Today is
Tuesday July 21, 2026
EAST TEXAS — Over 60 East Texas cities are on a statewide list as the AG’s office checks compliance with rules tied to property tax increases. The investigation was launched by Attorney General Ken Paxton earlier this month, claiming that many cities are not complying with Senate Bill 1851, which requires them to complete and publicly post annual financial audits before increasing property taxes.
Due to possible violations of SB 1851, Paxton is demanding documents from over 1,000 cities across the state to ensure they are complying with audit and transparency requirements before raising taxes. The Office of the Attorney General said the review does not target cities for raising taxes, but instead aims to ensure compliance with audit and transparency requirements.
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PALESTINE — A Palestine man is facing a third-degree felony after allegedly stealing several horses from a Montague County livestock auction earlier this year. According to the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and our news partner KETK, the investigation began in January after Jordan Rivera, 18, purchased four horses from an online auction using PayPal to complete the purchase.
Rivera reportedly disputed the purchase charges after the horses had been released, and an investigation was opened. A special ranger obtained evidence and witness statements indicating Rivera’s involvement, including text messages to associates about the horses and his PayPal account.
After a warrant was issued out of Montague County, Rivera was arrested in Anderson County on April 9 for livestock theft. Rivera was released on April 10 after posting his $75,000 bond.
KILGORE — Kilgore College is one step closer to naming its next president, as two finalists are to meet with students, staff and the public during a series of forums this week, according to our news partner KETK.
Dr. Staci Martin, the college’s interim president, spoke during a public forum Wednesday morning, outlining her leadership philosophy and vision for the campus. The second finalist, Dr. Tracee Watts, is scheduled to meet the public during forums on Thursday, with the first session beginning at 10 a.m. The search follows the retirement of former president Dr. Kay, after which Martin stepped in as interim president.
College officials say the forums are designed to give the community an opportunity to interact with each candidate and provide feedback before a final decision is made.
POLK COUNTY, Texas (KETK)— An East Texas man was rearrested after being taken into custody and released on bond last week for possession of child pornography.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 47-year-old Jose Sanchez was initially arrested on April 8 after he was found to be in possession of child pornography obtained from the internet. Following the arrest, Sanchez was charged with five counts of possession of child pornography and was released on bond the following day.
On Wednesday, Sanchez was rearrested from his home in Polk County after investigators processed the evidence collected during the initial search of his home and issued five additional warrants against him for possession of child pornography.
Sanchez is currently being held at the Polk County Jail, awaiting a judge’s review of his new charges. According to authorities, the case remains open and additional charges may still be filed.
TYLER — Members of Indivisible Smith County and the East Texas Organizing Coalition rallied outside Congressman Nathaniel Moran’s office Tuesday, demanding he back a War Powers Resolution to halt what they called an unauthorized march toward conflict with Iran. The demonstration came after Moran publicly criticized President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy “an entire civilization.”
On our weekly In Focus program, Moran said while he backed efforts tied to U.S. national security, including targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities, he believes certain language being used goes too far. “Certainly, I do not agree with and do not support the notion of destroying a civilization,” Moran said. “That goes beyond where we need to go as a nation.”
The protesting organization is urging the congressman to invoke a War Powers Resolution, which would check the president’s authority to engage the nation in armed conflict without Congressional approval. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON — One East Texan just got a million dollars richer, claiming the top prize ticket of a Texas Lottery scratch ticket game. According to the Texas Lottery, an anonymous Henderson resident claimed the winning ticket of the Million Dollar Loteria game purchased at Green Top C Store at 1203 Kilgore Drive.
The store is eligible for a $10,000 bonus under the Texas Lottery’s Retailer Bonus program. The claimed prize was the sixth of 10 top prizes worth $1 million, Texas Lottery said.
ATHENS – Athens City Council has hit the pause button regarding potential zoning changes around a data center. Data Center developer Data Factory has leased land in the city. Their website says they plan to open with 10 megawatts of power this year, along with bitcoin mining operations.
Dozens of citizens showed up to Monday night’s city council meeting, with many waiting outside the council chambers. Every resident who spoke in the public comment session of the meeting spoke against the data center. Athens City Council members were set to vote on several potential zoning changes, including codifying what is classified as a data center. Officials say previous zoning laws did not account for this project.
