Today is
Monday June 15, 2026
TYLER — Crews will be doing base repairs today on Old Troup Highway from Broadway Avenue to Troup Highway, and on South Donnybrook Avenue from Old Troup Highway to Fifth Street in Tyler. City staffers say work is expected to last from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m., pending weather. Travelers should expect delays, detours, and street closures.
TYLER — She’s become a perennial opponent to Republican Louie Gohmert, and Shirley McKellar of Tyler will again be seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Congress District 1 in 2018. An early chance to hear from McKellar and other Democrats comes Saturday, June 24th, with a town hall meeting of the East Texas Coalition of Black Democrats; McKellar serves as president of that organization, a subsidiary of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats. The meeting is set for 11:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. at Liberty Baptist Church, on North Broadway in Tyler. McKellar says it will feature statewide candidates, elected officials, and others. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Another big crowd was on hand Saturday for Tyler’s annual Juneteenth Celebration, organized by the Juneteenth Association of Tyler. It all kicked off with a parade that ended at Woldert Park, where attendees gathered for food, fellowship, a midday program, car and truck displays, and several booths hosted by a variety of local agencies. One of the highlights of the event each year is the presentation of scholarships, and this year seven recent graduates will be getting financial help through the Association as they begin their college years. Longview and other communities around East Texas also held Juneteenth celebrations. The actual date of Juneteenth is June 19. It was on that day in 1865 that Texas slaves learned they were free.
LONGVIEW — An Upshur County man is dead following a rollover crash just before midnight Friday on FM 1844, just east of Longview. According to KETK, DPS troopers say 29-year-old Justin Nolte’s vehicle drifted into the opposite lane. He then overcorrected, which caused the vehicle to slide off the road into a ditch, where it rolled several times. Nolte was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
TYLER — A suspect has been hospitalized following an officer-involved shooting in Smith County. Sheriff Larry Smith says around 12:35 Saturday morning, a patrol deputy made a traffic stop on CR 35 (Lavender Road) for driving on the wrong side of the road. The suspect exited the vehicle and a short time later was told by the officer he was being detained. At that time the suspect turned, swung at, and hit the officer, according to Smith. The sheriff says the suspect then tried to run and a Taser was used two times in a short period of time. On both occasions the suspect is said to have pulled the Taser barbs out and thrown them down. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – In partnership with the Emancipation Day Celebration and the Juneteenth Activity Planning Committee, Longview’s Broughton Recreation Center will be the site for Juneteenth activities tomorrow. It begins with a parade that will be held on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The parade will start at 10:00am at Ryder Drive and continues to the Broughton Recreation Center. Activities include the second day of a softball tournament, live entertainment at 1:00, a car show at 2:00 and a 3-point shootout in the gym at 3:00. There will also be youth activities and vendors at the Park. Longview’s Juneteenth activities wrap up the following Saturday at 7:30pm with a rodeo at the rodeo arena.
LUFKIN – A suspect is in custody in a fatal hit and run accident in Lufkin. Shanna Ellison, 20, of Lufkin, surrendered to authorities Friday morning. She had been named in a warrant charging her with failure to stop and render aid-accident involving death. Manuel Escobedo, 80, of Lufkin, was walking home Monday night when hit by a car on Martin Luther King Drive. He was taken to CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin and then flown to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler where he died. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – There has been a change in the leadership of the Salvation Army in Tyler. Majors Ben and Doris Lawrence have received new appointments in The Salvation Army’s Arkansas and Oklahoma Division. They will be moving Sunday. Taking their place are Commanding Officers, Captains Robert and Nicole Parker (pictured). Robert has served in The Salvation Army for 11 years and Nicole for 8 years. Also coming to Tyler is Associate Corps Officer, Major Elizabeth Forrer. She has served The Salvation Army as an officer for over 33 years.
TYLER – The Tyler Fire Department has issued a scam alert. Fire department Captain Brandon Davis says an organization called the “Association for Firefighters and Paramedics, Inc.” is in Tyler soliciting donations. Davis said neither the Tyler Fire Deprtment or the local Firefighter’s Association are associated with this organization. He also said they do not endorse it. It was suggested, if a business or individual is thinking about making a donation they should do their research and make an educated decision. If someone has concerns or questions they can call Fire Administration at 903-535-0005.
Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran has announced he will be running for that same post next year. Judge Moran made the announcement at a news conference Friday morning. The Smith County Commissioners Court, last July, selected Moran as county judge following the suspension of Judge Joel Baker. Moran is currently completing Baker’s unexpired term. Judge Moran says he sees a bright future for Smith County, but he also understands that there are important challenges that cannot be ignored. He cites the need to continue to build trust with the community, be transparent, and engage in strategic planning for future infrastructure needs. And he pledged, if elected he would continue to strategically and systematically address the needs of the county. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN (AP/STAFF) – Unemployment numbers are out for May and Tyler is beating the state trend. Labor officials say the Texas unemployment rate slipped to 4.8% in May. That compares to 5% statewide unemployment during April. The nationwide unemployment rate in May was 4.3%. Tyler’s unemployment rate last month was 4.1% It was 4.4% in April and 4/1% in May of last year. Longview’s unemployment rate for May was 5.4%, down from 5/7% in April. It was 5.7% in May of last year. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A man and woman from Tyler have been arrested for reportedly promoting prostitution. According KETK, on Thursday, DPS Troopers arrested Crystal Leshae Lilly, 25, and Dekenndrick LeKeith Ross, 40. They were booked into the Smith County Jail on charges including: trafficking of a person for benefits from forced labor and promoting prostitution. Bond was set at $350,000 each.
ATHENS — A Henderson County Grand Jury has indicted an East Texas for his role in a fatal crash. Joseph Daniel King, 35, was indicted on one count of criminally negligent homicide and possession of a controlled substance. According to KETK, Charles Gifford, 75, of Brownsboro, was killed after his pickup was rear ended on Highway 31, one mile east of Murchison. The DPS report said King’s truck hit the back of Gifford’s vehicle, forcing him off the road and into a tree. He was taken to an Athens hospital where he was pronounced dead. King was treated and released. He remains behind bars on bonds totaling $110,500.
GILMER – An Upshur County jury has sentenced a Dallas man to a lengthy prison sentence for bail jumping and failure to appear in court. Jud Waymond Smith, 68, was found guilty shortly before 1:00 Thursday afternoon. About 3 hours later the jury sentenced him to 75 years in prison. Upshur County DA Billy Bird said Smith had 7 prior felony convictions ranging from aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to retaliation against a peace officer. Bird said his crimes, including assaulting women, go back to the early 80s.
TYLER – The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is hand delivering letters to up to 20 residents in the immediate area of Tyler Welder Supply. They are being told that Shaw Environmental will send crews to clean up debris around the neighborhood. Residents are asked to no to touch or removing any debris until it can be cleaned up. The crews will also be cleaning debris from the business site. The cleanup will begin on Friday and is expected to be completed by Sunday evening.