Today is
Sunday July 26, 2026
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Brigettee Henderson of Lufkin and Ken Schaefer of Brownsville to the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents for terms set to expire on January 31, 2023 and January 31, 2019, respectively. In addition, the governor has appointed Karen Gantt of McKinney and Tom Mason of Dallas for terms set to expire on January 31, 2023.
MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University on Wednesday entered into its seventh articulation agreement with area schools. The latest is with Navarro College. School officials say the agreement will provide additional academic opportunities for students of both institutions. ETBU has entered into recent partnerships with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Kilgore College, Jacksonville College, Trinity Valley Community College, Youth With A Mission and Panola College. And they say they will continue to establish and further relationships with more institutions.
ATHENS – A Canton man has been arrested in Henderson County on a charge of online solicitation of a minor. Frank Polk, 70, was arrested Tuesday following an investigation by the Henderson County Sheriff’s office, the Henderson County District Attorney and the State Attorney General’s office. An investigator posing as as teenage girl spoke with Polk online and agreed to meet Tuesday afternoon. When he showed up, sheriff’s deputies arrested him. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse says Polk confessed to the crime. He’s in the Henderson County Jail under a $30,000 bond.
LONGVIEW – A Longview man is arrested after a traffic stop yields drugs. The truck of Tarvio Dwayne Cooper Jr., 28, was stopped on Wells Street. Turned out Cooper was wanted for an outstanding warrant. After the officer smelled marijuana, his truck was searched. In a knapsack in the bed of the truck they found 35.2 grams of crack cocaine, 3.2 grams of ecstasy, 14.2 grams of marijuana, and money. Besides the original warrant, Cooper is also charged with possession of marijuana and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. He remains in the Gregg County Jail.
HENDERSON COUNTY – A Henderson County chase has resulted in the arrest of a Florida woman. It started when a state trooper stopped a car for a traffic violation on State Highway 31. While the officer was talking to the driver, the passenger drove the car away and into Navarro County. The car didn’t stop until it ran over a spike strip and crashed into an unmarked Kerens Police Department squad car. Arrested was Karalyn Nicole Collins, 28, of West Park, Florida, where she has outstanding warrants for grand theft auto and possession of cannabis.
TYLER – A Tyler police officer has retired after serving the city over 19 years. A ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon for Damon H. Swan. After being an officer in California, he joined the Tyler Police Department in 1998. During that time he has served in many units, including patrol, bicycle and crime investigation. He also worked as a training officer, helping recruits adjust to their new job. Swan was also member of the honor guard, representing the police department at numerous events. Read the rest of this entry »
BRYAN- A Tennessee Colony man has been sentenced to death for killing six family members in one night two years ago. On the second anniversary of the arrest of 35 year old William Mitchell Hudson, a jury in Bryan deliberated 45 minutes before delivering their verdict. Hudson was indicted on three counts of capital murder in the slaying of six persons, three generations of a family, at a campsite near Tennessee Colony. Last week, the jury in Bryan deliberated just over 15 minutes before coming back with a guilty verdict. Read the rest of this entry »
GILMER – A Longview woman has been released from the Upshur County Jail in a case of mistaken identity. Jessica Erin Archer, 29, was arrested in August after being identified as a suspect in a 2015 criminal case. When the mix-up was discovered, she was released November 1st. The case occurred before the current sheriff, Sheriff Larry Webb, took office. In a statement released by the sheriff, he said it was a “regrettable occurrence” and that policies have been put in place to minimize the chances of people being wrongly arrested or accused. And, according to Webb, the sheriff’s office has been notified that a lawsuit may be filed in the future in connection with the case.
KILGORE – The executive committee of the East Texas Council Of Governments has approved a ninth year of funding CodeRED for 2018. The system, funded by a Homeland Security grant, is a telephone communication service that allows the county/city Emergency Management Coordinator to quickly notify citizens about emergency situations. The CodeRED system has been contracted through the Emergency Communications Network since 2009 for all of the counties served by ETCOG, with the exception of Henderson County. Their 9-1-1 district already provides them a reverse notification system. The new service agreement is for the period of beginning January 1 and was approved for $85,123. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Starting at noon today, a Tyler business man will start living on a platform on scaffolding in front of his business. He will stay there off the West Southwest Loop until he raises enough money to meet his goal. Clint Benefield is raising money to feed the hungry in East Texans. Last year he raised $2,900 for the Salvation Army. This year he is attempting to raise $3,000 for the United Way of Smith County. The money he raises will be allocated to United Way partner agencies that deal directly with hunger. He says he will remain on that platform for up to a week if necessary. You can mail or drop off a donation to the United Way office in Tyler. You can also go to http://www.uwsmithcounty.org/FightHunger and make your donation online.
LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University welcomed two new members to its Board of Trustees, two returning members and a new alumni representative. New members are Julie Livesay of Tyler and Rogers Pope, Jr. of Longview. They are elected for four-year terms. The two returning members who are beginning new four-year terms are Ken Moore of Longview and Wayne Steege of Corcoran, Minnesota. Named the alumni representative is Jim Hooker of Woodbury, Minnesota. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Two persons with gas skimmers have been arrested by Tyler police. Officers spotted the two acting suspicious at the Exxon station on the Old Jacksonville Highway around 1:45 Tuesday morning. Because of their activity around the gas pumps, they contacted the Houston area men. Numerous gas skimming devices were found in their car. Both men have been charged with unlawful use of a criminal instrument. They remain in the Smith County Jail under bonds of one million dollars each. The men have been identified as Adriano Aldana-Rodriguez, 19, of Missouri City and Nelson Isac Fernandez-Lopez, 22, of Houston.
LAKE FORK – The presence of invasive giant salvinia has been found on a popular area lake. The plant has been confirmed at three locations on Lake Fork, the largest total infestation ever found on the lake. Twelve to 15 acres of the plant have been found. John Findeisen, leader of the Brookeland Aquatic Invasive Species team said, “There’s enough giant salvinia scattered throughout the lake that eradication would be almost impossible at this point.” About 90% of the infestation, about 10 acres, is confined to White Oak Creek behind a containment boom. But the other scattered plants confirmed along the highway 17 bridge at Fisherman’s Cove Boat Ramp, and directly across from White Oak Creek cannot be contained to their current locations. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER- A Smith County business relocating to Tyler is receiving a tax abatement from Smith County. County Commissioners Tuesday approved a three-year tax abatement for Estes, McClure & Associates, Inc. The engineering firm that plans to renovate and relocate to the long-vacant The Forum Building in downtown Tyler. The company plans to invest $3.5 million in renovations and equipment. Tyler Economic Development CEO/President Tom Mullins told the Commissioners Court the firm will be bringing high-paying, technology jobs to downtown Tyler. The business plans to completely gut the building for a total renovation. They expect construction to begin in February and the work take about a year. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – The Marshall Municipal Court is offering a warrant recall program this week. This will allow anyone with an active warrant, issued by the municipal court judge, to come in to meet with court staff and settle their case without being arrested. Those with an outstanding warrant can have the $50 warrant fee waived if they can pay the fine in full. If unable to pay the fine in full, a payment plan can be arranged. Payments can be made in person with cash, credit card, money order or cashier check. You can contact the Marshall Municipal Court for more information.
BRYAN – The punishment phase continues today in the trial of a man accused of killing 6 persons in Anderson County. Authorities say William Mitchell Hudson killed three generations of a family at a campsite near Tennessee Colony in November 2015. Last week, a jury in Bryan deliberated just over 15 minutes before coming back with a guilty verdict. The punishment phase went into recess on Friday before resuming today. The trial was moved to Bryan on a change of venue. Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell seeking the death penalty in the case.
SMITH COUNTY – The body of 26-year-old Jacob Dillon McDougal of Kilgore was found Friday afternoon, more than two days after he was in a one-vehicle accident in northeastern Smith County. McDougal was found in his submerged car, which was upside down in a pond off Farm Road 1252. Investigators determined that McDougal had been traveling eastbound early Wednesday morning en route to work when he lost control of the vehicle on the wet roadway. The crash remains under investigation.
LONGVIEW – Longview officials have decided to use homeless people to help keep the city clean. The Longview city council has voted to enter into a contract with House of Disciples, a nonprofit group. It will hire local homeless and low-income people to clean up litter around the city. Assistant Public Works Director Dwayne Archer tells the Longview News Journal the program stems from ideas from Mayor Andy Mack’s task force on homeless issues. Mayor Mack said he hopes the program can help decrease Longview’s homeless population by giving people a chance to become self-supportive.
LAKE PALESTINE – For once, circling buzzards at an area lake were not a dead giveaway to a body near by. Smith County game warden Chris Swift responded to a call about a suspicious-looking personal watercraft beached on an island at Lake Palestine with vultures in the trees around it. He came prepared for the worst. But, as it turned out, the craft had recently been stolen from a Wood County lake and parked near a vulture roost. The craft was recovered and the investigation into its theft how it ended up on Lake Palestine is ongoing.
TYLER – Today is Veterans Day. There are a host of activities around the area to honor our military veterans. This day was first called Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I that formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In 1954 congress amended the bill and replaced the word Armistice with the word Veterans, and it has been know as Veterans day ever since. Many of the area schools held Veterans Day programs Friday. Saturday, Tyler’s Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home will have a variety of activities, including a parade and cookout. Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert will be the guest speaker.
MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University in Marshall has signed two more articulation agreements on Thursday. That brings to five the number of agreements signed recently with area schools. At a Thursday morning ceremony in Athens, the agreement was signed with Trinity Valley Community College. Thursday afternoon in Lindale, ETBU saigned an agreement with Youth with a Mission. The agreement with YWAM ensures the acceptance of course credit for six of YWAM’s programs, including the schools of Discipleship Training, Evangelism, Strategic Missions, the Bible, Worship, and Teacher of the Nations. The action creates a more seamless transition for Trinity Valley and YWAM students and graduates to attend ETBU. Previous agreements have been with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Kilgore College and Jacksonville College.
GILMER – An Upshur County drug suspect, who failed to attend his trial, is handed a lengthy sentence. In State District Court Thursday, Jarrod Craig McBride, 36, of Ore City, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for bail jumping. That was stacked on top of a 30 year prison sentence he received for possession of Methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He was not in the court room when his trial started in May and an arrest warrant was issued. Sheriff’s deputies forced their way into his home, made the arrest and brought him to court in handcuffs. McBride later pleaded guilty to the drug charge.
LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University STING Precision Flight Team made history at the 2017 Region IV SAFECON National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition in Waco. The school’s team recorded the highest score ever recorded by a single team when they won 1st place overall in the competition. The LETU students finished with a score of 797 points. Delta State was second with 435 points. The Region IV competition was with schools from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – In Tyler federal court on Thursday, a Dallas woman was sentenced to prison for bank fraud. U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield sentenced Rachelle Dashner, 44, to 21 months in federal prison. Five others have already been sentenced in the case. Federal prosecutors say they were part of a scheme to set up surgical centers in the state through a loan with Community Trust Bank. But the doctors the documents said would guarantee the loan didn’t know about it and had not authorized it. In many instances, the medical facilities for which the financing was obtained were never built. The five fraudulent loans totaled over $7.5 million.
TYLER – A road west of Tyler is closed for repairs. As of this morning at 7:00, Reynolds & Kay, LTD has closed Pleasant Retreat Road (County Road 1145) between Pleasant Hollow Road (County Road 1179) and Negem Road (County Road1141). Closure and construction of this area should last until Friday, November 17th, at 5:00pm. Local residents will have access during this period. The road is being closed for repairs due to heavy equipment using it during the Runway 4/22 rehabilitation project.
TYLER – A Smith County Jail inmate is in very critical condition after he was found hanging in his cell Wednesday afternoon. He had been placed in a single inmate cell since he was considered to be a danger to other inmates. He was also on a suicide watch since answers to questions at his initial booking indicated he was a suicide risk. He was on a required ten minute observation and had been checked nine minutes prior to being found hanging in his cell. CPR was performed on the inmate at the jail prior to being taken to the hospital. His name has not been released.
MARSHALL – East Texas Baptist University in Marshall has signed its third articulation agreement with schools. On Wednesday, the agreement was signed by ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn and Jacksonville College President Mike Smith. The agreement will maximize the resources available at the two institutions to provide an accessible and affordable avenue to earn both an associate’s and bachelor’s degree. ETBU has previously signed articulation agreements with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler and Kilgore College.
NEW LONDON – A former West Rusk school teacher is being accused of of recording three people in a changing room without their consent. Arrested September 12th on three counts of invasive visual recording in a bath or dressing room was 35 year old Joshua David Pero. He is currently free on bonds totaling $45,000. The incident is said to have occurred on May 18th, the same day he resigned from West Rusk High School, where he most recently taught English and world geography. He also sponsored the high school student council. Documents don’t indicate if the incidents took place on campus or if the victims were students.
TYLER – Automated parking is coming to Tyler’s Pounds Regional Airport. Automated payment kiosks are installed and their use will be phased in at the parking exits. You will be able to pay for parking using a credit card or cash at the main exit and credit card at the newly opened exit by the end of the month. You can also expect to see is an increase in lost parking ticket fees. At Wednesday’s meeting, the city council approved a change in the lost ticket fee from $10 to $50. Airport manager Davis Dickson says the higher rate for a lost parking ticket encourages travelers to pay their parking fee rather than ‘claim’ a “lost ticket.†Customers with lost ticket fees will be able to receive a partial refund by contacting the airport administration office and provide a travel itinerary, rental car receipt or other valid form of evidence showing their approximate length of stay at the airport.
AUSTIN – Sales tax allocations from the state will soon be received by area cities. The state comptroller’s office is sending out $774.9 million in local sales tax allocations for November. This is 5% more than last November. These allocations are based on sales made in September. Tyler’s allocation is $3,621,262.89, which is nearly the same as the same period last year. For the year, Tyler has received $37,448,529.36, nearly 4% more last year. Longview’s allocation for November is $2,911,277.92, an increase of 2.74%. For the year, Longview’s total is $27,461,322.72, which is down slightly from last year.