Right now, it’s unclear how much water the center would use. City council unanimously voted to table all zoning items related to the data center. Officials plan to review and research those changes.
TYLER — What began as public backlash over library leadership has now escalated into a federal lawsuit, with former director Ashley Taylor accusing the City of Tyler of violating her constitutional rights and bowing to outside political influence. In the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas last week, Taylor claims she was retaliated against for protected speech and targeted by false attacks from an outside advocacy group. She argues city officials violated her First Amendment rights and allowed Grassroots America – We the People (GRA) to interfere with her employment through what she describes as defamatory public campaigns.
Taylor alleges in the lawsuit the following legal violations: first amendment retaliation, viewpoint discrimination, tortious interference with existing employment relationship.
Count 1: First Amendment Retaliation
The complaint alleges that as director, Taylor’s work involved protected expressive activity such as curation, programming and signage. Yet, the lawsuit claims the GRA launched a multi-year pressure campaign against the library and Taylor. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN, Texas (KETK) – A Huntington man was sentenced to a total of 110 years in prison on Thursday after he was found guilty of sexually abusing three young children over a span of several years.
According to a statement from Angelina County District Attorney Amy Wren and our news partner KETK, the first two victims in this case where helped by another child to tell their mother and their aunt about inappropriate behavior from Andrew Jacob Shortt, 30 of Huntington, in the year 2012.
“The victims were instructed by their mother not to tell their father and also, that ‘what happens between these four white walls, stays between these four white walls’. Shortt then
moved into the victims’ home and began sexually abusing them more frequently, perpetrating acts that constituted aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child on a regular basis,” Wren’s statement explained.
Three years later in 2015, the victims were able to report Shortt’s abuse of them to their father and the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office. Shortt was arrested that summer but the charges were dropped in 2016 after the victims’ family intervened. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – Texas lawmakers gathered at the Lone Star Legislative Summit at Stephen F. Austin State University on Friday to talk with East Texans about the area’s ongoing groundwater issues.
2026 marks an interim year for the Texas Legislature, but that’s not stopping leaders from fighting for East Texans and the regions’ natural resources, according to our news partner KETK. The Lone Star Legislative Summit in Nacogdoches brought State Representatives, State Senators and other politicians to the rural community to discuss these issues and more.
Groundwater is held underneath land, and surface water is found in bodies of water. With the Pineywoods holding a lot of resources representatives like Alders feel our water is best kept at home. While retiring State Senator for District 3 Robert Nichols suggested that sharing with other Texans may end up pumping more than what’s needed. He wants to protect East Texas counties from giving too much water to other communities.
Several East Texas communities are still working to create their own conservation districts. Next year, lawmakers will meet to continue debating this issue in the 90th Texas Legislative Session.
TYLER – A Smith County judge will review evidence in Robert Roberson’s case to see if the previous Dallas-based Shaken Baby ruling would warrant a new trial. The state and the defense met on Zoom with Smith Co. judge, Austin Reeve-Jackson, on Friday for a status hearing. Judge Jackson ruled to move forward to re-evaluate evidence from the 2003 trial, 2004, and 2005 appeals.
Roberson is challenging his 2003 conviction for the killing of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki. This hearing stems from an early 2000s Dallas-based case that let Andrew Roark go free because new scientific discoveries debunked the shaken baby theory that convicted him to 35 years in prison.
“I do feel a bit morally affronted that the state’s answer seems to be about trying to inject bias against Mr. Roberson based on a completely bogus representation of record when this is supposed to be about science,” Roberson’s attorney, Gretchen Sween, said. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Tyler Police Department cut the ribbon on its new in-house training facility on Thursday. The 10,000-square-foot facility is located on E. Commerce St. and will serve officers from across East Texas.
Training to serve and protect East Texas was on full display. Thursday, people in the community were able to see how their local heroes will continue to keep their homes and streets safe. The facility will enable Tyler PD to foster an environment that is committed to consistency in training that will lead to consistency in enforcing the law.
At the end of the month, the Tyler Academy will graduate their sixth class since 2021. In early May, the inaugural class will begin in the new facility.
LONGVIEW – Firefighters from the Longview Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire at a warehouse on Wednesday afternoon. Once on the scene, firefighters observed smoke coming from the burning warehouse and they eventually contained the fire to a single area, which helped minimize damage to the structure. The department used four fire engines and two ladder trucks to extinguish the fire.
