Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
TYLER – The UT Tyler University Academy has received a grant from the Texas Education Agency to implement blended learning programs in math. It is designed to improve college and career readiness. The school was one of 15 school districts and open-enrollment charter schools selected in Texas to launch Texas Education Agency Math Innovation Zones for the 2019-2020 school year. Math Innovation Zone is a program that incorporates technology into the classroom in order to develop a personalized and differentiated approach to math instruction. A news release from UT Tyler says Blended learning is an innovative instructional model that combines face-to-face instruction with online learning. Teachers are able to assess students’ prior knowledge and create a unique academic path for each student, adjusting lesson execution based on real-time information about student mastery of a given student expectation.
TYLER – The National Weather Service says Tyler set a new high temperature record for February 4th. Tyler’s high Monday was 79 degrees. That beat the previous high of 77 degrees which was recorded in 1911 and 2008. You need to enjoy these above normal temperatures while they last. A cold front later in the week will result in a high temperature on Thursday and Friday some 30 degrees colder than Monday’s high.
TYLER – The TSA pre-check mobile enrollment, which began January 21 at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, is being extended once again. The enrollment site was scheduled to be in Tyler through January 25. Because the response was so great, the mobile enrollment center was extended another week, until February 1st. Appointments filled up for the three week period. So, The TSA pre-mobile enrollment center will now be extended a fourth week from February 11 through February 15. The enrollment center is located in the baggage claim area in the airport terminal building. You need to go to tsa dot gov for complete details on the enroll process.
LIBERTY CITY- A Gregg County robbery is under investigation. It happened around 3:00 Friday morning at the E.Z.Mart located on Highway 135 just east of Liberty City. The armed men entered the store, demanding money. The suspects were described as black males wearing hoodie type sweatshirts and having the majority of their faces covered. One man is believed to be wearing what appears to be a red plaid colored hood. They left with an undisclosed amount of money. No injuries were reported.
TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has received $20,000 from the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation to support UT Tyler veterans. The Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation has joined with the Dew Boys golf group from Eagle’s Bluff Country Club to present the school with the Richard and Madeline Lewis Scholarship. The two groups have given this scholarship annually to the university since 2014, totaling more than $100,000 for veterans.
MARSHALL – A new manager has been named for Marshall’s Memorial City Hall Performance Center. He is Glenn Barnhart, who will be responsible for managing all aspects of the historic center, including booking performances, facility rental and usage, marketing and publicity and daily operations. He comes to Marshall from Crockett, where he was executive director of the Piney Woods Fine Arts Association. Before that he was an events coordinator for the Texas State Railroad in Palestine.
TYLER – A man has been extradited from Tennessee to Smith County in connection with a fatal accident last year. Jail records show Isiah Keithion Franklin, 20, of Jackson, Tennessee, was booked into the Smith County Jail shortly after 4:15 Friday morning. His arrest stems from a fatal accident last May on Farm Road 16, 15 miles north of Tyler. Killed in the wreck was Jasmine Victoria Murillo, 17, of Kilgore. Franklin and two other person in the car were injured when it left the road a struck a tree, tossing the girl from the vehicle. Franklin has been charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. His bond was set at $100,000.
TYLER – Smith County residents are reminded that property taxes are due by the end of the month. The deadline is January 31st. The tax office cannot waive penalty or interest rates for late payments. So, if mailing your property tax check, it must be postmarked by January 31. Next Thursday, Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber will even be stationed outside in the parking lot of the Cotton Belt Building on West Front Street to take drive-thru payments. In order to drop off your payments without leaving your car, you are asked provide payment inside an envelope, which has your name and phone number on it in case the Tax Office has questions regarding your payment. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Union Pacific will be replacing rails and ties along the Tyler railroad system. The railroad will need to close intersecting roads to lay rail through the crossings and replace ties. All closures will be from 1:00 to 10:00am. In addition to the closures, Union Pacific will be flagging numerous crossings, as the crossing signals will be out of service due to equipment occupying the track. Union Pacific will notify emergency services prior to all closures and again upon reopening the roads.
Known closure dates are:
*North Palace Avenue, West Elm Street and South Lyons Avenue – closed January 25
*County Road 381 – closed January 25, 26, 29 and 31.
*Whiteside Road, Indian Creek Road and Spur 164 – closed January 26
*Duncan Street. – closed January 26, 27 and 31.
*E NE Loop 323 – closed on January 30 (coordinating with TXDOT)
These dates are subject to change as the work progresses
LONGVIEW – A vehicle sought in connection with a fatal Longview accident has been located. Acting on tips from the community, the 2004 Lincoln Navigator was found in Hallsville. It is believed to be the vehicle that hit and killed George Earnest Melton, 59, of Longview. He was directing traffic around an accident on Loop 281 at Birdsong Street Tuesday morning when he was hit by a vehicle, which fled the scene. Longview police say they have identified a suspect but, at this time, the name has not been released since their investigation is still ongoing.
