Today is
Saturday June 20, 2026
LUFKIN — Deep East Texas Crime Stoppers wants to pay you for information that leads to the arrest of a man sought by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office for three narcotics trafficking warrants. According to KETK, a judge issued three state jail felony arrest warrants August 31 following an investigation into Samual Rodriguez for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. Law officers are looking for Rodriguez (AKA Sammy), a 28-year-old Hispanic male who stands 5’9″ tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds. He has a scar through his left eyebrow and tattoos on his right arm, hand, and calf. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The 5th Annual “Art Of Peace – Tyler” is a series of peace-themed events beginning with the opening of an art exhibit today at the Tyler Museum of Art. Activities last until the actual International Day of Peace on September 21. Other highlights include a Liberty Hall concert featuring Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Ruthie Foster and a peace meal at Marvin United Methodist Church. You can visit http://www.tylerpeace.com for all the details.
KILGORE — The Kilgore Fire Department will be taking a new approach to assisting in emergency situations. KETK reports it’s the first department in East Texas to purchase a drone. Last week, the department presented the drone, known as Eric — “emergency response information collector” — at the city council meeting. Eric was bought by the Kilgore Rescue Unit, which drew funds from the city, Gregg and Rusk Counties, and donations. The department has now applied for the FAA certificate of authorization, and should receive approval within sixty days. Fire Chief Mike Simmons says, “As we start to move forward in the phase one of training in the FAACLA process, we’ll have a formalized class where all the folks that want to fly the thing or be trained to fly it will go through training — how to operate it, how to use the fail-safe features.” Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University hosted a short swearing-in ceremony Monday morning for its new chief of police, Michael Schultz. Gregg County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Tim Bryan administered the oath of office. Schultz succeeds Terry Turner, who left the university in May after serving in the role for nearly 16 years. Before coming to Longview, Schultz served as police sergeant for Spring ISD for 17 years and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD for three years.
TATUM — A one vehicle accident in Rusk County has left one person dead. It was reported around 9:00 Saturday morning just south of Tatum on State Highway 43. All we know at this time is a passenger in the vehicle has been killed and the driver critically injured.
LONGVIEW — One person is in custody following a Longview murder. The victim’s body was found at the American Dream Inn, 2105 East Marshall Avenue shortly before 6:00 Friday evening. He was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Tim Bryan and the body sent to a Tyler lab for autopsy. Investigators were able to determine that the person responsible for the murder was Gary Don Murphy, 51, of Kilgore. He was arrested for murder several hours later without incident. His bond was set at $250,000. More details will be released as they become available.
CANTON — A young boy who was sought because it was believed he was in need of medical attention, has been located. Child Protective Services says Jayden Malone, 10, was found Friday with his grandmother. Teresa Matteson, 47, was arrested on a felony charge. Authorities said the child has numerous medical conditions. CPS has been granted custody of the boy to ensure his safety.
CANTON — Officials are asking for the public’s help locating a child believed to be in need of immediate attention for a serious medical condition. According to KETK, Child Protective Services says Jayden Malone, 10, is the missing boy. Authorities said the child has numerous medical conditions. Malone is suspected to be with Teresa Matterson in the Canton/Van Zandt County area. CPS has been granted custody of the boy to ensure his safety. If you have any information about Jayden or his whereabouts, call CPS at 903-253-2374 or 903-203-7704.
TYLER — There wasn’t a safer place to be Friday morning than on Broadway in Tyler. KETK reports officers from several departments gathered together to pay respects to Deputy Darren Goforth and stand together in light of the recent attacks against law enforcement. Governor Abbott requested law enforcement flash their blue lights for one minute at 11:00 a.m. “Well, we’re out here to honor Deputy Goforth and other law enforcement, all other law enforcement that have lost their lives and are serving right now,” said Smith County Game Warden Brad Clark. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK COUNTY — A law enforcement chase in Rusk County ended Thursday night in an exchange of gunfire. According to KETK, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office says it started around 8:15 Thursday night, when officers were responding to a suicidal person in the 1600 block of Kilgore Drive in Henderson. When officers arrived the suspect drove away. After a pursuit on Highway 64 West, the man stopped the vehicle and fired shots at the officers. Officers fired back at the man, who was arrested shortly after. No one was injured. The name of the suspect was not immediately available.
