Today is
Monday June 08, 2026
TYLER — With many counties under a Winter Storm Watch or Warning, East Texas school districts have decided to cancel classes. Our news partner KETK has compiled an updated list of schools that will be closing this week due to the winter weather. Please click here to view the winter weather closure list.
SMITH COUNTY— A Tyler woman was arrested Wednesday morning arrested after allegedly shooting at deputies and setting a trailer on fire while she was in it.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said at around 3:15 a.m., deputies responded to a call at on Horseshoe Ln due to a disturbance. The caller told officials a woman was causing damage to his property. Once deputies arrived to the scene, they could hear a woman, later identified as Rachel Marie Shell, 35 of Tyler, inside the trailer as well as crashing noises.
Deputies were told Shell had access to a rifle and a .22 caliber firearm inside the trailer. While attempting to contact her, she reportedly began firing a weapon at deputies. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a Plano man for his suspected involvement in a fatal shooting Monday. Officers were dispatched to an apartment complex on Bellwood Lake Road at around 3:05 p.m. in reference to a homicide. When authorities arrived, they reportedly found a woman, later identified as Cheyenne Russell, 26 from Nacogdoches, with multiple gunshot wounds. According to our news partner, KETK, Police have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Jorian Jackson. A warrant for murder with a $1 million bond has been issued for Jackson, and the police department said this was not a random act and Jackson should be considered armed and dangerous.
Authorities say the block Ford F-150 with Texas handicap plate 9PFMW he was believed to be driving was found, but he was not in the vehicle. Anyone who knows his location is asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or for emergency call 911.
ARP — Our news partner KETK is reporting that an East Texas man was arrested after allegedly kidnapping a woman and her 4-month-old baby on Dec. 21. Officers with the Arp Police Department were dispatched to a residence on Jackson Street at around 2:56 a.m. due to a disturbance. Once authorities arrived, a woman was being evaluated by EMS for cuts, abrasions and bite marks to her face, neck, wrist and ankle.
The woman told officers that her ex-boyfriend, Ramon Martinez Jr., had been “drinking and hanging out” at the residence when he suddenly started to scream at her before hitting her in the head with a beer can and striking her with his closed fist. He also allegedly hit her with a metal shower rod on the foot, and officers reported seeing blood spattered throughout the residence.
The victim said Martinez took her baby and put her in the car seat, claiming he would kill the baby if she did not get in the vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Our news partner KETK, and their Chief Meteorologist Cason Vickroy, have posted the following concerning winter weather in the East Texas area. “We had our coldest morning across the area this season, with temperatures in the low to middle 20s. This will be the case for Tuesday & Wednesday morning as well.”
“We won’t see any rain or any other type of precipitation for Tuesday & Wednesday. Thursday, that expectation changes. We could see a mixture of precipitation starting as early as Thursday morning and continuing on a on & off basis throughout the Day and through Thursday night. I expect all precipitation to come to an end Friday morning. While we won’t show accumulation totals until tomorrow’s update, for some East Texas snow accumulations are likely. Along in north of I-20 will have the best chance at seeing accumulating snow while areas in Deep East Texas will probably get by with a rain-snow mix or a cold rain without much in the way of accumulations. Athens, Tyler, Longview, Jefferson, Marshall, Palestine, Jacksonville, Henderson, & Carthage and other cities in the pink will be in the “wintery battle zone. ” Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN — According to our news partner KETK, Angelina College has reportedly agreed to a $315,000 settlement with a former employee in a race discrimination lawsuit. Dr. Monica Peters-Clark, a Black woman and a longtime staff member who helped establish the college’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness, claims she was unfairly passed over for the position of executive director in favor of an unqualified white candidate. Her legal representatives at Hightower, Franklin and James, PLLC, in Nacogdoches argue that the hiring decision was discriminatory.
Peters-Clark began her career at Angelina College in 2005 as the Learning Outcomes Coordinator and the Quality Enhancement Plan Coordinator. By 2007, she was made the college’s Coordinator of Institutional Effectiveness.
However, in 2017 she was laid off during a round of “administrative restructuring.” According to her lawsuit, after her position was eliminated, the college created a new position based on her old role. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Through April 30, 2025, the Longview Municipal Court will provide a warrant amnesty program to those with outstanding warrants. The amnesty program will cause all warrant fees to be removed when someone voluntarily contacts the court, pays at least half the total amount due, and begins a payment plan for the remaining balance.
“An additional 20% will be removed from the fine amount for those who pay their balance in full,” the City of Longview said. “The discount only applies to the fine amount and does not include court costs.” Read the rest of this entry »
CROCKETT – The Crockett Police Department said that an 18-year-old was arrested on New Year’s Day after he allegedly crashed into two utility poles in an SUV that was reported stolen.
Crockett PD said some of their night patrol officers reported hearing a loud crash on E Clark Avenue at around 5:50 a.m. and then they reportedly saw a white SUV driving away from that area and hitting a trash can. According to Crockett PD, the officers started pursuing the SUV after the driver refused to pull over for a traffic stop. The SUV eventually lost control and reportedly crashed into a utility pole on E Bonham Avenue.
