Pedestrian killed in Highway 31 crash

TYLER – A pedestrian was reportedly hit and killed by a pickup truck near a Dollar General on Highway 31 west of Tyler on Wednesday, the Department of Public Safety confirmed. According to our news partner KETK, Vanessa Hill, 61, was crossing Highway 31 heading north at around 2:30 p.m. when the truck, which was heading east, hit the pedestrian. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene and DPS said they will release their identity once their family has been notified.

Guilty tampering plea in 2021 Longview murder

GREGG COUNTY – A Longview man pleaded guilty to tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse on Tuesday and a related murder charge was dismissed. According to our news partner KETK, Adam Nguyen, 24, was charged for his part in the death of 21-year-old Brantravious Williams in 2021. Officials responded to reports of gunfire at Williams’ Second Street home at around 11:17 a.m. Police found Williams dead in the home. Nguyen was at the time charged with murder, tampering, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana. Three years after his arrest, Nguyen pleaded guilty to tampering and the other charges were dismissed. Nguyen will be sentenced on June 10.

UT Tyler named among top 30 MBA programs

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler’s (UTT) Master of Business Administration program has been ranked among the top 30 in the nation by Fortune Magazine. According to a release from UTT, their program is ranked 29th nationwide for Fortune Magazine’s “Best Online MBA Programs in 2024.” UT Tyler said that they are one of only two UT system schools in the top 30, having been ranked 46th last year. “This recognition by Fortune Magazine is a testimony to the quality of our programs and our dedicated Soules College of Business faculty, who prepare the next generation of business leaders and professionals in the East Texas region and beyond,” Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, said. UT Tyler said that their online MBA program is affordable and flexible, offering a number of different concentrations and being able to be completed in as little as one year.

East Texas physician named new UT Tyler president

TYLER – The University of Texas System Board of Regents voted unanimously to name Julie V. Philley, MD, the next president of the University of Texas at Tyler. Philley currently serves as the university’s executive vice president for health affairs and vice provost and is a board-certified physician in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Philley will begin her appointment on June 1, 2024, succeeding Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, following his retirement on May 31. A native of Overton, Philley returned to East Texas in 2012 as an assistant professor of medicine at UT Health Tyler. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University and studied medicine at UT Health Houston’s McGovern Medical School. Philley and her husband, Richard Lee, are engaged in numerous Tyler activities, where Lee is the Music Director of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and the Tyler Civic Chorale.

UT Tyler starts dermatology department

TYLER – UT Tyler has announced that they’re partnering with U.S Dermatology Partners in order to start a new Department of Dermatology. According to our news partner KETK, they plan to start offering courses within next year, hire a department chair and program director before applying to become a Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited dermatology residency program. The aim of the department is to help create a generation of dermatologists and physicians trained in dermatology to serve local communities. The department will also engage in clinical research with U.S. Dermatology Partners, one of the largest private dermatology practices in the United States. U.S. Dermatology Partners has 11 locations across East Texas where they do surgical, medical and cosmetic dermatology. (more…)

Longview woman sentenced for 2021 shooting

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman plead guilty on Thursday to manslaughter in the death of a 41-year-old man from Longview after an argument reportedly turned into physical violence. According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Police Department responded to a call at around 7:48 p.m. on May 13 to the 400 block of E. Pliler Precise Road due to a reported shooting. When officers arrived, they reportedly saw Chris Baker, 41 of Longview, who had been injured. The Longview Fire Department took Baker to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and he died the following day. Detectives spoke with Jeanne-Marie Minter, who reportedly told officers Baker and her had been arguing, and that turned into physical violence. Police said Minter got away and retrieved a firearm, went back to the room where her and Baker argued and then shot him. Minter plead guilty to the death on Thursday and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Another skunk tests positive for rabies in Tyler

TYLER – A skunk in Tyler tested positive for rabies, marking the second positive rabies test this month. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler Animal Services was alerted by the Texas Department of State Health Services on Wednesday that one skunk they had submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies. The city said that the skunk had been found near the 1200 block of Larkspur Lane and that any individuals and animals with possible exposure have been identified and addressed. This is the second skunk in the month of April to test positive for rabies in Tyler. Officials warned that preventative immunization is the only effective defense against rabies, and to make sure that pets are up to date on their vaccinations.

Longview ISD seeks $456M bond

LONGVIEW – More than a dozen East Texas school districts are asking voters for millions of dollars in bond measures. Longview ISD is proposing $456 million in updates and new facilities according to our news partner KETK. After two failed bond proposals, Longview ISD is asking for voters’ support on another multi-million-dollar measure. “In November we asked voters to vote on two propositions, we’ve broken that into five,” Wayne Guidry, assistant superintendent of finance, said. Proposition A, with a price tag of $237 million, would go mostly toward high school renovations, CTE building expansion and security upgrades across all 13 campuses. “Proposition B, is a new early learning center, proposition C, D, and E are just addressing our athletic facilities it’s been about 35 years since we’ve addressed the majority of those facilities,” Guidry said. The district is hoping that this third time is the charm. The last time Longview residents approved a district bond was in 2008.