TYLER – For shooting at Smith County sheriff’s deputies during a chase, a Tyler man has been handed a lengthy prison sentence. A jury in the 241st State District County sentenced Juan Quiroga, 20. to 50 years in prison. He was found guilty by the jury on Tuesday. He was charged with aggravated assault against a public servant. Dashcam video shows bullets hitting the lead patrol car during a high-speed chase in 2016. An investigation later determined at least two high-powered assault weapons were used in the shooting. Two other men were also arrested and charged in the case.
GILMER – There will be no charges against the Upshur County District Clerk, who had been accused of assaulting maintence worker. The Upshur County Grand Jury did not level any charges against District Clerk Karen Bunn. She had been accused of assaulting Ricky Freeman in a woman’s restroom last November. According to a news release from the sheriff’s department, both Bunn and Freeman lied concerning some aspects of the case. Freeman claimed bruises on his arms were caused by Bunn. But investigators say the bruises were healing and were not recent. Investigators say, as far as they are concerned, the case is closed.
TYLER – A worker has died in an industrial accident in Tyler. It happened around 9:15 Wednesday morning at Cannon Steel on Highway 64 West. Dead at the scene was Jonathan Burkett, 28, of Tyler. He was said to have been unloading steel beams from a flatbed trailer when one of the beams became loose. The beam is said to have bounced and hit him in the head. OSHA is investigating the death.
AUSTIN – East Texas legislators have found out their committee assignments for the current legislative session in Austin. State Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler has been named to the House Appropriations Committee. He is joined on the panel by representative Cole Hefner of Mount Pleasant. Schaefer was also appointed to the House Higher Education Committee. State representative Jay Dean of Longview was named to the House Corrections Committee and the House Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee. Read the rest of this entry »
ELKHART – State Highway 19 southeast of Elkhart has been reopened following a fatality accident. Rebecca Lynne Burke, 61, of Elkhart was pronounced dead at the scene following the Thursday morning wreck. For some reason, her car drifted into the on coming lane and collided with a truck-trailer rig. The truck’s driver was flown to Tyler’s Christus Trinity Mother where he was treated and released. The roadway had to be cleared of spilled diesel before the road could be reopened.
TYLER – The Tyler Public Library’s material circulation continues to rise as the library continues to thrive in the digital age. The public has learned that the library is not just a place for books. It is also a a place where you can collaborate, attend classes and even check out games. The library provides a multitude of digital resources. You have digital access to electronic books and audiobooks as well as streaming video, online classes, research databases and so much more. Those with a Library card can gain immediate access to all digital resources. There are also e-cards available. The circulation of library materials has increased by more than 16% since 2014. Physical material circulation, include books, DVDs, games, literacy kits has grown by over 11%. Electronic materials which includes e-books and e-audiobooks, has shown an increase of 57% .
TYLER – There will be a retirement ceremony at the Tyler Police Department Friday afternoon. It is for patrolman Bart Lemons. He is retiring after 31 years of service. During that time he never had the desire to promote or move to another division. He says he likes being outside and interacting with the community. For all but one year, he has worked in north Tyler on all three shifts. Lemons awards include a Police Commendation, a Lifesaving Award, two Certificate of Merits, a Police Shield and an award for Meritorious Conduct. He has also represented the department in the Honor Guard at many events.
TYLER – A Smith County man has been arrested on child sexual assault and child porn charges. Taken into custody was Jonathan Gomez, 28. He was accused of was taking photographs and videos of a young girl without her knowledge. He was also accused of sexually assaulting the girl on numerous occasions over the course of four years. Sheriff’s department detectives got a warrant for Gomez and took him into custody on Wednesday. He is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a young child, sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography. He was booked into the Smith County Jail under bonds totaling $1,000,000.
TYLER – The Tyler City Council has approved a smoking ordinance amendment to prohibit electronic smoking devices in public places and workplaces. The city says the move was made “in an effort to ensure the health of the public and reduce the risks of addiction and nicotine dependency.” City officials say the new trend called “vaping†is significantly increasing the likelihood of of these risks through the appeal of the devices and the accessibility to minors. The amendment approved by the city council will target the problem by prohibiting the use of electronic smoking devices in public areas where traditional cigarette smoke is not allowed.