LONGVIEW — Police Friday released the names of those involved in Thursday afternoon’s deadly accident in Longview. According to KETK, Longview police say Leing D. Hinson, 43, was killed when the van she was in ran into the back of a truck. The accident happened on I-20 at mile marker 595. Police say a truck traveling east in the outside lane was slowing down because traffic was backing up due to another accident. David Hinson, 49, was also traveling in the outside lane of I-20, but he was reportedly driving too fast. He tried to avoid the truck by swerving into the inside lanes. The right front passenger side of his car ran into the right rear driver’s side of the truck. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler ISD is joining with schools, city agencies, community nonprofits, businesses, and others around the nation to celebrate Attendance Awareness Month. According to a TISD news release, these groups will work together to help raise public awareness, map local attendance gaps, and work with community partners to improve school attendance numbers. During the month, school leaders, community advocates, parents, and students are encouraged to act upon what school leaders term critical first steps to help stem chronic absenteeism: build a habit and a culture of regular attendance, use data to determine when and with whom chronic absence is a problem, and identify and address barriers to getting children to school.
TYLER — Smith’s Lone Star Event Center was packed Thursday afternoon as presidential candidate Ted Cruz made an appearance. KETK reports if elected President of the United States, Senator Cruz reaffirmed that he plans to do a lot in his first few days of office. The first step he will take: rescind every illegal and unconstitutional executive order that President Obama has made. Secondly- he plans to defund Planned Parenthood. Thirdly, he intends to stop religious persecution in our country. Cruz told the crowd, “Every one of us, regardless of faith, has the right to seek and worship God with all of our heart, mind and soul.” He also plans to “rip the Iranian Nuclear Deal to shreds” and repeal every word of Obamacare.
MARSHALL — Former Waskom High School teacher Justin James Kelly, arrested last October for sending inappropriate text messages to a student, pleaded guilty Monday to display of harmful material to a minor, a Class A misdemeanor. That’s according to KETK and the Marshall News-Messenger. “The initial charge was online solicitation, but that statute was held to be unconstitutional a little over two years ago, so we had to change the charge to the misdemeanor charge he ultimately pled to,” said Harrison County Criminal District Attorney Coke Solomon. “Based on the evidence that was the only offense we could proceed with.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — An East Texas man has been sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of stabbing his fiancee more than 20 times. According to KETK, court records show Cedric Humble, 26, of Marshall, was sentenced in Tyler’s 7th District Court. He was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. On February 5, Humble stabbed his fiancee 23 times at a home in the 400 block of East Ferguson Street in Tyler. The victim, Karistha Johnson, was taken to a local hospital and treated for her wounds. Police said Johnson was stabbed with a steak knife during an argument. Her 12-year-old son witnessed the incident. Read the rest of this entry »
CHADRON, NEB. (AP) – Authorities say a Longview man has died after his motorcycle struck one or more deer in the northwestern corner of Nebraska. The accident occurred a little before 6 a.m. Thursday, about three miles south of Chadron on U.S. Highway 385. The Nebraska State Patrol says a group of motorcyclists were headed north when three of them struck deer that had wandered onto the roadway. Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins says the dead man has been identified as James Anderson, 53. The patrol says one of the other motorcyclists suffered minor injuries.
TYLER — Tyler area law officers are preparing for their role in a statewide solidarity event. Governor Greg Abbott asked this week that all law enforcement in Texas activate their emergency lights this morning at 11:00 for 1 minute. Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth’s funeral is scheduled to begin at that time. The governor has asked for the display as a show of solidarity for the men and women who serve as police officers. According to a Tyler Police Department news release, a special detail of area departments will gather at Broadway Square Mall from J.C. Penney and will line up facing Broadway activating their emergency lights. Law officers will stand in front of their emergency vehicles in remembrance of all officers who have died recently in the line of duty. Officers working the streets in local communities will also pull over and activate their emergency lights for the one-minute period.
LONGVIEW — A condition said to be among the top non-traumatic killers of high school and college athletes is blamed in the death of a Pine Tree High School football player. According to KETK, a cause of death report obtained Wednesday stated that defensive back Joshua ‘Josh’ Warren, Longview, died of exertional sickling due to prolonged physical activity complicating sickle cell trait. The 16-year-old athlete died July 1 at Good Shepherd Medical Center, less than 24 hours after participating in a strength and conditioning workout at Pine Tree High School. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott has named Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board. The governor made the announcement late Wednesday afternoon. Swindle is a 33 year veteran of the Tyler Police Department and has served as the Chief of Police since 2000. As Chief of Police, he commands a department comprised of 245 employees (194 sworn officers) and oversees an annual operating budget of $26 million dollars. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz will be making a Texas fly-around today that includes a stop on the outskirts of Tyler, according to information from the Cruz campaign. Doors open this afternoon at 2:00 and the program begins at 3:30 at Smith’s Lone Star Event Center on Farm Road 2767. Campaign officials say the event is open to the public at no cost. You can go to http://www.TedCruz.org to RSVP and learn more about the campaign. Cruz’s other Thursday rallies will be in Fort Worth and Kingwood.