Home invasion centered around a ‘vape’ lands two in jail

KILGORE – Two individuals are currently in custody after Kilgore PD responded to an armed home invasion that was reportedly ‘centered around a vape.’ According to the Kilgore Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance in the 600 block of Harris Street on Wednesday night to investigates a report that two men broke into a residence with a machete and assaulted the residents. It was reported that the incident was centered around a stolen vape. The police department said that both of the residents had received injuries from the assault and the suspects had fled before officers arrived. Kilgore PD said that with the help of the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office they were able to place an 18-year-old and 17-year-old in custody at their residence and seized a weapon as evidence. Both suspects are currently being held in the Kilgore Municipal Jail for burglary of a habitation.

UT Tyler dean of nursing appointed to state committee

TYLER – Dr. Barbara Hass, dean of UTT’s school of nursing, was appointed onto a state committee to address the nursing shortage. According to our news partner KETK, the purpose for this committee was to review and amend the definitions of the Professional Nursing Shortage Reduction Program in the Texas Administrative Code, so that the program will be better equipped to adapt to evolving healthcare needs. UTT said that the committee is comprised of 19 representatives from community colleges, public health-related institutions, the hospital industry, public technical colleges, independent institutions and public universities. The United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast said in 2019 that a shortage of registered nurses was projected to increase throughout the country through the year 2030, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 193,000 openings for registered nurses each year through 2032 with retirements and workforce exits factored. (more…)

CHRISTUS announces a new facility in Henderson

HENDERSON – CHRISTUS announced that they are moving forward with the development of a new emergency center in Henderson. According to our news partner KETK, CHRISTUS will be holding a groundbreaking celebration on April 23 at 10:30 a.m. at a seven acre site south of Wylie Elementary School on Highway 259. The new facility will feature around the clock emergency services with 17 beds, 13 exam rooms, four triage rooms, state-of-the-art full service imaging and onsite laboratory services. The project is scheduled to start construction in late spring and is projected to be completed in the second half of 2025. “We are passionate about increasing access to health care for patients across East Texas,” Chris Glenney, senior vice president for group operations of CHRISTUS Northeast Texas said. “Henderson is a key area for growth in East Texas, and we know there is a need for patients to access the exceptional health care we provide.” (more…)

Longview man arrested by US Marshals with drugs

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said a man was arrested for an active warrant and drugs like methamphetamine, marijuana and Xanax were found after a search. According to our news partner KETK, Derek Elam, 49, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals in conjunction with the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit, Longview Police Special Investigation Apprehension and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. Longview PD said a search of the motel room at Knights Inn uncovered 422 grams of counterfeit Adderall, 108 grams of methamphetamines, 43 grams of Xanax, 8 grams of cocaine, 7 grams of ecstasy, 7 grams of marijuana and 2 grams of hydrocodone.

Brookshire’s donates $184K raised in Fresh 15 race

TYLER – Brookshire’s Grocery Company presented a check worth more than $184,000 on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the check is to be split between several non-profits that was raised during their Fresh 15 race. “We’re beyond proud of this achievement and grateful to everyone who made it possible,” Fresh 15 organizers said. “Together, over the past 11 years, we’ve donated over $1.7 million to many deserving charities in East Texas.” According to the grocery company, they donation of $184,500 is the largest amount they have ever raised. The money will be split between 30 organizations. Fresh 15 Race Director Ashleigh Endicot said, organizations apply every year to become recipients and they choose non-profits that best align with the promotion of the race. “We are a team that comes together and able to impact our community directly, you know over the 11 years we’ve given back $1.7 million right here, so it’s not like is going somewhere else it’s coming directly into the community that we live,” Endicot said.

Kilgore ISD receives $25,000 donation for bus tracking

KILGORE – Kilgore ISD announced that they received a large donation to implement advanced bus tracking. According to a release, the $25,000 donation from Claycomb Associate Architects will be going towards the implementation of state-of-the-art bus tracking technology. Parents will have access to the real time location of their students and provide accurate arrival and departure times of routes. The school said that they hope the software will reduce wait times, minimize disruption and enhance the bus-riding experience for both students and parents. Kilgore ISD said that they plan on the software being implemented in time for the beginning of the next fall semester.

One dead after pursuit from Gregg County authorities

GREGG COUNTY – A man is dead after officials said a pursuit that started in Gregg County ended in a crash on an Upshur County road. According to our news partner KETK, Gregg County Chief Deputy Craig Harrington said a warrant was issued last week for Mario Tywan Marton, 47, for burglary of a habitation. Deputies attempted to serve the warrant around 7 a.m. when the man fled his Gladewater home. This started a pursuit into Upshur County, according to Harrington, and Upshur County authorities attempted to spike the Marton’s car but he was able to evade. On FM 726, officials said the car struck a pickup truck resulting in the death of the man fleeing authorities. A third car slid into the pickup truck as a result of the crash, but Harrington said no one was taken to the hospital for treatment.

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