Today is
Monday June 08, 2026
LINDALE – School choice is one step closer to becoming a reality in the State of Texas despite public school officials’ disapproval according to our news partner KETK. The Texas Senate Education Committee is allowing the school voucher legislation to go up for a floor vote in the coming days. The governor has made this a top legislative priority, but some public school officials and lawmakers are fighting back.
Senate Bill 2 would create education savings accounts per student and lawmakers would approve $1 billion to get this program started. It’s money that Lindale ISD superintendent Stan Surratt said could go toward improving public schools instead.
The vote was 9-2 in the State Senate Education Committee with all Republicans voting to advance the school choice bill to a floor vote. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Smith County residents are encouraged to attend an informative immigration Q&A session where specialists and Sheriff Larry Smith will address community concerns and provide insight into recent changes at the federal level. According to our news partner KETK, the session will be held at the Garnica Event Center behind El Norteño restaurant on 1027 E. NE Loop 323 in Tyler on Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. The event will offer a valuable opportunity for local residents to engage directly with experts, ask questions about current immigration policies and how they may affect the community, especially in light of the new presidential administration’s recent actions. Whether people have specific questions about legal processes, enforcement practices or how recent policy shifts could impact their community, this is a chance for the community to get accurate, up-to-date information.
Lawyers and other East Texas sheriffs are expected to be at the event, however a full list will soon be published on Facebook.
Residents are encouraged to bring their own questions and participate in this open forum. However, those who will not be able to attend, can soon submit their questions on the Facebook event page and watch a livestream of the session.
LONGVIEW — When Paul Guidroz heard his East Texas town could build an electric vehicle charging station, he began to think of what it could mean for the local economy.
Drivers traveling along Interstate 20 could pull into town, charge up and give a boost to small businesses, he said.
“They could stop here, get a coffee at one of our local coffee shops or even lunch while they charge their vehicles,” said Guidroz, Longview’s Main Street Coordinator who helps support local businesses.
The town of 83,236 sandwiched between Tyler and Shreveport, Louisiana, is on 56 stops the Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT, identified to establish the state’s “Electric Alternative Fuels Corridor.” The corridor is largely paid for by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill signed by President Joe Biden. Read the rest of this entry »
WOOD COUTY — Two men from Mineola are dead after their vehicle crashed into a tree on Monday afternoon, according to reports from our news partner, KETK.
Texas DPS Sergeant Adam Albritton reported that the two men were traveling on County Road 2270 near Lake Holbrook at around 3 p.m. when the vehicle lost control and ran off the pavement, striking a tree. The driver, 22-year-old Nicholas Wilkins and 19-year-old passenger Brekeilyn Martin were pronounced dead at the scene, Albritton said.
The cause of the crash is currently unknown and remains under investigation.
SULPHUR SPRINGS — Our news partner, KETK, reports that a search is underway for the person responsible for a robbery on Sunday afternoon in Sulphur Springs.
According to the Sulphur Springs Police Department, a man reportedly robbed a T-Mobile on 151 Industrial Dr. E Ste 300 at around 3:45 p.m.
Detective Joe Scott of the Sulphur Springs PD said the suspect went into T-Mobile asking to look at three iPhones and when the store clerk brought them to him, he ran out of the store with the phones. Scott said the phones are worth a total of $4,900. Scott said the suspect is believed to be 6’4, around 240 pounds and not local to the area.
If anyone has any information regarding the investigation, call Detective Scott at 903-885-7602.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, two abandoned dogs were rescued in freezing conditions at a Van Zandt County house on Jan. 20 after their owner was evicted and is now facing charges of animal cruelty. “An Investigator with the SPCA of Texas’ Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit responded to the property and discovered two adult dogs on a couch that was sitting outside by the curb,” the SPCA of Texas said. “At the time, in this area, it was 23 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chills in the teens and the dogs were shivering due to the extreme cold without any protection from the elements.”
Officials determined that both dogs needed urgent care due to the freezing temperatures and visible medical issues they were suffering. The investigator took custody of the dogs and transported them to their Dallas facility where they obtained immediate veterinary care.
“One of the dogs, an adult Rottweiler, had an untreated ruptured eyeball that was oozing, infected and painful,” the SPCA of Texas said. “The other dog was covered in tumor-like masses. Both dogs were infested with fleas, causing raw and itchy skin and they both had advanced stages of dental disease.” Read the rest of this entry »
CANTON — Our news partner, KETK, reports that a morning house fire in Canton led to the tragic death of a 75-year-old woman.
According to Van Zandt County Fire Marshal Kevin Palmer, on Jan. 24 at 5:19 a.m., a unit arrived at Linda Raye Jones’ home on 27866 State Highway 64 near Sundance Hall where they found Jones dead inside her home that was engulfed in flames. Officials said the fire began in the garage and spread to the home. Officials determined the house to be a total loss after firefighters were on the scene for five hours. According to Jones’ obituary, her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Eubank Funeral Home. Jones was a former member of the Canton Chamber of Commerce and was once elected Woman of the Year.
