Today is
Sunday June 14, 2026
LINDALE – Motorists can expect delays and closures as night work is conducted on Interstate Highway 20 at the Toll 49 Interchange, and on the ongoing US 271 project in Tyler. The schedules are subject to change due to wet weather forecast for the area. The Lindale Police Department will provide traffic control. Thursday night’s planned closure: I-20 eastbound ramp will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Toll 49 customers traveling east on I-20 wanting to travel south on Toll 49 will be directed to Harvey Rd (CR 433) where they will be turned back to I-20 westbound ramp and then to Toll 49S. Read the rest of this entry »
GILMER – The reward has grown in connection with an Upshur County bank robbery. The Security State Bank in Diana was robbed by three men on August 11th. The bank was robbed around 5:00 that Friday afternoon. The men, one who was armed, took an undetermined amount of money and then fled on foot. With an additional $5,000 sponsored by the Texas Bankers Association, the total reward is now $6,000. Authorities have released a picture from a video that was made at a near by business. It shows two of the suspects just before the robbery and before they covered their faces.
LONGVIEW – Mobberly Baptist Church has established a collection center to facilitate donations from Longview residents. The center is located at 1905 West Loop 281, Suite 50, formerly Big Lots. It will assist in meeting the immediate needs of recovery efforts, as well as the ongoing needs of evacuees. Mobberly’s center will serve as an official distribution point to transport needed goods to shelters and people in need. The collection center is established in partnership with several churches and organizations. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Robert E. Lee High School has received the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Safe Sports School 1st Team award for its Red Raider athletic training program. A news release from TISD says the award recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes and reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment. Awarded every three years, this is the second time Lee has received the 1st Team award.
TYLER – The Tyler city council will holds the second public hearing today on the city’s proposed budget. The proposal calls for a one cent tax hike. It takes the city’s tax rate from 23 cents to 24 cents per $100 valuation. The increase is proposed to cover lower sales tax revenues and a decline in the oil and gas sector. But, the tax hike is not the only proposed increase. Hikes are also proposed for city water, wastewater garbage collection and ball field rental rates. The budget is scheduled to be adopted at the council meeting on September 13th.
TYLER – Tyler has become home to Hurricane Harvey evacuees and more are expected. There are over 650 Harvey evacuees now in Tyler. In preparation for more, officials from Visit Tyler, the City of Tyler, and the Tyler Lodging Association met to prepare for the influx. There is hotel availability at almost all of the hotels this week, and properties that don’t usually allow pets, will allow evacuees to check in with their pets. Also, all local and state hotel/motel taxes are being waived for evacuees. And, evacuees will be able to get a list from the front desk at their hotel of discounted and free activities, services, entertainment, and meals that will be offered in the area. If you are a Tyler business that would like to offer free or discounted services to evacuees in Tyler, contact Shari Lee at [email protected] or call 903-592-1661.
LONGVIEW – Two East Texas teens have been arrested on robbery charges in Longview. Zachary Bryan Christopher, 18, of Tatum (pictured) has been charged with aggravated robbery and giving false information and failure to identify. His bonds total $101,000. Also charged in the case is Keon Thomas, 17, of Longview. He is not only charged with aggravated robbery, he is also being held on warrants for burglary of a building. His bonds total $105,000. The Longview New Journal reports the two are accused of demanding money from a taxicab driver at gunpoint. The driver said he drove away without giving any money and that both suspects ran away. The incident is said to have occurred in early May.
LONGVIEW – A Longview man is being accused of attacking his mentally challenged brother by kicking him in the face and stomping on his neck. Being held in the Gregg County Jail is Tahj Shannon, 28. The attack is said to have occurred early Saturday evening at the Ware Meadows Apartments on South High Street. According to the Longview News Journal, the suspect’s brother as well as the men’s mother told officers of the attack. Shannon is charged with injury to a child/elderly/disabled individual with intentional bodily injury.
TYLER – Smith County commissioners are set to approve next year’s budget at Tuesday’s meeting. Before the budget is adopted, the public will have one last chance to comment on it. The proposed budget for the new year, which starts October 1st, is $88.6 million. The tax rate will remain the same at 33 cents per $100 property valuation. This will still generate more revenue because of increased property values. This will cost the average home owner just over an additional $25 on their yearly tax bill. The meeting starts at 9:30 in the courthouse annex building on East Ferguson.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – East bound lanes of Interstate Highway 20, at the 530 mile marker, have been reopened following a fatal accident. The Van Zandt County crash involved a truck-tractor semi-trailer and a passenger car. The driver of the passenger car was killed. We will have more information when it becomes available.
TYLER – East Texans are helping out in the ongoing response to Hurricane Harvey. KETK reports the city of Tyler will soon be assisting state officials in life-saving efforts in the Houston area. According to Fire Marshal Paul Findley, Tyler Fire is deploying a mobile command and communications unit, along with four personnel. A formal request for help was received Sunday afternoon. Up until the request, the city had only been on standby. The vehicle will travel to an undetermined staging location in the Houston area. Findley said the unit will likely be gone for a week and could possibly stay longer if needed. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – One person has been wounded in a Gregg County shooting. It happened Friday afternoon as Gregg County sheriff’s deputies responded to Carr Road in reference to an aggravated assault. According to the department’s Facebook Page, while investigators were interviewing the victim, the suspect drove up and rammed an occupied Gregg County Sheriff’s Office vehicle. Deputies then fired at the suspect. After being treated at the hospital, then suspect was then booked into the Gregg County Jail. The suspect, who has not been identified, is charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and one count of aggravated assault family violence.
TYLER – The U.S. Marshal’s Service has arrested a Mineola man on Smith County charges of aggravated sexual assault of an elderly/disabled person. In the Smith County Jail under a $1 million bond is Gary Neil McGill, 69. The charges stem from an incident in September of 2016 in which McGill is accused of the sexual assault of a woman who suffers from intellectual disabilities. During the investigation, officers recovered from his house computers, hard drives and cameras.
LONGVIEW – As Hurricane Harvey makes landfall on the Texas coast, emergency management personnel with the City of Longview and Gregg County are encouraging residents to make basic emergency preparations. Longview Fire Chief J.P. Steelman says the Longview area is not expected to receive the same level of storm severity as will be seen along the coast. But he says a storm like this could still bring heavy rainfall, high winds, and loss of power. He encourages residents to make sure they have have food and water and medications on hand and put together an emergency preparedness kit. He also encourages everyone to sign up for the CodeRed emergency notification system. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler officials presented faculty awards for outstanding achievement and dedication during 2017 Convocation that was held on Friday. Officials also recognized senior lecturer in economics Susan Doty, who was named to the UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers earlier this year, as well as associate professor of education Dr. Julie Delello and senior lecturer in history Dr. James Newsom, who each received the 2017 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. Read the rest of this entry »