RUSK — A man was convicted and sentenced to 99 years in prison Monday in Rusk for the sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl. KETK reports that the verdicts came in from a Cherokee County jury after Joe Lira Longoria was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. The district attorney’s office says the assault took place in 2013 at Lake Jacksonville while the girl was with her family over the Fourth of July weekend. The jury saw video-taped interviews in which the defendant admitted to the assault. The victim, now a 12-year-old, testified during the trial. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Two Longview men have been taken into custody after they allegedly tried to steal items from a local store and then reportedly fought with store employees. The Longview Police Department says officers were dispatched to the 400 block of East Loop 281 at 1:17 Monday afternoon on reports of a robbery. By the time authorities arrived, both suspects had left the location. Read the rest of this entry »
CHAPEL HILL — Several people in the Chapel Hill community are concerned about a man knocking on doors with a child attempting to sell birdhouses. Multiple residents have taken to social media to warn others of his aggressiveness. Our news partner KETK spoke to local law enforcement about the situation. Both the Smith County Sheriff’s Department and Tyler Police Department confirmed the man in Chapel Hill has a long list of priors. While most of them are traffic violations or driving under the influence, the concern is his aggressiveness in the community. Chapel Hill residents have taken to Facebook saying the man has been frightening women and attempting to rob homeowners. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for a 25-year-old double-murder. Brandon Deon Payton, 45, accepted a plea deal for the November 1990 shooting deaths of Ivy Taylor and Joe Evans. According to KETK, Payton is currently serving a separate 50 year sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that occurred in 1996.
KILGORE — Bond has been set for a woman involved in a fatal hit and run accident in Kilgore. A bond of $75,000 was set Tuesday on Krysten Nycole McCarty, 25, of Kilgore. She was arrested around 5;30 Monday afternoon on a charge of accident involving death. She was said to have been driving a 2006 Dodge Caravan that hit Robert Jack Moorhead, 5. The young boy was riding a push scooter near the roadway when hit around 3:00 Sunday afternoon in the 1900 block of Florence Street. The vehicle was found the next day about a block away from the accident scene.
ABILENE (AP) — Investigators say they suspect homicide in the death of an off-duty Abilene police officer found dead in his West Texas home, but they don’t believe he was targeted as a random law enforcement officer. In a statement issued Tuesday, Abilene police say Officer Don Allen was found dead Monday night at his home in nearby Clyde. At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief Stan Standridge would not say how the 27-year-old officer died, but that the death was clearly suspicious. Abilene and Clyde police are investigating with the help of the Texas Rangers and FBI, but Standridge says there is no apparent danger to the broader community nor law enforcement personnel in general. Standridge says multiple leads are being pursued and multiple motives are being considered.
TYLER — Smith County has received approval from the state to go forward with voting centers for the upcoming November Election. According to a county news release, voting centers are basically an early-voting concept on Election Day, allowing residents to vote at any polling place without being restricted to their precinct. For several months, county Elections Administrator Karen Nelson worked with an advisory committee to put the project in place. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler Department of Health and Kinesiology is recruiting men and women for a research study. Dr. Yong Tai Wang, College of Nursing and Health Sciences dean, made the announcement in a UTT news release. Participants must be 50 years or older and have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. Those interested must attend the orientation session scheduled for 10 a.m. – noon Saturday, Sept. 12, in the UT Tyler Herrington Patriot Center. UT Tyler officials will meet participants at the front entrance of the HPC. Parking will be available at Lot 2 from the main entrance off Old Omen Road. Read the rest of this entry »
EMORY — 23-year Army veteran Randy Davis of Emory has announced his candidacy for Texas House District 5 in the 2016 elections. Davis, a Republican, is seeking the post now held by fellow Republican Bryan Hughes of Mineola. Hughes and David Simpson seek the GOP nod for the Texas Senate seat being given up by Kevin Eltife of Tyler. Davis is also a Texas State Guard member and former small business owner. In his campaign, he’s emphasizing such familiar GOP themes as small government, gun rights, and illegal immigration. District 5 includes Camp, Morris, Rains, Titus, and Wood counties, as well as part of Smith County. You can go to http://www.RandyDavisforTexas.com to learn more about Davis.
LONGVIEW — A man who police said had a gun Friday night when he was shot by a Longview officer has died. Devin Dial, 23, was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson. Dial’s body will be sent to Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for an autopsy. According to KETK, officers responded around 11:00 to a call involving a suspicious car in the parking lot of Walgreens near Loop 281 and Gilmer Road. An off-duty police officer had called police after noticing a man had what appeared to be a white mask covering his head. Read the rest of this entry »