along with Sheriff Larry Smith and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and Smith County Young Republicans. The subject is graphic and not appropriate for children younger than 13. To RSVP for this event, please send an email to [email protected] with the words “Active Shooter” in the subject line. If you have any questions about this training, please contact Sgt. Darrell Coslin at 903-590-2967.
GILMER – An Upshur County woman has decided to accept a plea deal instead of letting a jury set her punishment. When Ashley Nichole Grubbs, 29, of Gilmer, pleaded guilty to selling meth for profit across from Gilmer High School, she wanted a jury to set her punishment. But she changed her mind and entered into a plea agreement. She has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for her part in a three person organized crime group. With the plea bargain agreement, the sentence becomes final and she has waived her right to appeal. Two other persons remain in custody, awaiting trial in the case.
AUSTIN – A Longview judge has received an appointment from the governor. Governor Greg Abbott has appointed judge Alfonso Charles as the presiding judge of the Tenth Administrative Judicial Region. The appointment is for a term that will expire four years from the date of qualification. The region was created by the state legislature last year. It covers 32 counties in east and northeast Texas. Judge Charles is judge of the 124th Judicial District Court in Gregg County. Formerly, he was judge of County Court at Law Number 2. He was appointed as judge of the 124th District court at the death of District Judge Bill Jennings, who died in 2009 after suffering a fatal heart attack while boating on Lake Tyler. Charles was then elected to the post in 2010 after running unopposed. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Earlier this month, the Smith County grand jury returned indictments agsinst 25 persons. Starting Thursday morning a contingent of law officers began arresting the suspects. At last report, 21 of the suspects were in custody. They were arrested in Smith, Henderson and Van Zandt counties. Nineteen of the indictments were for engaging in organized criminal activity, five were for theft and one indictment was for aggravated assault on a public servant. The investigation started in mid December with the arrest of a suspect west of Tyler for stealing a vehicle and a motorcycle. The following investigation identified numerous persons accused of thefts, burglaries and drug offenses in the area. That led to the indictments and Thursday’s arrests. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A Mexican national illegally residing in Carthage, has been found guilty of drug trafficking violations in East Texas. Following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Ron Clark, Conrado Depaz Arellano, 48, was found guilty Wednesday of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Arellano also pleaded guilty on Monday to being illegally in the United States after having been deported. Under federal statutes, Arellano faces up to 40 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A mistrial has been declared in the trial of Smith County commissioner JoAnn Hampton. With both the prosecution and defense reaching an agreement, District Judge Jack Skeen declared a mistrial shortly after 4:00 Wednesday afternoon. The jury was then discharged. Hampton was also ordered to enter a 90-day diversion program. Hampton then apologized to the woman she had been accused of pushing. Hampton had been accused of assaulting the 73 year old woman last April. Hampton and the woman got into an argument about setting up the communion table at their church. Hampton was accused of pushing the woman down. She had been facing two different charges of elderly abuse.
TYLER – The Tyler city council has recognized Fire Marshal Paul Findley for his completion of the National Fire Academy course. The program provides senior fire officers with a broad perspective on various facets of fire and emergency services administration. The courses teach officers how to exercise leadership when dealing with difficult or unique problems. Students in the program are given the opportunity to enhance their professional development through a series of four graduate and upper-division-baccalaureate equivalent courses taken over a four-year period.
TYLER – The Tyler city council has approved applying for grant funds for new equipment for the police department. The police department will be pursuing grants for $105,000. Some of the funding is for replacing 150 body cameras. They typically have a two year life span and Chief Jimmy Toler said they have stretched their current equipment past that time. And the rest of the funds will be to purchase equipment that will test substances by scanning directly through plastics, bottles and other translucent packing materials. This will reduce officers’ contact with potentially dangerous drugs by reducing the risk of toxic exposure. Read the rest of this entry »
COFFEE CITY – A raid on a Henderson County game room has resulted in 5 arrests for engaging in organized criminal activity and there may be more in the future. A warrant was served around 9:00 Wednesday morning at the Spin and Win game room on Highway 155. Besides the arrests, sheriff’s deputies seized around 100 games as well as $130,000. Besides the arrests, 11 of the 17 people in the room at the time of the raid were cited for gambling. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said this was a major operation.