LONGVIEW – Longview police are looking for a vehicle involved in a fatal hit and run accident that happened shortly before 2:00 Wednesday morning on North Eastman Road. Dead at the scene was Melinda McBroom Neal, 58, of Longview. It is believed she was hit by a black Ford pickup truck that was heading north on the road. As the investigation into the accident continues, Longview police are asking anyone with information on the accident to contact the accident investigator Brian Rodin at 903-239-5516, the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1170 or Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.
TYLER – Tyler Junior College will be hiring a firm to find a new chancellor for the school. The school’s trustees approved the action during a called meeting on Tuesday. The action is needed since school Chancellor Mike Metke announced last week he will be retiring at the end of June. He has headed up the school for over 11 years. Once the search firm is selected, a nationwide search for Metke’s successor will begin. The board hopes to start bringing candidates to the school in late April.
TROUP – For about a week, the water in Troup will have a greater “tint.” Due to maintenance on an above ground storage tank at the City of Troup well number 2, Troup will be utilizing well number 1 to provide water for about the next week to 10 days. Due to the iron content, the water from well 1 will have a greater “tint” that the water from well 2. They are having to use just one well because of the maintenance that is required on well 2. According to the city’s Facebook page, the maintenance is costing the city around $24,000.
KILGORE – The East Texas Oil Museum reopened Wednesday. The museum closed in mid-November for renovation and exhibit upgrades. Museum manager Jackie Reynolds encourages everyone to see the museum’s fresh, new look. She said she is excited for visitors to step back in time and relive an authentic recreation of oil discovery and production in the early 1930s. The museum is located at the corner of U.S. Highway 259 and Ross Avenue, on the campus of Kilgore College.
HAWKINS – One person has been killed in a one vehicle accident in Wood County. The victim has been identified as Bobby Ray Turbeville, 77, of Mineola. The Department of Public Safety report said his pickup was heading north when the vehicles’ right side tires went off the roadway. He took evasive action by steering sharply to the left, causing the vehicle to enter a side skid. It went across the road and into a ditch where the truck hit a tree. Turbeville, who was not wearing his seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident happened around 2:45 Monday afternoon 9 1/2 miles north of Hawkins.
LONGVIEW – The Department of Public Safety confiscated over one million dollars in illegal drugs with the arrest of two men in Gregg County. A state trooper stopped the men’s car on Interstate Highway 20, about two miles north of Kilgore, because of traffic violations. When the trooper saw suspicious tooling holding down bolts to the truck’s fuel tank, he started a search. Inside a compartment that was built within an auxiliary fuel tank mounted in the bed of the truck, they found 200 pounds of marijuana and about 90 grams in edible marijuana candies. The Longview News Journal reports the two Florida men were arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Each of their bonds total $150,000. The DPS says the two were transporting the drugs from the west coast to Florida.
CUNY – An Anderson County man has been killed in a one vehicle accident in Cherokee County. Dead at the scene Sunday night was Ronald Gene Fisk Jr., 48, of Frankston. The Department of Public Safety reports he was heading south at a high speed when he lost control of his pickup. It went into a side skid and hit a tree on the driver’s side. The accident occurred around 11:00 Sunday night on Farm Road 855, just under three miles south of Cuny.
LONGVIEW – Once again this year, the Greater Longview United Way will be able to help some residents through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. The Longview News Journal reports this is the 11th year the program is available. It is designed to help a person who receives a paycheck or are self-employed and earned up to $60,000 last year. The service is provided in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service. The United Way has recruited 35 volunteers to help with the program. Each underwent 15 hours of training to prepare the tax returns. You can get more information by going to http://www.longviewunitedway.org or calling 903-236-9211.
HAWKINS – Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins has been awarded accreditation of its business programs. It comes from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Board of Commissioners. The school offers a business administration degree with concentrations in accounting, management, computer information systems and cybersecurity.
TYLER – The SPCA of East Texas says it is working to close the doors of Petland in Tyler. They claim that supporting the Tyler store is a support of animal cruelty. On their Facebook page, they have posted a sworn statement from a former store employee. The employee talks about the condition of the animals at the store. They have even posted a picture from a Petland customer who had issues with a dog she had purchased. The store told our news partner KETK, “That is a perfectly good body condition for an active boxer pup.” The SPCA is encouraging area residents to support their efforts to close the store by contacting their local officials. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A Tyler man has been killed when his car crashed into a brick wall. Dead at the scene was Timothy Hunter Brasher, 22. A passenger in his car was injured. Tyler police report Brasher’s car was heading west on Jeff Davis Drive when he lost control, crossed the intersection and hit the wall. The accident happened around 1:00 Monday morning. As part of the investigation into the accident, investigators have submitted evidence to the Department of Public Safety to see if alcohol was a factor in the crash.