According to reports from our news partner, KETK, the driver then allegedly got out of the SUV and fled from the officers for about a block until officers were able to arrest him. Jonathan Zuckero, 18 of Crockett, was identified by Crockett PD as the driver of the SUV. During his arrest officers allegedly found Xanax not prescribed to Zuckero and a handgun inside the SUV. Later, Crockett PD said they learned that the SUV was reported as stolen from a local business earlier that night. Crockett PD said the initial loud noise heard on E Clark Avenue was also from the SUV hitting a utility pole.
Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN – According to our news partner KETK, six people were injured on Saturday night in two crashes that happened on Highway 69 South. Huntington VFD said that Fuller Springs Volunteer Fire Department was was called out to a crash scene in the 6000 block of Highway 69 South at around 5 p.m. on Saturday. Huntington VFD had just finished training at a house they burned down and so they responded to the scene as well. Four riders who were on three motorcycles were injured in the crash and were taken to the hospital to be treated after Allegiance Mobile Health arrived on scene, according to Huntington VFD.
Officials had blocked off the southbound lanes of Highway 69 when another crash involving three vehicles happened just before where they had blocked off the road. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Organizers are already hard at work for this year’s 92nd annual Texas Rose Festival Parade according to our news partner KETK. On Friday, they unveiled this year’s theme and introduced the world to the newest Rose Queen, Avery Armstrong of Tyler. This year’s princess of the Rose Festival is Mary Dial of Tyler. This year is a special for Mary as her sister was last year’s Rose Festival princess.
At their annual Winter Gala at the Willow Brook County Club, the Texas Rose Festival Association said that “A Tapestry of Tales” is the theme for this year’s festivities. At the black tie optional gala on Friday, they also revealed this year’s queen’s court which includes the princess, ladies-in-waiting and attendants.
KETK is the official home of the Texas Rose Festival Parade so be sure to follow us for everything you need to know leading up to this year’s festivities in October.
TYLER – As East Texas prepares for the first cold weather of 2025 coming in on Monday, several East Texas locations are opening their doors as warming centers and shelters.
Our news partner KETK has compiled the following list of locations opening to the public – please visit this link for a regularly updated list of warming shelters.
TYLER- Attorney General Ken Paxton’s visit to the Rose City will be part of a state-wide tour on January 6th and 7th.
His tour is in conjunction with Republican Party of Texas Chairman Abraham George, which will include stops in key districts across the state. Paxton said in a press release that the tour aims to draw attention to representatives he believes have “fallen short of upholding conservative principles in the past and are reportedly working for a speaker not elected by a Republican majority.” Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD– The Bullard Independent School District is in mourning after a high school student died in a motor vehicle crash on Wednesday.
Madison Nelson, a 9th grader, passed away in the crash, according to a statement released by the district. She represented the 2024 freshman class as a homecoming duchess in this past fall semester.
Dr. Jack Lee, Bullard ISD Superintendent released a statement, saying, “I am deeply saddened to inform you that Madison Nelson, a 9th-grade student at Bullard High School, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in a motor vehicle accident. Madi was a shining star who consistently excelled in the classroom. She was regularly looked up to by other students and represented the Freshman Class as one of our homecoming duchesses earlier this fall semester. Please keep Madi’s family, friends, and teachers in your thoughts and prayers.”
Read the rest of this entry »
PAYNE SPRINGS – Payne Springs Fire Rescue firefighters saved a dog that was found lifeless at a fire in the Cherokee Shores area last night.
According to Payne Springs Fire Rescue (PSFR), they were alerted to the fire at around 7:53 p.m. on Thursday. when firefighters arrived at the scene they found a double wide mobile home with a heavy fire spreading into the home from the porch.
PSFR Engine 1 was reportedly able to make a quick knock down before they did a primary search of the home. PSFR said one dog was found lifeless under a bed. The dog was removed and they started to treat it with oxygen. According to a report from KETK, the dog was able to recover after a couple of minutes on oxygen. The home sustained significant damage during the fire and the American Red Cross has been called to help the resisdents.
PSFR said that Gun Barrel City Fire Department, Eustace Fire Department, Payne Springs Police Department, Eustace Police Department, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and UT Health EMS all responded to the scene.
TYLER — As East Texas prepares for winter weather, TxDOT crews are getting ahead by pre-treating roadways in Tyler and Lufkin. According to our news partner KETK, TxDOT will be completing a pre-treatment of bridges and other roadway areas susceptible to wind and ice to ensure East Texans feel safer when driving through winter weather.
KETK’s meteorologists are advising East Texans to be prepared for a strong cold front to move into the area late Sunday, bringing showers and thunderstorms some of which may be strong, particularly in Deep East Texas. By Monday morning, temperatures will be in the 20s while next week highs will struggle to get above the 40s with lows in 20s, meaning a hard freeze likely. There is also some potential for some wintery mix. Read the rest of this entry »