No injuries have been reported as employees safely evacuated from the warehouse prior to firefighters’ arrival on the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
RUSK — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has confirmed that the bear spotted last week in the Salem Community near Rusk is the same wandering male seen in 2025. According to wildlife biologist Reuben Gay, the bear is now approaching full maturity and could be on the move again soon. Gay says the young male may roam toward established breeding populations in Louisiana or follow natural corridors along the Neches or Angelina rivers. Either way, residents of Cherokee County are being asked to stay alert and report sightings.
According to our news partner KETK, he’s still in Cherokee County and locals are encouraged to keep watch. Sightings can be reported to the TPWD East Texas Regional Office at 903?566?1626 ext. 209.
What to do if you encounter a bear: Never approach a bear: If a bear regularly visits your deer stand, scare it with rocks, a slingshot or an air horn, if you encounter a bear at close range, talk calmly while backing away slowly. Do not make eye contact, if a bear approaches you, stand your ground, raise your arms to appear larger, yell at the bear and make eye contact to scare it off, do not run: this can trigger a bear’s chase instinct, if the bear continues to approach, use bear spray according to the manufacturer’s directions to deter it, and do not play dead.
WASKOM — The Waskom ISD Board of Trustees named Ross Boyett as the interim superintendent on Monday, bringing years of experience in education as they begin the search for a superintendent. According to the school board, Boyett is a proven leader with a strong track record of supporting students and staff.
Boyett’s appointment comes after the death of beloved former superintendent Christopher Guastella, who died in a single-vehicle accident in Shreveport on March 21.
According to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office, Guastella was traveling westbound near Exit 8 of Bert Kouns when his vehicle left the road after possibly experiencing a medical emergency. Guastella was taken to Ochsner LSU Health, where he was later pronounced dead. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – An individual from Smith County was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of aggravated assault of a public servant. According to our news partner KETK, a Tyler Police Department officer received a call on Oct. 29, 2025, regarding a disturbance at a Holiday Inn. Once on the scene, a woman told the officer that she had been assaulted by her former partner, Shyane Allen, inside a hotel room.
The victim stated that Allen had arrived at her hotel room uninvited and proceeded to punch her in the face before grabbing her by the hair and pulling her across the room. Following the incident, Allen left the room and the victim later received a phone call from the hotel front desk claiming that someone was attempting to obtain a key to their room and that the person matched Allen’s description.
The victim went on to tell authorities that Allen began contacting her by phone to get back into the room, and that she could see Allen outside her hotel room. Allen then began to kick the front door of the room, prompting the victim to call the police. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — New details have emerged in the workplace incident where a City of Longview’s Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection employee died from blunt force trauma caused by a water hose.
According to documents obtained from the Longview Police Department and our news partner KETK, emergency crews were dispatched to the 100 block of Gilmer Road on March 16 at around 1:34 p.m. after receiving a call regarding a city worker getting hit by a high-pressure water hose.
Upon arrival, 23-year-old Buddy Powell was observed to be lying on the ground with “blood coming out of his mouth with a puddle around his head,” a police officer reported. According to crew members, they were working to flush dirt and mud out of a water valve in the street to be able to repair a water leak. The crew chief was operating the controls to the water pressure while Powell was standing over the hole with his foot on a high-pressure hose that was flushing it out. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — East Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran is backing U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the upcoming Republican primary runoff, calling the race a defining moment for conservatives. Moran said the contest between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton comes down to what values Republican voters want to uphold. “It’s really a race between character and corruption,” Moran said.
The congressman pointed to past criticism of Paxton, including remarks from former East Texas congressman Louie Gohmert, who has accused Paxton of misconduct. Moran said he agrees with those concerns, arguing that Paxton’s record should disqualify him from serving in the U.S. Senate. In the March 2022 Texas Republican primary for Attorney General, incumbent Paxton defeated Gohment, who finished last with 17% of the vote.
“Ken Paxton really has a consistent activity of corruption, both breaching the trust of the public and breaching the trust of his personal relationships,” Moran said. “That should disqualify him.” Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – An East Texas man has been sentenced to 230 years in prison after he was found guilty of sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography, according to our news partner KETK. Joseph Zeleny was arrested in 2023 after the Palestine Police Department received a complaint regarding the ongoing sexual abuse of a child that had gone on for several years. Following an investigation, Zeleney was taken into custody and charged with sexual assault of a child.