The family described Jones as fashionable, classy and feisty, often speeding along the roads of Van Zandt County. Jones’s Daughter, Jessica Milligan says that people can support the family by donating to Jones’s GoFundMe.
LONGVIEW— Our news partner, KETK, reports that more than 40 employees in Longview are set to lose their jobs following the termination of a key contract.
A letter from S&B’s Vice President of Human Resources Wendy Coker revealed that Eastman Chemical Company has notified S&B that it will end its engineering services contract, with the transition of services to another provider scheduled for March 31.As a result, S&B will shut down its operations at its Longview Facility on 814 S Eastman Road. Coker confirmed that the closure will lead to the layoff of all 43 employees assigned to this location.
“All affected employees are expected to be separated from employment on March 28 and have been provided with sixty days of working notice,” Coker said.
The positions impacted by the closure include project controls, engineers, mechanical specialists, piping designers, electrical engineers and civil/structural engineers.
MOUNT PLEASANT — Our news partner, KETK, reports that two Mount Pleasant streets are closed after a man, arrested for a DWI, crashed into a power pole Tuesday night.
According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, officers responded to a wreck and found that a truck had crashed into a power pole, almost cutting it off. Officials identified the driver as Jose Francisco Patino, and arrested him for driving while intoxicated. Officials said that East 1st Street and Lee Street are closed until the power pole has been replaced in front of the B&A Center. The power company is currently using a crane to keep the power pole in place until crews can replace it.
“We will open East 1st as soon as we can and East 2nd, coming toward Jefferson, will remain open unless it becomes necessary to shut it down,” Mount Pleasant PD said.
Francisco was booked into the Titus County Jail and has since been released
UPDATE: The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as 46-year-old Timothy Mefford, from El Paso. The victim was flown to a Tyler hospital where he is now on life support. The dispute is suspected to be over a woman who was at the scene.
RUSK COUNTY — Rusk County deputies are investigating a shooting Tuesday night. According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to Rusk County Road 411D to a reported gunshot victim. Upon arrival, deputies found a man with a gunshot wound to the head. The man was taken to a Henderson hospital, and later care flighted to Tyler. A person of interest has been identified and officers are following up on information and leads.
Officials said this is an active investigation and based on their initial findings there is no threat to the public. Anyone with information regarding the incident are asked to call the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit at 903-657-3581.
HALLSVILLE– Our news partner, KETK, reports that two Hallsville ISD employees were taken to the hospital Wednesday morning after a school bus was involved in a wreck.
According to the district, around 5:50 a.m. a bus was in a three-vehicle accident that left two employees injured.
The school explained that at the time of the accident, there were no students on the bus. The driver and the bus monitor have been transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, HISD said.
TYLER – East Texas nonprofits are anxiously waiting to see what happens next after a federal judge blocked the pause on federal loans and grants. Many of the organizations rely on federal money to provide critical services to people in our communities.
On Monday night, the Trump Administration announced that there’s a temporary pause on “All activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, non-governmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology and the green new deal.”
According to our news partner KETK, the Andrews Center and the East Texas Crisis Center felt blindsided by the freeze. Administrators said they are unsure on what is going to happen next. They’re worried they might have to cut back on services many East Texans rely on if they lose federal money permanently. The Andrews Center in Tyler heavily relies on healthcare grants. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner KETK is reporting that one person has died after two vehicles crashed on FM 2015 on Tuesday. According to Smith County Emergency Services District 2, the crash happened at about a mile north of Interstate 20 on FM 2015 at around 8:17 p.m. One person was killed in the crash and officials said another person was taken for medical treatment at a local hospital.
Traffic was down to one lane at FM 2015 but ESD 2 officials told KETK the scene has been cleared. The Texas Department of Public Safety also responded to the scene.
HENDERSON COUNTY- Our news partner, KETK, reports that two Gun Barrel City residents were arrested after narcotics officers allegedly found methamphetamine inside their home on Tanglewood Drive in the Gun Barrel City area.
According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, around 6 p.m. narcotics investigators and a K9 executed a search warrant. While officers were searching the home, they found a quantity of methamphetamine that was packaged for distribution along with several baggies and scales. Several preloaded syringes filled with liquid methamphetamine that were ready for sale were also discovered. Upon completion of their investigation, residents John Joseph Stuart and Melissa Leigh Lenox were taken into custody and booked on Controlled Substance Charges. Stuart on the charge of possession of a Controlled Substance, and Lenox for the Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man is facing numerous charges following a raid at a Longview home. According to the Longview Police Department, on Friday Jan. 17, Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement (CODE) Unit and the Special Investigations Apprehension (SIA) served a warrant at a residence on McCann Road.
According to our news partner KETK, arriving law enforcement agents reportedly located and seized 1,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, 2500 xanax pills, hydrocodone, cocaine, percocet fentanyl pills and over $11,000.
Ladarrin Rayson, 36, was arrested and charged with five counts of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance officials said. Rayson was booked into the Gregg County Jail. His bond was set at $350,000.