Today is
Monday June 15, 2026
GREGG COUNTY — The suspect in a Longview home invasion has been indicted by a Gregg County grand jury. According to the Longview News-Journal, Malique Makail Shakur Henderson, 20, of Longview, was indicted on two counts of aggravated robbery. Henderson was being held Monday under $1.5 million bond in the Gregg County Jail. He was arrested April 6 after police said he knocked on the door of a home on South Green Street, used a rock or piece of concrete to force his way into the home and attacked Lynella Wiley, 67 and Birne Wiley, 79, and stole several items. The Longview Police Department credited several neighbors and witnesses with helping to maintain visual contact with Henderson until officers could arrest him.
TYLER – Tyler’s Municipal Court now lets you pay your fines on a monthly installment plan. The Citation Solution Program will run from through July 12. Anyone with unresolved municipal court cases and no current payment arrangement with the Court, regardless of year of the outstanding case, total amount owed or warrant status, may voluntarily appear and pay $50 as a down payment and enter into a written payment plan of $100 per month. Those who are unable to pay the authorized monthly installment will have the opportunity to schedule an appointment to see a judge and explain their circumstances. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER- Southside Bancshares, the parent company of Tyler’s Southside Bank, has announced a merger with First Bank & Trust, East Texas’ parent company Diboll State Bancshares. The combined assets of the company comes to nearly $7 billion. A company news release says the merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2017, after receipt of regulatory approvals, the approval of the shareholders of Diboll State Bancshares, Inc. and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The combined entity will operate under the names Southside Bancshares, Inc. and Southside Bank. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN — An East Texas city will benefit from over $7 million the Texas Water Development Board is handing out for rural water and wastewater systems. The board is giving the city of Gladewater $5.5 million. This consists of a $1.6 million loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and a $3.9 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. With the loans, Gladewater will be able to finance water and wastewater system improvements. According to a news release from the board, the financial assistance could save the city around $690,000 over the life of the loans. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Longview police continue their search for an 18-month old toddler. He is Marcos Macedo, who was last seen by his guardian on May 31st in the presence of his non-custodial mother, Maria Becerril-Leon. The police report says she is a known drug user and was last seen in Upshur County, but Marcos was not seen. There have been unconfirmed reports Marcos is in Mexico with his mother. However, the police department had not been able to confirm that information. As they continue to look for the boy around Gregg County, they have contacted the FBI and the U.S. Department of State with information about the unconfirmed reports.
LONGVIEW – Despite large warning signs, Longview’s Green Street underpass has claimed another victim. A Penske Rental Truck became stuck at the underpass between Cotton and Green Streets. It was reported stuck just after 11:00 Monday morning. Northbound traffic was stopped at what has become known as the “Green Street Monster.” The truck was freed and traffic returned to normal shortly after 1:15. This marks the third truck claimed by the bridge and underpass this year.
SAN FRANCISCO – Children’s clothing chain Gymboree has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company is aiming to slash its debts and close hundreds of stores amid crushing pressure on retailers. The company says it will remain in business, but will close between 375 to 450 stores according to the court filing. Of the company’s 1,281 stores, 20 are in Texas. One is in Tyler’s Broadway Square Mall. There is no word at this time which of the company’s stores will be shuttered.
GREGG COUNTY — A Longview woman has been indicted following a March 2017 shooting at a local motel. According to KETK, Jessica Courtney Perry, 29, was indicted on June 7 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Perry was arrested April 13 in connection with the March 29 shooting at the Palace Inn on East Marshall Avenue. The victim told police she and her boyfriend had been in a vehicle with Perry and another witness. The victim said Perry pulled a gun on her after the two got in an argument on the way to the motel and shot her once she got out of the vehicle. The victim was taken to a Longview medical center with non-life threatening injuries. Perry was released from jail on May 2 after posting her $30,000 bond.
SMITH COUNTY — An inmate at the Smith County Jail has been found dead early Monday morning. Carlos Jose Hernandez, Jr, 21, Troup, was found around 12:20 a.m. According to Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, a detention officer noticed Hernandez hanging from the shower in a side cell. Emergency crews were unable to resuscitate the inmate. The Texas Rangers were called to the scene, along with the Justice of the Peace. An autopsy has been ordered. Hernandez was booked into the Smith County Jail at 4:15 Sunday morning on charges including possession of marijuana, possession or delivery of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance and also had an Immigration Customs Enforcement detainer. Total bonds were $8,500, however, he couldn’t bond out due to the ICE detainer. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of June 12th. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.
Milling operations get underway on Interstate Highway 20. Work is tentatively set to start Tuesday in Van Zandt County and will be conducted in the eastbound and westbound outside lanes as well as at the Safety Rest Area. Work is slated for the eastbound, outside lane from Mile Marker 529-536; and the westbound, outside lane Mile Markers 528, 529 and 533-539. Once work is completed in Van Zandt County, the operation moves to various locations through Smith and Gregg counties. Read the rest of this entry »
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo has won the 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which is one of the top showcases for the world’s best pianists. The 28-year-old Sunwoo emerged from 30 competitors to claim the $50,000 award and a gold medal Saturday in the competition held every four years in Fort Worth. It was founded in 1962 by the Cliburn, whose family moved to Kilgore when he was 6. When he was 12, he won a statewide piano competition. He entered the Juilliard School in New York City at the age of seventeen. the famed pianist died in 2013.
SMITH COUNTY — A Henderson County man has been killed in a two vehicle accident in southwestern Smith County. Killed in the crash Saturday afternoon was Nathan Sherman, 19 of Chandler. The accident happened on Farm Road 2661, near County Road 1160. The Department of Public Safety reports Sherman’s pickup was traveling north when it struck the rear of another vehicle. The pickup left the road and overturned in a ditch and Sherman was thrown from the vehicle. A passenger in the pickup and the driver of the other vehicle were not injured.
LONGVIEW – A large plume of dark smoke brought Longview firemen Saturday afternoon to Longview Scrap and Metal on Loop 281. A stack of up to two dozen cars were on fire. It took around 20 minutes to contain the blaze. The Longview News Journal reports the fire did no spread to the main building of the business and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
LONGVIEW – Longview police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing boy. He is Marcos Macedo, who will be 18 months old on Saturday. He is 2 feet 8 inches tall has brown eyes and black hair. Marcos was last seen by his guardian on May 31st in the presence of his non-custodial mother. Maria Becerril-Leon is 5 feet 5 inches tall has brown eyes and black hair. Maria is a known drug user and was last seen in Upshur County on Thursday, but Marcos was not seen. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A renovation project is now underway at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. The $9.5 million will expand and enhance near the front of the hospital. This will include an exterior facelift, cafeteria expansion and addition of a new surgery waiting room. Starting June 19th, visitors to ETMC will be directed to a temporary entrance at the front of the hospital as construction begins on a new entryway. Windows on the front of the hospital will be replaced, and the fountain will be updated. A multi-lane driveway will allow visitors to enter and exit from two different locations on Hospital Drive to improve traffic flow. Read the rest of this entry »