After his arrest officials later found over 3,000 images of child pornography on Zeleny’s devices, according to authorities. On April 2, Zeleny was found guilty of sex counts of sexual abuse of a child and 11 counts of possession of child pornography. Zeleny was sentenced to 230 years in prison on Monday and fined $160,000.
LONGVIEW — Six people were displaced after a weekend house fire in Longview, and officials say a 5?year?old’s quick thinking helped ensure no one was seriously hurt. The Longview Fire Department responded to a house fire on Jester Circle at approximately 6:19 a.m. on Friday. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy flames and began extinguishing it. All residents were safely outside by the time first responders arrived. Six people were displaced, and the American Red Cross has been contacted to assist those affected.
Fire officials stated that a 5-year-old played a crucial role in the safe evacuation of the home. An investigation determined that the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction originating from an outdoor electrical outlet on the front porch, which spread into the home. The incident resulted in an estimated $75,000 in damage.
Residents are encouraged to inspect their outdoor electrical outlets regularly and ensure they are properly protected from weather exposure. Anyone who notices damage or anything unusual should have the outlet evaluated by a qualified professional immediately.
SMITH COUNTY – A multi-state ATM hacking ring stretching across East Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas has led to three arrests. According to Smith County arrest documents, three men were taken into custody for their role in an ATM “jackpotting” scheme in which suspects scouted machines, opened them and connected Raspberry Pi devices to allow an off-site accomplice to wirelessly force the ATM to dispense cash for the crew on the ground.
According to our news partner KETK, once the cash was taken from the ATM it was then funneled to criminal associates outside the United States. The documents also state that the people stationed at the ATMs had to remain in constant communication with their remote counterparts for the jackpotting attempts to succeed.
“Jackpotting requires extensive coordination and communication during and after the attack. In every offense, suspects on the ground can be seen communicating nonstop via cell phone with their remote criminal associates who give orders and provide technical instructions for installing malicious software and hardware,” an arrest document described. “Typically, these criminal groups also stay in constant contact with a minimum of two lookouts roving the area in separate vehicles.” Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE – Two people were sent to a local hospital for treatment on Saturday after an 18-wheeler caught fire when it crashed into the woods along Interstate 20. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, the crash happened on Interstate 20 near Jim Hogg Road when an 18-wheeler left the road and caught fire. The fire spread into the woods but Lindale Fire Department was able to put the fire out.
The Lindale Fire Department reports that two people were taken to a local hospital by EMS so they could be treated for injuries. The condition of those two people is currently unknown.
TYLER — Country music band Little Texas will take center stage at the 38th annual Tyler Cattle Baron’s Ball on June 27, bringing star power to one of the region’s biggest fundraisers for the American Cancer Society at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center. According to our news partner KETK, this year’s gala features a venue change, moving to the conference center after being hosted at the Texas Rose Horse Park in previous years. Over nearly four decades, the Tyler Cattle Baron’s Ball has raised millions locally to support cancer research and families in East Texas.
“Our East Texas community has united to raise over $18.5 million for the American Cancer Society. This incredible achievement is a direct result of the generosity of our donors, supporters and volunteers,” American Cancer Society Staff Partner Melissa Ivey said.
The country music group Little Texas is known for the song “God Bless Texas.” The band has specific ties to the East Texas region, as two of its members were born and raised in Longview.
EAST TEXAS — The average base pay for public school teachers in East Texas remains among the lowest, as salaries across the state have dropped in the past five years, a study reports. In a study conducted by the University of Houston Education Research Center, researchers found that the average base pay of traditional public school teachers dropped in the 2024-2025 school year from $66,449 to $62,715, after seeing an increase the year prior.
According to the study, teacher base pay averaged $69,205 from the 2014-2015 school year to 2020-2021. Since then, the average has stayed “considerably lower” at $65,699.
Average Base Pay of Traditional Public School Classroom Teachers (in Constant 2024 Dollars), 2014–15 through 2024–25. Courtesy of the University of Houston Education Research Center.
Two educational service regions encompass East Texas and they have some of the lowest averages across the state. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Texas College has named Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs as their next president, making history as the Tyler institution welcomes its first-ever woman president. Gibbs is currently employed as the Dean of the Business and Economics Division at Morehouse College and has previously worked at the Monfort College of Business at the University of Northern Colorado, the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Management and at Jackson State University.
She has her PhD in Business Administration – Management and has also worked as a software engineer with the Mayo Clinic and IBM. During her tenure at Morehouse, she helped raise more than $30 million to support student real estate, entrepreneurship, asset management, finance and professional development programs.
“The selection of Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs represents a defining moment for Texas College. Her visionary leadership, commitment to student success and record of transformative impact position her to lead this institution into a bold and prosperous future. We are glad to welcome her as our next President,” Texas College board chair Bishop Lawrence Reddick III said.
Current Texas College President Dr. Dwight J. Fennell will end his tenure with the historically Black college on June 30. Gibbs will start her tenure as president of Texas College on July 1.
TENNESSEE COLONY – Seven people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a scheme to bring meth into the Mark W. Michael state prison in Tennessee Colony. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) said they conducted a “high intensity interdiction operation” at the Michael Unit in January after they learned that drones were used to deliver large amounts of contraband into the prison.
During the operation, TDCJ said more than 100 cellphones, a large amount of meth, synthetic cannabinoids and other drugs were reportedly found in the prison.
“This operation underscores both the risks posed by contraband and the strength of our response,” TDCJ Executive Director Bobby Lumpkin said. “We will remain relentless in our fight to stop illegal narcotics from entering and harming those in our facilities.” Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is offering a $4,000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest of a Lufkin man who is currently on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender List. According to the DPS and our news partner KETK, Jacarlos Mark has been wanted by the Lufkin Police Department since 2025 for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements in relation to a sexual assault of a minor conviction he received in 2003.
Mark is described by the DPS as 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 240 pounds. He has several tattoos on his neck, chest and both legs.
To be eligible for the $4,000 reward, information must be provided to the authorties thorough one of the following methods: Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477), submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive in relation to the tip and then clicking on the link under their picture or submit a Facebook tip by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “about” section)
RUSK COUNTY — After being extradited from an Arkansas jail to Rusk County, the newly released arrest documents outline what investigators say led a man to allegedly kill his wife with an axe. According to our news partner KETK, on March 18, around 2 p.m., Rusk County dispatch received a call from a family member of Scott Thompson. The family member reported that Thompson had claimed he had “killed his wife with an axe, left her in the hallway, and locked her in the trailer,” according to the affidavit.
When deputies arrived, they knocked repeatedly but received no answer. They observed “blood through the backdoor window in the hallway leading to the kitchen area,” and under “exigent circumstances,” the deputies forced entry into the house. A deputy found Thompson’s wife, Amanda Thompson, deceased and with wounds consistent with sharp force trauma to the back of her head, according to the affidavit.
Investigators quickly identified Scott as a suspect who had left the residence shortly before deputies arrived. Surveillance footage helped authorities determine the vehicle he was driving, and they were able to obtain his phone number. Tracking data indicated he was traveling toward Arkansas. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Tyler teenagers, Brandon Young, 18, and Andru Davis, 18, were identified by investigators to be directly involved in the fatal Club Exotic shooting in March, and were believed to be at a known address in Houston. Brandon Young, a suspect originally arrested for engaging in criminal activity and deadly conduct in the shooting, was additionally charged with capital murder on Tuesday. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Young’s bond has been set at $1,000,000 and he remain in the Smith County jail. The case continues to be under investigation.
Andru Davis, wanted for capital murder, was brought from Harris County to the Smith County Jail on Friday, March 27 and is being held on a $1.5 million bond.
Anyone with information is urged to submit a tip to the Tyler-Smith County Crime Stoppers by calling 903-597-2833 or through cuff903.org for a $1,000 cash reward.
HENDERSON — A Henderson ISD student was arrested on Monday after a possible weapon was found in their vehicle. According to the district, during a routine check of the Henderson High School parking lot, a staff member discovered what appeared to be a weapon inside a student’s vehicle.
The Henderson Police Department was contacted after the vehicle was found, and following an investigation, a student was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
Henderson ISD officials said they do not believe there was an active threat to students or staff.